Page 71 of Stolen Fire
Cifer belonged on The Treasure.
Cifer gripped the bars of the cell he’d been placed in to keep from pacing. For a person who prided themselves on never getting caught, he was having an extremely bad run. He cocked his head to listen more carefully. He could have sworn Blaize was in the building, but that was impossible. She’d been running back to The Treasure last he saw her. His heart pounded in his chest, and the urge to break out rode him hard. But if he escaped, Blaize would be at risk. He clenched the bars so hard his fingers ached.
Moments later, an officer opened the door and walked in, followed by Dez. Cifer had never been so overjoyed to see another male. Voices from the offices trailed through the opening. Blaize was there—with the entire team, if his ears didn’t deceive him.
“Furcifer Msuya, you’re free to go.” The officer placed her palm on the biometric pad, and the cage clicked open.
Cifer didn’t question the officer. He didn’t need answers. He needed freedom. And he was so grateful that they hadn’t left him behind. As soon as he stepped out and breathed the air outside the cage, which was logically the exact same as the air inside but somehow tasted sweeter, his muscles softened and his lungs inflated a bit more. “Where’s Blaize? Is she okay?”
Cifer had many more questions, but not until they were away from the authorities who had locked him up. Dez didn’t respond. Cifer followed the gray male to the lobby where the rest of the crew waited, including the fiery, beautiful woman who had stolen his heart.
“Blaize.” Her name whispered from his lips like a prayer of thanks, a promise, and a plea.
She launched herself into his waiting arms and answered all of his needs with a single word. “Cifer.”
He clenched her close and buried his face in her hair, breathing her in. Her clean scent was his new definition of home. Too soon, she stepped out of his embrace and clasped his hand.
They were surrounded by the smiling faces of the crew of The Treasure.
“What about the kids?” Cifer demanded.
“All safe and sound, thanks to you.” Blaize squeezed his hand.
“Let’s go home,” Cyra said.
The female meant her ship. The crew’s ship. Blaize’s home.
The only home he’d ever dreamed of was on a planet that was no longer reachable with current technology.
Dez invited him into the galley while the rest of the crew prepped for launch.
Cifer queried Blaize with a look.
“I’ll be in the engine room. Come find me when you’re done.”
He reluctantly released her hand and stared as she walked off in the opposite direction.
“Come on. She’s not going anywhere without you.”
Dez’s words calmed Cifer enough that he could take his eyes off her and go to the galley. At least for a few minutes.
After he got them each a cold fermented beverage, Dez sat at the table. Cifer took the silent invitation and settled into a chair, nervous about what Dez would say.
“So, I know you have tremendous skills and are contracted for exorbitant rates.”
Cifer wasn’t sure how Dez knew that but nodded.
“Veda tells me the orb is locked up in her med lab.”
Cifer nodded again, not sure how the two topics went together.
“Our next stop is Hiargus, so you can get paid and get that thing off our ship.” Dez took a long drink of the brew. “You have any other jobs lined up?”
Cifer hesitated, unused to discussing his business with anyone else. But Dez represented the family he wanted. “Actually, no. The payout for the orb would be enough to keep me and the orphanage funded for a galactic year. I planned to take some time and be selective.”
Dez nodded and took another sip of the brew. Silence didn’t make Cifer antsy, so he let the male take his time in responding, even though the urge to find Blaize rode him hard.
“Would you consider staying on?”
