Chapter 41
41
F rea’set places his empty glass down on the table between us, then leans back on the couch. “So, my friend, what’s the plan now?”
I shrug, swirling my wine and pretending I’m considering his question while I silently pray this conversation will end soon so I can drop the charade. “Honestly? I don’t know. Getting set up like that, having the Consortium on my tail… Vash-ka , it’ll take me years to get enough credits to buy a new ship.” I pause, giving him a wry smile. “Unless you’re feeling charitable and want to take pity on an old friend.”
Something dark flickers across Frea’set’s face. His laugh is almost cruel when it erupts from him. “Unbelievable,” he mutters. “You’re asking me for credits?”
I set my glass down, brow furrowing at his bitter tone. “Frea, I wasn’t serious.”
“Yes, you were. After everything you’ve done… did Rema put you up to this? Did she get on her knees and beg you like I know you enjoy?”
My startled reaction is genuine, Frea’set’s words throwing me off-balance. “Excuse me?”
Frea’set leans forward, his friendly demeanor dropping to reveal the cold, angry truth beneath. “You heard me. You seriously thought I wouldn’t know?”
“What in the void are you talking about?”
“She left me to be with you,” he snaps, eyes flashing with a hateful glow. “All those glances, all those playful nicknames, all the times I found you two together ‘working’ late—you were fucking her right under my nose. You stole her from me. And then you had the audacity to comm me to talk about your confusing feelings, as if I couldn’t tell who you were referring to.”
That’s what all of this was about? Frea’set being jealous because of something that didn’t even happen? About a fa-shar misunderstanding?
I can’t help the disbelieving laugh that bursts out of me. “You’re joking. Or you’re drunker than I thought. Rema is like a sister to me. We’ve never been interested in each other like that.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Hadrell. Always have been. She told me she couldn’t leave you when I asked her to come work with me. She said she didn’t love me anymore. You stole my soul bond from me. I’ll never forgive you for that.” He reaches for his blaster, but isn’t fast enough. Kha-shar is in my hand and pointed squarely at his chest before he can grab it.
“Don’t.” I snap. “If you reach for it again, I’ll shoot.”
Frea’set’s eyes go wide, but they soften a moment later as he attempts to put his genial mask back in place. “ Esh’et , H, you’re too easy to mess with,” he says, laughing. “Relax, sibling. It was a joke. A pretty bad one, apparently.”
If I didn’t know how good of a liar he is, I’d believe him.
I don’t lower my blaster.
“Hadrell, put the weapon away. You really think I’d try to shoot you?”
“Yeah.” My voice is calm. “I do.”
His smile grows tense. “Come on. You’re scaring me. Let me get you another drink. If it’s about the money, you know I’ll give it to you. You’re my best friend. I’d do anything for you.”
He moves to stand and I prime Kha-shar, done with this charade. “Stay where you are. You’re wasting your breath with your lies. I know.”
Frea’set blinks, his nervous smile dropping to a look of disdain. “Then why did you come here? Surely, even with your lack of brains, you would’ve realized you were walking into a trap.”
I scoff. “What trap? You’ve got no security with you. No defense systems in here. I could’ve shot you a hundred times by now.”
“But you didn’t. Because I know you, Hadrell. You’re soft.” Frea’set sneers at me. “I’m sure the buyers that are coming to pick up you and your crew will toughen you up. They were really excited when I told them they’d be getting a human as part of the deal, so thanks for that.”
I almost lose my grip on my blaster at his declaration and casual mention of Paul, who he wouldn’t even know about if I hadn’t commed him asking for advice. I still can’t believe he thought I was asking about Rema.
“Your plan is to sell us? All because you couldn’t handle that Rema left you? Are you planning on selling her, too?” I spit the words out, finger itching to pull the trigger. “You’re a monster. ”
“Oh, I’m sure she can be convinced to stay with me.” Frea’set laughs darkly.
“If you think for one second that Rema wouldn’t snap your neck the moment she got a chance, you’re even more delusional than I thought.”
“She’ll love me again, once she’s away from you,” he snarls.
There’s a ping on his comm. “Ah, looks like they’re right on time. As fun as it’s been catching up, I really should go greet my customers.”
“If you move, I’ll shoot you,” I warn again, adrenaline spiking as I think about Paul and the rest of my crew back on the ship.
Even if I die here, they have a plan. They’ll get away. They have to get away.
Frea’set laughs. “You’ve always been a terrible liar.”
His hand drops to his hip, and I fire, hitting him in the shoulder. He cries out in pain, but still reaches for his blaster.
Something moves behind him and out of nowhere, Yaz appears, yanking Frea’set back against the couch and holds a knife to his throat. “Hello, Captain,” Yaz says in a placid trill.
“Get off me!” Frea’set screams, eyes wide and glowing with panic. “Hadrell, this was all a misunderstanding! I can call it off. Please don’t let him kill me. If I’m dead, they’ll hurt Rema. You don’t want that, do you?”
