Righteous Fury (To Protect and Service Book 2)

by Tracy St. John

Kimi yelped and jerked to fling dripping gore from her eyes as Raven cursed and threw off the headless Gilothean who’d been guarding her. He had fallen over her in the abrupt outbreak of violence.

  Tum wheeled in a circle, his spattered face comical with disbelief as he raised a gun. It spun out of his hand an instant before a camosuited Paatiin appeared behind him. The Paatiin slammed Tum to the ground, splashing the blood pooled there.

  Armed Paatiin materialized everywhere at once. The man standing over the cowering Tum laughed as he yanked his hood off, exposing spider-silk white hair. Kimi gawped in amazement at Maaguum.

  “Isn’t this a marvelous party! Tell me you don’t mind that I came without an invitation?”

  Freed by his fellow Paatiin, Laaruu climbed to his feet, laughing breathlessly with their savior. He hurried over to help Kimi stand. “Maaguum, you have a standing invitation to join any party I’m involved in.”

  “Your parents raised you right, my friend. Oh, Daagiis, your lovely girl’s arm is separated from her. Such a shame. Vendeen, you sumptuous scoundrel! So sorry I didn’t greet you properly last time we met, but I could hardly have recognized you with that muzzle covering most of your ravishing face.”

  “Why do I have the feeling that’s not true?” Vendeen’s scowl held a note of amusement.

  “Because I am an unrepentant liar, delicious man.” Maaguum raked his eager gaze over Vendeen, not put off by the blood splashed all over the Gilothean.

  Kimi had trouble keeping up with the conversation. Her mind tried to wrap around the idea that imminent death had been averted. Plus the notion of Vendeen being muzzled was unbelievable. Who had the ability to pull that off?

  Maaguum was delivering a hell of a performance, complete with prancing around Vendeen in the most outrageously flirtatious manner. “Bad boy, you are the worst. And by the worst, I mean you’re the best, of course.”

  Kimi didn’t miss the narrowed glance Raven shot at Daagiis, who held her close as she clutched the front of her camosuit closed. “Have I missed some history between those two?”

  “Even I haven’t heard the story, no matter how drunk I get Vendeen.”

  Whatever was between the Paatiin and Gilothean, Vendeen showed only consideration for Maaguum. “I’m not half as excellent as you. I must send you a crate of Rulam ale in gratitude for the rescue. And maybe sentence a few young felons to a year or so in your care?”

  Maaguum clapped his hands with childish delight. “Oh, you adorable fiend. I’ll be glad to put them on the straight and narrow. By the way, I have something of yours that I wish to return.”

  “Oh?” Vendeen’s brows drew down.

  Maaguum raised his voice as he searched among his men. “Who has my present for my favorite Gilothean? You are, you know. Due your many—” he paused dramatically to look Vendeen up and down again “—attributes.”

  Kimi couldn’t believe someone who looked as brutish as Vendeen wouldn’t take offense at the overt ogling from such an odd creature. However, he took the sexual innuendo in stride. “You flatter me as always, Maaguum.”

  As he finished speaking, a Paatiin marched up to Maaguum, his hands gripping thin air before him. Someone cloaked, Kimi supposed.

  “I demand a certain perfection when it comes to my darlings, no matter how briefly I enjoy them. I confess to being shallow; I cannot be bothered with ugly men.” Maaguum gestured elaborately as he spoke.

  “Life’s too short,” Vendeen agreed. A real smile peeked out. He was enjoying Maaguum’s performance.

  “You might not be quite so picky, though your choice of Daagiis and Raven show otherwise. Nevertheless, I found this particular piece of gruesome garbage lurking behind a moon, close enough to pick up the signal of the events going on here. I thought maybe you’d like to have it?” He nodded to the Paatiin holding what none of them could see.

  With a quick motion, the camosuit of the concealed man was deactivated. Kimi gasped as Drek Hanos himself appeared, almost as bloody as the corpses of his men.

  He’d been beaten just enough to bruise and bleed. He was held helpless in metal bands that circled his torso, pinning his arms to his waist. Yet Hanos sneered at them all.

  “Congratulations, assholes. You’ve caught me, for all the good it’ll do you.”

  After an instant of gape-mouthed shock, Vendeen’s shark grin stretched huge. “This does me good. Much, much good.” His fists clenched.

