Page 74 of Rescued By the Convicts
“I had to stop Namir,” she forced the words out and her face tightened in pain as she tried to rise again. Ivan held her down. It didn’t take much. Her condition worried him almost as much as Jayce’s. Reece held a glass of water to her lips. Melina took a few sips as he angled her to drink.
“You did indeed stop him. He’s dead, but you’re in bad shape, Melina, and I don’t know how to help you. There are nanites here, but after what happened to Namir, I don’t know if they’re safe to use.”
“The ones in the med-kit are safe. I left those behind in case Jayce needed them.”
Ivan peered over at Jayce. “He hasn’t woken.”
“Vitals?” she asked, again struggling to see him.
“His breathing seems erratic and periodically his face scrunches as if he’s in pain.”
“Insert two nanites into his wound if it hasn’t closed. Otherwise, make a shallow incision near there.”
Ivan held up the vial with the nanites. “There are only three nanites left.”
“Save the third until we know Jayce is improving.”
“I’m giving you one,” he said as he opened the vial and dipped his finger in.
“No—”
He slipped a nanite into the cut on her cheek before she could say more. “Command decision, beautiful. It’s out of your hands now.” Ivan passed the other two nanites for Reece to insert in Jayce. “I’m not losing either of you.”
Melina reached up to touch his face. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “We did it, little bird. We got away.”
“And Zev?”
Ivan smiled down at her. “He asked for the job, and since Reece had already thrown out the other pilot, I accepted Zev’s offer. He’s up front, flying us somewhere safe. I hope. ”
Her eyes were closing again, a sense of relief settling in her features. Ivan leaned back and stroked her hair as he looked over at Jayce across the cabin.
“Are the nanites helping?” Ivan asked.
Reece shook his head. For a moment, Ivan feared he should have held on to that last nanite, but deep down he knew the truth of it. Jayce’s injuries were too grave; the nanites weren’t enough to save him.
Chapter Eighteen
MELINA
Melina woke abruptly. Her heart was racing, and it took a moment to realize why. Ivan was yelling at someone. Every part of her body ached, but she could breathe easier and sit up without becoming dizzy or nauseous.
The pounding she’d heard hadn’t been in her head. Ivan was trying to break into the cockpit while Reece stood nearby signing. . . and being ignored.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Ivan stopped pounding. “We’ve landed.”
Landed? “Where?”
“I’m not sure, but look out the view port. Our ship’s been surrounded by armed guards. Prison guards.”
The cockpit door clicked. Zev stepped out. “Mel. Thank the gods you’re okay.”
“The nanite helped.”
His face blanched. “You gave her nanites after what they did to Namir?”
“Clean nanites. Only one. Two went to Jayce.”