“If you don’t shut up, I’ll shoot you once for Rema, and another time for my soul bond. Make you wish I’d killed you,” I rasp, moving over and pointing Kha-shar at his groin.
He whimpers, and it takes him a moment to understand what I’ve said. “Your soul bond?”
“I told you. Rema and I are friends. She left you because she must’ve realized how horrible you truly are under that charming veneer. ”
My comm and Yaz’s both buzz at the same time and my eyes meet the aespian’s over Frea’set’s head.
He inclines his head, letting me know he has Frea’set under control, and I look down at my comm. My heart leaps in my chest as I read the three words Paul sent.
“I did it.”
I release a heavy sigh. “Looks like it’s your lucky cycle, Frea.”
He blinks at me in confusion, saelit drawing together on his brow. “You’re not going to kill me?”
He flinches as I grab the blaster from his side and toss it away, then holster Kha-shar with a nod to Yaz, who removes the knife but continues to pin Frea’set in place. “No, I’m not.”
The sound of heavy boots growing nearer fills his stunned silence.
Frea’set grins at me. “A fa-shar idiot to the very end. You really think I’m going to save you? Should’ve killed me while you had?—”
The doors to the lounge slam open and five black-clad figures with Consortium insignias on their chests file into the room.
“Do you want to repeat that part about participating in slave trade for the agents? I’m not sure if my comm recording picked it up,” I say, grinning at my ex-friend. “I thought stealing dangerous contraband was bad enough, but you really upped your game.”
Frea’set sputters as two of the agents approach him and haul him off the couch. “This is entrapment! I didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t touch me! I want my legal counsel.”
Frea’set’s protests and the replies of the agents escorting him away fade into background noise when Paul enters the room. He gives me a look of warning, which is good because I was about to run over to him and haul him into my arms.
I freeze and hold myself stiffly as an agent approaches me and Yaz .
“Uh, is there something I can assist you with, Agent?” I ask, pulse spiking with worry that maybe I’ve been set up again. That Paul cut a deal with the Consortium or told them I’d held him against his will.
As quickly as that thought rises, the love and trust in my heart shoves it away.
“Mr. Argiros informed us of the role you played in his investigation. On behalf of the Consortium, I would like to apologize for the misunderstanding that led to Spire security firing on your vessel. Compensation for any damages incurred has been issued to your accounts.”
I swallow hard, pushing down my elation to give the ankite a cool nod. “That’s appreciated, Agent…”
“Agent Ixi. The Consortium also appreciates your silence on this matter.”
I nod. “Of course.”
They hesitate for a moment before speaking again. “If you’re willing to provide that recording you mentioned when we arrived, we would be even more appreciative.”
“Oh! Uh…” I look over at Yaz, who gives me a subtle flick of his antennae to indicate he has it covered. I hadn’t actually recorded anything, but my aespian assassin must’ve been in the room the whole time. “Yes, we can provide that.”
Agent Ixi thanks me again, then turns and follows the pair of agents dragging a screaming Frea’set away.
When their footsteps fade, I run over to Paul and grab his face, kissing him hard.
“You did it.” I kiss him again. “You’re incredible.” Another kiss that he gasps into as I squeeze his ass, molding our bodies together. “I love you.” Emotion and relief surge inside me and I can’t keep the words I’ve been stifling inside any longer. “Stay with me. Please, Paul. Stay.”
His eyes widen, thick brows shooting up. “You’re sure you want that?”
Sweet, wonderful Paul. Always questioning why I’d want him around.
“ Vash-ka, yes! I can’t bear the thought of you leaving. I’ll go to Spire with you if you don’t want to stay on the ship. We can figure it out. Just please tell me we’ll find a way to stay together.”
“I’ve brought you nothing but stress and bad luck,” he says with a soft chuckle, but I can see the vulnerability shining in his eyes.
I look into my love’s thalist-colored eyes, recognizing in my soul how deeply wrong he is. “No, l’thran . You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Paul grins up at me, tears spilling from his shining eyes. “Well, when you put it like that… yeah. I’ll stay. Of course I’ll fucking stay.”
He tugs me down into a kiss and I back him up against the wall, hands sliding inside his jacket and up under the hem of his shirt to feel his skin. Paul moans and grinds against me, threading his hand in my hair to keep my mouth against his.
“Captain.” Yaz’s voice nearby startles us apart.
“ Esh’et, sorry, Yaz, I forgot you were there.”
He shrugs. “No apologies needed. I wouldn't have interrupted, but I believe it may be better for you to return to the ship to copulate. The agents will likely need to return and search the satellite.”
A furious flush rises on Paul’s face. “R-right. Good thinking. Let’s go back to our ship.”
My chest squeezes at Paul casually calling it “our ship”.
“Yes.” I glance over at Frea’set’s fully stocked bar as we go to leave. “Yaz, grab a few bottles on your way out, will you? ”
Paul cocks a brow at me.
I smile and squeeze him against me, giving him a lingering kiss. “Once we’re out of here, we’re celebrating.”