She took a step toward him, her face composed, but her eyes were pleading. “Maxon?”
“I don’t want to control you. I can be…heavy-handed.”
Her lips twitched and Magnus made a sound.
Maxon released a breath. “Fine, I like things my way.”
Bellamy’s lips twitched again. “I might have noticed.”
“I really just want to keep you safe.”
Her face softened. “I know.”
“I’ll…” Drak, this was harder than he thought. “I will help you get your revenge on the Edull.” And he’d be at her side every step of the way. He’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.
She moved straight to him and pressed her face against his chest. He wrapped an arm around her.
Magnus was watching them with a steady gaze. The imperator didn’t give off many emotional tells, but Maxon thought Magnus was pleased.
“Get some sleep,” Magnus said. “Tomorrow, I’ll set up a meeting with our allies to start formulating a plan for getting into the Bari Batu arena and finding the mag-tech.”
“Thank you, Magnus,” Bellamy said. “For everything.”
The imperator gave her a faint smile. “You’re House of Rone now, Bellamy. The thanks are not necessary.”
“Well, you’re still getting them.”
His smile widened a little. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Maxon ushered Bellamy into the hall. Inside, his gut was still churning, and he felt the need to get to his workshop and hammer the drak out of something.
“Time for bed.” He steered her down the corridor.
“Your bed?” She looked up at him.
But he noted the dark circles under her eyes. She’d not been sleeping well and the attack tonight at the arena had been draining.
“No. I’ll see you to your room.”
She sighed. “You’re mad at me.”
“I’m not.” He paused in front of her door. “I do understand what’s driving you, even if I don’t like it.” He touched her short hair, then ran his thumb across her cheekbone. “It’s been an intense day, and you need some rest.”
She sighed again.
“And if you were in my bed, you wouldn’t be getting any sleep, all night.”
Her breathing hitched. “Ace, that just makes me want to walk into this bedroom alone even less than before.”
He lowered his head, and touched a quick, light kiss to her lips. “Sleep well, Bellamy. No nightmares. I hope you’ll dream of me.”
She licked her lips. “You’re a tease, cyborg.” A sexy smile tipped her lips and she cocked her hip. “Well, you can go to your empty bed, and think of me in mine, with my hands between my legs, stroking, and imagining my hands all over your big body.”
The little temptress. Heat poured into his gut and he growled.
Then she cupped his jaw. “Thank you, Maxon. For fighting for me, for protecting me, and for understanding that I need to be a part of this fight.”
She slipped into her room, shot him a wink, and closed the door.
Maxon let out a breath. His cock was pressing hard against his trousers. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight.
But what bothered him most was the nagging feeling that something bad was coming. A dark cloud was gathering on the horizon and every instinct he had told him that it was centered on Bellamy.
Chapter Nine
Maxon stayed close to Bellamy as they entered the Dark Nebula Casino the next morning.
She was practically vibrating with energy. She was also surrounded by House of Rone cyborgs.
Magnus was in the lead, and beside her were Jax and Mace. Maxon was right behind her. They were not giving the Edull’s assassins another chance to get to her.
She’d outlined her plan to Maxon and Magnus last night. Now, they would meet their allies—Galen, Zhim, and Rillian—to discuss it more.
Bellamy looked around at the opulence of the casino lobby, then arched her head around Mace’s bulk to get a better look through the large, grand doorway into the main casino area.
“No.” Maxon rested a hand on her shoulder. He wasn’t going to let her expose herself.
She wrinkled her nose as they crossed the glossy lobby. “The place looks amazing. When this is over, I’m coming back here.”
He touched her face. He wanted her safe. “I’ll bring you.”
She looked back at him, surprise and pleasure in her eyes.
Drak. This woman was worming under his skin without even trying to. Maxon wasn’t sure he liked it, but knew for certain he didn’t want to change it.
A Dark Nebula security officer dressed in a fitted, black uniform showed them to an elevator and entered a code so it would take them to the top level.
