by Rachel Clark
“No, I’m not letting you go,” Cooper said, reaching for Del as well. He crushed them both in his embrace as he said the words that both made his pulse pound in relief and ache with sheer terror. “I’m choosing to come with you.”
Avery went to say something, but Cooper shushed her.
“Enough talking. The decision has been made.” He shuffled them back toward the bed. “Just let me hold you for a while.”
Del and Avery went willingly, clinging to the man who understood them even when they didn’t understand themselves.
Many hours later they made love to each other slowly, their usual explosive passion overridden by the deep emotional connection they all seemed to share. Afterward, Del held Avery close, Cooper’s big body pressed up against him as they lay there silently contemplating the mission ahead.
Chapter Eight
“It’s not too late to back out,” Cooper said.
Avery gave him a raised eyebrow in response. They were about to enter Keytark-controlled space and were literally seconds away from committing to their planned course of action.
Cooper shook his head and smiled slightly. “I had to try.”
“And I love you for it,” Avery said with a bright smile. “We’ll get through this, Coop. If there is any way to get us out, G’ntriel and Judge will find it.”
Cooper nodded. It had been three standard Earth days since they’d decided to take on this crazy mission, but they’d been days filled with preparation, training, and planning. Cooper shuddered at some of the scenarios they’d had to plan for. When Ben and Trey had mentioned Keytark’s penchant for watching violence and the possibility that he would order the person he believed brainwashed to hurt either Avery or Del or both, Cooper had almost changed his mind. The instinct to tie both his lovers to the bed and never let them go on this deadly mission had almost won.
But it had been Avery’s whispered “I’ve been through worse” that had nearly stopped his heart. She and Ruth had always denied being hurt by the slavers when they were captured, but four whispered words had proven that untrue.
He’d cornered Ruth and made her tell him the details.
“I love you,” he told Avery as he snapped the electronic locks onto her wrists. Keytark would expect the recovered slaves to be suitably bound. Hopefully, he had no way to tell that Devlin and Cooper had designed these cuffs to release if Del and Avery twisted them a certain way.
He reached out to touch the fake bruise on her cheek. Sarah had suggested that it was necessary for the slaves to look injured. Knocking them out would have been the only quiet way to get them off the ship.
“We’ll be fine,” Avery said with a wink. “Anything that happens in there is because we’re here to bring down a tyrant. You do whatever you need to do, Coop. Just remember that no matter what, Del and I will love you forever.”
He ground his teeth together and nodded before turning back to pilot the small transport craft they’d “stolen” from the pirate ship.
Cooper had spent much of the past two days observing Yavef’s brainwashed behavior. G’ntriel had used her skills to manipulate the man’s mind so that he’d believed that the people around her were part of Keytark’s organization. He’d used the words “yes, master” as an answer to almost every question and done everything they’d told him to do, including attempting to commit suicide. Fortunately, Sarah had been ready for the engineer’s response to the order and had quickly sedated him. They’d hoped that by giving him an order so completely against his own beliefs they might have been able to snap the guy out of it, but clearly the brainwashing technique Keytark had used was very strong.
Three ships suddenly appeared on the radar. They were about to have visitors very soon.
“Showtime,” Cooper said to his lovers, hoping desperately to hide the fear that suddenly coursed through him.
* * * *
Avery heard Cooper’s monotone response to the orders from the ships around them. It had been heartbreaking to watch Yavef reacting the way he had, but it had been necessary for them to know how to behave, perhaps even what to expect.
Their little ship was dragged into the cargo hold of something Avery suspected was much, much bigger, and then boarded by the same creatures who’d captured her years ago when she’d first been abducted.
She tried not to shudder, but couldn’t quite hide the revulsion she felt when the creature grabbed her by the upper arm and dragged her from the ship. Just like in her memories—and her nightmares—the creatures looked like huge, overly muscled versions of a humanoid. They stood upright, walked strangely due to the thick, overdeveloped muscles in their thighs and calves, and laughed like barking dogs. She also knew their dicks were about the size of her little finger. She held on to that thought, trying to convince herself that what men like these had done before couldn’t hurt her. Even if they tried it again, she had Del’s and Cooper’s love to hold on to.
Her lovers had both urged her to fake unconsciousness, but she couldn’t quite control her fear well enough to pull it off. Considering that Keytark’s asshole foot soldiers got off on causing fear, being afraid right now at least gave them the reaction they’d been expecting.
Avery flinched when a soldier kicked Del in the ribs, but thankfully, Cooper managed to control his reaction. He remained as monotone and emotionless as Yavef had seemed in their days of studying him.
One of the creatures held out a weapon to Cooper. He took it absently, holding it by his side as he waited for instructions.
“Shoot yourself in the head,” the creature ordered.
“Yes, master,” Cooper said and immediately raised the weapon to his temple.
Chapter Nine
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
They’d known this was a possibility, but they hadn’t expected it quite so soon. Del lifted off the ground, desperate to stop the man he loved from following through on the creature’s order. He knew Cooper would do it. He knew the man well enough to know he’d protect them both the only way he could right now.
