by Susan Hayes
“What?” Cyn slammed her hand down on the table. “Why the fraxx not? He tried to stab me and he managed to stab Jaeger, twice!”
Dash ran a hand through his short blond hair and sighed. “Cool your rockets, Cynder. We’re not charging him because he’s dead. Not a lot of point in charging a dead man with anything.”
Veth. “How did he die?” Jaeger asked, hoping like hell the fight last night hadn’t left Bryan fatally injured somehow. He didn’t want any more blood on his hands.
“Overdose. At least, that’s the coroner’s preliminary assessment. The initial arrest report noted he appeared to be on something. He was out of his mind by the time they got him to headquarters. Extremely violent and ranting incoherently. They put him in a cell to calm down, and an hour later, he dropped dead. No warning. No nothing.”
“What the hell causes that to happen?” Kit asked.
“Crimson,” both officers answered at the same time.
“And what the fraxx is crimson?” Cyn asked.
“It’s a new drug that appeared on the Drift a few months ago. It’s a bright red liquid sold in small ampules. A few drops under the tongue is all it takes. It’s not licensed, so none of the registered pharma dealers are supposed to touch it. It keeps showing up, though, and we haven’t been able to figure out who is bringing it in or how.”
Luke curled his lip in obvious distaste. “Come on, guys, don’t lie to us. It’s the Drojo Cartel, isn’t it?”
Jaeger winced. He had heard of that cartel. They were a nasty crew of pharma traffickers so mercenary they’d sell their own sisters if it made them a profit. He wasn’t aware they were this far out, though. “Don’t they usually stick closer to Earth controlled territory? What the hell are they doing way out here?”
“They’re expanding their operations. Their goal is to take complete control of the illegal pharma trade for the entire Drift. We caught a few low and mid-level operatives the time they kidnapped Zura’s brother, but we haven’t learned anything to lead us to the ringleaders or tell us where their base of operations is.”
Kit growled in frustration. “If any of them set foot in the club, they’re dead. I don’t care if they’ve broken any laws or not.”
“We know. Which is why we’re having this meeting. After what they did to Zura and her brother, Corp-Sec is willing to look the other way if they cross your path, but only to a point. This new pharma is nasty stuff. In small doses, it’s just another psychotropic, but take too much, or take it too often, and wham, the user goes into what they’re calling red-rage. Totally out of control, violent, and dangerous to everyone around them. Until now, only a handful have gone full rager, but that’s changing. In the last three days, we’ve seen eight cases of red-rage. Of those eight, three are dead, and two are in medical with uncertain outlooks. We need information, so try not to kill anyone who might be able to help us shut their operation down for good,” Mack said.
“I’m not making any promises,” Kit said.
“If they come near our wife or her brother, they won’t live long enough to be helpful to you. Sorry, Mack, but there’s no way we’re taking that kind of risk.”
Jaeger wanted to know more about what happened to Zura and her brother, but even more than that, he wanted to know why he was involved in this meeting. He could have been told about Bryan’s death in a simple message. There had to be some other reason he was here, and he said so. “What exactly does this have to do with me?”
“You’re in the Nova every day, but you’re not part of the staff. You might see things others wouldn’t. If you do, we’re hoping you’d give us a heads-up,” Dash explained.
“You want me to spy for you? Do I get a codename? If I’m going to risk getting stabbed again, I should at least get a cool codename.” He already knew he would do it. It was the right thing to do. If Bryan’s actions were anything to go by, this new pharma was dangerous, and apparently, the Drojo Cartel had a history with the owners of the Nova, which meant Cynder could be in the line of fire. If he could help keep her and her family safe, he would do it, even if she wouldn’t appreciate the sentiment.
“How about Stabby?” Luke suggested.
“Pincushion?” Kit said, barely able to control his laughter.
“You’re both hilarious. You ever consider having a comedy night at the club?” Jaeger asked, leaning back in his chair.
