Page 77 of Rescued By the Convicts
“I was only told I was receiving Level 5s, not where they were from. This changes everything.”
“Guards, take him to lock-up and then notify security at the med-center to arrest the other man who accompanied the injured man.”
“And so it begins,” Ivan said, as the guards cuffed his hands behind his back.
“Zev said he had a deal,” Melina protested.
“A deal? I only know I’ve been given five escaped convicts from Veenith. I’ve read Manager Thorne’s report. You five killed over a dozen men in your escape attempt.”
Melina looked at Ivan. “Did Hawke—”
“I don’t know. After he took you, Jayce and I were locked up.”
Foley walked back to them. “You, Doctor, you weren’t involved in the killings?”
“I’m not even sure there was any killing. Manager Thorne worked for—” She inhaled a deep breath. “You probably won’t believe me, but Manager Thorne is tied to a criminal organization. I have no proof, but if you want my help in your med-center, then let me help. Just ask Vaughn—”
“Dr. Caster,” he corrected.
“Sorry, yes, Dr. Caster. Please ask him. We worked well together the three weeks he was on Veenith, but I’ll take orders from whoever is on shift. My skills are more in R&D, but I have enough experience to take care of the less severe traumas.”
“Follow me.”
Melina arched an eyebrow at Ivan, who nodded his head for her to follow the manager. “Check on Jayce if you can, Melina. Tell him. . . tell him. . .”
“I’ll tell him you’ll see him when he’s walking around again.”
* * *
JAYCE
Jayce awoketo soft lights in a med-center, one he didn’t recognize. This wasn’t Veenith. That was a step in the right direction. And he was still alive. . . definitely another plus. He sat up. No chains. A med-center and no chains. Did Ivan get them to a colony where they’d be free? A glance at his wrist showed the yellow glow of his prison tatt. Wherever they were, the locals had to know he’d escaped from a Level 5 prison planet.
As Jayce slid off the med-center bed, a stinging spread from his back through his lower body. Suddenly, he remembered everything. The guard aiming at Melina. Diving to keep her from getting hit. Then the ice-cold pain turning into a burning. He’d landed on her. She’d had the wind knocked out of her, but she hadn’t been hit. Beyond the pain in his back and feeling so damn tired, he felt fine.Alive.
He found a pile of clothing on a chair in the med-bay and dressed. The boots were his, but the pants and shirt weren’t, though they fit.
“Mr. Ladas,” a male said.
Jayce looked up into the light-blue eyes of a tall man with a scruffy beard. “Who are you? Where’s my unit?”
“I’m Dr. Caster. Your unit is scattered. Ivan and Reece are being detained by Manager Foley.”
“Manager. Detained. Where are we?”
“Narkos.”
“Fuck!” This was as bad as it got. The manager would send them back to Veenith, and that would be a death sentence for sure. “There was a woman with us.” He prayed she’d gotten off of Little Horse. He didn’t remember anything after being shot.
“Oh, Mel. Yes—”
Jayce slammed the man against the wall, with his arm against the doctor’s neck. The man said her name way too familiarly, like he planned to get to know her better. “If you hurt her, I’ll—”
The punch to Jayce’s back felt like a steel rod had slammed into him.
“Enough, Ky-Li!” the doctor shouted as he rolled Jayce over on the floor. “He’s still a patient. Recovering from an ice rifle wound to the back, I might add.”
“He attacked you.”
