“Yes,” she quipped, not stopping to talk. She didn’t want to see anyone, let alone speak to anyone. She was furious and felt wrung out like a damp towel. The day shift wasn’t over yet, but she was done. She’d done enough today.
And to make it worse, the male locust was pounding on the glass enclosure. The last thing she needed right now was another male—of any species—wanting to fuck her because she was the only woman around.
It was nauseating. Men were the worst.
She’d just made it to her quarters when Hysterian’s voice came through the intercom.
“Be ready to depart Titan. We take off at twenty hundred hours.”
Her nostrils flared. “Fuck you,” she said under her breath.
“Hey, what happened?” Raul came up behind her.
“Nothing.” She walked into the room, hoping Raul wouldn’t follow her.
Her hope died the next moment.
“Something happened. You’re pissed as hell.”
Alexa swerved. “Am I? Pissed, that is? I’m furious, but most of all, I want to be alone!”
“Whoa, calm down. I’m not the bad guy here. Tell me what happened.”
“I’ve got nothing to say.”
“He’s a real fucker isn’t he.”
Alexa’s eyes narrowed, and she pursed her lips.
Raul cupped the back of his neck, his gaze softening. “He…he didn’t hurt you, did he?” he asked in a low voice. Then fury hot enough to match her own crossed his face. “I’ll fucking kill him. If he so much as touched you, I’ll kill him.”
They both knew who Raul spoke of.
“He didn’t hurt me,” Alexa said. “It’s not like that at all. It’s nothing like that.”
Raul stepped forward. “I’ll fucking kill him, Alexa. You just say the word, and I’ll take care of this.”
“Stop. Stop,” she said before Raul worked himself up any further. “He’d swat you like a fly if you even tried. It’s not worth your life. And he didn’t hurt me, like I said.” She was trying to calm down for Raul’s sake more than her own. “It’s not like that. We argued that’s all. Nothing more.”
Raul remained rigid, ready to go to battle despite her words.
“Raul, please, calm down.” She groaned. “I don’t need you sticking up for me. I don’t need anyone going into battle for me! I take care of myself.”
“I know you can take care of yourself. That’s obvious. But I don’t like him, Alexa. At all. I should have gone with you.”
She didn’t know that Raul didn’t like Hysterian. Had something happened between them that she wasn’t aware of? Raul was a good guy. Though she tried not to care about him or any of the others, she’d grown fond of Raul regardless. He may go into quiet spells, but he was kind to her, and thoughtful. He gave her her space even when there was very little to be had.
She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it in reassurance. Seeing Raul worked up like this somehow made her feel better, less alone. He settled down and squeezed her hand back.
Alexa studied him for a moment. Raul really was classically handsome.
“We argued. That’s all that happened,” she told him. “I asked him what happened on Titan today, and he didn’t like me questioning him. That’s all. I overstepped, and he put me back in my place.”
“I’ve never worked for a captain who couldn’t just fucking talk with his crew like a normal fucking person,” Raul spat. “I’ve always heard how heroic and great Cyborgs were. If they are, Hysterian certainly isn’t one of them.”
“He was right to check me,” she said, defending Hysterian. “He’s the captain, our leader, and nothing like you or me. Can you imagine how lonely that is?” She let go of Raul and rubbed her brow.
“Don’t pity him, Dear.”
