Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Nik stood at the large observation window on the Drake and watched Earth’s surface recede beneath them. He felt a surprising pang. He wished he could have had more time to explore it. To uncover more of its secrets.
But a larger part of him was more than happy to be heading back to the Magellan. He ached and he was tired. He rubbed a hand over his face. Maybe he was getting too old for this treasure hunting gig.
He smiled. No. He didn’t think so. He kept staring at the black ocean below until the clouds finally obscured it from view.
He heard the whisper of the door sliding open. He was hoping it was Nera, but instead, Jonas stepped up beside him.
“Shame to be leaving so soon,” Solomon said.
Nik glanced his way. “We’ll be back. How are you feeling?”
The younger man spread his arms. “All healed.”
“Thanks for diving in front of me.”
“And saving your life.”
Nik fought a smile. “Possibly.”
Jonas grinned. “I owed you. Now we’re even.”
“You still owe Nera.”
The young treasure hunter winced. “Don’t remind me.”
Nik laughed. “You did good work on this hunt. I think you’re well on your way to that reputation you’re so hungry for.”
Another grin. “I still have to knock your brother off his perch as the best treasure hunter in the galaxy.”
“Good luck with that.” Nik held out a hand and they shook.
Jonas winked. “I like a challenge.”
As the treasure hunter left, Galen walked into the room, and Nik’s mellow feeling evaporated. He turned back to the window, and Galen joined him.
After a long moment, Nik sighed. “I owe you an apology.”
“No, you don’t.” The other man crossed his hands at the small of his back. “When I accepted the job, I knew I had to alienate everyone.” He glanced at Niklas. “Even my best friend. When I saw what they did to you…I wanted to catch them more than ever.”
“Dammit. You are making me feel even guiltier, Galen. I hated you. I hated what you’d become.”
“Good. Because I was playing the part of a pretty bad dude.” A small smile. “Your reaction told me I was doing a believable job, and it helped solidify my cover.”
Nik rubbed his forehead. “I need a drink.”
“There happens to be a mighty fine Jaarlan whiskey in the cabinet over here.” Galen walked to a small, built-in bar.
He pulled out two glasses and a bottle of amber liquid.
He set the glasses on the food printer. “Computer, ice.” After several cubes tinkled into the glasses, he splashed a generous portion of whiskey into them and held one out to Niklas.
“I did what I had to do to bring down the bastards in the Institute. They were breaking the law and getting worse as each year went by. Avril wasn’t just planning to sell the artifacts she found here.
She’d already made deals to sell off any viable biological samples that could be used for the creation of biological weapons. ”
“The zombies.” Fuck, the woman was worse than Nik had thought.
“Yes.” Galen swirled his whiskey then lifted his glass. “To better days for the Institute.”
“Yeah.” Niklas took a large sip. The whiskey was good. “I’ll drink to that.”
“After I get back, the evidence I’ve collected on this trip will finally be everything I need to send a lot of the higher-ups at the Institute to prison.”
Nik wouldn’t lie. He felt a savage sense of satisfaction. “Good.”
“It will create a lot of openings. The Institute will need people like you, Nik.”
He froze. “What?”
“People who care about history, preservation, about safeguarding the pieces of our past for those in the future to admire.”
Nik took another sip and this time the fine whiskey burned a little. He thought about sitting at a desk in a fancy corner office in one of the grand museums in the central systems. Or of hours studying artifacts in the research labs.
But one thing was wrong.
He just couldn’t make Nera fit into the picture.
A short laugh escaped him. “I have the treasure-hunting bug now, Galen. I enjoy exploring.”
The ice in Galen’s glass tinkled. “Then become Director of Acquisitions. It would come with the Magellan and the Drake. You could travel the galaxy, searching for artifacts.”
Nik’s heartbeat was a loud pounding in his ears. He looked at the door. “I’m not sure.” Jesus, he should be jumping at the chance…but again, there was one big piece of his heart that was just more important to him now.
If she chose to stay with him.
Fear was a quick slash of pain. Hell, no. If she left him, he’d follow her.
Galen smiled. “As Director, you’d need personal security. I think you’ve got that covered.” He set his glass down. “Think about it on the trip back, and let me know.”
Nik grabbed his friend’s arm. “I…I’m really glad you’re back.”
Galen clasped his hand over Nik’s. “Me, too. I plan to whip your ass at crossfire again soon. You always sucked at that game.”
Nik stepped back and made a scoffing sound. “I’ve been hanging out with Dathan a lot more these days. He’s a master at it.”
Galen laughed. “We’ll see.”
Nik smiled back. He had his best friend back, and a tempting offer of a job.
Now he just needed the woman who held his heart to stay with him.
Nera took a deep breath and opened the cabin door.
Alarah leaped to her feet, her gauzy dress fluttering around her. “Nera.”
“Gunn’s dead.”
Alarah rocked on her feet, pressed a closed fist to her chest. “Really?”
Nera moved closer. “Yes. We left his body on the planet.”
The young woman dropped onto the bed. Her breathing was shallow. “He’s dead?”
“Yes.” Nera sat too, careful to keep some space between them. “He’s gone and you’re free.”
“Free.” The word was said in a bewildered tone.
Nera’s hand gripped the silky bed cover. “I know it will take some time to sink in. But you’re truly free, Alarah.”
The woman turned to look at Nera. A tear slid down her cheek, her golden eyes were wide. “My name isn’t Alarah. He called me that.” She straightened her thin shoulders. “My name is Ela.”
Nera nodded. “Hello, Ela. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Ela made a hiccupping sound and raised a shaking hand to her mouth. “What will I do?”
Nera gently grabbed the woman’s hand and moved it back to the bed. “It’s your choice. Whatever you want.”
“I’m afraid. Where do I start?”
