Blood Money: A Galactic Empire Space Opera Series (Mercenary Warfare Book 2)
Page 16
Nor did Ditnya contact him. She could have, had she’d chosen to. She seemed, for the moment, to be satisfied with whatever Pigie had relayed to her.
Cabot didn’t know what that meant.
He hated not knowing what things meant.
His discomfort and unease with the situation made the voyage seem longer than it was. When they finally docked at Dauntless, he was relieved. Regardless of what lay ahead, at least he’d arrived at it.
Finally, Pigie emerged from her quarters and joined them at the airlock. “Thanks for the ride,” she said. “I’ll see you all very soon.”
“Why did you hide all this time?” Nagali asked.
Pigie gave her a shrewd look. “I didn’t want to get to know you, and maybe like you, only to have Caine make you disappear. If we’re meant to be friends, it’ll happen later. And if not, well…good luck to you.”
The airlock opened and she immediately shot through it, leaving the rest of them behind, exchanging looks that ranged from chagrined to amused.
“I’m not sure what to make of her,” Omar said as they moved forward into the station.
“I guess we’ll find out. Are we clear on the plan?” Cabot asked.
“Yep. I’m headed to see Ditnya now. Hopefully that will clear things up, both for us and for her.”
Cabot patted him on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Don’t get comfortable in your suite,” Omar warned him. “If I know Ditnya, she’s going to want to see you as soon as she’s done getting her answers from me.”
“Yes, well, don’t make trouble for me.” Maybe it was the wrong time to joke, but Cabot wanted to cut the tension among them.
That left him walking through Dauntless Station with Nagali and Peregrine. He found it interesting to watch Peregrine in this place. She stood for a lot of ideals, being a PAC officer, yet she worked on the ugly things that went on in dark places. That made her both alien to the station, and also entirely well-suited to it.
“Have you been here before?” he asked her.
“Yes. Not that long ago, actually.” Her eyes surveyed everything around her. He could practically imagine a computer screen relaying all the data she noted. She just seemed that efficient.
“Do you like it?” he persisted.
“It’s better than a lot of places.”
One day, he’d figure out how to draw her into a real conversation. He was determined.
He felt oddly comforted to have her along. If Ditnya wanted him dead, she’d have her work cut out for her as long as Peregrine was around.
Hopefully, she didn’t want him dead.
The last time he’d been on Dauntless, he’d shown Arlen around. They’d shopped, enjoyed lunch, and had a good time. He’d even kind of enjoyed his verbal sparring with Nagali.
The three of them went to the suite of adjoining rooms, which he’d arranged beforehand. Nagali and Omar had their own apartments on Dauntless, but Cabot felt better about all four of them staying together for the moment.
“I’m going to freshen up while we wait to hear from Omar,” he said.
“I think I’ll do the same.” Nagali went to the first bedroom, but immediately backed away from it. “Too dark.” She proceeded to the second room. “Much better.”
In she went, without asking Cabot or Peregrine which rooms they’d like.
“Do you prefer dark rooms?” Cabot asked Peregrine.
“Doesn’t matter to me. Pick whatever you want. I’ll do a little security upgrading while you two get ready.” She dropped her heavy backpack onto a table.
He chose the third bedroom, whatever it might be. Inside, he found it appointed in a bland, beige style.
Perfect.
An hour later, Omar’s voice-only call came. He said only that Ditnya was ready to see them, and Cabot sensed that she was standing over his shoulder at the time.
“Time to go,” he said to Peregrine as he left his bedroom.
She was handling a tiny device between her fingertips.
“What’s that?” He edged closer.
“Don’t worry about it.” She didn’t hide it, but didn’t say anything more, either.
He didn’t recognize the thing she held.
He hit Nagali’s door chime, then got a drink of water from the kitchenette. A minute later she emerged, looking fresh and elegant in a long, wrapped gown.
“Let’s do it.” She marched toward the door.
Cabot and Peregrine exchanged a glance, shrugged, and followed her.
“FOUR YEARS I had that operation in place. That’s a lot of planning. I intended to bring it down at the right moment. What you did was not the right moment.” Ditnya Caine, Overseer of Dauntless Station and crime boss extraordinaire, sat on the edge of her desk, her arms crossed. She wore her short gray hair in a fashionable style, which complemented her expensive business suit. A deep frown creased her face more deeply than her well-worn wrinkles.
“We didn’t realize we were coming into something you had in place,” Cabot said. “We were looking for information.”
