“The championship she didn’t even place in?”
Cypher stilled, his jaw tightening.Fuck.They didn’t place. If Nightheart said it, it was true. Cypher didn’t know what his boss had done with ‘taking care of NeoElite’ for him, but even so, there was no reason for him to lie.
Cypher palmed his face again when a shadow skirted the corner of his eye. He looked up to see Nightheart strolling down the hallway toward him, brown hair perfectly slicked back, filling out an expensive black suit that only emphasized the Cyborg’s domineering aura.
Somehow Nightheart’s new getup suited him better than the nano-shifting battle suits they wore during the war. Nightheart was scarier in a suit.
Cypher dropped his hand and scowled. “Vee’s more than a fuck for me,” he snapped.
Nightheart shrugged. “I don’t care anymore. She stays or she joins you. If it’s the latter, it had better be by choice. She has less than six hours until take-off. Your chosen crewmates are already on standby to board at the spaceport, and Mia has you scheduled to arrive at several interstellar ports between your first acquisitions. You’ll be making a short stop in Elyria.”
“What for?”
“Need you to pick up Hysterian. He’s joining the team.”
Hysterian, another Cyborg shifter, one who had little use on the battlefield so Nightheart and Cypher rarely encountered him. The other Cyborg was more useful up close and personal, positioned to oversee the operations that involved traitors and deserters of war. Hysterian was tasked to get whatever information was needed out of them—using his unusual DNA.
The man was a manipulative torturer, even if he’d never raised a weapon toward someone or drawn blood.
Toxic. The motherfucker wastoxic.
“You’re running out of options, it seems,” Cypher said.
“Never.” Nightheart pushed past him and opened the door.
Vee hadn’t moved from the table, but she was joined by her parents now. Cypher scowled at Nightheart’s back as he followed him into the room.
Vee’s eyes widened at Nightheart’s approach. “I didn’t know you were going to be here!”
She moved to stand, but Nightheart waved her down. He took a seat away from the group. Cypher, fuming, dropped down beside Vee.
“Nightheart?” Vee’s mother eyed the new Cyborg apprehensively.
“The president of the EPED,” Vee tells her.
Her mother’s eyes widened as well. “Oh…”
Before she could genuflect, Nightheart interrupted, turning to Vee. Cypher curled his arm around the back of her chair.
“First of all,” Nightheart said, “I want to congratulate you on completing the championship and achieving what you sought out to do.” His eyes shifted to Cypher’s. “Despite the unfortunate challenges they put into this year’s game. Which will not go unpunished… I’m certain.”
The Trentians.
“T-thank you,” Vee said.
“On that note, as of yesterday, I bought out all available NeoElite stocks and have made myself part owner of the gaming and colonization company.”
Vee’s mouth dropped. “What?”
Nightheart continued, “I made assurances that the championship would not have any othercurveballsto incite ratings and manipulate its players. You should thank me.” He crossed his arms. “Despite some opinions, we take care of our own.”
“Right. That’s how you take care of them?” Cypher snapped. “By giving them tons of money?”
“I have a corporation to run, Cypher, and a PR nightmare to deal with, no thanks to your ‘help.’ What would you have me do? Declare war on them for no reason and shoot down their staff? Don’t be worse than Zeph. I can be vindictive.”
“Wait…” Vee sat forward. “What are you two talking about?” She looked questioningly between Nightheart and Cypher. “Cypher what’s going on?”
“He asked me to take care of NeoElite after what happened during the semi-finals,” Nightheart answered.
