Page 83 of Rescued By the Convicts
“No one would have touched his drink. Whiskey and blood.”
“Blood?” Foley’s eyebrows lifted.
“Danning didn’t merely sell human flesh,” Jayce said, and then he shut up.
Melina squeezed his hand. It would be a long time before Jayce got past the trauma, but already he was making progress, opening up, even if a little at a time.
“Jayce isn’t a killer, Manager Foley. And there were extenuating circumstances for Reece. They are not violent men, not unless they have to defend someone they love.”
Jayce’s beautiful green eyes found hers, and she smiled, seeing the warmth there. The love.
“Yes, well, I see there is more to them than their files have revealed. I still don’t know what you bring to the table, Mr. Ladas. You are all Level 5s, and as a Level 4 prison planet, I cannot exceed a certain number of Level 5s here. You’ve made a good case for Mr. Callahan to stay, but not yourself.”
“I negotiate.”
“What precisely do you negotiate?”
“Anything. Everything. You want something from The Company, I can deal. My Melina needs a new pair of boots or medicine, I’ll deal. You need a new ship. I’ll deal.”
“We have ways to requisition what we need,” Foley said, though he didn’t seem happy about it.
“I don’t requisition.”
“You hack computers. Bribe guards.”
“I deal.”
“And why would I trust you near my computers?”
“Because you have the one and only thing that I’ll never risk.”
“And what’s that?”
“Her,” Jayce said, sliding his arm around her waist. “And the rest of my unit. They’re my family, Manager. I’ve never had one of those before, and I will give anything to protect them. If you allow us to stay here together, we’ll abide by your rules, work for you in any capacity you need.”
“And you won’t try to escape?”
“We’re Level 5s. Where would we go? Even if Melina perfects the formula to destroy the serilium in our bones, we could never escape the reach of The Company. We just want to live in peace, together, as a family.”
Melina swiped the tears from her eyes. Jayce had come a long way since she first met him. They all had. They’d been working together, giving for each other, and they were of like mind, determined to stay together.
“A trial basis,” Manager Foley said. “Let’s see how well you integrate into my planet. You and Mr. Callahan have three months to prove yourselves, or I’ll send you back. And don’t worry, I will keep you all together, so if one of you screws up, you’re all gone. Remember that.”
As soon as they left Foley’s office, Melina jumped up and hugged Jayce. “I’m so proud of you.”
“For what?”
“For exposing yourself like that. For not lying, for not trying to con the one man we can’t afford to con.”
He cupped her face. “I’m not sure how to put it behind me.”
“That’s why you have us,” she said, even as Ivan’s hand landed on Jayce’s shoulder. A hint of a smile surfaced on Jayce’s face. He would be fine.
“Een,” Reece called to her. She looked. There stood Hannah, surrounded by her four men.
“We’re staying!” Melina screeched as she ran to hug Hannah.
“You sure about this, Ivan?” Jayce said behind her.