“And who exactly do you work for? Omar says he doesn’t know.”
They all looked to Omar, who sat in a side chair. He gave them a don’t look at me sort of shrug.
“He doesn’t,” Cabot confirmed. “I’m the one in contact with our employer. I’ve relayed all messages, and I’ve been the one making decisions.”
“So you’re taking the blame?” Ditnya didn’t look convinced.
“If blame has to be taken, then yes. But like I said, there was no way for us to know that you were working at getting rid of slaving. You didn’t indicate as much to us, even when you had the opportunity.”
“It’s not in my best interest to spread that information around,” Ditnya said dryly.
“Right. And you keep a good secret. What did you miss out on due to the premature resolution?”
“I was trying to get the names of two more of Taffer’s associates. I have most of the others. If I had those last two, I could have all but crushed the slave trade.” Ditnya’s expression darkened. “Now I have yet more work to do.”
“If we’d known you were involved in busting up the slaving rings, we could have avoided this,” Cabot noted.
“Maybe. But I didn’t get where I am by telling everyone I meet what I’m up to.” Ditnya stared at him.
He’d hoped his point might gain them a little leeway, but apparently not.
“Did any of those names you’re after have anything to do with Terceron? Because that route is done.” He hoped reminding her of that would buy some goodwill.
“Terceron is why I’m not angrier right now. You did save me some effort in handling that one,” she said grudgingly.
“What will it take to make us even, then?” Cabot asked.
Ditnya was a businesswoman. He had to rely on her pragmatism outweighing her desire for revenge.
“I want to know who you’re working for. That will make us even.” She fixed him with a hard look.
“How will that help you?” he asked. “This isn’t about competition, or business. My employer cares only about ending slaving, for humanitarian purposes.”
“Same here. I’ve spent millions on it, and I’ve only gotten back half of that, after acquiring the accounts and assets of the deceased.”
Cabot felt like they were getting into very weird territory. She shouldn’t be discussing these details with him. “You’ve taken money gained from slaving?”
“And turned it around to end slaving. Yes. It seems like a reasonable solution to me.”
“But why do you care so much about slaving, anyway?” Nagali asked.
Cabot sent her a warning glance. Ditnya did not care for her.
But she answered. “Because it’s the one thing I can’t tolerate. You can bribe people. Blackmail them. Trick them into dependency. Kill them. They play a part in all that, and have a chance to escape, if they’re smart. But owning them as if they’re not sentient beings is somethi
ng else. I want to wipe it out.”
Cabot saw a glimmer of the reality behind her words.
Ditnya was old. She must be pushing eighty. She was looking at the remaining few years of her work and wondering what stamp she’d put on the galaxy. What would remain after she was done? And she’d found her cause in slaving.
She straightened and walked slowly behind her desk. “To answer your previous question, I want to know who your employer is because I want to work with them to destroy what’s left of the slave trade, and put in place a system that prevents it from starting up again. If you’re working with who I think you’re working with, my side and their side can come together to crush those who trade in people. If you make the introduction, I’ll forget about the mess you made of my operation on Ardino.”
Cabot had to proceed carefully. “If you know who I’m working for, then you know that exposing yourself to them in any way could be dangerous for you.”
Ditnya stopped in place. “I don’t think so. They have much bigger things to worry about. I’m offering them a solution to a problem that has existed for a long time. Besides, I know how to protect myself.” A predatory smile transformed her face from hard and demanding to something much more disturbing.
She brought her hands together with a smack. “So. Who is your employer?”
“I am.” Peregrine stared at Ditnya with a challenging look. “Now, who do you think I am?”
“I don’t know who, but I knew what as soon as you stepped in here. Pretty gutsy move, coming into my office. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I couldn’t spot a PAC officer a kilometer away.”
Cabot exchanged a look with Omar, then Nagali. Somehow, they suddenly felt like spectators at the main event.
“What do you want, then?” Peregrine asked.
“An introduction. To the people you answer to.”
Instead of giving an immediate refusal, Peregrine remained silent, staring at Ditnya. After several tense moments, her eyes snaked to Omar. “Is she for real?”
Omar looked from her to Ditnya. “Yeah. I think so.”
“Define ‘introduction.’” Peregrine said.
“I want a meeting. In person. Enforce as much security as you like. But I want an in-person meet. At Jamestown.”
Cabot struggled to keep his expression blank. Ditnya wanted to go to Jamestown? She’d undoubtedly stolen millions from the PAC, not to mention caused the deaths of numerous PAC citizens and officers. She must want more than just an end to slavery.