“Codename aside, is that a yes?” Mack asked, pointedly ignoring everyone else.
“If it makes the Nova a safer place, then yeah, I’m in. Do you want me to let Kit know if I see anything, or tell you directly, or both?”
“Both,” Kit said before anyone else could speak. “I’m the head of security, if something’s going on, I need to know about it. Your guys were slow arriving last night. If there’s more trouble, I’m not going to wait on Corp-Sec before dealing with it. Your job is to protect the whole Drift. Mine is simpler. I only have to defend what’s mine.”
Dash raised a hand. “Don’t blow a circuit, Kit. You hear about a problem, you deal with it, same as always.” He turned to Jaeger. “We’ll trade contact info with you before we leave. If you see anything suspicious, let us know…right after you tell Kit,” he amended quickly.
“You got it. And uh, convey my thanks to the two Corp-Sec guys you sent to interview me last night. That’s the first time in a long time I’ve actually been treated like a victim and not another suspect.”
Mack nodded. “Most of our guys have learned not to judge cyborgs without having the facts in hand, first. It helps when their bosses have barcodes, too.” He tapped the black imprint on his wrist.
The meeting broke up not long after that. He exchanged contact information with Mack and Dash, as well as Luke, Kit, and Cynder.
“For use only in emergencies, or do I have permission to contact you even if I don’t see criminal activity?” he asked as he entered her code into his comm device.
Her lips quirked into a faint smile. “Use your best judgment.”
“I’ll try, but it can get mind-numbingly boring staring at a starburst table for hours on end. Talking to you would help pass the time.”
“I’ve got a job to do, remember, and now, so do you, Diceman.” She grinned. “I’ve decided that’s your codename, by the way.”
“Diceman, huh? Apt.”
“I thought so, too. It looks like both of you got new jobs today. Do you two do anything separately?”
Jaeger leaned in close. “We’re a team. I hope someday soon you give us an opportunity to show you how well we work together.”
The tip of her tongue stroked over her lower lip, and all the blood in his body rushed straight to his cock.
“Keep asking nicely and maybe you’ll get your wish someday.”
“I’ll do that,” he managed to say, but it wasn’t easy to form words when all he could think about was how much he wanted to kiss her. It wasn’t just her body that made him want her. It was her brain. She was smart as hell, funny, and tough enough to fight through the darkness he had caught a glimpse of yesterday at the medical center. He knew why she wanted them to ask permission, too. He couldn’t blame her for wanting that small courtesy. Not after what she and the other female cyborgs had lived through.
She was worthy of his respect and consideration, and he had no problem demonstrating that any way she wanted them to.
Cynder knew her brothers were watching the two of them, and she didn’t like it. They needed to get over this protective big-brother routine at light speed. Her life was her own, and she could spend her time with anyone she wanted to. She didn’t need their approval, and she certainly didn’t want them shadowing her like overzealous chaperones.
“Walk me to my office,” she said to Jaeger. “On the way, you can tell me where we’re going for dinner tomorrow night.”
“The location’s a surprise. It’s a little spot I found while I was exploring the station.” He offered her his arm in a gallant, old-fashioned gesture that made her smile. Espe
cially when she caught Kit glowering at them.
“Is it going to be crowded? Should I dress up? Give a girl a hint.” She kept up the light banter as they passed her siblings and started down the corridor to her office.
Jaeger raised his voice slightly— just enough to be sure their audience heard every word. “No crowds. In fact, we’ll be the only ones there. I’m hoping that will give us a chance to get better acquainted without any interruptions.”
They kept walking, and as soon as they were out of earshot, Jaeger chuckled. “That was fun. Am I going to pay for that later?”
She shook her head as she grinned. “Nope. I’m going to call in the big guns. Zura will make them behave themselves. She might look sweet, but she’s got a core of steel.”
“Really? She’s always so soft spoken.”
