Page 70 of Alien's Love Child

Paraxan's fur bristles. "There are other solutions. We could?—"

"No." I shake my head. "Leo needs protection. Real protection. Not just someone to run with him if things go wrong. He needs people who can fight back if they come here."

"And what happens if you don't come back?" Rena's words hit like a punch to the gut. "What then?"

"Then Leo has the best family anyone could ask for." I reach for her hand. "People who'd die to protect him. People who know how to disappear if they have to."

"That's not fair." Rena yanks her hand away. "You can't just?—"

"Shh." Davin stands, moving to check the hallway. "Arguments won't change anything. We leave tomorrow night."

The room falls silent except for Taluk's claws drumming against his leg. I watch my old crew – my family – as the weight of our decision settles over them.

"I worked with your parents, and then with you," Paraxan says simply. "I'd be honored to continue working for your son."

My eyes burn as I wrap my arms around Paraxan's furry frame. His warmth envelops me, and a few of his loose hairs tickle my nose. "You've always been family."

"Come here." Rena's arms circle both of us, her head resting against my shoulder. "You're both idiots, but you're our idiots."

"This is insane." Taluk's scales flash a deep crimson as he leans forward on the couch. "Two people against the entire Lightyear gang? That's suicide. Hell, any Glimner game that's made a name is too much, these guys have expanded since last time."

"Numbers don't mean much when you know what you're doing." Davin crosses his arms, his blue skin almost luminescent. "I've taken down larger operations with smaller teams."

"In the military, sure. With backup and intel and?—"

"And now I have something better." Davin's eyes meet mine. "A partner who knows every dirty trick in the book, and insider knowledge on how they operate."

"They'll see you coming." Taluk's claws dig into the couch cushion. "They're not stupid."

"No, they're worse." I pull away from the group hug, wiping my eyes. "They're arrogant. They think they've got us cornered, desperate. That's exactly what we need."

"But—"

"You ever wonder why I hired you, Taluk?" I cut him off. "It wasn't for your muscle. It was because you understand how criminals think. You know their weak spots."

His scales ripple, darkening further. "That's different."

"Is it?" Davin steps closer to him. "Because from where I'm standing, it's the same principle. Find the weakness, exploit it, get out clean."

"And what happens when they catch you instead?"

"Then you better be ready to run with my son." The words come out harder than I intend, but I don't take them back. "Because that's your real job here. Not trying to talk us out of this."

Taluk's scales fade to a dull red. "Fine. But when this goes sideways – and it will – I'm getting Leo somewhere they'll never find him."

"That's exactly what I want to hear." I squeeze his shoulder.

Rena steps forward, pulling something from her jacket pocket. Metal glints in the dim light. "Here. You'll need these."

The familiar weight of my old ship keys settles in my palm. The worn metal feels like coming home, complete with the lucky trogan tail keychain I'd stolen from some market when I was ten years old.

"Ship never felt right without you at the helm." Rena shrugs, but her eyes are wet. "She's been waiting for you. Kept her maintained, just in case."

"In case what?"

"In case you needed to be you again." She pulls me into a fierce hug. "The real you. Not this cozy cottage mom act you've been pulling."

"Hey, I rock the cottage life."

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