Page 58 of Auctioned to the Convicts
The moment he entered the gate to the domicile, he heard the shouting inside. Sersie and Ren. Ky’Li’s instincts flared. The hour was late. They should be sleeping by now.
Vaughn exited the house and held a hand out, stopping Ky’Li. “Before you say or do anything, Ky’Li, you will listen to me.”
The doctor had a hardness to him tonight as well as confusion in his eyes, but he did not shy from Ky’Li’s glare. “Why should I listen to you?”
“Because I’m Hannah’s doctor.”
Ky’Li gave the doctor his full attention. “What’s happened?”
“She’s basically fine, or will be. She has a broken hand, which I’ve treated. I just gave her something to help her sleep.”
Yes, Ky’Li knew Vaughn’s ‘something to help her sleep’ medicine all too well. The doctor had dosed him his first night in this domicile. Probably to keep Ky from killing Ren. He’d been careful not to take food or drink from Vaughn since then.
“How did she break her hand?” Ky’Li asked. A broken hand was nothing serious, but it could cause her problems at work. Fortunately, Vaughn was generous when it came to using those nanites he carried.
“Why would I do that?” Ren yelled from inside.
“Because he attacked her!” Sersie shouted back.
A male attacked Ky’Li’s female? “Who?” Ky’Li demanded, his eyes drilling through Vaughn.
Vaughn straightened his back as he blocked the door. As if that show of determination would stop Ky from getting to Hannah.
“She’s safe, and she’s been asking for you.”
“I will go to her.”
“Not so fast. You need to understand she won’t give up the name of the man who attacked her. That’s what the others are fighting about. How to handle this.”
Red hot anger boiled in Ky’Li as images of a man attacking her ran through his mind. “I will get the name from her and take care of the problem.”
“That’s not what she wants,” Vaughn said.
“I said, I will take care of it.”
“You can’t go off half-cocked beating up or killing anyone. We handle this issue tomorrow, together, as a unit, understood?”
“Understood. Let me pass.”
Vaughn didn’t look convinced. Smart man. Ky’Li would take care of the problem. The doctor need only concern himself with healing her.
“I want your word on the matter,” Vaughn pressed, placing a very firm hand against Ky’Li’s chest to keep him from entering the house.
Ky’Li stared at the hand and then the doctor’s face. He could rip his arm off for interfering, but he owed this man, and he needed him. This world held too many dangers, and there would be few Ky’Li could trust to heal and maybe even protect his sha-vi in his absence.
“I mean it, Ky’Li. Be with her tonight, give her the sense of safety she needs. Tomorrow, we figure out what to do to protect her going forward, as a unit. Your actions affect all of us, including her. You will not take matters into your own hands. Is that clear?”
Ky’Li nodded. Vaughn could use all the pretty words he wanted. Ky would find out who the male was and then eliminate him. That’s how Ky would protect her.
“And don’t push her for the man’s name. She’s somewhat fragile right now.”
Fragile? “Did the man—”
“No, she punched him and got away. But she was trapped on the railcar with him. Anemptyrailcar.”
Ky’Li understood Vaughn’s rage, as it matched his own.
“Your word, Ky’Li,” Vaughn pressed.
