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“The Natives of
New San Francisco
have used it for thousands of years. It gives them the stamina to survive in their rough environment.”

“I’ll have to have it stocked on
The Excalibur
.” This juice would really come in handy when she was feeling sluggish. Hell, Johanna would probably be drinking it morning, noon and night.

“Don’t bother. It costs five hundred
New Monaco
platinum credits for one liter. You’re literally drinking gold there. I hope you enjoyed it!” Devlin quipped.

RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 132

She stared over at him in open astonishment. “Well, I did before. But now that I know what it cost you, I certainly enjoyed it. Just so you know, I’ve decided not to order it for
The
Excalibur
. When it just goes in and comes right out again, it isn’t worth it.” She smiled. He was almost too much fun to bug.

“I can’t wait to see what you say about it in, oh, I’ll give it about ten minutes,” he said.

He winked at her and began walking ahead of her. She took in her surroundings. She’d have to be very careful.

Lord Devlin was in his element, and she was out of her element. She still didn’t completely trust him, and she’d have to keep one eye on him, while she kept the other eye on the heads that she bashed in.

“Goodbye!”

Eleanor
called out.

Samantha actually waved back at her. As soon as she proved Tyler’s innocence, she was going to go and have her head examined. And she meant that literally.

* * * *

“So this is the famous
Caterra Casino
,” she said, leaning up against the doorframe. A security guard gave her a dirty look.

Samantha stuck her tongue out at him and then made a funny face at him. He sighed, looked at Devlin, bowed and walked away.

“Do they kiss your feet, or dance if you want them to?” she asked. She followed Devlin farther into the casino. Slot machines rang out around them and farther in she could see that people were closely milled around the gaming tables. “I can see why you were worried about me making a scene. There are a lot of witnesses. But don’t worry. I’m not the shy sister. You haven’t met her,
yet
.” She swaggered into the casino.

All eyes suddenly turned to Samantha, and she basked in the glory of all of the attention.

This was new, having an audience, but hell she was always willing to entertain. As long as they got out of her way when bodies began flying.

“That’s very encouraging, Samantha. Never ever decide to become a therapist. You’d have the poor person ready to go ape shit bananas as soon as you opened your mouth.”

“Ha, ha, I’m laughing on the inside, Lord Dumbo,” she said.

Someone let out a shocked exclamation upon hearing her insult to Lord Devlin.

“You should not speak to our Lord in that disrespectful tone,” A woman said, nosily poking her head into something that was not any of her business.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Lord
Dickhead
,” Samantha drawled out.

The woman let out another shocked gasp. She pushed the woman not so gently out of her way, and then tried to pinpoint Veronica and Ross. She whistled in appreciation, when she heard something crack against a wall, followed by Veronica’s angry bellow.

“I don’t think that you’ll have a very hard time, finding your friends, they seem to be getting the show started without you,” Lord Devlin pointed out. He had a weird expression on his face. He seemed almost uncomfortable. Well, if that’s what Veronica’s act did to him, then he hadn’t seen anything yet. She was about to get started.

“
Attention hogs!
” she muttered, clearing herself a path. She arrived just in time, to catch the gist of what Veronica was talking about.

“You’re the lowest of the lows. I’m going to bend you backwards like an accordion and reacquaint you with your asshole!” Veronica threatened, breathing deeply in the man’s face, as she held him up against the wall. “Or do you think that I should play find them if you’re able?”

“Find

what?
” the man sputtered.

RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 133

Samantha walked up beside Veronica. “Well, they come in a pair, and they’re something that you probably don’t want to live without, at least that’s what I’m guessing. Though truthfully, I’d like to buy the ticket for the first act,” Samantha decided.

Veronica stared incredulously at her, keeping a firm grip on the man she’d plastered up against the wall.

“What are you doing here?” she muttered.

Samantha gave her a charming smile. “I’m here to watch the show, and then become the star.” She gave Veronica a look that simply stated shut your mouth, and we’ll talk later.

