“I’m going to let the captain chew you out for this, Bit, and trust me, he will.”
A few minutes later, they reached the platform and slipped into a car where Oden found them seats. Bit leaned against him, perfectly happy to let him wrap his arms around her and pull her close, even though it hurt her aching body.
“Has he followed us?” Oden whispered in her ear as he casually kissed her head, acting as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Bit held still, looking around the car with a casual glance. She shook her head slightly.
“We’re getting off at the next station just to be certain, then we’ll take the next train. I want to be positive we’ve lost him before we go back to the captain’s.”
“Okay,” she said, ducking her head into his chest.
She wasn’t worried about what Blaine might think if he randomly appeared. Other fears and worries clouded petty things like jealous suitors. All she cared about was feeling safe and not getting eaten alive by their captain. She had been stupid for not telling him about her stalker. It had been foolish, and she fully expected Jack to chew her up and spit her out.
The train slid to a smooth stop, and Oden pulled her to her feet, guiding her out onto the platform. He pulled her into a gentle hug and spun her around slowly like a love-struck couple, giving her a chance to casually examine their surroundings.
“See him?”
“No.”
“Good. The next train will be here in a few minutes.”
They waited, continuing their little hug-dance, to the amusement of an older couple. Bit rested her cheek against Oden’s shoulder, willing herself to keep her mind off the intimacy of his touch. At last, the train arrived and they collapsed into their seats.
A few minutes later, Oden and Bit stood before Jack’s door, waiting for an answer to Oden’s firm knock. They heard footsteps approach, followed by a brief pause before the door was thrown open.
“Bit,” Jack exclaimed.
He wrapped his arm around her and dragged her into his embrace. Bit whimpered as the movement pulled on her broken ribs.
“I think she’s hurt, Cap,” Oden said as he invited himself in and shut the door.
“What happened? How did you find her?” asked Jack.
Bit glanced around the main room, noting the exchange of bodies. Debby sat at the kitchen table with Tilly, looking her usual angry self. Tilly held Lexi’s hand, both women dabbing their wet, puffy eyes with tissues. To her astonishment, Randal paced the living room, holding his finger to his ear as he talked into one of his fancy comm. devices. Calen was nowhere to be seen. Bit paused a moment to look at Jack—he was garbed in warm clothing, a pack strapped to his back as though he was about to go hiking.
Just as she’d feared, he had called in the troops for her.
“She literally ran right into me,” Oden was saying. “As to what happened, I think Bit has some explaining to do.”
Jack looked down at her.
Bit spent the next thirty minutes telling them about the man she’d seen at the port, how she had run from him then, and how he had found her at the club. She apologized profusely to Lexi for leaving her, who apologized in return for taking her clubbing and losing her. Jack silenced the women and Bit returned to her story. She told them how she had run all over the city, how she had escaped him twice, and how she had rammed into Oden—literally.
As she told her story, Calen, Reese, and Nathyn returned. Finally she finished, her eyes on the floor. She couldn’t bring herself to look up and see the anger in Jack’s gaze.
“Bit, look at me,” Jack said, sounding just as angry as she expected.
Bit swallowed the lump in her throat and forced her eyes up to his face. As she had expected, he was glaring down at her, fire in his dark eyes.
“You were a fool not telling me about this back on at the port. You pull a stunt like this again, you go on bread and water rations like anyone else on my crew…”
“I think that’s a little rou…”
“You do not have a say in this, Mother.” Jack looked back at Bit. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I-I-I thought it would resolve itself.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. Why didn’t you tell me? I want the truth.”
Bit glanced around, ashamed to be in trouble in front of half the ship’s crew. A deep blush darkened her cheeks. “I didn’t want to bother you.”
Jack remained silent for a long moment, finally forcing Bit to look up at him. The fire in his eyes had faded and his brows were pulled together. He dropped to his knees in front of her as she sat perched on the edge of the couch.
“Your safety is never a bother to me. Some bastard wants to hurt you, he has to deal with me, and all of these men first.”
“Hear, hear!” multiple voices called out.
“Do you understand me?” demanded Jack.
Bit nodded, her eyes focused once again on something other than Jack’s concerned face.
“I’ve never been so angry with you, and I doubt I ever will be,” he continued in a gentle whispered. “Don’t ever scare me like that again… please.”
Bit nodded again, unable to speak for the need to cry clogging her throat. Jack rose to his feet and let out a long sigh. Before anyone could say anything, Blaine stormed in. He crossed the room in three long stride, kneeling in front of her and nearly shoving Jack out of the way. Without waiting to see what her reaction would be, he half pulled her off of the couch and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Bit winced but tried to endure his hug. Whatever Blaine’s offenses, he had been frightened for her and that was endearing.
“Blaine,” Jack said gently, “she’s hurt. Let go.”
Blaine released her, almost dumping her on the floor. “You’re hurt?”
Bit swallowed, trying to keep more tears from spilling over her eyelids. She nodded once. “Nothing critical.”
“Why hasn’t anyone seen to her?”
“Debby?” Jack said, waving for his girlfriend to join them in the living room.
“She just said it was nothing critical.”
