Chapter 12

Thar’oc

Leaving Rikki’s side was the hardest thing I’d ever done, but it was necessary. Her diversion was at the center of my plan, a plan Captain Asmoded had approved after five long minutes of com silence. He’d debated the situation with his second in command, the Sineater, and probably Jaxin, the Weapon Master had been part of the talk too.

I touched the center of my chest where an ache throbbed. A physical manifestation from my distance to the tiny, pretty little human that belonged to me. I could still see her as she clutched one of my best pistols and tried to look fierce as she stalked onto the docking arm where the Varakartoom was berthed.

The docks were busy but not as crowded as the thoroughfares deeper inside Yengar Station; which allowed me to still see her through the sight of my rifle. I followed her progress as she walked toward the Varakartoom at the end of the dock, noting down each set of eyes that lingered a little too much on her petite, sexy shape.

My tail lashed behind my back, my toes wiggled in my boots; that was the extent of the fidgeting I allowed myself when I was lying in wait. My perch was on a ledge along the side of the elevator banks. Accessed with a quick, quiet leap to get behind the gaudy advertisement signs that decorated the sides. Nobody could see me there, but I could see everything from my high ground.

I had already marked the spots of the watchers that my brothers on the Varakartoom had located; there were only three, and they’d all rushed to call their boss when they spotted my mate. Everything else was in place, but it still made me worry to see her look so unprotected, to be this far away from her.

Rikki was doing an admirable job of calmly but slowly making her way across the dock. She tried to act like all the stares did not bother her. She couldn’t rush this, or the bastard wouldn’t show himself. Not if she got too close to the ship; then he’d order his paid goons to grab her. I needed to cut off the head of the beast to ensure her safety, not kill some paid muscle. They would scatter when the one holding their paychecks was gone.

“Take a breath, brother,” Jaxin drawled in my ear through our open com connection. The Rummicaron Weapon Master was completely out of sight, but I knew he was watching, just like I was. “Bex and I have her covered,” he added firmly, referring to his precious laser cannon, which was never far from his side.

Since he was my only link to the ship right now, I dared to utter the question I otherwise never would have. “How mad is the Captain?” Asmoded had agreed to help us out, mostly because he was as loyal as they got to his crew, and I’d assured him this potential client was dead whatever he chose to do. I would make sure of it.

“Eh,” Jaxin said, “Not too bad. He’s more miffed about losing a good sharpshooter than anything, I’d say.” My breath sawed out of me on those words with a relieved shudder. That was good. That meant a lot, actually. I was a little sad to go too, but it didn’t weigh up against the thought of spending the rest of my life coddling and pampering my sweet mate. It wasn’t like I hadn’t decided to take a leave of absence already.

“Good, and if they’re quick jobs, I might still do it. We’ll be on Strewn for now.” I acted like that was a done deal, though I wasn’t sure if that’s where Rikki wanted to stay. She hadn’t been upset about the fact that I was a landless Kertinal. That I had no soil to claim as mine to build her a future on. That was the practice in my culture, but it wasn’t in hers.

“That’s good, kid. You’ll be missed,” Jaxin responded, and then he hissed. “Do you see them?” I had, and my finger twitched against the sensitive trigger of my rifle. They had spread out and were closing in on her from behind, like a pack of slavering hounds breathing down her neck. She sensed them too and subconsciously she lengthened her stride; seeking the promised safety of the Varakartoom’s hulking shape in the distance.

I scanned the males chasing her for the one I needed, distracted by a little cluster closer to my perch, right across from the elevator bank I had climbed. They were staring down the dock through binoculars, getting the best look at the action without being part of it. Three Asrai males, all early twenties. Each one could be my mark, and I hesitated over which one I needed to shoot. Had he brought along some of his rich friends? Maybe I should just shoot them all. I could do it.

“Thar’oc?” Rikki’s voice hit me through the com. I’d bought one for her along the way and run her through the basics of how to operate one. She had me under a one-button press, and the Varakartoom on another; that’s all she’d need right now.

“What is it, sweetheart?” I asked her quietly while I sighted down into that crowd of three males within a protective circle of guards. I’d shoot the left one first, then pick off the other two who would probably scatter to the right, straight toward me.

“He’s to my left, hurry. I think he’s about to grab me.” Confused, I raised my head and swiftly turned my rifle back toward Rikki. My heart rate spiked when I realized she was right. The bastard I was looking for had a hood on, hiding his red skin and white face, but he and three brawny males had suddenly popped out of a large container on the dock, right on the heels of my mate.

“I see them,” Jaxin agreed when I sharply pointed them out to him. “Sending out Flack and Tasseloris now, they’ll intercept. Take your shot, brother. Save your mate.” That he only needed to tell me once. The other three Asrai forgotten, which that clever bastard had planted as a distraction. I aimed straight for the back of his stupid head.

“Rikki, duck,” I said and squeezed the trigger on my steady exhale. The shot burst from my rifle with a recoil, sailed through the air, and landed with perfect precision. The male went down, collapsing in a pile a couple of feet from where Rikki had thrown herself to the dock’s metal floor plates. His guards continued on a couple of strides, one even reaching down toward my female. I growled deeply and fired off a second shot; striking that one in the arm and sending him spinning.

I spotted the black-clad bodies of the two mercs Jaxin had sent out next. One dove atop my mate, protecting her with his body. The other threw himself into close-quarter combat with the two remaining guards. More of the nobleman’s paid muscle was converging on the scene, not aware yet of their boss’s demise.

Beneath my perch, the three Asrai that had formed the diversion had scattered to the wind, chased by their own protection detail. Some were coming for me though, and I smirked with the thrill of the fight, leaping down to meet them with my pistols and my fists.