Aces Over Queen (The Drift Book 8)

by Susan Hayes

  Owen leveled his blaster at her prisoner. It dipped, then steadied as he realized who he was looking at. “Katy? How the hell did you get here?”

  “Katy? As in your baby sister?” Royan’s gaze bounced between the two women. “We left you alone for an hour. How did you get into this much trouble so fraxxing fast?”

  “It’s a talent.”

  “And Owen says I’m a lunatic. I think you’re trying to claim my title.” He eased his shirt over her head and good arm, then sat down behind her and wrapped her in his arms, one hand covering the wound on her shoulder with enough pressure to make her see stars.

  “Ow.”

  “If that’s all you have to say, I’m not applying enough pressure.” He clamped down harder and she almost blacked out.

  “That’s better.”

  “Not really,” she muttered when she could breathe again.

  While she’d been trying to stay conscious, Owen had started talking to his sister. From what she could hear, it was a very one-sided conversation.

  “Say something, Katy. Anything. Why would you do this? Raiding didn’t pay enough so you got into killing as a sideline? Was this mom’s idea?”

  Katy just stared at him in mutinous silence until he stopped asking questions.

  “Mom’s dead,” Katy said flatly.

  “When?”

  “Two years after you left. She never got over it, you know. Losing you and Connor like that. She started taking high risk jobs. Crew thought it was for the money. Me, I think she wanted to end it and didn’t have the guts to pull the trigger herself. She’s buried beside Connor.”

  “I didn’t know.” Owen’s tone was softer, but his blaster was still trained at his sister’s chest.

  “Of course you didn’t. You left. She told everyone you died. Even made us put up a headstone for you. It’s right beside Connor’s. Guess it was easier for her to pretend you died than to accept you walked out on us.”

  “You know why I left. Hell, I asked you to come with me. You turned me down.” His voice broke. “You could have been free of it all, but instead you became a killer.”

  Katy’s expression barely moved, but for a brief second, Tianna saw a flash of regret in the other woman’s eyes. “I know.”

  Then she looked over at Royan and Tianna, and her expression hardened again. “Good thing mom’s dead. If she knew you’d hooked up with a couple of freaks… Did you even know you were banging a cyborg? That’s gotta be what she is.”

  Royan’s hissed in surprise. “Son of a starbeast. I should have seen it. No wonder you never sleep.”

  Owen glanced her way and she braced herself for the inevitable words of anger and rejection.

  “Who I love is my business, not yours,” was all he said.

  Royan nuzzled her ear. “But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to spank your ass pink later for keeping that from us.”

  “There’s going to be a later?” she asked, dazed.

  “Sweetheart, there is always going to be a later for us. Weren’t you paying attention? That big, sexy teddy bear over there just told his sister he loves you, and so do I.”

  “But I lied. And yelled. A lot.”

  “And once you’re healed up, we’ll talk about that.”

  “Damn right we will,” Owen agreed.

  “Ugh. Shoot me please. I’d rather be dead than listen to anymore of this nauseating crap. You’re all freaks.”

  “Corp-Sec is arriving now,” Tink announced.

  “Better late than never.” Tia frowned. “How is it you two got here before Corp-Sec, anyway. In fact, how did you know to come at all?”

  “Tink. She told us you were in trouble. We were at the Nova and came running.”

  “I didn’t tell her to do that.” She leaned against Royan. “But I’m glad she did.”

  “Me too. Though I have to say it looks like you never really needed bodyguards at all, Miss badass cyborg.”

  “That’s not true. I needed you.” She raised a blood-soaked hand, indicating the partially destroyed gym. “See what happens when you leave me alone?”

  Both men grinned, but further conversation was ended by the arrival of almost a dozen armed Corp-Sec officers and a team of medics. Owen handed his sister over to the officers, then came to stand over her and Royan.

  As her adrenaline rush faded the pain grew worse. She closed her eyes and tried to ride each agonizing wave as it rolled over her. She caught bits and pieces of the conversations going on around her. Orders issued through communicators, someone probing her injuries with a gentle touch that still burned like fire.