Jack rose to his feet, a threatening look spreading across his features. Blaine, Oden, and Randal were close behind him. Jack waved them aside as he moved into dining room.
“I don’t know what your issue is with her, Debby,” he said just loud enough for everyone to hear, “but she is one of my crew and she is hurt. Will you please examine her?”
“Again?”
“She was nearly kidnapped today and has been through hell. So yes, again.”
“Fine.”
Debby crossed the living room to Jack’s door and stopped. “You coming?”
Tilly climbed to her feet and joined the fray. “Let’s get you something else to wear while we’re at it.”
With Blaine’s help, Bit rose to her feet, each step hurting. She glanced down at the destroyed dress, guilt weighing heavy in her stomach. She looked over at Lexi who was still crying silently.
“I’m so sorry about your dress… and your shoes.”
Lexi looked up and in a split second crossed to where Bit stood. “I don’t care about the dress. I’m just so sorry I got you hurt.”
“Lexi, this wasn’t your fault,” Jack said, his voice impatient with his little sister. “Go get examined, Bit.”
Bit joined Tilly and Debby in Jack’s room, allowing them to help her out of Oden’s sweatshirt and Lexi’s dress. The dress and shoes they tossed in the garbage. Tilly found a t-shirt and pair of sleeping pants for Bit to wear out of Jack’s dresser. Debby glared at the older woman before she turned to look at Bit’s fresh bruises.
“What happened here?” she asked, pointing to the black bruising around Bit’s ribs.
“Ran into the railing on an elevated walkway.”
Tilly gasped. “You could have gone over the edge.”
“Nearly did.”
Debby grunted. “Your old bruise looks worse. Did you catch it on something?”
Bit nodded.
“Anything else?”
“My feet hurt.” Bit was too tired to consider a polite lie.
Debby rolled her eyes before kneeling down and examining her feet. “Just bruised… and dirty.”
“Okay, that’s it Debby. Just go get some hot water so I can clean her up,” Tilly snapped. “Then you can be done.”
Debby left with a huff, returning a few minutes later with a large bowl of water and a wash cloth. Tilly gave Bit a gentle wash, but even with her care, Bit found herself whimpering through the painful process. At last, Tilly slipped the t-shirt over Bit’s head and helped her into the sleeping pants, kneeling beside the bed to roll up the too-long legs to keep Bit from tripping over them.
Tilly guided Bit out and settled her on the couch, wrapping her in a blanket. Blaine, putting away his short range comm. device, moved to sit next to Bit, a determined look in his eye. Bit squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t have the energy to fight him, knowing perfectly well he intended to hold her. To her astonishment, she didn’t feel the cushion adjust to his weight or the pull of his arms. When she opened her eyes, she looked up to find Jack holding Blaine’s arm and glaring at him. They seemed to be having a silent argument—one which Jack was winning. Finally, Blaine stepped back and began to pace.
“Now,” Jack began, “we need to decide what we intend to do.”
Bit cringed again. She didn’t want to be a bother to them.
“Bit, do you have any guesses as to who this guy might be?” Randal asked, coming into her line of sight and speaking to her for the first time.
“My only guess is that he’s been hired by my old boss to track me down.”
“You think he wants you back?” Calen asked, taking the seat next to her.
Bit winced as the movement shifted her weight into her fractured ribs.
“Are you okay?” Calen asked, seeing her pain.
All the men turned to look at Debby.
“Oh my goodness,” she sighed. “She has a few fractured ribs, and her kidneys might be a little bruised. She knows what to watch for further complications. As to her ribs, there is nothing I can do. She’s just gonna have to tough it out.”
The men took turns glaring at the begrudging nurse before looking back at Bit.
“I’m fine.”
“Okay, so let’s assume it is this guy, your old boss, wanting you back. What do we do?” asked Blaine.
“I’ll contact the authorities in the morning, inform them of what has happened, and make sure they know that you are on the planet and that all your paperwork has been properly filed. That will help in case the worst happens. That will also give Bit the option of going to the authorities if she finds herself in a similar situation again…not that I’m going to let that happen,” added Jack when the crew began to protest. “Now, all of you go home. We’re continuing with this weekend as planned. If anything else happens, Randal, I’ll let you know.”
“You better. And considering this, I strongly suggest you allow my crew to escort you to the delivery.”
Jack hesitated a moment. “All right. Your crew can escort me on Tuesday, just to be on the safe side.
“Good. Okay guys, everyone out. Let’s let them get some sleep.”
Blaine stepped up to Jack. “Can I please talk to her?”
“I know you’re worried, Blaine, but not tonight. Just let her rest. Come see her tomorrow, okay?”
Bit watched from the safety of the couch as Blaine ground his teeth together.
How can I elicit such strong emotions from him, much less all these men?
Jack slipped out of his room, glancing back at his warm bed one last time. Debby slept fitfully, exhausted after a long night of nocturnal activities. His injured arm still hurt from the workout it got during the night. At least his girlfriend was in a better mood now. Jack rolled his eyes as he quietly pulled the door shut, sending up a silent plea that she remain asleep.
