Page 125 of Stars in Halo

She cocked her head at him, inhaling to maintain her temper. ‘What have I done? What about what you and your two dumb-ass brothers got us into? I wasn’t the one who promised King K’Sumi the world and didn’t deliver. I’m the victim here and won’t stand for your outlandish hypocrisy.’

‘Tut, tut, a squabbling family. See why His Highness sent me?’ Akira drawled.

Katya took a ragged breath to control herself.

At that moment, the air was punctured with loud, wailing sirens.

At the same time, Akira’s wrist comm trilled.

He took the call in his neural transmitter, and Katya saw his oily, handsome face blanche.

‘Seems we need to hustle out. The Zanyrians are welcoming most times. But there is the matter of a raid of one of their Imperial Cruisers in recent months that I think they’re up in arms about. They’re conducting a strike, and they’re looking for me.’

Katya’s sucked her teeth.

While appearing like beach-loving, laid-back hosts, when their hospitality was taken for granted, Zanyrians transformed into ruthless and unforgiving tyrants. They would stop at nothing to capture suspects, with severe consequences for those they managed to snag, unless you bribed their entire force.

Akira rose with haste. ‘You’re leaving with me, now.’

He jerked his chin when they hesitated, and two burly men emerged from the adjacent booths. They nailed cold glares on the D’Hanna quartet, weapons in hand.

‘K’Sumi sent me a contingent of his gendarmes to make sure your asses don’t run off. They’ve also used an Iccythrian order to forfeit ownership of Fortuna’s Grace, so you’ve no vessel to escape with,’ Akira announced. ‘So we’re taking my ship to Eden II, where I can keep an eye on you.’

While her brothers protested, Katya hurriedly stuffed the Sable comm tab into her bag.

‘I need to get my things,’ Katya snarled. ‘My luggage.’

‘We don’t have time for packing. I’ve flight suits on my craft you can borrow.’

Korin and Katya’s eyes met.

He shrugged, and she sucked her teeth, jerking her chin. They had no choice but to comply.

However, this game played out now; they fokkin’ had to go through with it, Katya sighed, hoping to heaven that Xion’s promise to always be close by was true.

With no more possible arguments, the D’Hanna siblings gave in and stepped away from the table.

Akira grabbed Katya’s upper arm as he and the ALMQ gendarmes hurried the group out of the restaurant.

Katya tried to look around for Xion, but he was nowhere to be seen.

They rushed through the crowded hotel lobby, dodging guests and staff alike.

It was too late.

The sirens wailed as a gaggle of Zanyrian Police and Security flyers pulled outside the entrance.

A voice rumbled into her Sable-designed nodal earring. ‘Khaliya, I’m coming for you.’

Katya’s limbs almost gave way in relief.

‘I’ve got eyes on you,’ Xion continued in her ear.

She tore her arm from Akira and bent her head, pretending to straighten a shoe as she whispered to him. ‘Nada, kodan. We have to complete this mission. I don’t require a rescue yet as long as you’ve got eyes on me.’

‘Sawa,’ he conceded, ‘but if bullets come close to you, I’m getting you out.’

Akira yanked her upright just as a Zanyrian armoured cop stormed into the lobby and pointed their weapon at the pirate.

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