The elevator zoomed upward, and it wasn’t long before it opened, disgorging them into a plush hall.
They walked down it toward a set of large, glossy doors. Magnus thumped his fist against the wood.
“Come in,” a deep voice replied.
They walked into a huge, spacious office, with a semicircle of glass windows that reached ceiling to floor.
Bellamy sucked in a breath. Maxon looked at the view. It was worth a gasp or two. Rillian’s office provided a dazzling view of Kor Magna—the lights and glitz of the District, the arena not far away, the sprawl of the city beyond. Even a glimpse of the desert in the distance.
Then Maxon watched Bellamy take in the man who rose from behind the desk.
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Hubba hubba.”
Rillian was rich, and it showed. He wore tailored, dark trousers and a crisp, blue shirt made of a fine fabric. The man’s bronze skin, handsome face, and black hair that fell almost to his shoulders vied with his long, lean body.
Maxon fought off a scowl. She didn’t need to drool over the man like a rabid desert night beast.
“Magnus.” Rillian stepped forward. The owner of the Dark Nebula Casino might be dressed in immaculate clothing, but the way he moved screamed predator. He exuded power.
Every one of Maxon’s senses warned him that this man was dangerous, despite the urbane charm. He was well aware that Rillian was bonded to an alien symbiont that gave the man deadly abilities.
“You must be Bellamy,” Rillian said.
She shook his hand. “And you must be gorgeous.”
Maxon swallowed a growl.
Rillian smiled. “Thank you. My lovely mate from Earth thinks so.”
“Lucky lady.”
“I’m the one who’s lucky. She’ll be here soon. Dayna is excited to meet you, Bellamy.” The casino owner’s face turned serious. “I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through.”
“I’m free now.” A sharp smile tipped Bellamy’s lips. “And the Edull are going down one way or another.”
“A woman after my own heart,” a feminine voice said from the doorway.
Maxon turned his head and saw the tall brunette stride in.
“I’m Dayna.” She had long legs, a fit body, and thick, brown hair. She smiled at Bellamy.
The women hugged.
“I’m so glad you’re well.” Dayna moved to stand beside Rillian. The casino owner dropped a kiss to his mate’s lips.
The office door opened again. “Stop talking.”
A small, dark-haired woman stormed in, holding a hand up to the tall, lean, and scowling man behind her.
“Ryan,” Zhim growled.
“Uh-uh. I’m spamming you with kitten pictures as soon as we get home.”
Kor Magna’s premier information merchant groaned.
The woman smiled, her dark eyes dancing. “Sorry, lover’s tiff.” She winked. “He annoys me, I annoy him back, then we have wild, make-up sex.”
Maxon frowned, but Dayna and Bellamy both laughed.
“You’re Bellamy.” Ryan grabbed Bellamy’s hands. “I’m Ryan Nagano. This is the brilliant, genius, arrogant, and often-annoying love of my life, Zhim.”
The l
ong-haired information merchant rolled his nebula-colored eyes. “Nice to meet you, Bellamy.”
“What did I miss?” Imperator Galen swept in.
“Zhim and Ryan’s lover’s tiff,” Jax said.
Galen flicked a glance at the pair, his single eye the color of ice. “I’m just glad that I no longer have to referee them.”
“Hi, Galen.” Ryan gave the imperator a kiss on his rugged cheek.
Magnus shifted. “Thank you all for coming. Bellamy has had a good idea concerning the Bari Batu arena. I thought we should all discuss it.”
Zhim leaned a hip against Rillian’s large desk. “We have news as well.”
“You go first,” Magnus said.
“The Edull have a race coming up. A big one.”
Bellamy gasped. Sensing her disquiet, Maxon reached out and touched her back. She leaned into him.
“It means they’ll get a big influx of slaves for the races.” Her hands balled into fists. “A lot of innocent people will die.”
“Not if we can help it,” Maxon growled.
