He'd have laid himself beneath his woman's feet if that's what it took.
"Will he be open to negotiation?" Wren asked.
"Unlikely."
"We could always tell him the truth," Blue volunteered.
"Not an option," Raider said at the same time as both Wren and Finn gave an emphatic, "No."
"This is Jace we're talking about. Not some faceless commander. He'll understand if we tell him about Elena and what she is to you," Blue argued.
Raider leveled a serious look on her. "It's nonnegotiable."
And not just because of paranoia either.
There was no certainty that him knowing about Elena would make a difference. Considering his mentor was Himoto, a man who had always chosen the greater good over the self-interests of even his closest confidants, there was a real chance Jace wouldn't care about what they had to share.
Raider didn't want to risk it.
"We just received the docking coordinates. Whatever we're going to do, we need to do it soon," Talon drawled.
Raider stared at the view of space, thinking. Worst case scenario—Jace impounded the Wanderer and reassigned Raider and Blue to the Curs in preparation for deployment. Chances were that he'd allow Wren and the rest to continue on their way afterward.
Of course, they'd lose valuable time. And if Jace found out about the prisoner they had on board all bets were off.
That brought him to the real problem.
Finn was good, but there was no guarantee he'd be able to locate Kira on Rothchild. He didn't know what signs Kira might have left for them to find and follow.
Raider did.
Finn and the rest also weren't prepared for the nuisance that was Odin.
Raider was part of the team originally tasked with hunting that criminal. They would have caught Odin too if not for Kira's sabotage.
Something Raider was still sore about.
"How soon until your people can arrive?" Raider asked Wren.
"An hour. Two at most."
Raider nodded. "Okay then."
"Okay then?" Blue asked in an outraged voice that betrayed her upset. "What does that mean?"
Wren's gaze was steady. He nodded once. As if to say it was already done.
Appreciation rumbled through Raider. He and his father-in-law seemed to share the same mind when it came to this. Maybe there was hope for them after all.
Raider focused on Blue. "It means that if Jace becomes a problem, they'll be there to get us out. By force, if necessary."
Blue sputtered. "That's—"
"Mutiny. I know," Raider agreed grimly. "I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that."
Twelve
Kira – Haldeel Abandoned Planet
