Chapter Eighteen

Tanner

Nothing hurt, at least not too bad. She had a minor headache. Tanner knew she was in the hospital on the ship because the bed was hard and there was something strapped around her arm. She also knew she wasn't alone, and it wasn't just the lump of sleeping cat on her stomach that kept her company.

Opening her eyes, the first face she saw was Binja. She smiled and moved her fingers so he'd take her hand.

"You scared me," he admitted.

Tanny's grin widened. "I scared me too. Can I ask why you were naked when you came charging to the rescue?"

Binja shrugged. "I didn't have time to put on clothes. You scared me because when I got there, I thought you had lost consciousness. The wound on your head was bleeding, and your eyes were closed."

She understood he was asking her how she did it, not just listing her injuries. She put one hand up to her throat. "The bands were healing my head injury from the inside out. Then the Andaran tried to attack my brain, and I felt the bands provide a shield to keep him out. Then, mentally, he went for my throat." She sighed. "They couldn't cover everything at once, so for a moment, choking me worked, and I started to lose consciousness. When I saw Eita. I knew you were close, but I also knew I could use her eyes. So, I closed mine, and the Andaran thought he'd won. He stopped his mental attack enough for me to breathe and regain some energy. Through Eita, I knew when he was in range, and I could attempt to throw him over the cliff. Which, by the way, is what he planned to do to me."

Binja nodded. "Yes. I saw that in his eyes. He tried to grab your hair. The brothers are determined you give them French braiding lessons."

Tanny laughed.

Binja sighed. "I have some bad news along with the good."

"Good first." She closed her eyes for a second. Already tired and very afraid she knew what the bad news would be.

"We recovered the money, but Jacanas' body wasn't at the bottom of the ravine."

She raised her eyebrows. "Of course, it wasn't. That would be too easy. So, what? Did he walk away? How far was the fall?"

"About twenty feet," Binja told her.

"Well, hell, he's alive. Banged up probably, but alive." Tanner remembered something she realized during that fight. She had a reason to live. Not just for her sister… but because of Binja and how happy he made her. Sighing, she admitted, "I'm ready to end this. Someone else can have the pleasure of killing Jacanas. I just want to leave and go after my sister."

Binja's voice was soft, "Then we'll end it. Stay in bed with the cat for a minute, and meet your neighbor. It's the woman you saved a few days ago. Let me go speak to my brothers and I'll be right back." Leaning over, he kissed her gently on the lips.

Her answer was a smile and a brief nod.

When Binja left the room, Tanny turned and looked at the redhead in the bed next to her. "A few days ago?" she frowned.

Faint laughter came from the very thin, very battered woman next to her. "You've been unconscious for three days. The crayon guys said you threw the head creep off the cliff."

This time it was Tanny who laughed, and it was almost as weak as the other woman's. " Color your world with crayons, " she agreed. "I threw him off. Not that it did any good. I'm Tanny, by the way. And this is Mama C." She pointed at the cat spread over her stomach.

The redhead smiled. "I've met Mama C. She let me love on her a bit. My name is Margaret, or Maggie, to my friends."

And that was all Tanny heard before she fell back to sleep.

BinjaOB

JayBOrB was waiting for him in one of the smaller hovers. "I knew it was time. If you get injured, you'll need me. Otherwise, I'll just play chauffeur tonight."

Binja grinned at his brother. Knowing it was true. For some reason, if he became badly injured his camouflage didn't work. The brothers decided long ago it was because his bands were healing him. Leaving no energy to camouflage. The knowledge came hard. He'd almost died the first time it happened.

Now, when Binja went out to assassinate someone, he usually had company close enough to help if needed.

Tonight, he needed help.

Jay landed the hover in the Andaran's courtyard. The ship stayed invisible with the door shut, but when opened for Binja, it would have been fully visible. Except Jay was their Master of Illusion. So, he hid the hover behind a mirrored version of the compound.

It was easy to slip inside the house. The Andaran ran back to where he felt safe, and was having a dinner party. Surrounded by guests, Jacanas was sitting at the head of the table. He was unaware that Binja stood behind him. He slipped the tiny blade right into the Andaran's heart. Jacanas died instantly. Quietly. Still sitting. His eyes were open and fixed at the end of the table.

Jay and Binja were long gone before anyone realized the self-appointed king of Viant was dead. No one at the table mourned his passing. For that matter, no one on the planet mourned.

Two hours after he left her, Binja woke Tanny when he carried her down the hall and back to their room. This room was one they had picked out together. It had a sitting area for guests, a bigger bath and shower, and a much bigger bed.

He gently sat Tanny down on that bed and slid in beside his mate. "It's done." He told her.

She frowned. "What is done?"

Binja smiled and used a finger to soothe the creases between her brows. "Jacanas is well and truly dead this time. We can leave tomorrow to follow your sister."

Tanny blinked. "You killed him?" At his nod, she threw up her hands. "If it was that easy, you could have done that earlier. Right? Anytime you wanted?"

He nodded. "Yes, my love. I never miss. I was created to cause death."

Tanny rolled her eyes and smiled. Reached for him. "Not just to cause death, you were also created to love me and to give me a reason to live. Rock my world, Binja. We have a lot to live for."

She was right. They did have a lot to live for. Today—and every day for the rest of their lives—he planned to prove it to her.

But not right now.

He looked down at her precious face. It was covered in a hundred minor cuts and scrapes. She had a ring of black marks around her neck and a bandage on her head. Tanny's eyes were closed again. They wouldn't be celebrating anytime soon. His battered mate needed more time to rest and heal. And she'd just gone back to sleep.

The end.