Page 92 of Auctioned to the Convicts
She smiled.
“Get going,” he said, schooling his face the best he could which was damn hard considering how that one smile practically undid him. “If you expect to be late, send a message to the unit’s common inbox. We’ll make sure someone is here for you.”
Vaughn cupped her cheek. She tilted her head and stared at him. Soft pink lips parted.
He was tempted, too tempted. “Go, Hannah. Stay alert. I will see you at home tonight, third meal.”
“Third meal,” she said with a slight nod as she stepped off the railcar, confusion evident in her face. As he released the doors, the car started up again, pulling away from the portside station. Hannah entered the security line, never turning her gaze from the railcar even as he disappeared from sight.
Never had he felt so alone as during that ride back to mountainside. He felt confident escorting her to work. She had the spray to use and Ky’Li had taught her a few basic but effective defense maneuvers over the last few days. Perhaps more importantly, Hannah was in a good state of mind, ready and eager to prove herself. After the latest attack, she had doubted herself, but with each lesson, her confidence returned. And yet Vaughn could not get rid of this sense of doom that had been plaguing him all day.
He had some numbers to finesse before he officially returned to duty. Or rather before Osta showed up for second shift. The med-center was overdue for an audit. With the usual squeak of rails that rusted all too quickly in this humid environment, the railcar ground to a halt. He’d report the issue to maintenance, so they could assess any danger, take the railcar offline for track replacement if necessary.
He’d probably have to listen to Ren complain as he did every time he got called in to consult on rail line issues, but Hannah rode that line daily. Vaughn wouldn’t risk another derailment like the one they had two years ago that killed seventeen men.
When he stepped off the railcar, Vaughn understood that sense of impending doom.
There stood Dresden waiting for him with two armed guards.
Chapter Seventeen
HANNAH
Hannah waited nervously at the entrance to the research building in West Side. Besides the port, this was the one building on the planet that had tight security.
Two guards blocked the door, eyeing her. She’d given her name and asked to see Sersie. A guard had supposedly gone to look for him. With the net down, the datapads were useless, and she had no idea if Sersie was even in the building. He often spent time searching for new plants in the jungle.
“What are you doing here?” Sersie said behind her.
She spun and lurched forward to hug him before she remembered she was in public.
Sersie didn’t wait for an answer. He took her hand and headed down a long hallway, setting off an alarm when she passed through the arch.
Four guards rushed the hallway.
“Shit,” he cursed beneath his breath. “My fault. I forgot to log her in,” he said.
“Can’t wait to screw her in your lab, Campós?”
Sersie glared at the guard as he entered a code into the keypad and placed his palm on the scanner. Then, placed her hand after his.
“Let’s go,” he whispered, grabbing her hand again. They didn’t exactly run, but Sersie moved fast through the halls, apparently eager to get her out of sight.
“Did I do something wrong?” Hannah asked.
Sersie remained silent as they headed up two flights of stairs and down another series of twisting corridors.
“Maybe I should go,” she said as she let go of his hand.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he said curtly as he palmed another ID plate that flashed green and clicked open. He ushered her inside.
The door clicked behind her, the plate on the inside showing red again. Locked in.
Sersie turned on her swiftly, caging her against the door. “You came here alone. From the port?”
She nodded.
“You’re not supposed to leave or go anywhere unescorted. We have that rule in place for a reason.”
