Page 4 of Healing Creek
Well, she had no choice on that one.
Don’t resist and you won’t be harmed.
Resist what? And who exactly was being harmed?
Someone was apparently hijacking the ship that had been her prison for weeks. But what could she do? She was locked in a cabin, wearing an exploding collar, locked out of the only communications panel in the room. There weren’t a lot of options. She didn’t even know if the hijackers would be any better than her kidnappers. For all she knew, it could be a rival bunch of slavers. Even if it was an Alliance Enforcer team, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be rescued—not if it put her sister’s life at risk. She was contemplating the odds that things might fall in her favor when the door to her little slice of hell slid open.
A man in gray quasi-military garb slipped in on silent feet. Professional, maybe. But not in an Alliance uniform. A navigation display flicked across the headset he wore before it faded to nothing. A com device sat in his ear. He was in the middle of life with short brown hair and a dimple in his chin.
“Miss Hobbs-Venter?” The politeness in his low raspy voice startled her…and eased some of her fear.
Shrugging off the blanket, she untangled her feet and swung them to the side of the bed. “Yes?”
The large weapon that had led his entry into the room now pointed toward the floor. “I’m here to take you to your sister.” He attached the weapon to a clip on his vest as he spoke.
She nearly jumped to her feet at the mention of Jennifer. “Are we being released?” Had her sister given in to Roma’s demands just to save her? Heavens, she hoped not.
He looked her up and down as he approached and reached out to grab ahold of the stupid collar ringing her neck. “What is this hunk of outdated tech?”
She huffed and couldn’t stop the roll of her eyes. “Exploding collar,” she mumbled. It was too ridiculous for words, but also scary as hell.
“Well, fuh…damn.” His expelled breath was almost as tortured as hers had been. He made a little spinning motion with one finger. “Turn, so I can get a look at the lock.”
He pushed her ash blond hair to the side with a gloved hand and she did as he said, staying silent for a good sixty seconds to give him time to look. “Morgan has the code-key. If we’re being released…” She hadn’t failed to notice his non-answer about that. “Or are you supposed to be rescuing me?” She gulped down her fear and mustered her courage. “Because I’m not leaving without my sister.”
Whatever he did next shot pain through the soft tissue of her neck where the heavy metal rested. She would be bruised, but thanks to the medical miracle in her bloodstream, it wouldn’t last long.
“We’re just moving you, Miss Hobbs-Venter. Your sister isn’t on the ship. You know that, right?”
She gave him an “um-hmm” of agreement as she pressed her lips together against the discomfort brought on by his efforts. If he was working for Roma, with Morgan St. Germaine, why didn’t he have the code-key for the collar?
“Who are you?” She whispered it almost talking to herself.
“Call me Ghost.”
She was about to ask him what kind of name that was when he cursed and stepped back from her. She twisted to see him frowning with a hand against his temple. “Zenith? Come in, Zenith.” He wasn’t talking to her. Wasn’t even looking at her anymore. “Zenith, do you read?” He paused, then continued. “What was… Roger that. I’m with the package now, but I have a prob— Say again…”
Voices murmured through his earpiece too softly for her to make out words.
“Fuck!” He scowled as he started readjusting his equipment. “Fuck. Fuck.”
She could have told him from experience that all the expletives in the world wouldn’t do him any good on this cursed slave ship. She’d tried them all in the privacy of her little room.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and gave a little shake as he held her gaze. “Here’s the situation. Roma wanted this ship disappeared to cover up their little problem with escaped Arena Dogs.” Her mouth almost fell open at that. They wanted to destroy the ship? Were there Arena Dogs onboard? “So, they sent my team in to extract you and take you to where your sister is being held.” His grip tightened as he spoke, eyes cold. All trace of the polite soldier gone. This man was dangerous. “With that collar and whatever the fuck else is going on, that isn’t happening right now. It might take a little longer than planned, but Iwillget you to your sister.” He tapped his thumb against his chest. “I’m you’re only way off this ship alive. Got it?”
She nodded, afraid to do anything else.
“If you see any Arena Dogs, hide. They aren’t known to be friendly to humans and I don’t want you dead before I can get you out of here.” She held her expression neutral, even if she wanted to hide, there was nowhere she could go with the collar around her neck.
His weapon was suddenly back in his hands, and he strode to the door with purpose. It slid open, and he peered out, then put his back to the wall and focused his death stare in her direction.
“I’m going to leave you here for now, but I’ll find you when all this has died down. I’ll find you when the time is right, and wewillexit this ship together. You willnottell anyone you’ve seen me. Am I clear?”
“C-clear,” she repeated.
“Your life and your sister’s life depend on you, Miss Hobbs-Venter. If you ever want to see her alive again, you’re going to do exactly what I said.”
His gaze drilled into her and left her hollow inside. As he slipped silently out of the room, she believed he had the power to enforce his will.