  “Oh? As if you would do anything about it.” Hanos was insultingly dismissive.

  “My, he is a smug slice of vileness. There’s confidence, and then there’s megalomania.” Maaguum’s gaze was hectic with interest.

  “I told you I’m untouchable, you effeminate freak. The wretched Collective can’t function without my funding, without my power. I am the Collective. Untouchable. And Vendeen knows it.”

  “That does put a wrinkle in the matter. Is it true?”

  Vendeen snorted. “Unfortunately, his verified demise could bring a crisis on Consolidated Collective’s financial system. Even after our last encounter with all signs pointing to him being killed, he was never declared dead. It would have plunged the economy into the abyss, created a battle for power among certain factions, caused instability, that sort of chaos.”

  “You can’t consider letting him live,” Kimi spluttered.

  “It’s a critical issue. One that should be handled carefully. Circumspectly. Lacking the passion of vengeance.”

  Hanos chuckled. Kimi’s teeth grated at the arrogant expression he wore. She glanced at the nearest Paatiin of Maaguum’s force, wondering if she could grab his gun and finish the crime lord off before anyone could stop her.

  “That’s a fine weapon, Maaguum. May I?” Vendeen nodded at the slender, curved device on the Paatiin’s belt. The black and red piece was so ornamental, Kimi would have never known it was a firearm. Only the trigger gave it away.

  “Will my itty-bitty pulse gun fit in that big paw of yours?” Maaguum smiled with a child’s delight as he handed it off to Vendeen.

  Hanos continued to sneer, but with less assurance. “You’d better think carefully about whatever you’re considering. Harm one hair on my head, and your own justice system will bury you. I own a vast portion of it.”

  “The hair on your head does not interest me.” Vendeen pointed and shot. The gun went off with an unimportant click.

  Kimi stared as Hanos’s leg disappeared just below his groin. The crime lord screamed and tumbled to the ground. Shockingly, there was no blood.

  As if she’d mentioned it out loud, Maaguum declared, “Who says slaughter has to be messy?”

  “Cauterizes what it leaves behind?” Daagiis sounded impressed.

  “Lightweight, lovely to look at, and quiet. You can slay your enemies in the middle of a party without disturbing your guests.”

  Laaruu’s tone was awed. “Your weapon designs never cease to amaze me, Maaguum. Is that the prototype? Have you shown it to Saazeer?”

  “He’s ordered enough for your entire security team.” Maaguum preened, not bothering with modesty.

  The exchange was shouted over Hanos’s shrieks. The Paatiin who’d brought him forward at Maaguum’s command had removed the metal bands binding his arms. Hanos was attempting to drag himself away from them across the gore-splattered ground.

  Vendeen handed the pistol to Daagiis. “You mentioned repaying him for the harm he’s done to us.”

  Raven’s Paatiin lover smiled at their third. “Thank you for remembering. It’s an added bonus to use Maaguum’s latest innovation.”

  Glancing over his shoulder, Hanos saw Daagiis aim at him. He tried to crawl faster, to no avail. Another quiet click, and his remaining leg was vaporized. Daagiis gave the weapon to Raven.

  “This is light. So easy to carry! Now I’m pissed off that the Collective and Paatuun don’t trade in arms.” She sighted on Hanos.

  “Stop! Stop! I can give you money, all the money and territory you ever dreamed of!”

 
; “How about another arm? You owe me.” Raven shot.

  Kimi wondered at herself as she watched Hanos, left with only his mechanical arm, flopping about, howling in pain and terror. She experienced nothing but satisfaction as her friend and allies destroyed a living person piece by piece. Was it wrong to find this slow, brutal work of justice enjoyable? Even though Hanos had committed the most heinous of crimes against hundreds? Thousands?

  If making him suffer just a fraction of the hell he’s unleashed on others is wrong, then I don’t wanna be right.

  Raven handed off the gun to Laaruu with a bright smile that was somehow suitable to the macabre setting. “I know how personally Paatiin masters view attacks on their darlings. You’ll want your pound of flesh for what he did to Kimi.”

  “You are correct.” Laaruu winked at Kimi. “Don’t worry. I’ll leave you the best part.”

  He pointed the pistol at the gibbering Hanos. An instant later, the metal arm was gone. Writhing, he flopped over on his back.

