Chapter 13

Emmy resisted the urge to look around for Chigs as the hostess led her past two burly bouncers and up a series of escalators, each one guarded by a pair of bouncers. She'd never been to the Velvet Enigma, and everywhere she looked there was something new and exciting to take in. One level was decorated with vintage furniture and played old-school music. Another blasted a quick, pulsating beat, the strobe-lit dance floor packed with gyrating bodies. Yet another held patrons singing karaoke at the top of their lungs.

Finally, they stopped on a floor decorated in dimly lit neon columns filled with slowly rising bubbles and low, chrome-polished tables surrounded by plush leather seats. The hostess led her between the tables, the buzz of conversations nearly overriding the soft electronic music filling the bar.

Glancing around, Emmy noted the high number of Syndicorp uniforms present. A thread of worry wove its way through her chest. Maybe Chigs's prediction about this being a trap was true. She hesitated, considering if the risk would be worth it, but Dafari had already spotted her from a table near the bar and rose to greet her. Steeling her resolve, she walked straight toward him.

"Emmy, my love," Dafari purred, his voice low and seductive. "You look absolutely stunning." He attempted to guide her into the seat next to him, but she skirted his hand and chose the spot across the table.

She'd agreed to this meeting under the pretext of possibly rekindling their relationship, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't bring herself to pretend. "What do you want, Dafari? Charles isn't happy I'm here with you."

With a tight smile, he sat, picking up his vivid green cocktail. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Where's your girlfriend?" she asked pointedly, ignoring his offer.

"Ah," he said, taking a sip from his glass. "I wouldn't exactly call Irina my girlfriend. Irina is... just someone I spend time with." He leaned forward, staring intently into her face. "Truthfully, I've always regretted the way things ended between us."

"Is that so?" Emmy's lip wanted to curl, but she kept her face straight. He was obviously trying to manipulate her, as usual. What in the hell had she ever seen in him? She crossed her arms. "I bumped into a mutual acquaintance on Whylon Station," she said coolly. "It sounds like you have an interesting perspective about what really happened during our breakup."

His brows shot up. "I was merely trying to save your career after you disappeared. I told people you needed to regroup after ending our relationship. Why didn't you accept any of the job offers I arranged for you?"

She frowned. She hadn't realized the offers had been because of him. "Why would you do that for me?"

"Because I still care about you." His gaze seemed to search hers for any sign of reciprocation.

"I'm happily married now." She crossed her arms. "Charles and I are going to live on Jarboa. He owns a plantation there."

Dafari's eyebrows rose in surprise, but he quickly recovered. "A farmer's wife? I never would've imagined that for you, Emmy."

"He's not a farmer," Emmy said in a cold tone. "He's a decorated war hero, retiring from service with honors." She glanced around the bar, hoping Chigs had found her by now. She could use his grounding influence. But he was nowhere in sight.

"You and I were a great team, Emmy," Dafari said softly. "We could be that again."

Her anger sparked at his audacity. "How dare you even suggest that, especially after everything you put me through? You never truly loved me, Dafari. Your career always came first." She glared at him, voice rising slightly. "Now tell me why you really asked me to meet you here."

Dafari hesitated, his attention darting around the room before finally relenting. Reaching into his breast pocket, he produced a small data chip and slid it across the table. "When you left, you said you wanted to expose the project. Assuming you still do, I want to help you."

Emmy stared at him, not daring to even glance at the chip on the table between them. She scanned the dimly lit bar, heart pounding in anticipation of trouble. "Why are you offering me this?" she whispered.

Dafari leaned back as if this was the most comfortable conversation in the world. "You could say I've had a change of heart."

Emmy studied him with narrowed eyes. "Why?" she insisted again.

"That bastard running things cut me out." A grimace of anger crossed his face before he resumed a placid expression. "I want the project to come crashing down around his head."

Now things made more sense. Dafari's fragile ego had been damaged. He was probably thinking that if he couldn't be involved, he'd make sure nobody else was, either. "Why don't you just expose it yourself?"

He took another sip of his drink, looking at her over the rim of the glass. "Because, unlike you, I want to stay in Syndicorp's good graces."

Of course he does. Just because he was ready to expose this project didn't mean he'd suddenly grown a conscience. With a flick of her wrist, she slid the chip into her handbag and stood. As she turned to leave, Dafari caught her hand.

"Don't sit on this, Emmy. The lab could relocate at any time." Dropping her hand, he turned away as if in dismissal, signaling the waitress for another drink.

Once upon a time, the gesture would've stung. Now she was relieved to be leaving him behind. To think I almost trapped myself in marriage to him. Her parents had been right.

As Emmy walked determinedly towards the escalator, her newfound sense of liberation made her steps feel lighter. After this mission was over, she could finally forget about Dafari. She had a family among the rebels, people who actually cared about her. Just the thought of Chigs finding happiness with his mate made her smile, though a bit sadly. Their time together on this mission had been wonderful, and although she couldn't have Chigs for her own, she had a new friend in him.

As if summoned by her thoughts, the sound of Chigs's voice floated up the escalator. "I told you already. I'm just looking for my table."

She reached the bottom to find him gripped between two brawny bouncers, fists curled as if ready to throw a punch. He spotted her and his expression instantly brightened. "There she is!"

The bouncer looked at Emmy. "He's with you?"

Emmy nodded, and the bouncers stepped back and bowed their heads apologetically. "Sorry for the misunderstanding," one of them said.

She smiled indulgently. "It's all right. We're just leaving now, anyway."

Chigs hooked a possessive arm around her waist. "Let's get the hell out of here," he said firmly, steering them toward the exit.

He set a pace that nearly had her running beside him, and by the time they reached the curb, she was slightly out of breath. "Chigs, what's going on?"

He summoned a transport and guided her inside, waiting until they were speeding away to describe his adventure to the penthouse. "I never want to see a naked posungi ever again," he stated. "And I'm not even going to talk about what the yanipa-nimayu was doing."

Emmy giggled and shuddered at the same time. "That sounds… traumatizing?"

He shook his head. "You have no idea. Speaking of traumatizing, did you meet Dafari?"

She held up the data chip, realizing she didn't feel upset at all. She felt good. Energized. "He gave me this. I guess he's pissed about getting booted from the project, so he's hoping we can cause some trouble."

Chigs narrowed his eyes. "This feels too easy. I don't trust him."

"You're right to be cautious, but I know Dafari well enough to gauge his intentions. I believe he was sincere." She pressed the chip into Chigs's hand, finding the next words difficult to force past her lips. "This could finally lead you to your mate."

Sighing, Chigs closed his fingers around the chip. "All right, we'll go through it and see what we can find." For a lingering moment, his eyes roamed her face, as if trying to memorize her features. "Thank you for all you've done, Emmy. I'll be glad to get off this planet." Then he turned to stare out the window.

A mix of conflicting emotions filled Emmy's throat, and she turned to stare out her own window. For the first time, she realized this meant her mission with Chigs was over. They'd no longer be spending time together one-on-one. He and the other denaidans would start planning a raid on the lab along with a rescue mission for Chigs's mate and the other denaidan females. Emmy's heart ached as she realized how much she was going to miss the warmth of intimacy that had ignited between them.

You'll still see him on board the ship, she reminded herself. We're friends now.

But she wanted to be more than friends. And that would never happen.

The transport pulled up to the hotel, and Chigs offered a gentlemanly hand to help her out. They still had to play the part of newlyweds until they got off the planet, so walked to the elevator arm-in-arm. Though she smiled and tried to behave like she was in love, she had to bite her lower lip to keep it from trembling.