Page 80 of Rescued By the Convicts
Ivan sprang to the edge of the cell. “She’s okay? Where is she? Do you know about the other man in our unit, Jayce? He was taken to the med-center.”
“Yes. With my unit. Alive,” Sersie said, still eyeing Ivan. “Now that we’re past the formalities, we need to talk.”
Reece signed furiously. Ivan barely looked at him. “What do you mean with your unit? She has a unit.Us,” Ivan said, his tone and body on edge.
“She was offered general housing with the other single women here—”
“She’s not single,” Ivan corrected. “She’s mated. To us.”
“Sorry. I misspoke. The point is, my mate insisted she stay with us.”
Reece scribbledHANA?on the paper he had in his pocket and held it up to the bars.
“Well that’s different. You’re mute and illiterate,” Sersie said.
“And he can snap your neck with one hand,” Ivan warned.
“No offense intended, Reece. I was surprised, nothing more. Melina didn’t mention you couldn’t read.” The corners of Sersie’s mouth ticked up. “It’s a compliment that Melina doesn’t describe you by your deficiencies. In fact, she talks very highly of you, both of you. And yes, Hannah’s my mate. Vaughn, another man in our unit, has been treating Jayce. That’s the reason I’m here. Jayce has been released from the med-center. Now that he’s well enough to meet, Foley, the prison’s manager, wants to see your entire unit in his office. Melina and Jayce are on their way there. If the guards release you, will you cooperate and go with me?”
“Yes,” Ivan said, relaxing.
As soon as the guards released Ivan and Reece, they followed Sersie through the camp. Reece noted the placement of the guards, the buildings, and the rail line that led to the port, memorizing as many details as he could in case their situation worsened. Ivan was doing the same.
After several minutes of leading them toward the manager’s office in silence, Sersie said, “I’ve read Melina’s work on the Kratos project. Brilliant work, the part before The Company used the drug on your men, Ivan. I’m sorry about that, by the way. I know what it’s like to be used by The Company and a crooked manager. Not Foley. He’s pretty decent as far as managers go, unlike our last one. I look forward to working with Melina.”
“You’re a doctor?”
“Chemist and botanist. Before you meet Foley, I need to warn you to be straight with him. He’s a human lie detector, and he won’t tolerate anyone causing trouble. He’s strict that way, but he’s fair too.”
“We won’t go back to Veenith.”
“I’d try a different approach. Maybe let Reece do your talking.”
“That’s not funny,” Ivan said.
Reece wanted to shove Ivan, to tell him Sersie wasn’t trying to be offensive, but Ivan was stressed enough. He’d been blaming himself for everything that had happened, from Jayce nearly dying to Zev leaving. Ivan knew how losing Zev would affect Melina. Hell, it was affecting all of them. And they still didn’t know if they’d be sent back to Veenith or not.
“I wasn’t trying to be funny,” Sersie said. “But Reece is calmer than you.” Sersie handed Reece his datapad. “Write what you need. Talk to Foley.”
“You’re justgivinghim a datapad? Without trading an asset?” Ivan asked. Datapads weren’t allowed outside of the med-center on Veenith, which made them valuable.
“My instructions were to do anything that gave you guys a fighting chance to stay on Narkos.”
“Instructions?”
“Hannah. She wants Melina to stay.”
Reece grinned. He understood this guy better now. He’d do anything to make his mate happy.
“My unit owes Melina for saving Hannah. I realize you don’t know us yet, but you have allies here, Ivan. You might have to trust a bit outside your comfort zone and listen to my advice. Narkos isn’t like Veenith. That doesn’t mean there aren’t dangers here, but we’re mostly Level 4s here. Men who want to do their time and go home. You’re Level 5. Convince Foley that you’re not a risk.”
* * *
MELINA
The moment Melinaspotted Jayce standing beside Ky’Li outside Manager Foley’s office, her heart raced. She’d seen him every day in the med-center since they arrived on Narkos four days ago. Every chance she had, she’d sat with him, held his hand, talked with him, and even combed her fingers through his hair while he’d been unconscious. Now, he stood in front of her tall, with a healthy color to him, and bright green eyes surveying the area, memorizing every facet about the camp.
“Lina,” Jayce said when his eyes found her.