“Then you haven’t seen her mad. She can curse a blue streak, pun totally intended. She’s all big silver eyes, sweet smiles, and cute blue blushes until something sets her off. Once her fuse is lit, it’s best to take cover.”
“But she’s half Pheran. They’re a pretty mellow species, aren’t they? Especially the females.”
“Her mother was Pheran, but she was raised by her dad. He was a freighter jockey and a smuggler. Believe me, she’s as tough as they come. Not long after my brothers finally decided to make their move, a nasty piece of work named Vin Collins came back into her life. He was the ex-boyfriend I told you about, an abusive son of a starbeast who wanted her ship.”
“I can’t imagine that went over well with your brothers.”
Cynder snorted. “Not at all. That’s how this whole mess with the Drojo Cartel started. Vin worked for them. When Zura wouldn’t play ball with him, he kidnapped her half-brother to force her hand. She and my brothers went after them with Corp-Sec as back up. Vin ended up dead, along with a lot of low-level cartel members. For a while, we thought that would be the end of them out here. Looks like they’re back again.”
“So who killed this Vin guy? Zura?”
“Kit. Zura was busy rescuing her brother at the time. That’s when she got hurt and ended up with the medi-bot transfusion. One of the cartel bastards shot her.”
Jaeger blew out a breath. “You people don’t live quiet lives, do you?”
“Where would the fun be in that?” she asked.
“You sound like Toro.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No, but it does explain why you and he get on so well,” he said.
Cynder considered that for a moment, then stopped walking and turned to face him. “That doesn’t explain why you and I get along, though.”
“I don’t know why that is, exactly. I don’t know you well enough yet.” He leaned as if he were going to kiss her, but stopped a few inches away. “I’m looking forward to figuring it out.”
“You and me both, Diceman. Can I maybe have a clue as to what I should wear? Is this a high heels or combat boots situation?”
“No heels unless you want to wear them. This isn’t a high-end establishment we’re going to, but I promise, the atmosphere is amazing. Dress in whatever you’re comfortable in. We’ll be at the door of your quarters at six to escort you to dinner.”
“I can meet you two there, you don’t need to come get me.”
“Yes, we do. For one thing, you don’t know where we’re going, and for another, it’s good manners for us to meet you and take you out. I’ve been reading up on this.”
“You have?” she asked.
Jaeger actually looked a little sheepish. “We haven’t done this before. Not a real date. I wanted to do it right.”
With that confession, Cynder fell a little more under the spell Jaeger and Toro were casting. “I haven’t done this either. I guess that’s something else we can figure out together.”
“I’m going to ask you for permission to kiss you now, Cynder,” he murmured, moving another half an inch closer.
“Permission granted. But if either one of my brothers sees us, they’re going to be a pain in the ass about it.”
“I’ll take the risk.” He closed the final distance between them and kissed her, drawing her into his arms at the same time.
He smelled good, a subtle musk that made her want to fill her lungs with his scent. His mouth covered hers in a slow, seductive kiss that built with every passing second. His beard rasped against her skin, tickling her just a little as their mouths mated, and the heat between them grew ever hotter.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close, enjoying the way his hard body pressed against hers. He kissed her for another moment then lifted his head to stare down at her, his light brown eyes gleaming with desire.
“That was worth any risk,” he murmured.
“I think so, too.”
He released her then and escorted her to the door of her office. “I’ll see you tonight. I know you’re going to be busy, but I’ll be around. If you’ve got a free minute, join me for a drink?”
“If there’s any time, I will,” she said, surprising herself. Usually, she wouldn’t make time for anyone or anything on a fight night, even one she wasn’t scheduled to be in the ring for. Ever since they had married Zura, Kit and Luke had been at her to take more time for herself. Maybe it was time she took their advice. Even if it did mean listening to them gloat about it later.
Jaeger ran his knuckles down her cheek. “Until later, then, beautiful.”
