“Greetings, Baahy.”
“Greetings, Varga.” Baahy leered at Joan’s body, his eyes covetous. “I see Ukhaan let you take his slave. Good. It’s about time someone taught her her place. I told him she thought she was too fucking good to service a male.” His ugly face twisted into a scowl. “But as usual, he wouldn’t listen to me.”
Varga raised an eyebrow inquiringly.
Baahy took a step closer, lowering his voice. “We should talk. I could make this place ten times more productive if Ukhaan didn’t tie my hands.”
“That’s an interesting claim,” he said coolly. “Can you back it up?”
“Fuck yeah.”
“Then bring me your business plan tomorrow.”
“Business plan? I don’t need a fucking business plan.” Baahy smirked and tapped his head. “Experience. That’s what I got. I know how to work a slave. Male or female.” He ran his eyes over Joan again. “I’d have that one on her knees begging in five minutes.”
“I am quite capable of handling a slave.” His voice was deliberately arrogant, and Baahy’s eyes narrowed. “And I rely on numbers, not idle boasts about… experience.”
“Boasts? Why you—”
“But if you’d like me to tell Ukhaan that you have been presenting me with your ideas, perhaps he could help you translate them into actual numbers?”
Whatever Baahy’s faults, he was not stupid. Despite his anger, he shook his head and forced a polite tone. “No, thank you, sir. I wouldn’t want you to trouble him while he’s so busy.”
“Then perhaps we shall see each other tomorrow. Good night.”
Varga turned and walked off, feeling the male’s eyes boring into his back.
As soon as he was safely in his quarters, he placed Joan back on her feet. Her lip trembled, but she lifted her chin.
“I hate that bastard,” she muttered, then seemed to realize what she had said. Her eyes dropped submissively. “I’m sorry, Master Varga. I only meant that he was not respectful of Master Ukhaan. I hope you don’t intend to tell him of Master Baahy’s disloyalty…”
He almost laughed. Her words were so clearly the opposite of what she actually thought.
“No, I don’t intend to tell him.”
Disappointment crossed her face before she could mask it, but she didn’t protest.
“No, Master Varga.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me why?”
“I will, of course, listen to anything that you tell me.”
Impatient with her feigned meekness, he put a finger under her chin and raised it until she was forced to look up at him. He caught the same silvery flash of defiance in her eyes before she schooled her features.
“You do not need to pretend with me, little bird,” he said softly.
“I don’t understand. What do you want from me?”
He sighed. He had hoped for another day to finish scoping out the place and identifying all the security measures, but between Ukhaan and Baahy, he didn’t think he could take the risk. They needed to leave as soon as possible, and perhaps she had information that might help.
“I want your freedom. I’m here to rescue you.”
She stared at him and he waited, already anticipating her gratitude. Instead, she broke into laughter.
Chapter Six
Varga looked so shocked that more laughter bubbled from Joan’s lips, but she could hear a hysterical note underlying the gaiety. Afraid that her laughter would turn to tears, she took a deep breath, then another, trying to force it under control.
“Why are you laughing?” he asked, still looking confused rather than angry.
“Because I want to believe you so desperately and I know it’s impossible.”
“You doubt me?”
Oddly enough, she thought perhaps his intentions were genuine. Not that it made any difference.
“I don’t know. You seem sincere, but I don’t understand why you would want to rescue me. And even if you did, I just told you it’s impossible.”
“The number of guards is limited. They will not represent a challenge.”
“They’re limited for two reasons. The first is because of the automated gates. The ones leading to the landing field are only open when a shipment is being exported or when a visitor is expected. Could you override that signal?”
He frowned and rubbed his chin. “In time, perhaps, but my technical knowledge is fairly limited. However, I’m sure I can persuade one of the guards to open them.”
She shook her head. “From what I know, they’re set on time locks. A guard couldn’t open them, no matter how ‘persuasive’ you were.”
“What is the other reason?”
“The conditions on the surface. The transition zone is the only area that’s even remotely survivable, but nothing grows there. An escaped slave would have nowhere to go.”
He frowned at her. “How do you know all this?”
“Because I thought of nothing else since I arrived. I’ve investigated as much as I could without arousing suspicion. And I have a friend who’s also investigated.”
“A friend?” His voice deepened, and he stepped closer. “A male friend?”
He almost looked jealous but that was ridiculous. Wasn’t it?
“You met him this morning. His name is Rummel.”
His shoulders relaxed. “Yes, I remember. Perhaps we should consult him. Can he be trusted?”
“You mean he could be part of the escape?”
“I hadn’t considered that,” he admitted. “But I might be willing to consider it if he can help us.”
“Why are you really here?” she demanded, trying to suppress the fresh ember of hope.
“I have a friend who is mated to another human female. She was on the same spaceship as you.”
“There were more of us?” She swayed, suddenly dizzy, and he swore, putting his arm around her and leading her over to the bed to sit down.
She thought about protesting, but he had done nothing to hurt her
