Page 119 of Stars in Halo

Akira’s lips twisted. ‘Naam. I’m well acquainted with her.’

‘I hear you had a dalliance with her.’

The pirate jerked his chin, nostrils flaring. ‘I did.’

‘Have you been having problems with your shops on Enia and Galicia?’ the King asked with a wicked glint.

Akira lurched. ‘I’ve had millions of schills worth of goods stolen. Whoever it is leaves a hack that distorts all our recordings before, during and after each heist.’

K’Sumi flicked a holo file through the link to the pirate.

It downloaded almost at once, and the images played out on the screen.

They showed a woman walking in and out of a store on Enia. The footage had been taken from a camera further down the same street.

Akira scowled. ‘Fokk, it’s her!’

‘Naam. The images are from a few weeks ago. They’re proof she’s been stealing from you. My people had followed her for some time to ensure she captured the Serpent’s Iris as we’d agreed.’

Akira’s left eyebrow rose. ‘She nabbed the Iris? I didn’t hear a peep about that.’

‘You haven’t heard it still,’ the King warned. ‘But now you know who owes you thousands of schills in lost earnings, and if I were you, I’d use it as leverage. Given she might be an ultrahigh probable addition to the D’Hanna crew for this op.’

Akira’s eyes glistened. ‘How can you guarantee I’ll cross paths with Katya? She’s wily that one.’

‘I have it on good authority that she’s reached out to her brothers to form the crew needed for this gig. Join them and make sure they complete what I’ve tasked them with. Whatever else you decide to do with her or them afterwards is up to you.’

Akira’s lips curled. ‘It’ll be my delight.’

The King of Iccythria furrowed his brow at the enduring anger under Akira’s facade. ‘What did she ever do to you?’

‘She escaped me. No one escapes me, and I was waiting for the right moment to get reacquainted with her, but she was proving too slippery to pin down.’ Akira growled, a glint in his eyes. ‘Your Highness, you’ve sold me. I’m in.’

The King rubbed his hands in delight. ‘Excellent. Get to Zanyria and ensure this pack of idiots make things happen. This plan has got to fokkin’ succeed. I want that Viper’s Eye, and I want it now.’

Zanyria glimmered, its surface covered in shimmering white sand and crystal-clear blue waters.

The view from Katya’s ship as it came to land from above was breathtaking.

The planet was made up of continents, which were, by definition, a series of islands studded around the stunning world like a necklace.

They were dotted with luxurious resorts, each more grand and extravagant than the last, hugging the endless stretches of coastline. They sparkled through the expansive palm trees, resembling shining gems in vibrant hues of bright blues and greens against the vast expanse of blue water.

It was a paradise of decadence and escape, where the sun was never too hot, and the waves were always gentle and inviting. A place where time seemed to slow down, and one’s worries drifted away on the soft sea breeze.

The pleasure planet, however, had its underbelly, with links to organised crime groups who used the Zanyrian Riviera as a place to oversee and orchestrate criminal activities.

Its lax rules on the drug trade, illicit gambling, and the ability to fly in and out anonymously made it a massive draw card for Pegasi’s fugitives, who found it a favourable environment to camouflage their presence.

This was why her brothers had insisted on meeting here, hoping that, unlike most other planets in the system, they’d not be flagged for their past sins at entry.

A sweet, tropical scent filled her nostrils as Katya stepped out of her ship and into her waiting shuttle flyer.

The pilot of the smaller vessel left the top down, letting in the delicious scents that evoked a utopia of indulgence and opulence.

On arrival at her hotel, she was welcomed with a bouquet of lush flowers and a box of candy made from indigenous fruit trees.

The Zanyria Luxury Resort, famed for its state-of-the-art amenities and extravagant suites, was bustling with life yet discreet enough for its high-end guests.

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