Not that ending slavery would be easy, but this move didn’t make sense unless something else was in play.
Maybe something personal? Or some plan to attack Jamestown? Cabot had no read on this situation.
“Agreed. One meeting at Jamestown with my superiors, for your agreeing not to take the misunderstanding on Ardino out on these people. Including Pigie.”
Ditnya’s eyebrows raised at that. “Very well.”
“A few things, though,” Peregrine added. “You’ll come on my ship, and from now until we board, my eyes will be on you. I’ll watch you pack. I’ll listen to any communications you have until we’re on the ship.”
Ditnya seemed amused. “What am I going to do? Try to take over Jamestown? If that were my plan, I assure you, I would have done it long ago.”
Peregrine ignored her. “Are we agreed?”
Ditnya raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. “Fine. Far be it from me to mess up what has so conveniently come to me. Shall Omar accompany us? I get the feeling you two are fond of one another.”
Had Omar said something? Cabot looked to him, but he looked as surprised as Cabot felt.
Ditnya must have picked up on something.
Peregrine didn’t react. “If you want Omar to come with us, that’s fine.”
“By all means, then, let’s get packing. Slaving isn’t going to end itself, is it?” Ditnya sauntered to the door and, without looking back, went out.
Peregrine and Omar followed her.
“What just happened?” Nagali asked in bewilderment.
“We’ve completed our mission. We found Arcy and got rid of Taffer, although we didn’t do that directly. Still, our job is done. I can buy a ticket on a transport vessel and get back to Dragonfire.”
“Are you looking forward to getting back to your shop?” she asked.
“Yes. Dragonfire’s a great place. It’s my home. I’ll be glad to be back where I belong and sleep in my own bed.”
“I could come with you,” she ventured.
“To see the station?”
“Sure. You make it sound so nice.”
He shrugged. “I can’t stop you.”
She laughed. “Is that all you have to say? I think we’d have fun. Between you and me, I could use some fun about now.”
“There’s a nice arboretum,” he admitted. “It’s really nice for long walks.”
“Sounds romantic.”
He didn’t disagree.
She let out a loud sigh. “We’re not going to do that, are we?”
“Nope.”
“Because we’re crazy.”
“Downright stupid.” He was sure of it.
“Where did we go wrong?” she wondered.
“I wish I knew. One minute I was happily selling wings for the solar festival, and the next, everything had gone upside down.”
“Do one thing for me,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Kiss me. Just a little peck. For old time’s sake.” She pouted her lips slightly.
“Why?”
“I deserve a little something after all this.”
Just a peck. Fine. He could do that. She’d harp about it forever if he didn’t. It was just a price to pay for peace.
He leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to hers for an instant. It was nice. And then he’d been there for more than an instant and oh, for Prelin’s sake, she was going to make a big deal about this and what was wrong with him, he needed to pull back!
But she was the one to pull away, grinning like a child. “I’ve always wanted to see Jamestown. Let’s go!”
She stood and quickly walked out.
Cabot groaned as he got to his feet.
This was going to be hell. Or fun. Or both.
MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you for reading!
Reviews are critical to my being able to keep bringing you new books, so if you enjoyed this story and can spare a minute or two to leave a review on Amazon, I’d be grateful.
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Are you ready for more Mercenary Warfare? Things are heating up in the PAC, and crime boss Ditnya Caine is going to add her own brand of fire. Click or tap to view Hell to Pay.
I hope to hear from you!
In gratitude,
Zen DiPietro
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Zen DiPietro is a lifelong bookworm, dreamer, and writer. Perhaps most importantly, a Browncoat Trekkie Whovian. Also red-haired, left-handed, and a vegetarian geek. Absolutely terrible at conforming. A recovering gamer, but we won’t talk about that. Particular loves include badass heroines, British accents, and the smell of Band-Aids.
Visit Zen’s website, where you can read reviews, author interviews, and other assorted fun stuff.
DRAGONFIRE STATION UNIVERSE
Dragonfire Station Book 1: Translucid
Dragonfire Station Book 2:Fragments
Dragonfire Station Book 3:Coalescence
Intersections (Dragonfire Station Short Stories)
Selling Out (Mercenary Warfare Book 1)
Blood Money (Mercenary Warfare Book 2)
Hell to Pay (Mercenary Warfare Book 3)
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dragonfire S
tation Universe
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Message from the author
About the Author
Dragonfire Station Universe