Page 41 of A Redemption for Ulrek

Ulrek held out a comm. “I went back to look for your device, but it’s gone. Here’s a new one.”

“Thank you. How much do I owe you?” She turned the comm in her hand. “This one’s a newer model.”

“Nothing,” he said. “It’s a gift.”

She frowned. “I’m sorry. I can’t accept it.” She shoved the comm back at him.

“Consider it a work perk. Not from me personally, but from the ship. You need a comm to do your work effectively. I’ve already programmed a few contacts into it. Me, the crew. Angie too. I got her contact from her mates. You should comm her. She was worried about you.”

“Why are you doing this, Ulrek? Why are you feeding me, buying me gifts, and being so fucking nice? Stop it already. You got what you wanted. I’m weak, and I gave in to lust, okay? You win. Stop rubbing it in.”

Was that what she thought he was doing? He’d only wanted to give her something of value. Something she’d use daily.

“I have not won. If I had, I would’ve woken up with you in my arms.”

“Why the hell are you saying all this? Are you not happy until I give up completely, lose all respect for myself, and fall for the enemy?” Then, realizing she was yelling, she pressed her lips together and looked around the hall. Luckily, most of the crew was off the ship, enjoying their last bit of free time on the colony before departure.

Delaney still thought of him as the enemy. Ulrek didn’t understand why it mattered to him. He usually didn’t give a flying fuck what other people thought. But this time, he did, because it was her.

“Take the comm. Call Angie.” He made it an order, hoping the hurt didn’t show in his voice. “Take the day off and go pick up your things from the NCH building. I tried to do it for you yesterday, but they wouldn’t let me in. The crew is still on leave, anyway. You can start work when everyone is back.”

Delaney gave up and took the comm.

Ulrek returned to his office. There was a shipment of Euphora he still hadn’t delivered here on Reka 5 since he’d been so busy with finding a technician and dealing with the bounty hunters. He sent out a message to the buyer and made plans to meet later.

He was just stepping out to get ready when Emil came charging down the corridor, concern written all over his face.

“To the common room. Now. I’m calling an emergency meeting.”

When they got there, his communications specialist made an announcement on the PA system from his comm to anyone on the ship. Then he told Ulrek to recall anyone who was out in the colony. It sounded serious.

Within minutes, everyone who was on board had arrived, Delaney included.

“This better be important.” Gavin looked like he’d been bathing. His hair was still soaking wet, and he wore only a towel.

“It is. Where’s everyone else?”

“They are on the way back. Someone else can update them. What’s going on?” Ulrek asked.

Emil held up his comm. From it came a message declaring Ulrek’s presence had been confirmed on Reka 5.

“The message is being broadcast on all the important channels on repeat.”

“How can they prove it?” Tahra asked. “I can just as easily go on the air and say I saw him on Tal.”

“There’s a link to several photos of Ulrek in the forest, together with the coordinates where it was taken.” Emil pulled up the first image.

It was from right before the fight. He hadn't gone into bloodlust yet, but he’d already dropped his disguise. Another one was of him mid-fight. The last one showed him carrying Delaney in his arms. Her face was blurry, though,

“Sure, they could be fake, but I'm catching some of the responses, and people are believing it. Someone identified you, Delaney, even with the shitty photo. This place is going to be crawling with bounty hunters soon.”

“Fuck. We need to get everyone back on board.” Ulrek dug in his pocket for his comm. “Can you pinpoint where it’s coming from?”

“I’m not sure how accurate it is, but it looks to be coming from the Reka 5 impound lot.”

The comm in Ulrek’s hand buzzed. It was Ryek. He accepted the call. “Ryek, are you getting what we’re getting?”

He listened to the director as he looked around at his crew. Delaney’s brow was furrowed, but everyone just looked disappointed to have their time off interrupted. They’d clearly gone through this before.

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