Page 45 of Obsessed

"You're naïve." Davrik's grip tightens further. "Men like this don't stop. They come back, stronger, angrier-"

"Then we'll deal with that if it happens. Together." I touch his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles. "Please. Don't do this. Not for me."

His green eyes finally meet mine, conflicted. The captain's struggles grow weaker.

"How dangerous can he really be?" I gesture at the pathetic sight. "I got away from him with basic self-defense and some handy chemicals. He's just a bully who-"

Movement catches my eye - the captain's hand snakes down to his boot. My breath catches as he pulls out a small pistol.

A gasp escapes my lips. "Davrik!"

The captain's fingers loosen on the gun as Davrik drops him. In one fluid motion, my Kaleidian has the weapon and the pirate pinned against the ship's hull. The metal reverberates with the impact.

"Now do you understand?" Davrik presses the barrel against the captain's temple. "This is who they are."

My hands shake as I step forward. "We can keep him contained. My research station has a secure storage unit-"

"You think a locked door will stop him?" Davrik's laugh holds no humor. "Your naivety would be charming if it wasn't so dangerous."

"Then we wait." I edge closer, careful not to make any sudden movements. "My company's ship arrives in less than two weeks. We turn him over to the authorities-"

The captain wheezes out a laugh. "Authorities? In this sector?"

"Shut up." Davrik jams the gun harder against his head.

"Please." My voice cracks. "I can't have this on my conscience. We can find another way."

"Your conscience?" Davrik's green eyes flash. "What about mine if he comes back and hurts you?"

"That's my risk to take." I reach for his arm again. "I won't let you become a murderer because of me."

"I've been one long before I met you."

The words hit like a physical blow, but I press on. "Then be better. For me. Show me the man I fell in love with."

Davrik's jaw clenches. "That man is a fantasy."

"No." I shake my head. "He's right here, fighting against his worst instincts. Prove me right."

The pirate captain's split lip curves into a bloody grin. "You really want the authorities involved, pretty boy? With what you've got in those crates?"

My stomach drops. The cargo. I'd almost forgotten about it in all this chaos.

"What's he talking about?" I step closer, my boots crunching on fallen leaves.

The captain's eyes gleam. "Oh, this is rich. You haven't told her?" He barks out a laugh that makes me flinch. "Some mate you are."

Davrik's fingers tighten on the gun. "I don't know what's in those crates, and that's the truth, Alice," he says, turning his face towards me. "What I said about client confidentiality? That's the truth.

"But you know enough to know it's not My Little Wetsy Betsy dolls, don't you? Bet you didn't tell her that. Bet you didn't tell her what else you've knowingly smuggled from planet to planet."

My heart pounds in my chest, wondering at the darkest possibilities my mind can create.

"What I want to know if how you know what's in there," Davrik growls.

"I have my ways. Well, had. Secrets are sacred, yes, but data rules everything. And your boss —Freynal, was it?— he runs a much tighter ship than you. That shipping manifest was protected by the finest security ever seen. But it was still nothing compared to poor Kraz. Such a sharp brain wasted in the stomach of an oversized house plant."

I gulp, remembering the scene. I know those plants well. Kraz was dead in less than a minute, no doubt. I can't stand to have more death here. Not even if it's him.

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