“They’ll search you,” Tripp said.
“I know,” he replied. “Get the hovercraft ready. You, Griz, Lucan and Siren are coming with me. You’ll have to jump out before we get there so he thinks I’m coming in alone. Ace, take the ship into the air and land her as close as you can to that location.”
Everyone raced off.
“I’m coming too,” Talon said as Garret made his way to where the hovercraft was being readied.
“No, you’re not.”
“Garret—”
“I don’t have time to argue with you, Talon. I can’t concentrate on rescuing Kalia when I know you’re in danger as well. Please?”
He looked at the other man who reluctantly nodded before pulling Garret toward him, hugging him tight.
“Be safe,” he whispered. “Bring our girl home.”
“I intend to.”
Chapter Nine
“You are such a baby,” Kalia told Preston James.
“You bit me. Do you know how many germs are in your mouth?”
“I cleaned my teeth this morning,” she replied, insulted. “And I barely even broke the skin. If you hadn’t put your hand over my mouth I wouldn’t have bitten you.”
She couldn’t believe she was arguing with him about this. She should be trying to find a way to escape. Preston had moved her from the other apartment a few hours ago. He’d blindfolded and gagged her first. When he’d taken off the blindfold she’d found herself in this beautifully decorated living room.
James had immediately pulled over a footstool and made her put her feet up. Within ten minutes of arriving, she’d had a drink in her hand and a plate of food on the table next to her. She’d been kidnapped by a man who was concerned that her feet were swollen. It was kind of surreal.
“I should have kept you gagged,” he muttered.
She wondered if Garret would even listen to the message. She hoped he didn’t. Much as she’d love to be rescued, he’d be walking right into a trap. She didn’t know what Preston James wanted with Garret, but it couldn’t be good.
“What do you want with Garret?”
“I need to talk to him.”
“That’s it?” She gaped at him. “Just talk? All this just to talk to him.” She didn’t believe that for a second.
“Someone is trying to kill me.” His face was cold, furious.
“Hardly surprising. Does this have something to do with why you sent him to that warehouse in Goran?”
“What are you talking about?”
He seemed honestly confused, but Kalia couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth or not.
One of Preston’s men opened the door. “He’s here.”
Preston stood, his face intent.
Her stomach dropped.
A few minutes later two of Preston’s men escorted Garret into the room. He’d come alone. Was he mad?
“Garret, why did you come?” she asked, trying to get to her feet. But James moved behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“We cleared him of weapons, boss.”
“Good, leave us,” James ordered.
“Boss—”
“Now.”
The men left, leaving only the three of them.
“I’m sure we don’t have long until your men get here,” Preston said, “so I’ll talk quickly. Someone is trying to kill me.”
“If you don’t take your hands off her they’ll get their wish,” Garret said coldly.
Preston sighed but he removed his hands. “I haven’t hurt her and I don’t intend to, but we need to talk.”
“You used Mikael O’Halloran to set a trap for me. Why?”
James moved around to stand beside Kalia’s chair. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about the job you gave Mikael. The one that you insisted he give to us. Only there was no job, just armed men waiting to shoot us. Were you trying to kill us?”
“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. I have never even spoken to Mikael, let alone created some fictional job. And why the hell would I want to kill you?”
“So why kidnap Kalia?”
“Because I needed to speak with you. Someone is trying to kill me and I think you know something about it.”
“Nope and I’m finished talking,” Garret said. “Kalia, come here.”
She stood. Preston grabbed her arm. “Just listen to me you stubborn bastard.”
“Get your hands off her.”
“Oh, I’ve had much more than my hands on her,” Preston taunted him.
Garret snarled, taking a step toward him as she looked up at Preston in shock. “Are you insane?” she said.
Preston sighed. “Look, just give me ten minutes. If you don’t believe what I have to say then you can both go and I’ll never bother you again.”
“I’m not going to forget that you took her.”
Preston nodded. “Fine, but will you listen?”
Garret sighed. “All right, but talk fast.”
Preston turned to her. “Sit down, Kalia. Put your feet up, they look swollen.”
“They do not,” she said, but she sat when both men sent her a frown.
“I’ve had three near misses lately. They were made to look like accidents, but after the second one I got suspicious. I’m pretty sure that someone is trying to kill me.”
“What does this have to do with me and that warehouse?”
“What warehouse?” Preston said, frustrated. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I did receive an anonymous message that I should talk to you if I wanted to know what was going on.”
Garret was quiet, obviously thinking.
“You wouldn’t answer any of my communications, so I decided to try something more drastic to get your attention.”
The sound of blaster fire had Kalia jumping.
Preston glared at Garret. “Call your men off.”
“Your men took my com.”
James quickly spoke through his com and one of his men came running in. He threw Garret his com. Garret caught it and quickly called off the others, telling them to wait for him.
“We need to get going, they won’t hold back forever. They think it’s some trick. Kalia, come on, we’re leaving.”
“Wait.” James took a step forward. “We need to work out what is going on. If someone is trying to kill me I want to know who.”