  “…to the med-center”

  “…needs specialized care”

  “…No one breathes a word of this. Isolate the prisoner.”

  Finally, she felt something cool touch her throat. “I’m giving you a pain blocker now, Ms. Astor.”

  “About fraxxing time,” she muttered. There was a hiss and a faint sting, and then blessed relief. She opened her eyes and saw both Royan and Owen looking down at her with concern and something that made her heart skip a beat. Love. Re’veth, they really did love her.

  “Told you she’d be fine,” Royan said.

  “Of course I’m fine. I’m a badass, remember?”

  Owen glowered at Royan. “This is going to be a thing now, isn’t it? You did this, you deal with it.”

  Royan just chuckled. “Come on, badass. Let’s get you to the med-center. Time for you to get looked over by someone who specializes in your kind.”

  “Cyborgs?” It felt strange to refer to herself that way out loud.

  “Lunatics who let themselves get shot,” Owen said, then moved back as two medics lowered a stretcher beside her and helped her onto it.

  “We’ll transport her. You can meet us at the med-center,” one of the medics said.

  “We’re her protection detail. We don’t leave her side.” Owen’s voice dropped to the sexy growl he used when he expected to be obeyed.

  “There’s not enough room in the transport for—”

  “The last time we left her unsupervised, this happened. Do you really want to test your luck?” Royan asked.

  Tianna decided to chime in, too. Owen wasn’t the only one who could be bossy. “They ride with me, or I’m walking.”

  The medic sighed. “Alright, Miss Astor. We’ll make it work.”

  “Thank you.” She closed her eyes. Now if only she could fix the rest of this mess, and her life, so easily.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Owen didn’t take his eyes off Tianna for the entire journey to the med-center. He couldn’t. The last time he’d let her out of his sight, she’d gotten hurt. That wouldn’t happen again. They’d sprinted the entire distance back, sick with worry they’d be too late. Tink had opened the doors and had the elevator waiting for them, saving them a few desperate seconds, but the ride to the residential level had felt like an eternity.

  Thankfully, Royan was still wearing his blaster, and Teenie had tossed Owen hers without pausing to ask why. Tink had provided a few details: the number of attackers, Tianna’s location, a report of weapons fire. The program was as close to hysterical as software could get, repeating the information and apologizing for not detecting the attackers earlier. Later, he’d find out why and fix it. So that next time – if there was a next time – they’d be better prepared.

  Royan reached across Tianna and grabbed his hand. “This isn’t your fault, baby. It’s mine. I’m the one who pissed her off and got us tossed out.”

  “And I’m the one whose job title is security officer. I should have been smarter.”

  Tianna opened her eyes and took both their hands. “Do I really need to point out the fact that I’m the one who told you to go?”

  Royan shook his head. “I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard. Now I get why you were trying so hard to put some distance between us.”

  “Yeah. Only all I did was put myself in a position where I had to out myself anyway. There’s no way
that pesken is going back in the bag. I need to warn my father. He’ll have to protect the company the best he can.”

  “You’ve been shot twice and your first concern is for your dad and the business? What does it take for you to put yourself first?” Owen demanded.

  “The company always comes first.”

  “Why do you keep saying that, sweetheart?” Royan asked.

  “I—” she frowned. “I don’t know. It’s one of my father’s pet expressions. After the accident, I kind of adopted it as a mantra.”

  “That’s when all this happened, isn’t it?” Owen asked. It made sense. It also meant that her existence violated galactic law. A whole lot of laws, in fact.

  “My injuries were a lot worse than anyone was told. The doctors weren’t even sure how I’d manage to survive the crash at all. They told him I had no chance of recovering. My father didn’t accept their diagnosis.”

  “He broke the law to save your life.” Royan’s voice had a hint of awe to it, and Owen felt the same way. The money, skill, and secrecy required to pull it off were beyond comprehension.

