Chapter Ten
Why me? Why now? What next? Finding answers only uncovered more questions. Ruyn felt more unsettled now than before. There was no doubt in his mind the attackers had sought him out. If they hadn’t ambushed him in the alley, it would have been somewhere else.
Which meant they’d try again. Relentless in pursuit of their aims, the Prellim wouldn’t give up and move on to something else. He’d tangled with them before on a few faraway planets. Had he killed a cartel general? Shut down an illegal operation? Interrupted a shipment of drugs?
“Maybe it’s payback,” he said.
“Payback for what?”
“Luturna has embassies and outposts on various planets. My space force unit had been deployed to planets where the Prellim had gained a toehold. We engaged the cartel several times.”
“But why single you out?”
“I’m the vulnerable one? The others in my unit are still in the military.”
“That’s a viable theory.” She nodded. “But maybe you’re not the only one. Maybe others in your unit got ambushed. Your military may not even realize it was the Prellim.”
“I’ll check into it. My former CO might tell me if there have been attacks on personnel, and if not, maybe the other men from my unit will.” He’d start at the top and work down.
“Good. I don’t have contacts in your military,” she said.
“If the Prellim have gone after men in my unit, that might help to rule out an infiltration on Luturna.” He hoped that turned out to be the case. He stepped wrong, and a sharp pain shot through his leg.
“Leg hurting you?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “It’s getting better, though. Every day, it improves a little.”
“Your physical therapy is pretty strenuous.”
“I prefer it strenuous.” He paused. “I’m not ready to go in for the night. Instead of going home, how would you feel about grabbing a meal? There’s a nice restaurant close to our building. Not fancy, but the food is good.”
“I’d like that!” she replied right away, and he felt ridiculously pleased.
* * * *
Mama Murta, wearing a colorful apron and one of her matching head scarves, scurried out from the kitchen.
“Sit! Sit! I saved a table for you in the back.” She ushered them to a spot at the rear of the tiny eatery.
There were only a dozen tables, and ten of them were occupied.
He recognized several diners who’d been there previously. Mama had her regulars.
Most people probably considered the tables by the window as the plum spots, but he felt too exposed there and always requested a seat in the back. “Why would you save a table for me? You didn’t know I was coming.”
“Ah, Ruynko, there will always be a place for you at my restaurant. And this time, you brought a lady friend! Excellent! I am glad you took my advice and found yourself a woman. It is not good for a man to be alone. Even a big tough war hero like you. You need a woman to take care of you.”
Maybe dinner out wasn’t such a good idea. At least not dinner here.
She shouted at the young waitress. “Chaumi, bring Ruynko and his lady friend some drinks.” She turned to Michaela who wore an amused expression. “I’m Murta. You may call me, Mama.”
“I’m Michaela Perine. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said.
“It’s very much a pleasure to meet you. A human will be good for him. Girls on Luturna do not wish to settle down. They are too interested in their careers to want babies. I tell Chaumi all the time not to do what I did.”
Michaela’s cheeks turned pink. “We’re not”—she looked at Ruyn—“a couple.”
“She works for me, Mama. She’s my assistant.”
“Bah! That is what you say now. Mark my words. She will be more than that to you. You’ll see. I am always right.”
Definitely a bad idea coming here.
Chaumi set a couple of drinks on the table and flashed a sympathetic smile.
“Do you know what you would like to eat, or do you need a menu?” Mama asked. “The special of the day is excellent, if I do say so myself.”
“Would you mind ordering for me?” Michaela looked at him. “I’m still learning what all your foods are.”
“Two specials.” He didn’t need to ask what it was; it was all good.
“I’ll have it ready soon.” Mama bustled off into the kitchen.
“She is quite a…whirlwind,” Michaela said.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea she would try to couple us up. She has hinted I should find a wife and get married, but she’s never been so blatant. I’m sorry I subjected you to this.”
“It’s all right.” She chuckled. “What did she call you? Ruynko?”
“Direct translation—little Ruyn. Add nko to any name, and it becomes a term of endearment.”
“Ruynko.” Blue eyes glinted with humor. “She likes you.”
“Mama’s a bit over the top. She is not wrong about women on my planet delaying marriage and babies. If the trend continues, it will have a serious, negative impact on our population. Mama should know. She didn’t marry and have Chaumi until late in life.”
“Chaumi’s her daughter? I thought she was a grandchild.”
“Like I said, late in life. How about you? Do you have anyone special waiting for you on Earth?” The question popped out. He had no business asking, but he found himself hanging on her answer.
“No,” she said, and he exhaled with relief.
Her mouth twisted wryly. “I guess I’m not much different from women on your planet.
I’ve been focused on my career. Being in the military is not conducive to forming romantic relationships.
I moved around a lot. If you don’t have somebody waiting for you at home when you join, you’re not likely to have someone when you leave. ”
“I hear you,” he said. Been there. Done that. Quick hookups had been all he’d been able to arrange. “You’re out now, though. You’re not old. Far younger than Mama was when she had Chaumi.”
