Page 23 of Jewel of the Alien Bandit
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Vareo
SCREAMS OF PAINcame over the intercom, and the shrill sound made my very blood chill. I was already pulling apart wires from the door panel to bypass the locks on the transport deck, but a renewed vigor took over. I was only able to unlock one of the two bolts, and I was much too impatient to think straight. Feeling nothing but the need to get through the barrier between me and the voice I recognized but never wanted to hear filled me with agony. I slammed my fists in the small opening creating a wedge for me to rip through.
My whole body pulsed with adrenalin and I tore through the top half of the metal. I needed to replace it anyway, the rust only helped my cause. This pod would stay attached to my ship until the door could be repaired. I didn’t care, I kicked the panel and shoved myself through the jagged metal, scraping skin, and burning a trail of fire down my sides.
Her limp form was strapped into our holding stocks and I roared in an outrage I hadn’t felt since finding out I didn’t have a planet to go home to. Slamming my fist into the release lever, I ripped it from the wall tossing it to the floor, before rushing to grab her before she collapsed as the restraints retracted.
Breathing labored, I held her small form against my chest trying to calm my anger, but finding nothing would sootheme until I had my hands wrapped around Carmen’s neck and snapped it in two.
Luan, what were you doing here? How did she get you? I had only just seen her storming from the garden. She groaned against my hold, but I didn’t want to let go. I nuzzled my nose into her blonde hair, and inhaled her scent possessively. No one was to touch her.
“I’d rather a hergslat,” she coughed out, her voice rough from the scream I never wanted to hear again. Was she relating me to a creature on her planet that she’d rather have been saved by?
“Sorry to disappoint,” I grumbled, but still refused to release her.
“Carmen,” she corrected.
It pleased me that she wasn’t upset with me, even though it was because of me that she was hurt. I had left to protect her from this. Well, maybe not exactly this, but harm all the same.
Suddenly, the ship jolted and that could only mean one thing… Carmen was gearing up to exit this planet’s orbit. Fuck.
“I shouldn’t have come.” Luan adjusted in my lap, but stopped when her muscles spasmed. Those restraints were designed for rough bounties, she’d be feeling sore for at least a day.
“Why did you?” I carried her to the open pod to strap her in for the ride. I’d have to get back into my own pod before the gravity fields disabled for warp, but I couldn’t resist asking.
She leaned back and those silver eyes stared into mine only to wander over my body narrowing at the scratches I received getting into the transport deck to get to her.
“I didn’t know if I could trust Trent to keep his promises, or even if he did, whether his word was enough to help my clan.”
Hearing the krelin’s name on her lips, I snapped back, “What does that have to do with being on my ship?” I regretted theoutburst as soon as it came out and her features hardened, a steely wall between us despite just being in my arms.
“You’re a bounty hunter, and I have need of your services.” I imagined her core locking around my fingers, and all the other things that I could service her with, but then she slammed that thought down. “To secure the information about the technology that could help my clan. You weren’t specific before, and the outlaws on Necias would use my vague understanding to take advantage.”
They would swindle her without specifics. It was typical to give incorrect information then charge double for the information the client actually wanted to begin with. That cycle could stretch out without a clear agreement on expectations. She needed my help.
“What are you proposing?”
Gently, I transferred her into the pod’s seat. This was one of her own planet’s pods so she should be comfortable sitting in here instead of in the transport deck. At least, I couldn’t imagine her wanting to sit in any seat on a necia ship after her experience with the restraints Carmen put her in.
Carmen was always a bitch, but even this was out of character for her unless she got something out of it. What did she get from treating Luan like a prisoner, and piloting the ship without me? She was more than capable of piloting, but she got pleasure out of bossing me around like a servant.
“I’m being taken to Necias, aren’t I?” She wasn’t afraid, and she was unfortunately accurate in her assumptions. Carmen would take her to Necias if she had a plan to blackmail me, or even Luan. Would she force her to be enslaved to the necia?
“It is where bounty hunters hang out, along with most of the people with a price on their head.”
Luan nodded her understanding, accepting that fate before locking her silvery eyes with mine. A fire brewed within her asshe bargained like she was always meant to be an outlaw herself, “There are only two of you on this ship. Carmen,” she said the name with a hint of vengeance to come, " and you. I’d like to employ you to help me find the technology for Estreldez, instead of having her sell me to the highest bidder. We would have needed to go to Necias anyway, and you’ll get more credits from Almder with the tech and me, than for whatever bounty might be offered right now.”
Grinning at her I couldn't help but be fascinated at how dignified she was while outnumbered, and threatened with being sold to outlaws. I had no doubt that an estreld female would make a pretty penny on the market with how exclusive the planet’s reputation was for being a destination for unbelievable sex. Yet she still held her chin high, and appealed to every bounty hunter’s or outlaw’s greed for more credit. She was smart, but I didn’t want her credits and I wouldn’t allow another male to touch her now that she was no longer better off without me.
“No deal.” I turned to get back to my own pod. Somehow I had to get her back to Estreldez, but I’d use the lure of the technology to convince the Almder to allow Luan to choose to stay with me. It’d be a tough sell, my life was dangerous, and I’d probably never truly be free of the necia. Especially, not after what I planned to do with Carmen when I got a hold of her.
“What? What do you mean no deal?”
I glanced over my shoulder to see her seething from the rejection of her plan.
“I’ll help you, but I need to know you’re up for pretending to be an outlaw, and not a diplomat. What you’re asking is dangerous, and I need to trust that you won’t turn me into the krelins as soon as you get what you need. You’ll also have to help me get rid of Carmen.” Leaning against the cold steel of the compression chamber I waited for her answer. I knew I had toget to my own seat and strap in, but I’d learned from years of negotiations you always strike when their guard was down. She was more focused on Carmen’s betrayal than what my intentions were. Right now I was a way to get what she wanted.
