Page 57 of Taken By the Convicts
Crusher understood all too well. He’d follow Ivan’s rules. But leave her. . . That would never happen, even if Ivan decided to get rid of him.
“Stay with him, Jayce. I’m going to talk to Melina. Alone. To make sure he didn’t force her.”
He growled at that.
“I think he’s pissed off at you,” Zev said.
“I don’t fucking care.” Ivan stormed off.
“Sit,” Jayce ordered.
Who was he to give orders?
“Sit,” Zev added.
Reece lifted a brow. Jayce, he could ignore. But Zev was a different matter. He scooped his thumb from left to right, a vulgar sign that every prisoner on Veenith knew.
“Fuck you too,” Zev said, his mouth a thin line. “You messed up, and now you’re going to sit there while Ivan does what he needs to do to satisfy himself that she’s okay. He was convinced Hawke had her, Reece, and he’s been running around crazed while you were off somewhere fucking her.”
Reece started signing too fast for Zev, not that his friend was watching his signs.
“The man hasn’t slept in two days.” Zev rubbed his hand over his face. “None of us have. Jayce and I came back for additional supplies and headed back out. We’ve seen more of Hawke’s men in the area.”
That was a problem. No wonder Ivan was so mad, even though she’d returned safe. If Hawke suspected Melina was in the bunker, he’d post men outside and wait them out. They didn’t have a large enough stockpile yet to stay down there for more than a few days.
Zev motioned toward a chair. “Okay, big guy. Ivan wants a debriefing. Let’s get this over with.”
* * *
JAYCE
“And you thoughtyou could weather a storm without proper gear and fend off anyone who would be out there looking for you?” Ivan shouted, laying into Melina. With the gap under the bedroom door, his voice carried through the bunker.
Jayce winced. He knew what it felt like to be on the receiving end of Ivan’s wrath. Ivan had a temper and didn’t like it when his people disobeyed him. Even if she’d been just another member of his unit, Ivan would still lay into her for running off because he cared about the people under his command. But Ivan was chewing her out in private, a courtesy very few received. The soldier cared about her; Jayce hadn’t realized that until now.
“I didn’t think about—”
“Damn right you didn’t think. All it takes is one misstep and you’re gone, forever. We’d never find you, Melina. This planet is too big, and the prisoners aren’t restricted to any region. They can leave this area, go far from the mines, the med-center, the greenhouse, and the guards if they want. It’s the need for food that keeps them close. There are no vegetables and fruits to be found during the winter here, and game is scarce. Even the best trained sharpshooters like Reece armed with sonic rifles don’t always come back with game. That’s why there are no fences confining prisoners to this area. The conditions do that. The guards keep order among those who stay, and they guard the refinery, the port. . . all the infrastructure critical for keeping the serilium production going. While the prisoners won’t chance leaving the area, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t stash you somewhere for their personal use.”
Jayce heard muffled sobs. Why was she crying? He had thought her more resilient than that. After all, Ivan would never hurt her. She had to know that by now, didn’t she?
“You aretheprize on this planet,” Ivan continued. “Not even Jayce could wield his magic to get you back in a trade, not unless he had a spaceship to trade. And if he had one, believe me, he’d take off, leave this rock and you behind without a second thought.”
That comment sliced through Jayce, not because of how harsh it was, but because it was true. He’d leave in a second if he could, and he’d leave them all behind if he had to. Including Ivan.
Jayce winced again. Ivan was right. He’d changed. There was a time he’d have given his life for Ivan. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
“You’re not leaving this bunker, is that clear?” Ivan said, his voice still raised.
“Ivan? What’s wrong?” Melina sounded worried. “Someone help!”
Jayce threw the door open. Ivan was on the floor, curled up in a ball, his entire body shaking. “Shit.”
“He just dropped,” Melina said as she rushed to the door. “Where’s the medkit?”
“Kitchen. Far-right cabinet.”
While she raced out, Jayce held Ivan’s arms down to keep him from thrashing. Crusher and Zev raced in, Melina right behind them. Ivan didn’t want them to see this. None of them, but it was inevitable, especially with the attacks occurring more frequently.
