Page 66 of Rescued By the Convicts
Zev offered a genuine smile. “I’ve never been part of a unit before, Ivan, but I rather like it. I won’t let you down.”
“Hurry, Ivan,” Melina said, as she rubbed the solution into his tatt. Jayce had already inserted himself into a different line so the guards wouldn’t notice. Ivan caught up to him and switched places.
“Miss me?” Jayce said as he joined Melina and Zev.
“Oh, no,” Melina said, watching the line. The woman in front of Ivan stopped short of the scanner.
“I don’t want to go through,” the short blonde protested. “It’s not safe.”
The guard motioned her to step through the scanner. “Look, lady, the scanner’s no different from the one you went through at the last port. We all use the same equipment.”
“He only has seconds left!” Melina said, gripping Jayce’s hand.
Ivan picked the woman up and walked through with her. “It’s easy if you don’t think about it,” he said with a smile, despite how stunned she looked. She lingered a moment, running her hands down Ivan’s arms before he finally put her down. The line continued flowing, and the guards appeared happy to be rid of the lady. They didn’t make her or Ivan go through the scanner again.
“He’s learning!” Jayce chuckled. “A year ago, Ivan would have simply pushed through and shot anyone who argued.”
Melina flashed a weak smile. Only Jayce would find this fun.
“You’re next, Melina,” Jayce said.
“I think I should go last.”
“No,” Jayce and Zev said at the same time.
“But how are you going to get through the line in under a minute?”
“First, we get you through. Apply the serum to your wrist, then take my place in line. I’ll get the jar from Zev.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Don’t worry, Lina. I’ll apply the last of the serum in line. No one will notice.”
Of course. This was Jayce, after all. He could talk his way out of anything or distract a crowd while he applied the serum to a serilium tatt.
Jayce entered a line.
Melina turned to say goodbye to Zev. “Zev. . .”
He cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a deep kiss that ended too soon, but time was short.
She leaned into his ear. “I love you, Zev. Never forget.”
“I’m not saying it back, Mel. Not here, in the middle of a station. I’ll say it in person. When we’re together again. When I can show you how much I love you.”
As Jayce got to the front of the line, Zev dabbed the solution on her wrist and rubbed it in. “Stay safe, my precious Mel.”
Melina inserted herself into line with Jayce. “Oh, honey, I couldn’t find where you left your comm.”
He kissed her cheek. “I’ll go back for it. Go ahead to the ship, sweetie.”
Sweetie? Okay, not very Jayce-like, but they were playing for the guards and people around them. Melina stepped into the scanner and walked through without a problem. As they’d agreed earlier, Reece and Ivan would wait further down the dock, closer to the ships, and she’d wait for Jayce, especially now that they’d established in front of the guards that they were a couple. He’d already hacked the system and created seats for the four of them on a ship headed to Markell.
She waited as Jayce re-entered the line, holding the jar and the last portion of the anti-serilium. He’d apply it as he moved up in line. As Jayce spread the solution on his wrist, Melina surveyed the area. Zev had already disappeared.
Melina held her breath as Jayce moved through the scanner, but he sailed through with a smile and a casual walk. She released a deep breath and waited as he strolled toward her.
“That’s her! That’s the woman who escaped Veenith!” a man yelled at the top of his lungs.
People started running away from Melina as the guards ran toward her. Her heart raced and made thinking straight impossible. Melina darted into the crowd.
“Stop!” a guard yelled.