Garret nodded. “I have an idea. But I still don’t trust you. If you wanted to talk about this you should have sent me a message, not kidnap one of my crew.”
She was one of his crew? She quickly squelched the surge of happiness. He was just saying that in front of Preston.
Kalia stood and moved toward him, shocked when he held out his hand to her. She took it.
“You wouldn’t answer my communications,” Preston said with frustration. “What the hell did you expect me to do?”
Garret turned, the fury on his face amazing her. “I didn’t expect you to kidnap and terrorize a pregnant woman. You could have risked her health. What if you’d frightened her so much she’d gone into labor?”
Kalia frowned. She wasn’t that fragile.
James sighed. “I didn’t know she was pregnant.”
“And to be fair, he’s treated me quite well,” Kalia interjected.
Garret sent her a quelling look, the look in his gaze promising retribution if she said another word.
“I’ll be in contact with you as soon as I have Kalia and my crew safely away from here,” Garret told him in an abrupt voice. “Tell your men not to stop us.”
Kalia followed Garret out of the building, nervously expecting to be fired on at any moment.
“Who do you think is trying to kill him?” she asked.
“Shh, baby, wait until we’re out of here.”
Baby?
She gaped at him. Had he really said that? What did it mean? Before she could get her head around it, they were outside. Tripp, Griz, Lucan and Siren were glaring at James’s
crew suspiciously, their blasters held at their sides.
The tension between them all was so thick she could almost see it.
“Stand down,” Garret ordered. “Siren, go back for the hovercraft. Let Ace know we’re coming in.”
Siren ran off. They waited in tense silence. Her stomach was in knots, expecting that at any moment a fight would erupt. The hovercraft appeared. Garret led her quickly towards it. He pushed her in front of him, sitting next to her as the others climbed in, looking grim. Garret reached across her, doing up the seat belt.
“Won’t be long until we reach Orion,” Siren said.
Garret nodded, silent.
She glanced up at him in concern; his face was grim, his jaw tense. Siren landed the hovercraft into the cargo bay of the Orion. Garret helped her out and she was glad for his steadying hand. She was exhausted.
He kept hold of his arm, frowning down at her. The others came running toward them and Talon swept her up into his arms, kissing her forehead.
“Oh God, darlin’, I was so worried for you. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine, really. He looked after me.” She hugged him back, loving the feel of him. She’d missed his closeness over the last few weeks.
“Don’t do this to me again,” he told her fiercely. “I nearly had a heart attack when I realized you were missing.” He stepped back, holding her shoulders. “Promise me that next time you’ll stay where you’re safe.”
She felt her cheeks grow red. “I thought you guys were in danger. I wanted to help. I’m sorry you all had to come rescue me.” She couldn’t look at them, certain she’d see impatience or worse, disdain on their faces.
“Enough chattering,” Garret said abruptly. “Ace, get us in the air, I want off this planet. Lucan, let me know if any communications come through from Preston. Talon, take Kalia to the infirmary I want Doc to look her over. Thirty minutes and I want you all in the dining room.”
“I’m fine. I don’t need to be looked over,” she protested. Garret sent her a look that had her licking her lips nervously. “Or maybe I’ll go to the infirmary and get checked over.”
Talon took her hand, leading her away. “Always best to do what he says when he’s in this mood, darlin’. His protective instincts are in overdrive right now and he’s not very reasonable.”
“When is he?”
Talon chuckled. “Good question.” He led her into the infirmary and helped her climb up on the bed. “Darlin’, are you sure you’re all right? He didn’t hurt you? You know you can tell me.”
She shook her head. “Garret and Preston might dislike each other but Preston treated me very well.”
“Dislike?” Doc said as he walked in. “There is a lot more to it than that.”
“Like what?” she asked as she lay back on the bed. Doc began his examination.
“Preston James and Garret used to very close,” Talon said.
Her eyes widened at Talon’s revelation. “Really? But they’re both so…”
“Dominant?” he supplied, sitting on the bed opposite. “They were in a relationship with a submissive. They both loved her and that kept them from killing each other.”
“Jessie was very beautiful, but fragile and a bit manipulative,” Doc added. “She liked to play them against each other.”
“You knew her?” she asked Doc.
“Yes. I moved to the village that Griz, Garret and Preston grew up in when I was a teenager.”
She looked at them both. “What happened?”
“The village was raided by a group of banjeros.”
Banjeros were lawless men who roamed in large groups, stealing what they wanted, harming whoever got in their path.
“Most of the village was killed, including Jessie,” Doc said, a sad look crossing his face. “Garret was devastated. His whole family was murdered in the raid.”
“That’s horrible. What about you?”
He looked at her sadly. “My sister and her husband were killed. Garret, Griz and I were away sourcing some supplies. Preston was off-planet. When we came back, we found most of them dead.”
“That’s horrible,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
“Don’t cry, darlin’.” Talon stood beside her, wiping at her cheeks.
“All those poor people.”
