Page 79 of Freedom Mine
Chapter Seventeen
KAYO
Kayo trailed a finger down the back of the naked woman sprawled beneath his covers. All the years as a slave, the nightmares, both asleep and while he was awake. . . all had brought him to this moment, to this treasure in his bed. She didn’t know what she meant to him, how he’d do anything to protect her.
How was it that one woman could make a man feel so alive and full of hope? And it had nothing to do with sex, though each time with her seemed to be better than the last as he became more familiar with her body. Hells, as she became more familiar with her own likes and dislikes.
Whatever the answer, Kayo figured he wouldn’t waste time worrying about it, he’d just enjoy. Mac used to say that everything always worked out for the best, but Mac had had more faith in people than Kayo. Maybe that’s where he’d gone wrong in life. He lacked faith.
Kayo kissed the back of her head and eased out of bed, careful not to wake her. He’d let Alli sleep as long as she needed, especially after the stress of yesterday. The mine and his financial problems couldn’t wait, however, which why he dressed quickly and made his way outside.
He found himself standing in the middle of the compound, waiting for the men to assemble. Maybe they could brainstorm ideas and make one final push before the creditors showed up. Five days wasn’t a lot of time, but he would have to make it work, for Alli and all the men.
“Incoming!” one of the men shouted.
The grinding of a landglider lowering its tracks sent a chill through Kayo. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Jace and the men gathered around Kayo as the glider rolled through the entry pylons and pulled up to the center of the compound. Three men with holstered guns stepped out.
Kayo glanced toward the house when he heard the creak of the front door. Alli, dressed and standing on the porch, trepidation on her face. He’d hoped she’d stay inside. Whatever this was about, it wasn’t good.
A tall man wearing black trousers, a white shirt, and black boots stepped out of the glider. The patch on his arm with the Empire’s logo, two rising suns over a tree, andVarkos, Sector 2written beneath it marked him as the First Lead for this region.
Whatever brought the lawman out this far from town couldn’t be good. The moment the man glanced up toward Alli, Kayo’s stomach clenched.
“Alli, get inside,” Kayo ordered.
“Hold,” the man said, then he passed a scanner over the back of Kayo’s neck. “Kayo Variz, I’m First Lead Vedrak Barhan. I’ve taken over for First Lead Tammin. You will present all slaves to me and my men anytime we come here. Is that clear?”
Protocol, Kayo reminded himself, trying to stay calm. This could be a mere introduction of the new First Lead asserting his power or a random counting of the slaves on his property. He’d been audited three years back when Tammin had first taken the position of First Lead. Nothing had happened beyond a lot of posturing. If Kayo were to defy this new man, there’d be trouble, hence the three men with their hands resting on their blasters.
“Of course. I comply with all laws of the Empire, and I’ll support your office in any way I can,” Kayo said with a slight nod. He refused to lower his eyes, even for a second, as many owners on Varkos did upon greeting government officials. Cooperating was one thing, but it would do no good to appear weak.
Kayo quickly counted the men. “We’re missing one man. He ran off yesterday. The rest are here. Go ahead and scan if you’d like.”
“No need.” First Lead Barhan glanced up at Alli again. “Female, join the other slaves down here, where you can be scanned.”
Her eyes jumped to Kayo and then quickly lowered. His fists clenched at his side. He’d thought he’d never have to see that fear in her eyes again or the uncertainty that made her tremble as she descended the steps. It took all his strength to keep from telling First Lead Barhan to get off his property.
When Alli stepped within a foot of Barhan, the man grabbed her wrist and forced her hand against a hand scanner. The second the scanner beeped, he let go and she pulled her hand back, rubbing where he’d grabbed her. Kayo motioned her to stand with the others. She slid between Ranth and Masher, her eyes searching for answers. She didn’t understand what was happening. Neither did he.
“First Lead,” Kayo began, but Barhan held up a hand as he watched the results on the scanner.
“Ah, there we are, as I thought.” He snapped the scanner shut and looked up at Kayo. “There was an incident yesterday at the property of Hawk Garitt. A man was murdered.”
Kayo struggled to keep from looking at Masher and Liet. If they’d killed anyone, he wouldn’t be able to save them from Barhan. “And that brings you here, why, First Lead?” Kayo asked.
“Garitt says it was one of your slaves that murdered the man.”
“Not possible. My slaves don’t leave my sight, except when on my property.”
“Then you deny being on Garitt’s property yesterday?”
“I didn’t say that.” Nor could he. The chip tracking system would show their presence there yesterday. He could only twist the facts so far, to make it a case of his word against Garitt’s regarding the events.
“I was there to retrieve a slave who had wandered off my property. I’ve had issues with my fence lately. Regardless, I took several slaves with me, to assist in searching.”
“Odd, that you would take slaves to assist in the capture of another slave. How do you keep them from escaping once you have them off your property? Or murdering you, for that matter?”
“I give them incentives to return.”
