Page 31 of Homebound
She was tempted to point out that it didn’t make it right but refrained from wasting her breath. They all knew the rules and didn’t give two figs about them. Prison life, indeed.
“I have to tell you,” he declared with some intensity, “I will think of you when I’m out. Two more weeks.”
“Leaving soon. Good for you.”
He laughed quietly. “Not soon enough. But if you want to tell me how madly you’ve fallen in love with me, better hurry. Not much time left.”
Gemma gave him a withering look. “I don’t know what gave you this idea.”
He cocked his wolfish head. Perali weren’t handsome by human standards, with heavy brows, small, close-set eyes, and a trademark receding chin. This one was on the prettier side but still faintly feral. He linked his heavy, hairy and tattooed arms together around the bars.
“A guy can hope. I’ve never dated a human girl. You think it would be fun to try?”
“Not this girl, but I wish you luck.”
“You’re cold, Gemma,” he complained. “Or am I not special to you?”
“Everyone is special, but you don’t expect me to fall in love with every one of you, do you?” She raised an eyebrow at him.
His gaze became skeptical. “Ah, but if only you had time to notice me. Your pet project gets all your attention.” He indicated Simon’s cell with a sideways nod.
“Someone has to care for the disabled.”
“Your pity will get you in trouble.”
“I think I’ll be fine.”
Number 34 pressed his face close to the bars, and all amusement fled him. “And maybe you will be, Gemma. You already have a Rix defender in your debt. You keep stroking him in all the right places, and he might pay you back in a big way. Not bad, Gemma, not bad. Now, I’d much rather you picked me but it’s okay. I understand.” He winked at her.
Gemma frowned, confused. “You lost me. Poor Simon can’t even protect himself. Why do you call him a defender?”
Number 34 scratched his flank. “You don’t know much about Rix, do you?”
Denying the obvious would be futile. “I didn’t know they existed until I came here and saw Simon.”
He rolled up his small but heavily lashed eyes. “That explains why you’re inclined to be charitable. Rix call their space force Defenders. Your poor Simon is one. Probably of some distinction.”
“How do you know that?”
Number 34 waved his clawed hand in front of his neck. “The signs on his throat. He’s got too many for a simple soldier.”
“Are you saying he’s here because of some military action?”
“That’s the funny thing. Rix don’t participate in military conflicts. Ever since they left behind their violent past, they’ve adopted a strict non-interference policy. They only engage when threatened. Which, I’ve got to tell you, is rare.”
“How did he end up on Earth, of all places?” Gemma mused out loud.
“A strange situation,” Number 34 agreed. “And Rix aren’t known to leave one of theirs behind. Someone should’ve come for him a long time ago. But hey, who knows what Rix really think? Intolerant jerks. And dangerous.”
He annoyed Gemma. “Surely not Simon. He isn’t well enough to be dangerous.”
Number 34 chuckled. “Especially if he isn’t well, beautiful Gemma. He may feel threatened, and killing is in his blood. If I were you, I wouldn't be as blazé getting in and out of his cell all day long.” His smile grew. “Tell you what, I’m a much safer bet. You can put your hands on me any time you want, and I absolutely won’t harm you.”
“You’re such a hoot,” Gemma said sourly. If anyone here had an urge to kill, it was Number 34 and his pal the Tarai. And all the other violent jackasses who had nearly ended Simon’s life under the pretext that hecouldbe dangerous. “Simon won’t harm me. He can’t even feed himself.”
The smile slipped Number 34’s wolfish face. “Yes, he’s weak enough to kill. You have no idea what a chance you screwed up. You shouldn't have interfered.”
Appalled, she turned to go pick up the blunt. “We aren’t having this conversation.”
