Page 95 of Owned By Two

I couldn’t help but blink.

In all my years of dealing with him, I had never known him to refuse a service. “If it’s a question of money—”

“It’salwaysa question of money. The client who bought this ship also paid a premium to ensure such information is never revealed. In my line of work, discretion is just about the only rule we have. I’m sorry. Truly, I am. Ask anything else of me and it’s yours. But this… this is something I cannot do.”

I nodded for a moment. “You know who I represent?” I said, playing the same card I had with the pilots earlier on the transport ship. “And you know what can be provided to you.”

He nodded. “I value our business relationship but I value that of my other client too.”

“Is it more valuable than our business?”

The criminal’s eyes flicked up at me, his snake dreads doing likewise. “More valuable? No. As valuable? Yes. I would not wish to lose either of you.”

“Then give me the information without letting them know about it.”

Qeyel’s smile made me uncomfortable. “Confidential information given freely is the least secure form of information there is.”

“Then act through an intermediary—”

Qeyel raised his hands. “I’m afraid I can’t.”

He was ending the discussion.

The answer was right there on his monitor… and yet he wouldn’t give it to me.

I became desperate. “What if I were to see the information on your monitor without you having to tell me?”

“It amounts to the same thing but… sure. Here.”

He turned the monitor toward me.

I leaned forward to absorb the information and found it unintelligible.

My translator device couldn’t understand any of it at all.

I tapped my neck where it was located but still it couldn’t read it.

“There’s nothing wrong with your translator,” Qeyel said. “It’s the information on the screen. It’s encrypted. The only thing that can decipher it are the lenses I wear. And as the information is re-encrypted several times a day, I must change my lenses each time. They’re created for this purpose and no pair is ever the same.”

My shoulders slumped and I nodded my head. “I understand your need for caution. But this really will dictate whether we’ll work with you again or not. You see, someone using this ship kidnapped the heir to James’s empire. Without her, no business will be done.”

“I’m sorry for the difficulties you’re facing,” he said. “But we both know an empire such as the one built by James will not be allowed to dissolve. It’s too powerful and too many will wish to possess it. Ownership will simply pass to someone else. The elites are scavengers. They will feast upon the carcass of the empire whether you want them to or not.”

Then he got to his feet and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry for disappointing you, my friend. I truly am. But this is not something I can do for you. I hope you understand. I cannot help you.”

He helped me to my feet and led me to the door, calling the meeting to an end.

“My associates will take you out,” he said as the automatic door slid open.

Blor stood where I had left him earlier, the two large guards standing over him menacingly.

His body was tense and hard, his body coiled as if he intended on springing into action at any moment…

But that moment hadn’t come.

Until now.

“If there’s ever anything I can do for you in the future, don’t hesitate to contact me,” Qeyel said. “I enjoy our little exchanges.”

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