Fuck.
Del scrambled to his feet, screaming abuse as a creature much larger than him kicked him back down. He continued to struggle even as the soldier barked a laugh of amusement. He and Avery both screamed as Cooper pressed the button that would end his life.
But, thank the god of mercy, nothing happened.
Cooper dropped the hand that held the weapon back to his side, his demeanor as calm as Yavef’s had been. The creatures around them barked raucously in a poor imitation of laughter as Del struggled to catch his breath and Avery sobbed in relief.
Holy fuck. If they survived this mission, Del was going to bind Cooper to him and Avery and never, ever let the man go. The only reason Cooper was here was because he loved him and Avery.
Del sent another prayer to Lukilo, the Pendarian god of mercy, and silently promised to do everything in his power to get them all out of this alive.
* * * *
Cooper forced his body to remain outwardly calm. Any sign that he wasn’t brainwashed would end in disaster. They needed to get close to Keytark, and then they needed to kill him. Cooper had every intention of fighting their way back out after that, but they needed to get there first.
He breathed out, discreetly forcing his muscles to comply with his will.
“Take them directly to the palace,” the guard who seemed to be in charge ordered several of the others. He spoke in the standard slaver’s language, not the trader’s language most people in this sector used. It was clear they didn’t expect Avery or Cooper to understand their words, but must have known Del would understand. “Keytark has special plans for these two escaped slaves. They will serve as a reminder to others who might think there is a way out.”
“What about this one?” another of the guards asked, pointing to Cooper.
“He seems to mean something to them both. Perhaps even they realize his ‘special’ condition. It should prove rather entertaining. I am certain Keytark will enjoy the sho
w.”
One of the guards lifted Avery, threw her over his shoulder like a sack of grain, and headed toward a small transport not far away from the tiny vessel Cooper, Del, and Avery had arrived in.
“Come,” one of the creatures ordered Cooper.
“Yes, master,” he said in that peculiar lilt that had taken hours to perfect.
The creature laughed, slapped him upside the head apparently just for fun, and then turned and headed into the ship. Thankfully, it was clear that they believed him to be brainwashed after his compliance with the gun. He’d briefly considered turning it on all of them, but it had been that single thought that had stayed his hand. He’d realized then that the gun was a test. If he hadn’t tried to shoot himself they would have known he wasn’t brainwashed. Cooper had gambled that, for their own safety, they wouldn’t have given him a charged weapon and had, thankfully, been right. He sincerely hoped he’d never be in a position like that again. He wasn’t certain he’d be able to press the button a second time.
Avery and Del were dropped onto the floor of the small vessel’s cabin and Cooper was ordered to sit beside them. Both of them crawled to him, their terror appearing quite genuine. Considering that it didn’t hurt their cover for Del and Avery to show affection for the man they believed to have been brainwashed, Cooper sat still and let them curl against him.
“Wasn’t the purple-haired bitch always with two G’trobians?” one of the guards asked the others as he yanked on Avery’s newly colored locks.
“Usually. Why?”
“She seems awfully close to the human. She seems to trust him still, even though he brought her here to us.”
The other guards laughed at the observation. “No matter. She’ll learn pretty quickly that he’s no longer on her side.”
Avery didn’t outwardly react to their words. She was smart enough to realize that if they thought she couldn’t understand them she would have an advantage to keep them thinking that way. But Cooper knew the entire experience would be bringing back some awful memories of the day she’d been captured.
But his sweet, brave, incredible woman gave him the signal they’d preplanned to tell him she was all right. They’d discussed so many possible scenarios that, ironically, the one where they made the brainwashed human—aka him—hurt her was actually the least frightening. It was the fear of being separated from them that gave Cooper the shakes.
* * * *
Del stayed curled up next to Cooper and close to Avery. He didn’t need to fake his fear. He’d known going in that it would really test his emotional strength to go back to the place where he’d known such misery, but it was the faces of those who’d been left behind that haunted him the most. Keytark didn’t believe in killing slaves—they were his merchandise after all—but he did enjoy hurting them. Del had lost count of the slaves he’d witnessed being whipped to within an inch of their lives only to be patched up and whipped again. It was the reason Keytark had access to some of the most advanced medical equipment in the galaxy.
Now that Del knew what the various pieces of medical equipment were used for he had every intention of stealing a shipload on their way out.
It felt like it took hours to finally reach the palace gates. Del stayed close to Cooper as the transport guards were forced to hand them over to a group of uniformed guards who seemed to outrank them. There was much posturing and arguing over who should present the prisoners to Keytark, but in the end the better-dressed, better-equipped soldiers won the argument. The others finally turned to leave when the leader of the new group of guards called back the leader of the old.
“On second thought, you stay.” The new guards all gave him malicious looks. “If Keytark is unhappy he will want to know who to blame.”