Rillian leaned against his desk. “I’ll keep working with my contacts. I’ve had some success deterring both spectators and competitors with battle bots from going anywhere near Bari Batu.”
“Keep it up,” Magnus said.
“Bellamy,” Rillian said. “You had an idea regarding the arena?”
She cleared her throat, then launched into her idea about destroying the mag-tech and crashing the arena.
Zhim arched a brow. “Brilliant. Do you know how to do this?”
Bellamy grimaced. “That’s the only problem. I’ve never been near the mag-tech. It’s kept hidden and well protected.”
“Drak,” Rillian murmured.
Dayna, leaning against the desk beside Rillian, crossed her ankles. “Before any attack, we need to know exactly where this tech is, and how we can take it down.”
“Yes,” Magnus agreed.
Zhim crossed his arms. “I’ll see if we can find any info on this mag-tech through other channels. The Edull must have purchased parts from somewhere. If we can get the intel, then a team can go in to destroy the mag-tech.”
“I can lead the team in,” Bellamy said. “I know the layout of the arena, and how to get through their security better than anyone.”
Maxon had known this was coming. He gritted his teeth together so hard that his jaw creaked. He’d agreed to help her, but he still didn’t like it.
Bellamy turned to look at him, and he managed to give her a nod. She smiled back at him.
He wanted her safe, but he understood her need for revenge. He’d felt that same twisting need after his family’s abandonment.
“I suggest you use the big race as cover,” Zhim said. “Pretend to go in as guests. The place will be packed and busy, so you’re less likely to be spotted in areas where you’re not supposed to be.”
“When is the race?” Bellamy asked.
“In three days.”
“It doesn’t give us much time to get more information on the mag-tech,” Rillian said.
“We have to,” Bellamy said fiercely.
Magnus nodded. “Everyone, tap your contacts. Whatever it takes. My cyborgs and I will plan the mission.”
“My ships and any other resources are at your disposal,” Rillian said.
“So how can we get an invite to the race?” Magnus asked.
“Unfortunately, not very easily.” Zhim frowned. “The Edull have increased security since you and Galen, along with Rillian’s assistance, have done so well scaring off a lot of their customers.”
“I know someone,” Galen said. “He’s off-planet royalty from the Sarkany System. He’d be able to secure an invite, and he’s a good man. He could take our people in as part of his entourage.”
“Good,” Magnus said. “Get the invite, Galen. We have three days to plan.”
Maxon’s hands curled into fists. Three days before Bellamy ran headlong back into danger.
* * *
Bellamy stepped out of the Dark Nebula Casino and scanned the busy street. Even here in the middle of the city, the hot desert sun beat down. She vowed to come back to the casino soon and have some fun: eat too much, drink something bubbly, and play.
She glanced over at Maxon. His face was set like stone. She was going to drag him along as well. Her chest tightened. She wanted the grumpy, anti-social cyborg.
And that both excited her and scared her.
Tangling with Lenny the controlling dick had left her cautious of relationships. He’d been nice at first, reeling her in. They’d partied hard, gone for long rides on his Harley. Then he’d started dictating what she did, where she went, what she wore. She’d been a grieving teenager, all alone, and she’d wanted to please him. It had taken her a while to work out he was a scumbag.
Maxon was not Lenny, but he had a strong, bossy personality.
Suddenly, she heard a man’s loud shouts, followed seconds later by screams.
Around her, the cyborgs tensed as one. She glanced down the sidewalk and saw a giant, out-of-control alien man barreling down the sidewalk. His skin looked like rock, and he was swinging his arms. People on the sidewalk scattered.
He slammed his fist into the window of the building and it shattered into a thousand pieces.
“Jax, get Dark Nebula Security,” Magnus ordered.
With a nod, Jax sprinted back inside the casino.
The alien man picked up a woman and she screamed loudly. Magnus and Mace pushed forward to intervene.
“Maxon, stay with Bellamy,” the imperator called back.
