Page 80 of Under His Heel

“No, but that bit with—”

Nadia was a surprisingly good movie watching partner, and Alex was glad she’d invited herself. Or that she’d even called out to him, because Alex would have ignored her if he’d spotted her first.

Seeing Parsons just outside the theater kind of dampened his enthusiasm. Alex stopped walking, and Nadia, her arm hooked through Alex’s, jerked to a stop, too.

“Huh?”

Parsons got up from the bench and walked over to them. “Hey.” He gave Nadia a glance. “Alex, can I talk to you? In private?”

“How’d you know I be here?” Alex was still kind of annoyed about Parsons being a big baby the other day.

Nadia pushed closer into Alex. “Is he a stalker or something? Because station security takes that shit seriously.”

No way did Alex want to deal with more security, but as much as he didn’t particularly want to see Parsons, he also didn’t want to get him in trouble.

“No, he’s, uh.” Alex floundered. “A… friend?”

Parsons nodded at Nadia. “Jeremy Parsons. I work on board the same ship as Alex.”

“Okay. Nice to meet you, Jeremy. I’m Nadia Sinclair.” Nadia turned her attention back to Alex. “However you want to handle this. I’m happy to stick around, but if you want to chat with him in private I can leave, or if you want me to keep watch, I can just go sit on those far benches and wait. And remember, just because you’re a bondservant doesn’t mean he gets to walk all over you. You’re contracted to only one person.”

Her indignant tone made Alex chuckle, and he saw Parsons scowl. “No, I think it’s okay. Parsons isn’t a threat. You should, uh. Get back to Singh and Fontaine?”

It was weird, but apparently Nadia actually liked those two creeps, and Alex sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her how she was supposed to feel about things. Unlike some people. Plus the more she kept Singh busy, the less Singh could bother Alex. Win-win, in Alex’s book.

Nadia gave Parsons another suspicious look. “Fine. But if anything happens, I won’t hesitate to tell Mistress about this entire encounter. It was nice hanging out with you, Alex.”

She walked away slowly, looking over her shoulder constantly, until she disappeared around a corner.

“Mistress?” Parsons asked.

“Singh, I guess. Singh and her husband hold Nadia’s contract.”

“Dr. Singh is married?” Parsons shook his head. “No, never mind. Come on. I wanted to go somewhere with you.” He took the arm Nadia had been holding and started leading Alex out of the shopping center.

Alex tugged his arm back in annoyance but kept following. “What’s your deal? And you never said how you found me.”

“I mailed the Captain and asked. His response was ‘according to the GPS in his bondcollar, he is currently watching a movie.’” Parsons slowed down a bit. “Sorry I didn’t come with you. I had to get some overtime hours in, and I found a single-day job on station yesterday.”

Because of the expensive school he was sending his daughter to. “Tracht says that the school isn’t worth it.”

“What?”

“He watched the security footage from when you hung out with me. He said the school wasn’t worth it.” Alex shrugged. “His sister sends her kids there.” The street they were walking along was leading away from the station docks, not towards them. He didn’t recognize them anymore. It looked less touristy, more business-y now.

“Tracht should mind his own business.” Parsons looked behind them and then all around. Like he was afraid they were being followed. “It’s just over here.”

‘Just over here’ was a large, blocky building with the words ‘Debt Leasing and Bond Services Center’ written over the entrance.

Alex froze. “Why are we here?”

“Because,” Parsons put a hand on Alex’s shoulder and tried to push him closer to the building. “No way in hell is half the stuff Tracht is doing to you legal. You heard Nadia. She said just because you’re a bondservant, doesn’t mean I get to walk all over you. That applies to Tracht as well!”

Fucking hell. Alex shook Parsons off, and it was a near thing that he didn’t punch him. “I told you the other day! I don’t need you butting in!”

“Alex, can’t you see—”

“No! Shut up! You’re the one who can’t fucking see.” Alex noticed the building security staring at them. He grabbed Parsons’ shirt and pulled him into a side street, away from prying eyes.

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