Page 26 of Sublime Target

She was the first potential mate he’d encountered, and he was already spilling his guts to her.

This could become dangerous.

“Your threats are just more sophisticated now,” she remarked dryly before her eyes widened—as if she hadn’t meant to say that aloud.

Jerik chuckled.

She stared at him, still with that shocked, wide-eyed look, hovering between curiosity and trepidation.

Long, black lashes framed her eyes in the most delicate way. Her uncertain smile made him want to drop his armor and his concealed weapons and reassure her he wasn’t that kind of monster anymore.

“That was supposed to be a joke.”

“I know. And you’re right.”

“That came out wrong. I’m sorry. I…” She averted her gaze, looking out across the shimmering blue water. “Habit of saying inappropriate things when nervous. I’ll be honest: this is the most unlikely encounter I’ve ever had. I’m just an ordinary Citizen of the Federation. Everything I know about Kordolians, I’ve learned from our Networks. I can’t even begin to understand what you’ve had to endure, Mr Garul. But thank you for personally explaining something that’s mystified the hell out of most humans on this planet. You have your reasons, and important ones at that. I respect that. I can only ask that when we’re all seated at the negotiating table, you’ll remember that my boss comes from a very different culture to yours.”

Jerik snorted. So do you. Even though she was on the payroll, he didn’t like her speaking on behalf of that Garner idiot, who was apparently arrogant enough to think he could play power games with him.

If not for Clarissa, he would have had this Cooper Garner understanding exactly where he sat in the Universal hierarchy—beneath the edge of his blade.

They didn’t want to break the man or dismantle his business empire.

They just needed to take that particular parcel of land.

Once he gave it up, they would leave him alone.

Her, on the other hand…

“You know who I am, don’t you, Clarissa?”

“What makes you say that?” She was cautious again, her professional mask slipping back into place.

“I never told you my second name. And I don’t think it was a slip that you called me by it.”

“A reputation like yours is difficult to hide, Mr Garul.”

“I told you, it’s just Jerik.”

“Jerik,” she repeated, as if saying his name for the very first time. Because this time, she said it differently, as if she knew him. “Fine. I’ll admit, I knew of you. A little.”

“Oh?” Never could he have imagined that he would give two shits about what another being thought of him.

But now it seemed he did.

The wind swirled around them, cutting through the sounds of the city. And all of a sudden, Jerik heard voices.

Angry shouts drifted up from the street below, amplified by some sort of device. All the way up here, the sound was faint. Clarissa appeared oblivious. He doubted she’d detected the sounds—compared to his, her hearing wasn’t as acute.

But surely, she could see the plume of red smoke drifting up into the clear blue sky.

She groaned in dismay.

Instantly, Jerik’s danger-sense was activated. “What is it?” he asked sharply.

“We get them occasionally, but this is the last thing we need right now. Especially today of all days.”

“What do you mean, them?”

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