Talon drew her up, holding her against his chest as her tears continued to fall.
“What happened with Preston?”
“He came home as soon as Garret called him,” Doc told her. “He was mad as hell and he blamed Garret.”
“What? Why?”
Doc shrugged. “I guess that’s the way he grieves. He needed someone to blame and he chose Garret. Told him he should have been at home, looking after Jessie.”
“What did Garret do?”
“Garret blamed himself. He always has. They chased down the banjeros together, but after that, well, it was like they couldn’t stand each other.”
They were all silent for a long moment.
“Your blood pressure is a bit high,” Doc said. “But everything else is clear. I want you to get plenty of rest, food, and fluids. If you get a headache or have visual disturbances contact me immediately.”
She nodded as Talon helped her off the bed. He hugged her tight. “I’m so sorry I’ve been such an asshole, darlin’. I should have told you where we would be and given you a way to contact us. That was unforgivable.”
Kalia rubbed his back soothingly. “It’s fine. You were upset with me, I understand.”
“No, it’s not fine,” he said sternly. “And I can promise it won’t be happening again. From now on I’m going to be take care of you properly. Come on, let’s get you tucked into bed and I’ll bring you some food.”
“We’re meant to be meeting in the dining room, remember?”
“I think Garret will make an exception for you.”
She shook her head. “I need to be there.”
“All right, but you’re eating something while we’re there.”
As the left the infirmary, they saw Siren leaning against the wall outside. He straightened as they stepped out.
“Yes?” Talon asked in a cold voice. She glanced up at him in surprise.
“I want to talk to Kalia.”
“I’m taking her to the dining room,” Talon said.
“I can escort her there.”
“Ahh, pretty sure I can make my own way there, guys.”
“You sure about that?” Talon said with a grin. She whacked him in the stomach.
“Don’t be too long, she needs to eat.” Talon kissed her cheek, before heading down the passage at a run.
Kalia shook her head. “I don’t know where he gets his energy from.” They walked along at a slower pace.
“Kalia, I want to apologize for what I did.”
“What you did?”
“Yeah, the way I treated you earlier, just kicking you out of the engine room without even listening to you. I would never have forgiven myself if something happened to you.”
“It’s okay. I know you don’t trust me. I’m honestly not trying to cause any problems.”
He stopped and grabbed hold of her arm, turning her. “You’re not a problem. I was the problem. If I’d just listened to you then none of this would have happened. I just wanted to tell you I was sorry and it won’t happen again.”
Kalia could see he was sincere. She nodded with a smile. “All’s forgiven.”
They reached the dining room. Everyone else was already sitting at the table. Siren pulled a chair out for her and she sat with a smile. Talon placed a plate with a large sandwich on it in front of her and her stomach grumbled; making her realize it had been a long time since she’d eaten.
“Didn’t he feed you?” Garret asked and she looked across the table to see him staring at her. Blushing with embarrassment she realized everyone was watching her inhale her food.
“Oh, umm, sorry.”
“You’re starving,” Garret snarled.
“He offered me food, I was just too nervous to eat.” Everyone continued to watch her. “Why are you all staring at me?”
“We’re waiting until you finish eating before we start,” Garret told her.
“Oh, right.” That wasn’t embarrassing at all. Luckily, everyone started chatting amongst themselves. Full, she pushed her plate away.
Talon scowled at her plate. “Aren’t you going to finish?”
“I’m full. Do you want me to start now?”
Garret nodded and everyone grew silent as she told them the whole story. By the time she was finished, Garret looked livid. Siren was tapping his fingers against the table while Griz mumbled something under his breath.
“Why would someone send Preston James an anonymous tip telling him to talk to Garret?” Tripp asked, standing to pace.
“I don’t know about the anonymous tip, but it seems to me that someone was trying to turn Garret against Preston,” Doc said thoughtfully. “They sent us to that warehouse and wanted to make it look like Preston was trying to kill us. They might not realize that Garret would want all the facts before acting against Preston.”
“They were hoping Garret would be so mad he’d just kill him?” Lucan said. “Why go to all that effort? Why not just hire someone to kill Preston?”
“They did,” Garret said. “But Preston is a tough bastard. They probably underestimated his abilities. There’s only one person this could be. Mikael.”
“But why?” Lucan asked.
“I have an idea,” Garret said quietly. “And it has very little to do with us.”
Chapter Ten
Garret sat alone on the bridge, waiting for Preston to answer his call.
“Garret, I didn’t expect to hear from you so quickly.”
Preston suddenly appeared in holographic form. He was sitting on a plush red sofa.
“You’ve grown soft,” Garret said.
Preston raised his eyebrows. “What makes you think that?”
“Look at you. You look like you should be patting a poodle and ordering your butler to bring you tea.”
Preston burst into laughter. “Garret, I might like the nicer things in life, but believe me, I am never going to own a damn poodle. Well, not unless I find a woman who likes poodles. Do you think Kalia is a dog lover?”
Worlds Apart (Men of Orion Book 1) Page 10