  Tianna’s pale lips tightened into a bittersweet smile. “I liked to think of it that way. He was more pragmatic. He referred to my recovery as a continued investment in a key long-term project.”

  “In case I haven’t mentioned it before, your father is a fraxxing idiot,” Royan muttered.

  Owen didn’t comment, but he flexed his fingers and indulged in a brief fantasy where he got five minutes alone with the asshole.

  By the time they arrived at the med-center, Tianna was already showing improvement. The small cuts on her face and arms had closed up, and it looked to him like her color had improved, though that could just be wishful thinking.

  They brought her in through the emergency entrance that led straight to the treatment rooms. He’d been this way once before, the day that Royan had gotten shot. That was a turning point for them as a couple, and here they were again, only this time, it was Tianna who was hurt.

  “Déjà vu, huh?” Royan asked as they followed as close as they dared without interfering. Dr. Jefferies had met them as they came in, and the medics were giving her an update that involved a lot of words Owen didn’t understand.

  “The people I care about have an alarming tendency to let themselves get shot. You both need to cut this shit out.”

  Royan laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not planning on letting it happen again. Once in a lifetime is more than enough.”

  Alyson glanced back at them. “I’m glad to hear that. My practice is busy enough as it is.” Tianna vanished into one of the treatment rooms, and Owen walked to the door, not sure if the doctor would let them in.

  “Doc?” Royan asked, crowding the doorway.

  She looked at the two of them, then at Tianna. “Patient’s choice.”

  “Let them stay. Now I’m finally free to talk about it, I want them to hear everything.” Tianna gave them a small smile. “No more secrets. And this time, I mean it.”

  “You better vething mean it. After all the grief you gave me back on the Sprite.” He knew he should be angry at her right now. For the secrets, the lies, and the anger she’d heaped on him when she’d found out the truth about who he’d been before he became Owen Connors. Maybe later he’d be angry at her for lying to them, but right now all he felt was grateful. She was alive. The rest could wait.

  They stood against the far side, watching in silence as Dr. Jefferies methodically inspected each of Tianna’s injuries, making notes on a data tablet as she went.

  “Do I have your permission to do a full body-scan?” the doctor asked when she was done.

  “Yes. Might as well be thorough. Plus, it’s easier to show what was done to me instead of listing it all.”

  Alyson nodded. “I still can’t believe this was all done to you as an adult. Forgive me for asking, but how much do you remember?”

  Tianna grimaced. “Too much.”

  “When you’re feeling up to it, I’d like to talk to you about what was done, and what you recall. I’m trying to learn as much as I can about the cyborgs and how they were created. You would have valuable insight into the process.”

  Owen couldn’t imagine what she’d endured. There was a reason the cyborgs underwent their enhancements before they ever gained awareness. “Only if you want to, Tia. Right, Alyson?”

  Alyson gave him a bemused look. “And here I thought cyborgs were the only ones that got overprotective and growly. Maybe it’s a side effect of the medi-bots. I should run some tests.”

  “Oh no. No more tests, Doc.” Royan slashed a hand through the air in front of him. “You drained me dry the last time I was in here.”

  “I’m happy to let you scan and test me. In fact, I’d like to know exactly what was done to me.”

  “You don’t know?” Owen asked. How could she not know?

  Tianna shrugged. “My medical files were sealed and locked away long before I was released. I know some of it, because I had to learn to use my new limbs, but that’s it.”

  “You lost your limbs? Plural?”

  Tianna nodded. “It really would be easier to show you.”

  “I can run the scan now. I’d like to get Lieksa in here, too. She worked on cyborgs during the war, and while she’s only recently finished training as a medic, she’s more qualified than anyone else on the station when it comes to cybernetics.”

  Tianna hesitated, and he knew why. Logically, she knew her secret was blown, but years of hiding the truth weren’t easy to undo. He moved to her side and took her bloodstained hand. “She’s the best, Tia. And she’s a friend. She’s Mack and Dash’s wife, remember?”

