22. Calder

“Absolutely not.” Raz crosses his arms over his chest. “No fucking way.”

Some people run hot when their loved ones are in danger. Not me. I’ve been glacial ever since I got that message from Throop. Until the job is done, I’m ice.

But underneath the frozen surface, deep currents swirl. I thought the threat was handled. I dismissed Foder Throop as an opportunist and not someone to worry about. I thought he had no power to hurt me.

I was so wrong.

Throop has Elodie. I can’t find her anywhere. Her comm has no signal that I can trace. I’ve hacked into Luxaria’s street surveillance and searched every bit of footage around Hotel Devonshire, but there’s no sign of her.

And if I don’t show up at the rendezvous point in twenty minutes with Sarai, Throop will kill her.

This is my fault. My hubris.

“Elodie is in this situation because of the Karven Federation,” I respond. “We decided to make her our pawn. You put her in danger, Raz, when you picked her as our way in.” I stare at him accusingly. “This is our mess. We’ve got to fix it.”

Raz ducks my gaze. “If Throop gets a hold of Sarai, he will deliver her to the Crill Empire. We cannot allow that to happen.”

“I won’t. I love Elodie, Raz. I have to get her out.” He’s wavering. I press my advantage. “Look, Throop didn’t suspect a damn thing until the Crill General analyzed the test tube. He’s had no time to get ready. I’ve checked the records. He’s only been to Luxaria three times, and they’ve all been vacations. He doesn’t know this planet; he doesn’t have allies here. You’ve sent me into significantly more dangerous situations without a second thought. This is a routine job.”

“No, it is not,” Raz counters. “I agree with your assessment, Calder, but this isn’t routine. Not when the price of failure is so high.” His gaze flickers to Sarai and back at me. “You’re asking for a lot.”

What we’re both not saying is that we will kill Sarai before we let the Crill Empire have her. If I should fail, if Throop gets away with the scientist, Raz will have to shoot down their ship.

That’s why this job isn’t routine.

I’ve been a spy and done many things I’m not proud of. This is just one more. I don’t even pretend I wouldn’t trade Sarai’s life for Elodie’s. Maybe that makes me a bad person, but I don’t care. Elodie is in danger, and I would burn the universe down to keep her safe.

“I’m not asking for permission,” I tell Raz, my voice hard. “I’m keeping you informed.”

Raz gives in. “Fine,” he says. “But only with Sarai’s consent.” He turns to her. “Calder is the best at what he does,” he says. “But I cannot pretend you won’t be in danger.”

“I know.” The researcher has a determined look on her face. “I feel responsible for this situation. If I hadn’t been so na?ve. . .” She lifts her chin. “Of course I’ll help. Elodie’s been nice to me. I can’t think of her in Foder’s clutches.” She swallows. “You won’t let me become a Crill prisoner?”

“I won’t let you become a Crill prisoner.” That much, I could promise. “Let’s go.”