Page 46 of Protected By the Convicts
Her men.
Those words brought less pain today, maybe even a small amount of comfort.
“The point of the ceremony,” Ky’Li began, “Is to put our lives in each other’s hands. To know we can count on one another. Brothers.”
“Bet you’re sorry you asked,” Vaughn said to Sersie, chuckling.
“And why isn’t any of this bothering you?” Ren asked Vaughn.
“Because there’s one thing Ky’Li would never do,” Vaughn replied.
“And what’s that?”
“Lie to Hannah. He promised her we would leave here alive and intact, more or less.”
“It’s that ‘more or less’ part that should have you concerned,” Ren said. “Oh, I get it. . . you have a small stash of nanites on you for yourself should this not be as easy as you make it out to be.”
“It’s not just Sersie, sha’vi,” Ky’Li said as he glanced her way. “They all argue like children.”
Hannah promptly swatted Ky’Li.
“Is this a behavior Ren has taught you?”
“Not yet,” Ren said. “But it’s certainly giving me ideas.”
“Oh, God, every time he gets an idea, I start to. . .” All four men looked at her, with varying degrees of curiosity, except Ren. He was grinning, at Ky’Li’s female. “Never mind,” she added.
“Later, Princess. . .”
She bit her lower lip.
Ky’Li wanted to growl at the images Ren was putting in his head, but his Hannah was blushing and smiling. Her entire face lit when she was near Ren, and the others too. There was no denying that she loved them, and he’d felt no less loved by her since she’d been with them. Even so, it didn’t make it easy hearing and imagining her with other men. Making them his brothers might make it easier to accept. Not that a man shared his female with his brothers back on Daraan. Bonding these men to him as brothers would create the family Hannah craved, and it would bind them to her in more than flesh should something happen to Ky’Li.
They reached the sight Ky’Li had scoped out yesterday. Rainwater spilled over into a pit that had been carved by explosives. With the earthen walls crumbling into the pit, it was muddy, slick, and held the ever-present risk of collapse.
“Maybe this isn’t the time to say it,” Sersie spoke, “but Dresden dropped by my lab, asking questions about NK171. I think he suspects I’m not telling him everything. Eventually, he’ll pass the formula for NK171 to Meeks or Evans and ask them to test it. I might be able to convince Meeks to go along with our ruse, but not Evans. He’s an asshole who’s waiting for an opportunity to get in good with Dresden. And the miners in his unit will protect him, so intimidation won’t work. He’ll find out, Vaughn, and then he’ll insist you start the trials on the miners. What then?”
“I’ll do as he ordered,” Vaughn said.
“Miners will die,” Ky’Li said, his voice short.
“What choice do I really have, Ky’Li? If I disobey Dresden, he’ll retaliate.”
“He’s not going to make you, Sersie, and me level 5s,” Ren cut in. “We’re too valuable to his operation here. Think about it. What good is Sersie if he’s addicted? He’s their best chemist and only botanist. You’re one of four doctors, and I’m the only one with the knowledge of how to keep those ventilators running in the mines not to mention building the adits. Pearson and Miles handle the maintenance at port and mountainside, buildings, equipment, and rails. They’re clueless when it comes to the mines. Besides, there are only a few 5s here.”
Hannah’s hand tightened in Ky’Li’s. “Sha’vi?”
“I was afraid of slipping and falling,” she said as she flashed him a weak smile.
“As I was saying,” Ren continued, “Dresden can’t make us 5s and keep us because that would mess up Narkos’ level 4 designation, which would require stricter controls at the port, screwing up his illegal operation. He’s probably already over his limit on 5s.”
“We don’t know he’s the one illegally shipping out the NK171,” Vaughn said.
“He’s the only one in a position to do so,” Hannah said. “Except Conway.” She shuddered and pulled away from Ky’Li’s grip.
“Are you ill, sha’vi? Perhaps we should return to the house.”
“No, just ignore me.”
