Page 28 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“The name’s Hannah,” she said, swiping at unshed tears.
No, no names. She’d dragged him into this. He owed her nothing. His only obligation as her unit mate was to keep her alive, nothing more.
“You’re the reason there’s a unit 475. You don’t get to have a name, not around here. Let’s go, 475. Strip and spread ‘em. Time to fulfill your quota.”
A hand wrapped around Ren’s neck and lifted him in the air. Ky’Li. Shit. The beast was fully healed and out of the med-center. Vaughn should have warned him.
Ky’Li slammed Ren against a wall so hard that Ren was sure he felt a stud break behind him.
“Ky’Li, no!” Hannah begged, both of her hands on Ky’Li’s massive arm, trying to get him to drop Ren.
Blackness crept into the corners of Ren’s vision as his lungs tightened. Vaughn and Sersie’s were shouting at Ky’Li, ordering the man to release him.
Ren gasped for air, getting none. His legs flailed below him as Ky’Li suspended him in mid-air. Ren clawed at the man to no avail.
Hannah’s crying pierced all the shouting. Suddenly, the hand left Ren’s throat, and he dropped like a lead weight to the floor. Air rushed into his lungs as he gasped to breathe.
Ren considered attacking Ky’Li from behind once he gathered enough air to stand again, but then the beast gently cupped Hannah’s face. She sank into his arms with a trust and tenderness that fascinated Ren. Even as Ren massaged his battered throat, he couldn’t tear his eyes from the couple, from how Ky’Li wiped the tears streaming down her face and how she calmed for him.
Eyes still filled with tears, Hannah glanced at Ren. The concern, the compassionateunderstandingon her face pulled at Ren. How the hell could she understand what he’d done when he didn’t even understand it?
Ren tried turning away from her, but he couldn’t. Those dark green eyes held him. So expressive, so caring, so. . . genuine.
Ren closed his eyes, not wanting to see her. He didn’t want her to care about him. I didn’t want to feel anything for her in turn. Units and relationships made a man weak, and that was what got men killed on Narkos. A woman, one with a name, one who could forgive so quickly. . . No, it was better to see her as property, just as The Company intended.
Fuck. . . When had he started thinking like The Company?
The woman’s dark green eyes lifted to Ky’Li’s face again. “It wasn’t Renzel’s fault,” she said, in a soothing voice. She was trying to calm Ky’Li, maybe save Ren’s life.
He almost wished she wouldn’t. She should let Ky’Li finish what he’d started.
“You’re confused, sha’vi,” Ky’Li said with a softness for her.
“I kn-know what I’m saying.”
Why the fuck was she defending him?
As Ky’Li kissed her forehead, she stepped into his embrace with an ease that Ren envied. He could still remember how soft she’d felt under his hands. As Ren watched her arms circle the beast, her head resting on his chest, Ren wished he could take Ky’Li’s place. That he could have her, without taking her, that he could inspire that type of feelings from a woman. . . from her.
Property. Fucking Dresden and Narkos had warped his mind.
Ky’Li led her into a bedroom. What used to be Ren’s bedroom.
When the door to the bedroom clicked shut, Ren sank back against the wall. He wasn’t going to survive this unit, and it had nothing to do with that beast killing him, eventually.
“Not smart,” Vaughn said as he gently felt along the bruised flesh. Pain lanced across Ren’s throat.
“Making an enemy out of the man who can kill you with one hand. Correction. Who nearly killed you with one hand.” Vaughn pried Ren’s hands away from his throat to look at the bruising. “Can you breathe okay?”
He could, but it hurt like hell. “Nan-nite,” he coughed the word out.
“Nope, you’re going to heal the old-fashioned way.”
“Paid for nanites. . . for the beast.”
Vaughn glanced over his shoulder. “He had internal injuries. And he earned his nanites saving her from Griggs. You only have bruising, much deserved bruising. You’re taking out your frustrations on her, Ren. This situation isn’t her doing.”
No, it wasn’t. She hadn’t sent him to Narkos. She hadn’t trapped him here.