Nera let her own memories wash over her. Now, they didn’t seem to hurt so much. Just a bittersweet sting that underscored how far she’d come. “You start with baby steps. Do the things you’ve always wanted to do.”
Ela gave a small nod. “I’ve always wanted to swim in the ocean.”
“There you go. I can recommend the resort world of Duna. Lovely place.”
“I don’t have anything. I can’t afford to just…go where I please.”
“I’ve arranged for Gunn’s portion of the payment for this expedition to go to you.” Nera tapped a finger against her knee. “That’s quite a sizable sum.”
Ela’s mouth opened, closed, opened again. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just live.
Make a good life for yourself.” Nera stood.
“Don’t bury this.” She nodded at the room.
“You have to work through what Gunn did to you. If you want to move forward, you can’t forget the past. Use it as a stepping stone to get somewhere better.
” She drew in a breath. “Believe me, if you try to ignore it or hide from it, you’ll only hurt yourself and deny yourself the chance for more. ”
Ela nodded. “I’ll…I’ll try.”
“Good.” Nera knelt and grabbed Ela’s hand. “You deserve more. It’s out there, somewhere. Don’t be afraid to reach for it.”
“Like you’ve been?”
Nera shot her a rueful smile. “This isn’t about me.”
“If I had someone as delicious as Dr. Phoenix, who looked at me the way he looks at you…I’d never let that go.”
Nera smiled and stood. “Then you’re already a lot smarter than me.”
Ela managed a small smile. “I can take him off your hands.”
Nera wagged a finger. “One step in his direction and I’ll hurt you.”
The young woman gave a rusty-sounding laugh. “Thank you. For everything. How can I ever repay you?”
Nera headed for the door. “Live.”
Nik was still at the observation window. They’d hit space, and now the Earth was nothing more than a dark ball hanging in a field of distant stars. Humans had let their differences tear them apart, not bring them together, and in the end, they’d destroyed themselves.
He wasn’t about to let that happen to him.
He didn’t hear her, but he sensed her. He turned and spotted her leaning against the wall. She was in an all-in-one black jumpsuit that outlined every lean line of her strong body. She had her arms crossed, her nebula-gaze watching him.
“Ryant offered you a sweet job,” she said. “What you’ve always wanted.”
Nik didn’t bother asking her how she knew. He heard the emotion under her cool words. He could read her far more easily now. He stalked toward her.
She shifted a little, a sure sign of nerves. “I know you’ve missed working for the Institute.”
“I enjoy working with my brothers.” He stopped in front of her.
“I didn’t say you don’t, but it isn’t quite the same as having all the resources of the Institute at your fingertips.”
He pressed his hands to either side of her body and leaned in. “People seem to enjoy deciding the kinds of things I like and want. No one thinks to ask me.”
“Fine.” She lifted her chin. “What do you want, Niklas?”
“You. Just you.” He moved until his lips were a breath from hers. “I love you.”
He felt her chest hitch.
“I know,” she said. “I heard you tell me on the ground.”
He pressed his body against hers, marveling at every inch of her. He kissed her jawline. “You love me, too.”
“Really?” she asked carefully.
“I know you’ve never experienced it before, but you must know how we feel about each other…it’s special. Once in a lifetime.”
“Caring makes you weak.”
He nuzzled her neck, felt her fingers land on his shoulder and dig in. “You couldn’t be weak if you tried. Take a risk, Nera. You’ve never let fear stop you before. Don’t be a coward now. The payoff this time will be bigger and better than any treasure hunt.”
She forced his head back so she could look at him. “I—”
As her words broke off, he saw a flash of vulnerability in her face and his heart clenched.
“You can love me, Nera. I’ll take care of your heart.”
“I’m not sure I have one. Or if I do, it’s just a dried-up, shriveled husk.”
“No, it isn’t. Give it to me and I’ll treat it as the greatest treasure I’ve ever held. I’ll protect it and give you what you need.” He dropped to his knees and pressed his face to her belly. “I’m already yours. Whatever you choose…I’d never force you. It’s your choice if you want to be with me.”
She tugged him up. “Damn you, Niklas Phoenix. Why did you have to appear in my life and tempt me?” Her lips nipped at his. “Why did you have to show me how love could be?” Her fingers curled into his shirt. “I choose you. It’s always been you.”
Elation soared through him. He yanked her to him and fused their lips together. Damn, he felt like he’d just uncovered the galaxy’s greatest treasure. He boosted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
She pulled back, panting. “I’ll probably still beat you up sometimes.” Her eyelids lowered a little. “And tie you up sometimes too.”
His cock surged against his pants. “I hope so. I still owe you some debts, from all those times you helped us out.”
She rubbed her cheek against his. “No, you don’t. You’re the one who taught me that when you love someone, you don’t have to keep score.”
“So, you’re admitting you love me.”
“Maybe.”
He made a growling sound, and she laughed.
“Okay, okay.” Her face turned serious and she cupped his cheeks. “I love you, Niklas.”
His chest swelled. It was the greatest treasure he’d ever hunted down. “Thank the stars.”
She smiled, but it was edged with a little bit of evil. “Your brothers are going to have a fit.”
Shit. When he brought Nera home, his brothers would have a fit the size of a supernova. He grinned. He didn’t care one bit. “They’ll get over it.”
She snorted. “Sometime next century.”
“Well, you have beaten them up…a lot.” His smile dissolved. “I still plan to hunt treasure.”
She tilted her head.
“It’ll just be paid for by the Institute, and all the treasures will go into museums now.”
She wrinkled her nose for a second. “Very well, Director Phoenix. I’ll be right beside you, keeping you safe.”
He pulled her close again, his mouth meeting hers. “I’ve got a feeling amazing adventures await us, Nera.”
“Then let’s find out.”