He turned on his bare feet, preparing to tiptoe across the living room to the kitchen, and froze. His mother sat at the kitchen table eying him, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. Her gray hair was carefully tucked up under a scarf, the bumps of old-time rollers visible, even in the dim morning light. Jack considered going back into his room for a shirt, but the sleeping woman waiting in his room outweighed his modesty. He crossed to the kitchen and snagged himself some espresso.
“Sleep well?” his mother asked, her smirk growing into an annoying grin.
Jack grunted.
“Mm-hmm.”
“What?” Jack took a seat with his coffee.
“What? I didn’t say a thing.”
“Well, you’re not saying anything very loudly.”
“It’s a gift we mothers have.”
“Sure.”
They sat in silence for a long moment, sipping their espresso.
“Rough journey?” Tilly finally asked.
Jack nodded. “Yeah, Ma. It was bad. But we made it. We always do.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t worry about you.”
Jack nodded again.
“But I like that Randal. He seems to know what he’s doing.”
“He does. He’s a good ally.”
“And Bit? I like her too.”
Jack smiled into his espresso. “Everyone likes Bit.”
“Everyone?” Tilly asked, already knowing the answer to her question.
“I don’t think I really need to answer that.”
“In retrospect, showing up with your arm around her, after being gone for two months probably wasn’t your smartest move.”
Jack hung his head in a guilty nod. “Yeah. For the record, nothing has happened between Bit and me.”
“Oh, I know. But Debby has the right to be a little worried, considering the type of relationship you two are forced to have. In regards to Bit, you have to be careful how you act around her, for Debby’s sake.”
Jack nodded again. His mother was right, whether he wanted to admit it or not. “I guess my big brother comes out every time I see her looking so scared… and she looks so scared all the time. I wish I knew what she was feeling.”
Tilly threw back her head and laughed, barely keeping her noise below a whisper.
“What?” demanded Jack.
His mother wiped tears from her eyes and re-settled the light scarf on her head. “Do you remember when Lexi turned fifteen?”
“Yes?”
“And she was up one minute and down the next? And we didn’t have a clue what was going on with her? Or why she was always getting into trouble?”
Jack nodded with each description.
“I finally sat her down and talked to her. She said she didn’t know what she was feeling or why she was feeling it. Bit may be twenty-two, but she has spent nearly her entire life as a slave, or very nearly a slave. She hasn’t had the opportunity to develop like a normal girl, with crushes and best friends. All she’s done is learn how to survive. Now she’s been thrown into a group of men, half of which—if I’m not mistaken—have fallen head over heels for her. She may be twenty-two, but she might as well be sixteen. She doesn’t know what she is feeling or why. And you can’t expect her to have a rational reason for why she is afraid, or why she’s sad, or why she’s… whatever.”
Jack stared at his empty coffee cup, chewing on the wise words of his mother. He had never thought of Little Bit as a teenager.
“So I need to treat her like a pre-pubescent girl? Ground her and take away her pad?”
“Don’t you dare! She may be confused about her emotions, like a pre-pubescent girl, but last night she was lost in a city she had never been in, her life in literal danger, and she managed to take care of herself. She’s still an adult. You just have to remember that sometimes she’s going to be confused about her emotions, and you’re going to have to provide her a safe space for her to work through those emotions.”
Again, Jack considered his mother’s words. “While I am royally ticked at h
er for not telling me about that man at the port, she did do a good job last night.”
Tilly nodded and took another sip of her cooling coffee. “Can I give you a little more advice? Or I have I met my limit for one conversation?”
Jack smiled up at his mother. “Even if you had a limit, Ma, would you abide by it?”
“Probably not. I know Derek’s betrayal hit you hard, but you need a new XO on your ship… and Bit could sure use the company of another woman. This might be the perfect time to call Katrina.”
Jack groaned and leaned back in his chair, resting his head against the tall back of the chair and glaring at the ceiling to keep himself from glaring at his mother. The last person he wanted to call was Katrina Krelski.
Tilly remained silent, letting the idea settle in her son’s head. She had said her piece and intended to let her grown son accept or deny it. Slowly, Jack looked back at his mother.
“You really think Kat, of all people, would be good for Bit? She’s not exactly the easiest person to get to know.”
“And Bit is?”
She had a point.
Chapter Seven
Bit lay awake on the top bunk, trying her best to keep her breathing shallow. Her ribs hurt, her feet hurt, her side hurt. She wanted to go back to sleep, but too many parts of her body complained in unison to allow her drift back into dreamland. She heard Jack groan from the living room. There as a long pause before he spoke.
“You really think Kat, of all people, would be good for Bit? She’s not exactly the easiest person to get to know.”
“And Bit is?” asked Tilly.
Bit frowned. She knew she was closed off to the people around her. She knew she was screwing up every relationship in her new life. She knew she needed to try harder, but she didn’t have the slightest clue how to go about it.
She rolled onto her side, biting down on her lip to keep from crying out in pain. Carefully she peeked over the edge of the bed. Lexi was snoring slightly, fast asleep with a pillow over her head. Bit carefully climbed out of the top bunk, her breath catching as her broken ribs stabbed her lungs. She made it to the floor, grabbed Oden’s sweatshirt, and crept out of Lexi’s room.
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