The other creatures laughed viciously, their overly muscled chests shaking with mirth. It was obvious that the two levels of guards held little respect for each other, but the first man squared his shoulders, widened his stance, and said gruffly, “Either we all stay, or I go back with my men.”
They laughed again, the arrogant sound suggesting they knew something the others did not.
“Sure,” the new guard said. “Why not? I always enjoy a good slaughter.”
Del was fairly certain that the guard was referring to the slaughter of the other guards, although the group that had transported him didn’t seem to see it that way. Hopefully, the animosity between the two groups would give them the distraction they needed to complete their mission.
It was rather ironic that the very dissent among the ranks that they’d hoped to foster might be the very thing that would help them set everything in motion.
* * * *
Cooper watched, trying to appear unaffected as Avery was very literally stripped of her clothes and thrown at the feet of the man Cooper assumed was Keytark. They did the same to Del a moment later. He hit his head quite hard against the base of Keytark’s ornate chair. Avery reached for him, crying out as Del lay motionless, but one of the guards wrapped a fist in her hair and held her in place.
Cooper noted with interest that all of the guards removed their weapons before entering the throne room. Apparently, Keytark didn’t even trust the people closest to him anymore.
“The slaves you wanted, Your Majesty.”
Your Majesty? When had the slave trader promoted himself to royalty? As far as Cooper knew the man was just the head of a very large criminal organization. If he’d grown arrogant enough to consider himself a king, then there was a good chance that he’d also grown a shipload full of new enemies as well.
Maybe disrupting his “kingdom” was going to be easier than they’d hoped.
“The brainwashing program?” Keytark asked in a mildly interested voice.
“Worked perfectly, Sire. This one,” he said, pointing to Cooper, “bound them, flew them directly to us, and has followed every order since—including the order to shoot himself in the head.”
“So why is he still alive?” Cooper was suddenly very glad that their weapons were outside the room.
“We thought you might enjoy some entertainment. Despite everything he’s done to them, the humans still trust him.”
Keytark grinned maliciously. “Perfect. Start with the girl. It’s more fun when they’re awake and screaming.”
Again neither Avery nor Cooper reacted to the words said in a language they weren’t supposed to understand. Cooper desperately wanted to check on Del, but anything he did now could be the difference between survival and utter failure.
The guard grabbed him roughly, tearing Cooper’s shirt as he shook him. “Get naked, and then fuck the girl. Make her scream.”
“Yes, master,” Cooper said, his monotone wavering slightly as fear coursed through him. They’d discussed this very scenario. Del had known Keytark well, had grown up witnessing the depravity and utter disregard Keytark held for his captives, and had predicted this very scenario. The problem was Cooper wasn’t certain he’d be able to follow through. Holy hell, he loved the woman with all his heart, couldn’t get enough of her in bed and out, but being ordered to rape her while others watched—even when she knew he was acting a part—wasn’t something he could get hard for.
He stripped his clothes off, letting the material fall to the ground as he headed toward Avery. She played her part, shaking her head, looking confused, begging him not to do this.
“Cooper, no. Snap out of it. Please don’t do this.”
The creatures surrounding them laughed, the harsh barking sound grating against Cooper’s nerves.
Cooper stayed silent, advancing on her the way he expected a brainwashed man would—unflinchingly, unmoved by her pleas, concentrating on only doing what his supposed master ordered.
She tried to crawl away, but he grabbed her before she could get close enough to any of the guards for them to lash out at her. He dragged her backward as she screamed and tried to scramble away.
“Fuck her now!” Keytark yelled, his patience obviously at an end.
/> Cooper held her down as he looked over at the cruelest man he’d ever had the displeasure of meeting and said, “Yes, master.”
Avery screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks as she begged him not to follow Keytark’s orders. The men around them laughed raucously, a couple of them even rubbing their finger-sized hard-ons through their uniform pants. Cooper felt sick to his stomach, his own cock not reacting to the situation at all. He loved Avery. He couldn’t do this.
God, he was going to get them all killed.
But then Avery, god bless her quick thinking, managed to turn in his grip and act like he’d forced his cock into her mouth. She pretended to gag, pretended to try and fight her way off him, but the whole time caressed his soft cock in her mouth and tapped her finger on his thigh. Their signal that she was all right. To the casual observer it would look like the terrified shaking of a woman in distress, but to Del and Cooper it was four quick taps of her finger followed by what looked like a reflexive squeeze of her hand.
Avery sucked harder against his cock, coaxing his erection to life, even as she made it look like he was pushing her face onto his cock against her will.
She moved off his cock, gasping for air, crying for Cooper to wake up, to snap out of his trance. She tried to escape again, but this time Cooper managed to react, pulling her back by her hair and forcing her face-first onto the ground. He lay over the top of her, dragging her back as his cock brushed against her pussy. He only just managed to stifle the groan when he realized she was wet for him.
He pulled her backward, pushing his cock into her pussy, nearly weeping with relief when he slid in easily. She screamed as if he’d hurt her, but again she made the signal that she was all right.