Page 38 of Obsession

Fiona stared at her friend for a long moment, and then her shoulders slumped. “I fucking hate it when you’re right.”

Ariana flicked her side-swept bangs from her eyes and gave the Assassin a warm smile. “I care about Britta and Kann as much as you do, but if the mission needs to continue as planned for us to have a chance of saving my sister and Tivek’s brother, then the mission is a go.”

Volten placed a hand on his forehead and massaged the furrows that hadn’t relaxed since we had discovered that Kann and Britta were trapped in the holochamber. “We leave them behind?”

Ariana gently placed a hand on his arm. “No. The rest of the team will go, but you need to stay here.”

He jerked at this, and even I was startled as he shook his head. “I cannot let you fly the mission alone.”

Ariana put her hands on her waist and jutted out one hip. “You think I can’t get into Kronock territory undetected, fly boy? You think you’re the only one with flight chops?”

He stuttered a series of non-words until I decided to save him from himself.

“Lieutenant Bowman is a talented pilot, or she would not be at the Drexian Academy as a Wing instructor.” I stood and walked around to the opposite side of my desk and the others took a step back. “She is more than capable of flying the mission, and I agree with her. You need to stay behind until your friend has been retrieved from the holo program.”

Volten’s back went rigid. “I can focus on the mission, Commander.”

I was not sure if I believed him. The flight instructor had learned that the family he had thought was his was not and he actually belonged to another Drexian house. His sense of himself had been shaken to the core, but through it all, his friendship with Kann had remained steadfast. Losing him would be like losing a part of himself.

But I knew he did not want to put Ariana in danger or abandon her when she needed him most. She had been by his side when his life had crumbled, and he would not want to be anywhere but by hers when she rescued her sister. I would need to make the call for him.

I clamped a hand on Volten’s shoulder and locked my gaze onto his. “You will remain here until Kann and Britta are freed. Then you will lead the backup team to join us.”

“Backup team?” Fiona pivoted to me, her gaze questioning. Then, almost as soon as she had spoken, she understood my intention. “Genius! Having a backup team means that if anything goes wrong with the first wave of the rescue, Volt, Kann, and Britta can come get us.”

Ariana twisted her lips to one side at this.

“Not that anything will go wrong,” Fiona added quickly. “But a second-strike force is never a bad strategy.”

I nodded my head only a fraction, but she returned my acknowledgement with a small grin. Her outrage with me for continuing with the mission had softened once she understood my intention, much like her initial dislike of me had softened once she had known my heart.

Volten took a step closer to Ariana and took one of her hands in his. “Are you sure? I would never forgive myself…” His voice cracked as she smiled up at him.

“From my take on this, it isn’t your call, fly boy.” She shot me a side-eye glance. “But don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. As long as you and your strike team two don’t swoop in and try to take all the credit.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “We won’t—unless we have to save your asses.”

Her mouth fell open and she made a high-pitched, indignant sound. “As if! When have you ever…” Her words died on her lips as she noticed the mischievous look on his face, and she swattedhim on the chest. “I’m liking the idea of separate teams more and more.”

Now that Fiona had mentioned the strategic advantages, so was I. It had originally been a way to have Volten stay without guilt, but now I was fully on board with the concept of a second team to back up the first. Although I hoped we would not need it.

“Then it is decided.” I squared my shoulders. “The original rescue team will depart tomorrow for Kronock space, and the second team will join as soon…as it is able.”

As I gave my orders, I was reminded that deploying a second team was dependent on Kann and Britta being safely rescued, and that was still not a foregone conclusion. As an Iron, I knew all too well the complexities involved in holo technology. Although our safety protocols were effective, no technology was ever completely safe.

That must have occurred to everyone when I paused giving my orders, as Fiona and Ariana flinched and Volten pressed his lips together until they were a hard, thin line.

“Who knows?” Fiona said, her voice artificially cheery. “Zav might get our friends out before we leave.”

I met her gaze and gave her a grateful smile. “It is only a matter of time.”

Even though I said this, I knew it was not true. Kann and Britta being saved from the holochamber was not guaranteed, and if the safety protocols in the simulation were off, there was no guarantee they would survive long enough to be rescued.

I forced these dark thoughts from my mind and swiveled toward my desk. “I will see you all on the ship tomorrow.”

Fiona lingered for a moment before following Ariana and Volten from my office. “You’ll see me tonight, Commander.”

I swallowed a growl as I watched her spin and sway her hips as she walked away from me, fully aware that she was being watched. “I am counting on it, Captain.”

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