  “You see? It works on more than flesh and bone,” Maaguum boasted to Kimi. “Now, lady of sunlight hair and alabaster skin, if you desire to take what’s left and nothing else, aim about an inch above your target.”

  “Thank you. That’s helpful.” Kimi claimed the weapon and a kiss from Laaruu. She stalked to Hanos, as close as possible to shoot precisely. She glared at his streaming face. Remarkably, his expression still held a hint of disbelief, as if he couldn’t accept that his monstrous reign had come to an end.

  “What I hated were the threats against me that involved your dick. Guess what’s coming off next?”

  She hesitated as naked terror bloomed over his expression. Her belated conscience didn’t show up because of his dread of what was coming—not with the image of abused women filling her mind—but that she took pleasure in it. Kimi wondered if this alternate universe had decent shrinks to fix what Hanos had broken.

  “Please, please, I’ll give anything, all, power, money—”

  His begging broke off in a shriek as she relieved him of what he possessed between the stubs of his legs. Maaguum had been accurate; aiming an inch high had erased Hanos’s claim to manhood and left him alive.

  She returned to the watching group, nodding at Maaguum’s smiling applause. He gazed at her with the attitude of a proud papa. “Such an exquisite aim. Excellent job, Kimi.”

  She handed the pistol to Vendeen. “He’s all yours.”

  He dipped his head with respect before stalking to Hanos. Vendeen’s former guardian and longtime tormentor babbled incoherently. Even after all they’d done to him, he begged to live. Kimi couldn’t understand any of the nonsense tumbling from his lips, but it was obvious he pleaded for his sorry, misbegotten life.

  Vendeen leaned down, touching the tip of Maaguum’s pistol to Hanos’s nose. “After a life of butchery, you are getting off far too easy. Not to mention, the damage to the Consolidated Collective will be substantial. But it needs to end. Once and for all, this hell you’ve brought to our worlds needs to end.”

  Click. Hiss. Hanos lay without legs, arms, cock or skull.

  Raven’s voice lacked emotion as she said, “Well, hell. I think you did harm a hair. Or two.”

  “I changed my mind.”

  Numb, Kimi spoke. “That happens.”

  Vendeen handed the gun to Maaguum, who patted him. Maybe he felt sorry for the judge, who appeared as drained and dazed as the rest of them. His gaze was solicitous as he told Vendeen, “You did the right thing. Many will sleep without nightmares for the first time in years. I hope you are among them. As for the financial collapse of the Collective, the esteemed Saazeer will be offering a low-interest loan to help prop your government up until they regain their footing. It won’t be easy, but your people will survive the death of Drek Hanos.”

  Without waiting for an answer, he turned back to Tum, who cringed under the Paatiin who pointed their guns at his head. The instant Hanos’s henchman realized he had Maaguum’s undivided and avid attention, he began to blubber.

  “Now, now, none of that! Save the hysterics for the proper moment, which is coming sooner rather than later.”

  “I was under orders, Hanos forced me to—”

  “Lies increase your punishment, which is already set to be severe. You made some terrible statements to Laaruu’s slave a few minutes ago. Don’t say you didn’t, because I heard every word with my own ears.” Maaguum shot a sly smirk at Kimi. “But it was this horrid creature’s threat against your master, the sight of a knife at his throat, that upset you, wasn’t it, my dear? I saw how you wished to kill him. Is that not true?”

  “Very true. I still want to.” The awful execution of Hanos had not rid Kimi of the urge to make Tum scream.

  She definitely required counseling.

  Maaguum nodded thoughtfully. “I’m prepared to hand this waste of skin over to you to do so. You are more than welcome to him. However, I offer something in the place of that.”

  “What?”

  “That little toy he mentioned Hanos planned to use on you and Raven? The bladed cock sheath?”

  “Yes?” Her skin crawled.

  “I have a similar item, along with a few other intense punishments. I use them on occasion with very special darlings I come across…such as this one. I’ll be delighted to take him off your hands.”

  Tum wailed and tried to scramble away. Without taking his cheerful gaze from Kimi’s face, Maaguum lashed out with his foot, striking Tum’s temple. The Gilothean dropped to the ground, his eyes rolling.

  Kimi’s heart nearly stopped. She couldn’t agree to it. What Maaguum was saying was too horrible to contemplate.

