Page 71 of Alien's Love Child

"You really don't." She laughs against my shoulder. "But you do rock that captain's chair."

Davin clears his throat. "We should move. Less chance of being spotted if we leave while it's still dark."

I pull back from Rena, wiping my eyes. "Right. Practical as always."

"Someone has to be." He's already checking his weapons, efficient and focused. "Ready?"

The keys warm in my hand as I curl my fingers around them. "Yeah. Let's go remind some gangsters why they should've left us alone."

"Remind them?" Davin raises an eyebrow. "Pretty sure they never knew in the first place."

"Even better."

CHAPTER 26

DAVIN

The landing pad's lights pierce through Glimner's perpetual smog, casting an eerie glow across Jesse's face. My heart clenches at the sight of her – fierce and determined, yet vulnerable. The ship's engines wind down with a familiar whine that echoes across the empty platform.

"You remember the plan?" I brush my thumb across her cheek, memorizing every freckle.

"Yeah, yeah. We've been over it a dozen times." She rolls her eyes, but her hand trembles as she grips my jacket. "Just... don't do anything stupid, okay?"

"Me? Never." I crack a smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes. "Listen, Jesse. Before we go?—"

"Don't." She presses her fingers to my lips. "This isn't goodbye."

"Let me finish." I catch her hand, pressing it against my chest where my heart pounds beneath my skin. "I love you. Not because you're my fated mate, or because of Leo. I love you because you're the most infuriating, brilliant woman I've ever met."

"Infuriating?" A tear slides down her cheek, but she manages a watery laugh. "You're one to talk, Mr. I-Forgot-Who-I-Was."

"Follow the plan." I pull her close, breathing in the scent of her hair. "No matter what happens in there, stick to it."

"I promise."

When our lips meet, it's desperate and deep, a kiss that tastes of fear and hope and everything we might lose. Her fingers dig into my shoulders, and I pour every unspoken word into the way I hold her. The smog swirls around us, and for a moment, we're the only two people in the universe.

She breaks away first, pressing her forehead to mine. "I love you too, you blue idiot."

The factory looms ahead, a hulking mass of corroded metal and broken dreams. My boots crunch over shattered glass as I stick to the shadows, keeping my breath steady like I learned in basic training. The smog works in my favor, cloaking my blue skin in the pale light of Glimner's moon.

A guard paces the loading dock, his attention fixed on his PerComm. Amateur. Back in my military days, that would've earned him latrine duty for a month. I wait for him to turn, timing my movements with the hiss of steam from a nearby vent.

The back door's lock is child's play – Jesse could crack it in her sleep. The thought of her makes my chest tight, but I push it aside. Focus on the mission. The door slides open with barely a whisper.

Inside, the air reeks of oil and rust. Machinery stands silent, gathering dust like forgotten sentinels. My enhanced vision picks out the security cameras, their red lights blinking lazily. I know their blind spots – used to set up systems just like these.

"Check the perimeter again," echoes a voice from above. "Boss is paranoid about an old friend showing up."

I press against a conveyor belt as footsteps pass overhead. Metal catwalks crisscross the ceiling, perfect for surveillance. Or ambush.

The stairs to the upper level creak, but I time each step with the grinding of distant machinery. Third step's loose – I skip it. The muscle memory from my time as Tyren serves me well, though the thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

A rodent scurries past, its claws clicking against metal. I freeze, but the guards continue their conversation about last night's race results. Their voices guide me deeper into the factory's maze of shadows and steel.

Almost there. The boss's office overlooks the main floor, a testament to his ego. Just like old times – except now, I'm not here as their puppet.

The door's hinges don't make a sound as I push it open, my weapon steady as I step inside. Cold metal presses against the base of my skull, and my spine stiffens. Rookie mistake – I should have checked the blind spot behind the door.

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