Page 62 of Bought and Shared
That’s the thing about convictions and hard lines; they always seem to be negotiable when our personal interests are concerned. And family is the very definition of self-interest.
Israel, despite finally deciding to work with me, doesn’t trust me. Not fully, at least. He detests the Voltan and only uses them for their connections. What he doesn’t know is that I’m undercover, working with the Voltanese government to ferret out the one known as Judas, a rogue Voltan soldier who has turned traitor to aid the humans who wish to overthrow his own people from power. The same traitor supplying this compound with weapons.
It’s getting late and I’ve got to meet up for dinner with Israel and his team of jackoffs afterward. It’s my first meeting with the leader of the resistance, so I have to be careful not to overplay my hand. The one good thing is that this meal will give me an excuse to snoop through the old man’s house to look for his daughter and anything else of merit I can find.
When I come through the front door and introductions are made, I can’t believe my good luck. Aurora, the woman in question, is sitting at the table, looking forlorn. Next to her are Bowman and Micah, each contemptible shits in their own way.
I try not to fixate on the girl, as I don’t want to give the game away by seeming too interested. Immediately, I can see her appeal to my longtime friend. She’s beautiful, with deep red hair that’s braided into a single, thick plait that extends nearly to her waist. More importantly, she’s a fighter. I can see it in the set of her slight shoulders and the defiance in her big whiskey brown eyes. Those eyes are currently broadcasting that she’s looking for a way out of this place the first opportunity she gets.
The moment she begins to slip out of her seat, I realize it’s not just determination I’m reading in her gaze, but also pharmaceutical intervention. She’s been drugged, most likely sedated to keep her pliable until the wedding tomorrow. I learn that fact from her mother when she asks if her daughter has to be kept in such a sad state until the “ceremony”.
When Aurora nearly falls to the floor a third time, I can’t sit idly by. Rising from my seat, I look to Israel. “I fear she is going to hurt herself. If you don’t mind my assistance, I will take the child to her room before our meeting,” The abhorrent excuse for a father just nods.
As her own people sit there gaping at me, I round the table and scoop her into my arms.
Bowman doesn’t argue, but frowns and says, “I’ll come with you.”
I hate that I can’t be alone with the girl, if only just for a few minutes, but I’m not surprised that I’m being shadowed by Israel’s lead henchman.
The small female in my arms whimpers as we climb the stairs. My heart contracts at that pathetic sound. That anyone could treat one they claim to love like this is beyond my understanding. However, I keep my face impassive and unbothered so as not to alert Bowman to my thoughts. The man already distrusts me more than most, and I can’t afford to give him a good reason to further alienate me from this operation.
Setting Aurora onto her bed, I reluctantly step back as Bowman pushes forward to retie her wrists to the headboard. Her wrists are already red and abraded from apparently having been tied up earlier, and I have to bite my tongue so I don’t foolishlyprotest against what he’s doing. Though it disgusts me, I manage to stay quiet. I can’t do anything to help the girl until I’m alone and able to communicate freely with Knox.
Bowman interrupts my thoughts as he fixes the last knot into place. “Don’t get any ideas. She’s taken.”
I frown at the odious man. “What does that mean?”
“I know how your kind are; Sex starved and always sniffing around for available prospects. Well, this one isn’t for you. She’s the boss’s kid and is already spoken for.”
I’m offended beyond words. That I would even think about taking advantage of an unconscious woman is ludicrous! It’s as though the asshole can’t see the irony of his own words. After all, I’m not the one who kidnapped and drugged this young woman. It’s not me she should be afraid of.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” I tell him dryly.
He snorts. “Don’t I?”
Folding my arms across my chest, I ask, “Is there something you want to say to me, Bowman?”
The former army man stares me down hard. “I don’t trust you, Artem. It’s no secret that I never have. As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one kind of good alien, and that’s a dead one.”
At least he’s being honest. I can appreciate that. “Does this mean I should cross you off my Christmas card list then?”
Flipping me the bird, Bowman turns and exits the room. Tossing over his shoulder, “We’re meeting the old man in his study.”
Reluctantly, I step out to do the same. Until our meeting is over, I can’t reach out to Knox. At least for now, Aurora is safe and sleeping and that pacifies me some.
Knox
“Kal just commed me,” I inform Oren. “He’s found Aurora. She’s being held at her father’s house.”
I continue to read the message. He’s written quite a bit of intel, including a discrete way onto the premises that will keep our mission a secret.
“What else?” Oren prompts as I review Kal’s notes in silence.
“I think there’s a way we can sneak onto the compound undetected. If we pull this off, the government doesn’t even have to know we were there and Kal won’t have to risk his undercover work.”
“I don’t care about the government finding out about what we’re doing. That’s our mate they’ve imprisoned inside that compound,” Oren declares passionately.
It’s as though we’ve switched personalities for the day, Oren, becoming the risk taker, and me the calculated chess player. “Who are you and what have you done with my squad mate?” I tease.