  “If you don’t say yes, he’ll remember it. He may take it personally.” Laaruu’s whisper sounded a warning.

  Before she could answer, he pulled her close and bowed to Maaguum, forcing her to bow with him. “Since Tum took great pleasure in the idea of her suffering such a fate, and for the untold number of women he’s victimized himself, Kimi is grateful for your magnanimous offer. Seize this worthless monster with her compliments and my gratitude.”

  Kimi’s jaw dropped, and a protest formed on her lips. Then she thought of the blade pressing at Laaruu’s throat once more, at the command of Tum. Her teeth clenched together.

  Maaguum giggled, gleeful as if he’d been granted a special treat. “I do like these Alt-Earthlings. If I could just get myself one of those males! What fun I would have.” He beamed at his guards. “Escort Tum to my playroom. My personal aides know how to prepare him for me.”

  Shaken, Kimi whispered to Laaruu, “You weren’t kidding about how dangerous he is.”

  “I gave you a mere hint. There are no words that can describe Maaguum. Never cross him, and always give him what he politely requests.”

  The unfortunate Tum was dragged off. Maaguum gazed at Kimi’s group with undisguised pleasure. “This has been a delight, but we should leave before the main force of Hanos’s army gets here. Sensors picked up a large group of warships coming.”

  A dart of panic shot through Kimi, and though she preferred to remain as invisible to Maaguum as possible, she couldn’t stop herself from speaking. “Excuse me?”

  “Laaruu, she has the loveliest manners. Bring her to visit often; maybe she can teach my loutish pets a thing or two. What can I grant you, my dear?”

  “Our ships, the ones that got away from the planet? Tum said there were enemies ready to destroy them.”

  “There were, but they were gone before yours launched.”

  “Gone?” Vendeen pressed.

  “Gone. After I located and relieved them of Hanos’s loathsome presence, they disappeared. Poof! As if they’d never existed. No one will ever find them.”

  Maaguum’s smile was brilliant as ever for Vendeen, but darkness lurked behind it. Kimi got the idea it would be the worst possible idea to press him for more details.

  Infinitely worse.

  Perhaps Vendeen noticed as well. In any case, he didn’
t ask any further questions. None of them did.

  Maaguum resumed adoring the Gilothean as several Paatiin vessels swooped down to claim them. “You melt me, you delicious bruiser. I know I can’t have you, but I can’t resist giving you things. Is anyone else bothering you? Any heads I can have stuffed and mounted for your wall?”

  Vendeen’s eyes narrowed, and Kimi knew why. He’d mentioned having Hanos’s head mounted on his wall on the lawgiver station. The coincidence was jarring.

  The judge shook it off. “You’ve given me more than I could ever repay.”

  “Let me adore you anyway by giving you an out. Tell anyone who cares to know that I killed Hanos.”

  Vendeen started. “You?”

  “My darling, I can’t bear the thought of you wasting to nothing in an awful Collective prison camp, especially for doing them the favor of erasing Hanos from existence. Let me take the blame. After all, it’s not as if Paatuun would allow me to be extradited.”

  Daagiis sighed with relief. “It’s true. You are nonetheless generous to a fault, Maaguum.”

  “What rational reason would the Collective accept for you showing up and killing Hanos?” Vendeen asked.

  Maaguum waved him off. “Do they really need an explanation? Isn’t it enough that I brought dozens of ships into Consolidated Collective Space? I’m sure I was noticed. If I wasn’t, I’ll pout.”

  Standing in the background, watching it play out like a theater drama, Kimi muttered to Laaruu, “He kills me. How much of his drama queen shtick is put-on?”

  “When you’re Maaguum, you can emote all you wish and still be taken seriously.”

  It was obvious Vendeen took the Paatiin seriously, but he was dogged in his demand for a cover story. “They’ll want a reason for why you would kill Hanos. You’ve made deals with him in the past.”

  “There’s your reason. I came to avenge a deal gone bad. I’m not just an unrepentant liar, but a petty bastard to boot. Ask anyone on Paatuun.” Maaguum swelled with pride at his failings. When Vendeen continued to stare at him, arms crossed over his chest, foot tapping and brow lifted, he relented with rolled eyes. “So demanding. The story is, Hanos took my money to secure a lovely Alt-Earth man for me and never delivered. I was affronted and turned him into that stump.”