Maxon pressed close to her side, never taking his gaze off the rampaging man.
“Never a dull moment in Kor Magna,” Bellamy said.
He glanced down at her. “Nothing rattles you for long, does it?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Shit happens, we deal. That’s life.” She was still having nightmares about the Edull and the battle arena. That made her more determined to destroy the arena once and for all.
“I don’t like the feel of this,” he growled.
“The feel?” she prompted.
“My species has a well-developed intuition. I can sense when things are going right or wrong.”
“Handy.” She watched him scan around them, his big body tense and alert.
A woman appeared beside them—tall, elegant, her long, lipstick-red hair falling around her shoulders in gorgeous waves. She wore a stunning, liquid green dress that clung to her toned body. If Bellamy had to guess, she’d say the woman had been whiling her hours away in the casino.
“What’s happening?” the woman asked.
“No idea,” Bellamy replied.
“Hmm, well, he’s proving an excellent distraction.”
The woman’s pleased tone made Maxon stiffen and Bellamy turn. The woman’s voice made the hairs on the back of Bellamy’s neck rise.
The redhead lifted an elegant hand with over-long fingers. She was clutching a small circular device.
Maxon made an enraged noise. Bellamy looked at him and saw he was straining, his muscles tense, and the veins in his neck bulging.
“Maxon? What’s wrong?”
“My little toy here is holding him in place.” The woman’s smile was as sharp as a blade. “It’s using the metal attached to his bones and a magnetic field to freeze him in place.” Her dark eyes locked on Bellamy. She lifted some sort of small, slim weapon, and aimed it at Bellamy’s chest. “You’re coming with me.”
Another fucking assassin. Anger flooded through Bellamy. “Screw you.”
The woman swiveled and aimed the gun at Maxon. “Come quietly, or I’ll kill him.”
Fucking hell.
“No.” Maxon managed to get the word out between gritted teeth.
“The ammunition in this weapon is designed to liquefy metal.” A pleased smile. “It’ll do extensive damage to a cyborg.”
Bellamy ground her teeth together and glanced over her shoulder. Magnus and Mac
e were still locked in the fight with the out-of-control alien. Bellamy bit her lip. She wouldn’t risk Maxon’s life.
She stepped toward the woman.
In a fast, practiced move, the woman slapped some slim cuffs on Bellamy’s wrists.
“Good choice.” The assassin set the freezing device down at Maxon’s feet, keeping him in place. Then she grabbed Bellamy’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”
The woman’s fingers dug into Bellamy’s skin, and she shoved Bellamy forward.
Bellamy looked back at Maxon.
He was still locked in place, his eyes aflame, his mouth a hard line. Then the crowd swallowed her and the assassin, and she couldn’t see him anymore.
As the woman forced her along the sidewalk, Bellamy’s heart pumped hard. Damn. Damn. Damn. She needed to find a chance to get away from this assassin, or take the bitch down.
“Where are you taking me?”
The woman gave her another shove. “No talking.”
They stopped beside a sleek, silver transport. The doors winged open—two on the sides and one at the back—and Bellamy found herself shoved in a small storage compartment at the rear of the transport.
“You’re making enemies out of the House of Rone,” Bellamy warned. “The Edull aren’t worth it.”
“Be quiet.” The woman’s pale skin rippled, like her body was containing something it shouldn’t.
Bellamy’s eyes widened.
The assassin smiled. “Haven’t you met a morpher before?”
“You can…change shapes?”
“It makes me a very good assassin.”
The door closed, locking Bellamy in the dark space.
She listened to the front doors closing, and then a second later, the transport started moving.
Great. Just great.
In the dim light, Bellamy examined the cuffs. She needed to get them off.
Then she noticed a bit of light coming through a small gap in front of her. She slid up awkwardly in the small space and pressed against it. She saw the assassin sitting in the front seat. The transport was zipping through traffic.
Weapons Master: Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone #6 Page 7