She managed to make it into her office with the door shut before she let herself indulge in a long, happy sigh. Getting involved with Toro and Jaeger was still a bad idea, but veth, it sure felt good.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Cynder couldn’t sit still. She had already changed her outfit twice and swapped shoes three times, and now she was prowling her quarters while her sister-in-law watched in open amusement.
“This is a new look for you,” Zura commented from her spot on Cynder’s sofa.
“What is?” She glanced down at the outfit she and Zura had finally agreed she would wear on her date. “What are you talking about, Little Blue? I’ve worn this before.”
Zura laughed and tipped her head to one side before giving her a sideways smirk. “Not the clothes, the attitude. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you nervous before.”
“I’m not nervous. I’m a fraxxing war veteran who fights in the ring for fun. I don’t do nervous.”
“Really? Because you’re pacing so much you’re making me dizzy, and I bet you’ve clocked nearly a mile in those shoes since you put them on. If you’re not nervous, then you should probably cut back on your caffeine intake.”
“You’re a pain in the ass. You know that, right? Why did my brothers marry you again?”
“Because you helped them see I was the right pain in the ass for them. Something I will always be grateful for. Now, I’m returning the favor. Jaeger and Toro seem like good guys. I’m glad you’re giving them a chance.”
“We’ll see. I’m still not convinced this is a good idea, but…” Cyn shrugged then dropped onto the couch beside Zura. “I wanted to say thanks for coming over to help me decide what to wear. I was making myself crazy. This isn’t something I have any experience with, you know?”
“I know.” Zura leaned in and bumped their shoulders together. “If your brothers can figure this out, so can you.”
“I sure as veth hope so. Nothing against your husbands, but I’m the smart one in this family.”
Zura snickered. “I know. Don’t tell them I said that, though. Luke is certain it’s him.”
“Not even on his best day.” The moment of shared laughter took the edge off her ragged nerves, but only just. A quick glance at her watch told her there were still ten minutes to go before her dates would arrive. There had been ten minutes the last time she looked at her watch, too. Maybe the damned thing was broken? She gave her wrist an irritated shake, but the time remained the same.
“If I have to sit here, waiting for another second, I might explode,” she muttered.
“Then don’t wait. If they wanted a sweet, meek woman they’d be having dinner with someone else tonight.” Zura pointed to the door with a grin. “Go get ‘em.”
“I’m gone. Thanks again, Blue.”
“Anytime. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Zura called out, still laughing.
“I’m not making any promises,” she called back as she left her quarters and made her way to Toro and Jaeger’s rooms. She hadn’t seen much of either man since the day before, and she was eager to change that. Fight night had been busier than normal, so she’d barely had time to say more than a brief hello to Jaeger last night. That many people meant security was a challenge, too. Cyn was happy Toro had been there to lend a hand. He didn’t have to do much; one look at the towering cyborg dressed in the club’s uniform was enough to keep most of the patrons in line.
The uniform looked good on him, too. The dark blue, sleeveless shirt clung to him like a second skin and showed off his powerful arms and swarthy skin tone. She wasn’t the only one who had been admiring him, either, and that irritated her more than she expected it would. Logically, she knew one kiss didn’t give her any right to get all possessive about either one of them, but her heart did not agree.
Her heart rate jumped as she neared her destination. This is only dinner; it doesn’t mean anything, she reminded herself. She stopped outside their doors and pondered her next move. Lurk in the hallway and wait for them, or knock and announce her arrival. If she knocked, whose door did she go to? All three of them were going to dinner, but she could only knock on one door at a time. She didn’t want to look like she was picking one of them over the other.
“How the fraxx does Zura do this?” she muttered. Still uncertain how to proceed, she decided to double-check her outfit. Instead of her usual blue and silver uniform, she wore a dark green skirt that fell to mid-calf and a simple, black, scoop-necked top. She tugged on one sleeve, took a breath, and threw up her hands.