“If you’re fishing for my age, I’m thirty-two. But now I’ve signed on with GAL Friday, which is just as bad as the military for connecting with a romantic partner. I’ve been to five different planets in two years.”
“You still have plenty of time to settle down.” Did she have any interest in getting married? Having children? Why am I even thinking about this?
They had a professional relationship, the hard-on he often got in her presence notwithstanding. He shifted in his chair to ease the discomfort in his groin.
“We’ll see,” she said. “You must come here a lot to know so much about Mama.”
“I do come here often—the café is close, and the food is good—but I knew Murta—or rather I knew of her—before she retired and opened this place. This restaurant is her second career.”
“What did she do before?”
“I’ll give you sixty-seven guesses.”
Michaela laughed. “Sixty-seven, huh? She must have done something special. Okay, here goes. My first guess is…professional matchmaker.”
He laughed. “Nope, but good guess. She’s kind of doing that now as a hobby. She’s passionate about fixing people up.” Whether they wanted to be or not.
“Hmm…” She peered at Mama through the pass-through window. She bustled around the kitchen, firing orders at the staff. “Drill sergeant.”
He chuckled. “You’re getting warmer,” he said, impressed.
“Captain?”
“Warmer.”
“So, military. How far up the chain of command should I go?”
“All the way.”
“General?” She raised her eyebrows. “Or is it admiral? What do you call your top commander?”
“In the space force, it’s admiral. But Mama was a civilian—she is the former Luturnan minister of defense. She oversaw all our military branches,” he said.
Michaela glanced at the colorful woman in the kitchen and laughed. “You never know about people.”
“You narrowed it down really fast,” he said. “You’re sharp.” And attractive. Beautiful when she smiled.
“Two specials!” Chaumi approached with two steaming platters releasing mouthwatering savory aromas.
“Mama says it’s on the house.” She placed the dishes on the table.
Kumash. A roasted, glazed waterfowl served with seasoned vegetables.
He’d had it once; it was exceptional. But he could pay for it. “That’s not necessary.”
“You take it up with her; I’m not going to do it,” Chaumi said.
Michaela giggled.
“All right, then. Thank you.” Ruyn waved at Mama in the kitchen.
She beamed a sly smile.
“Enjoy your meal,” Chaumi said.
“I’m anxious to try this,” Michaela said, and he watched as she forked a bite. With the first taste, she closed her eyes, and her expression turned blissful. “Mmm. Oh, wow. This is fantastic.”
“Nobody cooks like Mama.” He grinned and took a bite. It was better than he remembered. “I think she lures people in with food so she can try to set them up.”
She laughed. “It would be worth the risk for food like this.”
He was more curious than he should be about her love life.
This is just a job, and then she’ll be gone.
Moving on again. Which was fine because he wasn’t yet in any state to get involved with anyone.
Not until he was stronger, but his noticeable improvement seeded hope his life might return to normal.
He’d been told he’d limp the rest of his life.
Long term, he had no desire to remain in his older brother’s employ.
The military was out. Finance was a possibility.
He liked numbers, and he’d worked in the field before. Besides, what else did he know?
“How long do you think you’ll continue with GAL Friday?” he asked.
“You’re my last rotation,” she replied. “After this, I’ll go home to Earth. I miss my family.
“I probably shouldn’t share this with a client, but GAL Friday was always intended to be a stepping stone.
My goal is to open my own security and investigations firm.
I like this line of work; it suits my skill set—if I’m not getting shot at.
” She chuckled. “But I also like being my own boss—no offense.”
“None taken.”
“When I first got out of the military, I joined a small private investigations firm and discovered I had a knack for investigation. I worked a lot of interesting cases—but I also got stuck with some real sleepers. I want to pick my own cases—do work that intrigues me. I love figuring out a puzzle.
“Opening my own firm takes capital. Licensing, equipment, office furniture. GAL Friday pays more than the small firm I worked for, so jumping ship was a no-brainer. And—I’m getting galactic experience and making alien contacts.
I can start my company on Earth and then go interplanetary. Today the world—tomorrow the galaxy!”
“I envy your certainty of purpose. I’m still figuring out my next move.”
Soldiering was all he knew—except for financial analysis. Why not pick it up again? Maybe he could become a Guy Friday, try out different companies, different disciplines. Something to consider.
GAL Friday paid extremely well. Having reviewed Korsan Enterprises’ accounts, he knew what the agency charged for Michaela’s services.
She didn’t get the whole amount, of course.
GAL Friday’s commission took some percentage of the fee—he guessed 25 to 40 percent—but it was still lucrative employment.
“Would you have picked my case?” he asked.
She hesitated a moment too long. Am I a sleeper? Do I bore her? “Initially—no. But only because you were a reluctant client. Korsan insisted on secrecy, saying you’d oppose having a bodyguard, which isn’t the way I like to work.”
“Sorry,” he said ruefully. “I acted like a jerk.”
“We worked it out. We’re a team now.” She smiled at him. His cock throbbed, and the world tilted a little. Through the kitchen pass-through, Mama watched them with a satisfied smile.
You’re wrong, Mama.