  “Okay,” Tianna agreed.

  “Great.” Alyson looked pleased. “Once we’ve gotten a good look at everything, we’ll put some sealant on your injuries and you can get cleaned up. I’d like you to stay here until you’re healed. Given the rate of repair, I’d say you can go home by late morning.”

  “Which gives me a few short hours to prepare my statement and warn my father of the storm that’s coming.”

  “That can wait. Your secret is safe, for now,” Royan said.

  “There will still be rumors. Not about me, but about the attack, and the fact I was taken away for medical treatment. If the media aren’t here yet, they will be, soon.” She sighed tiredly. “I’m newsworthy, and it’s a pain in the ass.”

  “Well, they’re not getting in here,” Alyson declared.

  “You’ve got your guys on the door, don’t you?” If Blade, Lance, and Dirk were standing guard nothing short of a battlecruiser was getting past them, and even then, Owen wouldn’t bet on the cruiser.

  “I do. No one without authorization is getting in here, not tonight.”

  “You didn’t have to wake them up for me. I’ve been disrupting everyone’s life lately,” Tia said guiltily.

  Alyson laughed. “You haven’t been here very long, or you’d know this is a normal day on the station. Well, mostly normal. Patching people up after a fight is standard fare, but it’s not every day I get to deliver twins.”

  Royan froze. Mouth open. Eyes wide.

  “Zura?” Owen asked.

  “She’s just down the hall. If you listen carefully, you can almost hear Kit and Luke climbing the walls.”

  Tianna sat up. “You should be with her! I’m fine. We can do the scans later. Why are you here?”

  Alyson pointed to Tianna. “You, back in bed. Now.”

  To Owen’s amusement, Tianna obeyed the doctor’s command without another word.

  Once Tianna was settled, Alyson continued. “I’m here because I have a very competent staff. Zura is still in the early stages of labor. She’s here because her husbands insisted, but there’s not much we can do for her right now apart from keeping her comfortable and waiting.”

  “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Royan asked.

  “From what I heard? You and Owen went charging out of the Nova Club around the time Zura told t
he guys she was in labor. I told them I’d convey the news once Tianna was checked out.”

  “I swear the universe does this on purpose. It’s never just one thing, oh no. That would be boring. We have to experience everything all at once, every damned time,” Owen said. The attack. The discovery his mother was gone and his sister was a killer. And now, Zura. When this night was over, he was going to need a large drink. And then he needed to talk to Katy. She might be a killer, but she was still his sister.

  Royan was beaming now. “Boring is for other people. You and me, we’re meant for other things.” He walked over to Tianna, placing his hand over Owen’s. “Care to join us, sweetheart?”

  The radiant smile she gave them gave away her answer before she even spoke a word. “There’s no reason why I can’t. Not anymore. I can’t promise you this is going to work. I don’t even know what’s going to happen next, but I can promise that whatever it is, it definitely won’t be boring.”

  There was a time Owen had thought he wanted boring, but he’d been wrong. The safe choices didn’t include Royan or Tianna, which meant that boring wasn’t any choice at all.

  Tianna wanted to enjoy the moment, to bask in the fact that the men she cared about – maybe even loved – had accepted the truth about her so easily. Unfortunately, the situation didn’t allow it. The truth might have freed her from years of lying, but it also launched a firestorm of legal, corporate, and ethical problems that she needed to get ahead of. Still, a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. Owen was right, they had a little time.

  They spent the next few minutes holding hands and talking. She’d given a basic statement to Corp-Sec at the scene, but this was the first time she’d been able to tell them what happened from beginning to end. Owen recorded everything and sent the file to the investigators once she was done recounting it all.

  “That’s quite the story.” Alyson had been calibrating some kind of machinery and entering information into her computer while Tianna talked. “Cyn and Zura were right. You really are one of us.”

  “They said that?” No one said that about her. She didn’t fit in anywhere. Never had, not even after the accident when she’d tried to be the daughter her father wanted.