“Where’s your dear hubby?”

“Open your eyes. He’s over there keeping the other guy busy, while I interrogate this one.

I didn’t want to make too much noise and Ross’s ways are a little more subtle than mine.”

“I can see that,” Samantha answered, following her hand. She wanted to laugh so badly, that it was taking all of her willpower to hold herself back.

Ross was sitting drinking a cup of tea or coffee. She couldn’t guess which, looking as innocent as the day he was born. Every one would believe that he was a great big loveable harmless man, except for the fact that he was keeping the man in question busy, by sitting on him.

“I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to be in that guy’s place right now.” She flinched.

Veronica shook the man and then pulled back her fist, readying herself to inflict some more damage.

“Just a minute, Veronica...,” Samantha interrupted, gaining a relieved sigh from the man.

“Your whole form is wrong, here let me show you how it should be done,” she said, inching in front of her, as she took over and slammed him up against the wall. “Oh, did that
hurt?
” she asked, “Because if it didn’t this is definitely going to,” she promised, bringing her knee up. “I take it that you were the one that went into my ship,
The Excalibur
, and attacked a woman when she wasn’t looking. News flash buddy, that woman was my sister. And well, I’m rather fond of her. I don’t take kindly to piss ants like you trying to kill her. Tell me whom you work for, and we won’t have to play hide and go seek.”

She could sense Devlin’s continued presence, even though she wished he’d just leave.

Didn’t he have better things to do? There were a lot of whores in the casino, maybe he could go and occupy himself with one of them. That would be about his speed. But, uh, oh. He was going to speak. She made a shushing noise, hoping he’d pick up on it. But did he?
Oh, no!

“I’d humor the woman and tell her who you’re working for, because you’re going down one way or another. But I could consider making a deal with you if you sing like a little birdie. I don’t really think that you want to face the gallows, just because someone is paying you good money. After all, no amount of money can be worth your life, and your life certainly wouldn’t be worth a lot of money.” Samantha stared over at Lord Devlin, and wanted to shoot him for referring to her as a mere woman. She had a name for God’s sake. Maybe he should try using it.

She didn’t need his help anyway. She was doing quite swimmingly all on her own.

“I’m no snitch,” the man said.

Devlin approached him and gave him a death stare that even Samantha admired.

“Do

you

know
who I am?” Lord Devlin asked.

The man nodded his head. “Yeah, and I don’t work for you!” he spat out. His beady little eyes filled with anger.

“See, here’s how I see things. I can understand you not being impressed by Mister Big Shot, but I’m telling you. You should be impressed by me, and since you’re not, maybe you RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 134

don’t know who I
am
,” Samantha said. A hint of danger entered her voice.

“I know who you are! You’re the slut that’s trying to get a cold-blooded murderer off, with a slap on the hand. It’s not going to happen. Tyler Cassidy’s a dead man,” he promised.

She narrowed her eyes.
Slut?
Who the hell did he think he was talking to?

“Is that what this is all about? Someone is framing Tyler because he’s got a vendetta against him?” she demanded, barely keeping herself from wrapping her hands around his neck, and strangling the life out of him.

“Nobody’s got to frame him. The evidence speaks for itself,” he bragged.

She felt a tight little knot form in the pit of her stomach. “This just stinks to
High
Heaven
. Tyler’s being set up, don’t you see that now?” she asked, turning to Devlin.

“What I see is a group of men heavily armed, at the entrance to the casino. And, just in case you’re wondering they don’t belong to me. It seems as if someone’s just itching to start a war, and if they want it, I’m going to give it to them,” he vowed.

“Oh,

shit!
” Samantha said, turning around. She dropped the man, pulled out her phase pistol, and shot him. “Don’t worry, he’s just stunned. He’ll keep for later.”

Ross suddenly jumped to his feet.

