I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? After what you put me through tonight…I never would’ve guessed that was a concern for you.”
She gave me a weak smile. “Come see us this weekend? See if this is another one of Dad’s crazy ideas.”
“You know I will.”
“Wait.” Catita half raised her hand. “I still need a ride back to Alexa’s bar? I’ve stayed out here too long.”
“Sun’s out.” Ari rubbed the back of her head. “The marina is crowded with QEC commandos. How are you going to get past them?”
6
Don't Say Good-Bye Yet
Tek
I stepped away from Ari and busied myself with the sails. If the wind kept up, we’d make good time back to the marina. For both our sakes, I hoped Catita’s sister would be there waiting for her. I sat in the captain’s chair and tried to relax, or rather tried not to think about what we’d have to face once we reached the docks.
“Thank you.” Catita touched my shoulder. “Despite the weird night, I’m glad I met you.”
“Me too.” Oddly enough, my words rang true. “Stop by and visit next time you’re in town. You know, if you need a place to hide or something.”
“I didn’t think you’d be funny.” She chuckled.
“You’re the first one to think so.”
Up ahead thin slivers of light spread across the horizon. My heart rate picked up the pace again, as it did every time the uniforms were around. Fear was how we stayed alive. As if the gods had given their blessing for this escapade, we docked next to the other boats with the water splashing gently against the barricades.
By the time we reached the harbor, the morning sun was on full blast. Hiding from the QEC would be damn near impossible. With a bit of luck, if we hadn’t used it all up already, the Martians wouldn’t think it necessary to send out the QEC to look for a first-year cadet. The way I understood it, they were the lowest ranked in the Martian military.
“Why don’t you wait for me below deck?” I asked Ari.
Her eyes drooped closed as she nodded. “Yeah, I need a nap.”
“It was nice to meet you. Stay out of trouble, yeah?” Catita squeezed Ari’s arm.
“Come back and see us soon.” Ari smiled.
“It’ll be two years before we spin back out here. But yes, I’ll stop by.” Catita exchanged a look with me. We were all thinking the same thing. In two years’ time, Ari would not be here.
“Bed now.” Ari pointed to herself.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and helped her climb the steps down to my private cabin. She quietly curled up on my bed and went to sleep. Ignoring the tightness in my chest, I shut the plexiglass cover and walked off the boat.
“Will she be all right?” Catita followed me, staying close to my side as if I had any sort of ability to protect her from her own people.
“She needs to sleep. That’s the best medicine for her right now. I’ll take her home later.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets. “I think your best bet would be to sneak in through the bar entrance. I can wait for Ry outside and bring her to you.”
“Are you going to be okay?” She flicked her thumb behind her toward Ari.
“We’ll keep trying to find a cure for her. That’s all we can do.”
The pity in her eyes told me she knew Ari was in the final stages of Dep. When I’d said we were looking for a cure, I meant we were looking for a miracle.
I stopped when she did and followed her line of sight. Well hell. “The QEC? Are you sure you’re not some sort of criminal? Did you kill someone?” I pulled her off the pier and into an old supply store at the end of the street.
“They’re not here for me. That’s Lady Sonja’s security detail.” She stared at the platoon of immortals crowding the entrance to Alexa’s bar. “It sounds idiotic now, but I just wanted to see the planet, go on a mission with Ry.” She ran a hand through her hair.
“Well, do you see her?” I snuck a glance through the grimy window. “I’ll see if I can get her to come with me.”
“I should turn myself in. I don’t want to drag you into this.” She pulled on her hairband to release her ponytail. The salty ocean breeze clung to her curls as she ran her fingers through them.
I raised my eyebrows at her. “Yeah?”
“You know, any more than I already have.” She offered a half smile, cheeks pink. With the same familiarity she’d been using all night, she reached for me and squeezed my fingers. “Thank you for everything, Tek.”
“Don’t say good-bye yet.” I caught a couple of her tresses and fixed them behind her ear. “We still need to find Ry. Come on.” I ambled toward the back of the store. “The store owner is a friend. He might let us use his secret access. It’ll be a straight shot from there to the bar’s alley door.”
“Tek.” Lee stood at attention behind the register when Catita leaned on the glass display.
“She’s with me. She’s a friend.”
“Lots of QEC out there this morning.” His gaze shifted toward the street, then back to Catita. “The situation at the Ukruum fields only made them angrier.”
“I know. Last night was a total clusterfuck.” Only two days ago, I would have called it a damn good plan to rid us of the virus that made the QEC immortal.
“Wait.” Catita turned to me. “That was you? You caused the explosion out on the fields last night?”
“You saw that?”
“Yeah, that’s why Ry sent me to Alexa’s bar. Did you do it?”
Technically—”
“No, don’t tell me. If I end up in solitary, there’ll be an inquiry and I won’t be able to lie.” She braced her hands on her knees and blew out air.
“Lee, Catita needs to get back to Alexa’s bar, unseen.”
Lee rubbed the leathery
