And as he continued to observe the freighter, lights winked on under the hull, and a ramp lowered with the hiss of hydraulics.
Malik slowly released the breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding. He then moved off toward the vessel, glancing behind him at Jenna. “Let me lead … just in case you hired the wrong man.”
Jenna pulled a face. “I really hope I didn’t.”
Malik did too. And after his own lack of care a few hours earlier, he wasn’t taking any unnecessary risks.
His jaw tightened then. He was angry with himself for being so reckless, but he’d told Jenna the truth earlier. He didn’t regret what had happened between them, only that the Horn Punch had altered their senses. They’d both consented to sex, but the drink had blurred things. It had robbed them both of inhibitions and torn down the walls of position and class that divided them, revealing red-hot lust.
And now, she knew about the dirty thoughts he’d entertained about her over the years.
Upon waking earlier—to find Jenna’s supple body pressed against his, her dark-brown eyes filled with alarm—he’d virtually fled to the bathroom. He’d needed to ready himself to leave, but he’d also required a minute or two to pull himself together.
Malik’s gut coiled then, heat igniting across his lower spine.
Even now, he was acutely aware of Jenna. She was a well-brought-up lady, the clan-lord’s sister and ambassador, but underneath that buttoned-up reserve, she was fire.
Pushing the heated images aside, Malik’s gaze swept the shadowed bay.
Enough. You need to focus.
He couldn’t let Jenna’s presence distract him. He couldn’t do his job properly otherwise.
Approaching the ramp, he peered into the belly of the freighter.
An instant later, Malik spied a tall, broad-shouldered figure, dressed in slate-grey cargo pants and a padded jacket, emerge from the hull and descend the ramp.
18. ABOARD THE WAYFARER
VIC NODDED TO them. His expression was inscrutable, but as a cyborg, that was to be expected. Nevertheless, Malik found his lack of emotion unsettling, as he had back atThe Hook and Horn.
He’d never had dealings with cyborgs before, having only ever seen them from a distance when he’d accompanied Cathal on his visits to space fleet. He remembered their blank faces, frozen stares, and rigid postures.
Vic was different to those soldiers. He had free will and was a deserter—but he was also an unknown quantity and had once served the Mir-Ferrins.
Vic also knew about the bounty on Jenna. Could they trust him?
“Good to see you’re on time,” Vic greeted them smoothly. “You might as well board. We’re about to start the engines.”
They followed the cyborg onto the freighter, stepping into a paneled entranceway. The ramp rose behind Malik and Jenna, sealing them in. The overhead light flickered then, and Vic squinted up at it with his good eye. “I thought I’d fixed that,” he muttered. He then glanced over at Malik, noting that he carried a heavy rucksack. “You came prepared?”
Malik nodded. “I’ve got pistols and protective gear.” He then patted the utility belt at his waist, “… and two pyro-grenades.”
It was just as well he’d strapped three of the devices onto his belt before departing Mir-Brennan Tower. They wouldn’t have escaped the Widow Makers without them.
“I got those IDs and gathered some weapons as well,” the cyborg replied. “Although nothing as useful as a pyro-grenade.” He then moved ahead up the passage. “This way.”
Malik glanced behind him at where Jenna stood silently. He could see the strain on her face, the veiled anxiety in her eyes. However, he also recognized the determined set of her jaw. She was both braver and tougher than he’d initially taken her for.
All the same, Jenna wasn’t a trained soldier like he was.
Did she realize exactly what they were up against? Her brother, sister-in-law, and niece would be heavily guarded. Getting in and out unscathed and uncaptured was going to be hard, even usingThe Passage.
Jenna caught him watching her then. Gaze narrowing, she raised her chin. “Before you ask … yes, I’m fine,” she said crisply. “I’m just worried about Cathal … I hope we manage to reach him in time.”
Malik was about to answer, but she was already moving past him, following Vic forward.
Wordlessly, he joined her, stepping out into a wide grey-paneled cabin, lined with seats and a table on one side, and a stack of bunks on the opposite one. An open door and a set of steps led up to the cockpit.
