Page 19 of Courting Mayhem

I smiled. “Think we have his attention now?”

“We do,” Poppa Jacob said grimly.

Opening the vault door, Papi Sten stepped inside and scanned the interior. “They used a transporter to move the Shebu.”

“Let’s see which merchant ship or freighter was in orbit at the time.” My fingers flew over the keypad. “Two ships departed shortly after the theft. The Axiom and the Daban.”

“The captain of the Daban has ties to the Shadow Thieves,” Poppa Jacob said.

Papi Sten scowled. “The Daban left orbit two hours ago.”

“We can’t do anything trapped down here,” Poppa Jacob grumbled.

“Sure, we can,” I said. “We simply borrow the war commander’s shuttle, take it to the Warhammer and follow the Daban.”

“Zarek didn’t say the war commander had to be with us when we recovered the Shebu and captured Vrax,” Poppa Jacob said with a grin.

Papi Sten grabbed the driver and hurled him in the vault. The driver slammed into the far wall.

I quickly shut the door and gestured at the golf cart. “Anyone know how to operate this contraption?”

Poppa Jacob nodded. “I know how to drive.”

We all climbed in the cart.

Poppa started the engine.

Poof! Derek appeared in front of the cart. “Leaving so soon?”

“We are going after the Daban. The captain is a member of the Shadow Thieves,” Papi Sten said.

“I’ll drive.” Derek stepped over to the driver’s side. “Move.”

Poppa Jacob slid over.

“We’re taking the Warhammer,” Derek stated.

I leaned back in my seat and smiled.

Derek stared at me in the rearview mirror. “Wanna let me in on the joke?”

“I can’t figure out if you’re really that good of a warrior or just incredibly stupid.”

“I’m really that good.” Derek put the cart in motion.

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Chapter Five

As soon as I sat the shuttle down in our small landing bay, Papi Sten instructed, “I need you to plot a course to Agbon, Mayhem. I want to talk with Canute before we enter Sogunro.”

“Yes, father.” I unfastened my harness.

Derek raised an inquiring eyebrow. “Who is Canute?”

“He runs the black-market auctions on Gliese. If we can’t bribe him, you can use your Coletti mojo on him to discover Vrax’s location,” Poppa Jacob said.

Derek blocked the aisle as I tried to pass him. “Why do I have a feeling you’re not telling me everything?”

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