“Ever been involved in a mob war before?” Samantha asked Veronica. The woman shook her head, and checked her weapons for ammo. “Me neither, but hell, there’s always a first time for everything,” she muttered, just as the battle began.

* * * *

Samantha hated it when everything around her somehow went berserk, without her actually giving her permission. She needed to be in control of every situation she suddenly found herself involved in. But this time, she didn’t even know
what
she was fighting. She knew they were adversaries of Devlin’s and so in all probability they were in
The Business
.

What Samantha didn’t know and wanted desperately to know, was who the hell was their ringleader. Obviously, the person had balls, not to mention a lot of power and money. She watched as Ross and Veronica prepared for battle. Samantha could feel the tension hanging in the air and knew almost immediately, that she was soon going to be facing a life or death situation.

Whoever the small army belonged to meant business and that meant they didn’t care who they hurt in the process.

Gamblers and whores raced for cover. She had to hand it to Devlin. He didn’t even seem affected. Devlin moved forward and grimly regarded the man that seemed to be in control of the mini army.

“You don’t want to do this.” Steel entered Devlin’s voice. “No one wants a war with me, because I don’t lose!”

“Neither do I,” Samantha piped in, shocking herself by actually standing close to Lord Devlin. A frown flickered across her face as she felt a unique sensation beginning to flow through her body.

Samantha gasped, as she began to feel re-energized and giddy all at the same time. She felt as if she could single-handedly take down the whole small army, without breaking out in a sweat. Yep, now she knew what Devlin had meant by his smart-ass remark concerning that blasted juice.

“Oh, this is
not
good!” she decided, as strength flowed through her.

“That’s clearly an understatement,” Veronica muttered, falling into a fighting stance.

Everything went straight to the dogs, as soon as a muscle in Samantha’s arm twitched.

RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 135

Shots fired out around them and Samantha pulled down a roulette table to take cover behind.

Then she began taking down their attackers at an alarming speed. Her hand eye coordination was
amazing
. It was as if she didn’t even need to think.

“This is freaking
fantastic!!!
” Samantha mumbled, boldly standing up from behind her makeshift guard. Anger rolled through her as she began to think about the idiocy of her situation.

She was in a seemingly fantastical world beneath the sea. She was furious about the attack on Johanna and she wanted to nail the real murderer now more than ever because someone didn’t know how to play nice. Well, if they wanted to play a dirty game she could play along too!

Throwing all caution to the wind even for her, she stood out in the middle of the room, just egging someone on to confront her, while she took them out of action in the blink of an eye.

Samantha glanced toward Devlin and her mouth fell open when she noticed the heavy-duty damage that his weapon was doing on the army. She watched transfixed as he hit one person and they disappeared. Whatever she did she couldn’t allow her abilities to manifest and with the juice flowing through her system, they were just itching to emerge.

“Where are they?” she called out, as he pointed to the floor. Just bloody wonderful! Here she was working with a
sicko
that incinerated his enemies. She
so
didn’t like his tactics of battle.

But as she moved forward to challenge someone she let out a loud grunting noise narrowly missing stepping on something that was incredibly tiny. Unbelievable as it seemed, it was a person. A man if her eyes didn’t betray her.

“Oh, my God!” she breathed, as she kicked someone and sent them flying across the room. “How’d you do that?” she called out, putting away her smoking pistols and reaching for her new Bo staff. It grew to its normal size and she hit the man that was facing her in the abdomen with it. While he was doubled over in agony, she struck him again and watched with satisfaction as he fell back completely unconscious.

Samantha acrobatically hurled herself up in the air, to avoid a laser shot and almost hit the ceiling.
Impossible!
In the next moment, she somersaulted through the air, extending her leg as she kicked a man in the chest and sent him flying backwards. Her abilities and that juice worked in complete synergy and the resulting effects amazed her. She was almost super-human.

She landed on the floor, in a catlike move and pulled out her pistol when a flurry of shots rang past her.