Alien Diplomacy

there’s fire. Too many people insinuating that we’re…different, and someone’s going to decide that maybe we are.”
    Oliver shook his head. “The government is protecting you, Ambassador. If no one was insinuating that something funny was going on with you, then you might have more cause to worry.”
    “There were diplomatic plates on some of the cars following us,” Len said.
    Kyle nodded. “I’m having them run.”
    “Meaning that not everyone in the government is protecting us, which, I have to add, isn’t any kind of a shock.”
    The sound of a lot of tires screeching echoed through the parking garage. The pod had caught up to us.
    “No problem,” Jeff said, as he and Christopher prepared to get out of the car. “I’m going to find out exactly who’s behind this.”
    “How?”
    He grinned at me. “Well, I’m hoping by beating the crap out of these people, but I’m open to other options.”
    “I like a man who’s willing to experiment with new ideas.” Especially in the bedroom, but that wasn’t relevant at this precise time.
    Jeff chuckled. “I love how you think.”



CHAPTER 17
    “R EMEMBER THEY HAVE GUNS and a seemingly unlimited supply of bullets,” I reminded Jeff before he leaped out of the car.
    “We have hyperspeed and an unlimited supply of pissed off,” he replied.
    I didn’t need Christopher to chime in. Jeff was bigger and stronger, but Christopher was nastier, especially in a fight. And both of them had been, like me, feeling tied up and put on a major time out. I almost felt sorry for the guys in the whale pod. Until I thought about what they’d done to our other limo full of people.
    “Hurt them. A lot.”
    “On three,” Jeff said to Christopher. He nodded. “Three.” They were out of the car, doors nicely closed, before any of us could blink.
    “He’s not much for patience, is he?” Pierre asked. “Not that I can blame him.”
    “No, Jeff’s not all that patient in these situations.” Come to think of it, neither was I. And while I could see bodies flying, there were at least ten cars full of nasty people, and only two of our side involved. “Um, Pierre…”
    “I shall guard our little princess with my life,” he said. “Jimmy shared that you fell more on the active side of the house, darling. Besides, I was at your wedding. I’m sure you’re ready to race in there. Just be careful.”
    “You stay here,” I said to Oliver in my strongest mean-person voice, which I hoped was channeling my mother’s.
    He shrugged. “They’re moving too fast for pictures. I’ll takewhatever ones might be helpful once things are, ah, handled. Until then, I’ve had a trying afternoon and am taking a nap. So to speak.”
    “Works for me. Kyle, Len, do what Jeff said, and if there’s trouble, get Jamie out of here.”
    “Will do,” Len said.
    Kyle grunted. “Let us know if we can help, though. I’d like to kick some ass.” He looked back at Jamie. “Sorry.”
    “She’s heard the word already, trust me.” I kissed her head. “You be good, Jamie-Kat. Mommy’s going to help Daddy.”
    Who, as I turned back, might indeed need an assist, as there were a lot of guys with semiautomatics firing wildly. A-Cs were fast, Jeff and Christopher were both enhanced, so faster than normal, but still, all it was going to take was one or two random lucky shots and I’d be doing CPR. If we were lucky.
    I concentrated, focused on the inner me, and let myself rev for a moment. I had a plan, and I needed to both move at hyperspeed and accurately hit something. I could do either one just fine, but both together wasn’t coming easily without an A-C holding onto me. However, Christopher was cornered, Jeff was surrounded, and no one had gotten out of one car, meaning they were the backup or, more likely, the ones in charge.
    I considered taking my Glock, but under the circumstances, I wasn’t confident I could handle it while running, so I decided to let discretion be the better part of valor. “MJO, please close the door behind me.” He nodded; I opened the door, and went for it.
    Out of the car and slamming into the one I’d aimed for, almost like a pro. I didn’t wait for an invitation—I ripped one of the back doors off. It felt great and didn’t hurt at all. Then again, pulling and hitting weren’t the same thing.
    I looked in to see several people with their jaws hanging open. Three of them had the big-lug look of bodyguards that Kyle carried off a lot