Finally, like a poker player revealing his Royal Flush, Daccia turns to Torelli and boldly states:
“I mean, that's how you guys work, right?"
Torelli goes cold, and I instantly realize that Daccia has made a mistake.
He pushed Torelli too far, too quickly.
The club owner pauses for a moment – and then motions with his hand, as if to signal for someone to stand down.
I suddenly realize that this whole time, there have probably been soldiers and rifle turrets trained on us.
They probably still are.
Torelli holds up a warning finger to Daccia.
"I’ve considered your proposal,” he says coldly, “and I'd like you to leave."
Daccia narrows his eyes. "We go through all this? And you just want to kick us out?"
"I don't do business with strangers,” Torelli warns. “You want to buy a girl? Buy her. You want to sell a girl? Bring her to me. Until then, though – get the hell off my property. Understood?"
Daccia is silent for a second – and I wonder if he’s suddenly going to launch himself forward – turning this negotiation into a bloodbath instead...
...but, no. After carefully considering Torelli’s words, Daccia nods.
"Understood."
We leave, heading to the elevator, retrieving our Orb-Weapons, and getting into our waiting shuttle.
As soon as we’re out of the earshot of Torelli and his men, Allie bursts out: "He knew something! The moment you mentioned the word ‘ransom’ he knew you were onto him."
Daccia pilots us back to the hotel.
"Maybe,” he nods, “or maybe he's just paranoid – and he realized he couldn't trust us. Either way, we're in trouble now. There's actually video footage of us fucking you now – footage that's going to be passed all around this planet. We can't stay. We're going to have to take that Reaver from those Aurelians and just get the fuck off this planet before they find out what we’ve done.”
Daccia’s eyes narrow.
“We'll come back for Torelli later."
Allie's anger flares through the Bond. "We can't come back later! We have to investigate now! Or tomorrow, at least! We need to take him down!"
Daccia looks away from the controls as he touches down at our hotel.
"This isn't up for discussion, Allie. We're leaving tomorrow. When the hunt dies down – when it’s safe to – we'll return."
For a moment she’s silent – angrily crossing her arms.
Then, finally, Allie snarls: "Fine."
But she's clearly bitter about it – and if we’ve learned nothing else, it’s that a bitter woman is one of the most dangerous creatures in this universe.
23
Allie
I try to keep my bitterness buried deep inside.
Hadrian, Daccia, and Kitos needed to push Torelli harder! I didn’t trust him from the moment I saw him. The way he reacted when Daccia said the word ‘ransom’ confirmed it in my mind. I’m convinced he knows something about my little sister’s kidnapping – and he’s hiding it.
I’ve been bitter for almost half a day now. It’s already the morning after our visit to The Rhino, and Hadrian and Daccia have just left for the prisoner exchange with Dantus and the other two Aurelian Law Enforcement agents.
Daccia and Hadrian are planning to knock out those poor, naive rookie agents, then steal their ship. They’re planning to bring me off this planet for ‘my own protection.’
But is that true? I suspect that that was always their plan. I don’t believe my triad was ever planning to stay here for a full month while their Reaver was repaired.
But it doesn’t matter what their plan was. I’m not going to be their little toy. I can feel their auras growing stronger in my mind – and last night, when I slept, I could barely mute my emotions from them. One more coupling and I feel we’ll all be fully linked.
And, as much as I enjoy the protection of the powerful triad… as much as they turn me on…
Well, I know it isn’t right to become their little toy. I’ve spent my life avoiding becoming a man’s property. I’m not going to submit now.
Kitos sent up for more clothes, because all I had was that prison uniform and the pleasure dress – plus the bra and panties from Spur’s joint. That’s not exactly a versatile wardrobe, so in order that I don’t look like either a whore or a convict, I insisted on new clothes.
I chose simple items – nothing flashy or expensive. They’ll be good enough for what I need them for. Athletic clothes were my first choice – tight-fitting outfits that will let me move freely.
"We'll be safe here, don't worry," says Kitos, misreading my anxiousness as fear. I can feel him even clearer through the Bond, and it’s more and more difficult to conceal my true emotions from him. It terrifies me that every mating will bring us closer together; until I feel like the lines between my mind and those of my triad will be blurred indistinctly.
I look up at Kitos. He’s a strong, dedicated man who’d do anything for me. I can see the light green of his eyes again – grown brighter after our coupling at The Rhino.
The green color is hope. It’s the color of spring, of new life – of a new future.
Kitos’ features are more delicate than the other two Aurelians. More elegant and regal. He looks like he could lead an army, or be immortalized in the marble he so resembles because of his striking looks. He’s a perfect specimen of manhood – and seeing how he looks at me, with such adoration and
