Page 10 of Taken By the Convicts
Jayce’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t think you’d want her.”
“Why wouldn’t I want a female? The only female to hit this rock in a year.” The way that vein in Jayce’s neck jumped, it became clear he was hiding something. “You want ongoing protection from Matthews, then spill it.”
“Her name’s Dr. Melina Archer.”
The pain racking Ivan’s body flared everywhere. Every fucking nerve fired as if the drug The Company had used on him was being pumped through his veins all over again. Ivan had sworn he’d kill every fucking one of them, including the doctors. Her name had been top of the list. And Jayce fucking knew what having her meant to Ivan.
“Get her,” Ivan said, keeping his voice low. He’d tear into Jayce later about him making decisions for Ivan, but right now Ivan needed him. “I don’t care what you have to trade or who you have to screw over, get her for me.”
“I’m not going up against Hawke’s gang. He’s laid a claim on her.”
“Does he have her yet?”
“No. He hasn’t been able to get to her. As I said, she’s been holed up in the med-center.”
“She’s fair game at this point. Get her for me.”
“She’s in thehole, Ivan.”
Fuck. That was a problem. “Get Glasner.”
“He’ll want her for himself.”
Ivan grabbed Jayce’s collar and shoved him against a tree. “Every fucking man on this planet wants her, but she’s mine.”
Jayce shoved Ivan back, showing his backbone. He hadn’t seen much of that in Jayce since Ivan had arrived on Veenith two years ago. Maybe the old Jayce was in there after all.
“You’re asking for the impossible. Why should I risk myself for you? I already have Matthews after me, I don’t need trouble with Hawke adding to the mess I’m in.”
Ivan relaxed. Jayce had started to deal. That meant the man had figured out a way to get the job done. It was simply a matter of closing the deal with Jayce, finding something he would take as payment, which was usually anything. Jayce recognized when an item held value. Even if he couldn’t use the item himself, he’d find someone who could, and then layer deal upon deal until he ultimately had what he wanted.
“Ongoing protection from Matthews and Hawk.” Like him, Jayce was a loner. He avoided committing to a unit because he dealt with all of them, wheeling and dealing. Ivan was surprised the man hadn’t found a way to trade his way off this rock yet.
“A unit. You’re talking about forming a unit, despite how you swore you’d never be saddled with one again.”
Ivan had been privileged to have a unit in the military. He’d never considered any of the men in his command a burden, and he would have gladly died for any of them. He couldn’t stand the thought of seeing another unit ripped apart, having men who counted on him, get killed, especially for no reason other than greed. But he’d grown up with Jayce and would watch over him, deal or no deal. Ivan had already been doing that since he arrived on Veenith, though Jayce had no idea.
Jayce’s mouth quirked up. “I’m tired of sleeping with one eye open.”
Ivan was too, but that wasn’t going to change anytime soon, especially if they took the woman.
“What do you want?” Ivan asked. He had a nice supply of serilium that would buy Jayce anything he wanted. The miners who didn’t make their quota didn’t eat. The rules were as simple as that.
“I get to fuck her. As often as I want,” Jayce said.
“I’m not running a brothel,” Ivan said.
Jayce folded his arms over his chest, showing no emotion beyond determination. The man was stubborn as fuck. That made two of them.
“You want her? That’s my price,” Jayce said, his green eyes flickering, the bastard. He knew he had Ivan where he wanted him.
“Fine. Get her for me, and you can have her before I do what I need to do.”
“Do I want to know what that is?”
“No.”
“I’m not into killing women,” Jayce added.
