Malik’s mouth thinned as his gaze slid over the battle-droid’s gleaming black carapace. “Aren’t Mir-Ferrin battle-droids bronze?” he asked, without thinking.
“We usually are,” Obsidian rumbled. “But after Vic and I deserted, he decided bronze would draw too much attention.”
Malik cocked an eyebrow. The droid’s conversational style of speech was disconcerting, and not what he’d have expected from it.
Turning from the window, his gaze traveled to where Jenna was showing Vic a rough plan of Mir-Brennan Tower she’d just drawn on her tablet. Like Jenna, Malik knew the layout of the tower well. However, Vic didn’t yet.
The drone of the engines filled the cabin, although Malik made out their conversation clearly.
“The building is long and rectangular … with a cavernous landing bay on the bottom level,” she explained, tapping her fingertip on the screen.
“We’ll be entering from there?” Vic asked.
“Yes …The Passageleads into a service corridor near the main doors.”
“Is that the only way in and out of the landing bay?”
“Yes … apart from ventilation and service shafts. There’s an entrance hall on the other side of the doors with a row of elevators. We won’t take them though … it’s too risky. The service elevators are in a narrow passage on the far side of the entrance hall.”
Vic nodded. “Where’s the detention block?”
“Underground … the service elevators will take you there too.”
Malik continued to listen to them. However, his attention settled upon Jenna; it was difficult not to look her way whenever she was present. For years now, she’d drawn his eye whenever she entered a room.
Malik’s mouth curved then. She’d surprised him at firing practice. After a rocky start, Jenna had proved she had a steady hand and was an accurate shot. Even Vic, who’d been making cynical quips from the sidelines, fell silent as she hit the bullseye three times in a row.
After he was content that she knew how to handle a pistol, Malik had shown her a couple of self-defense moves, just in case anyone grabbed her. She’d proven a quick study at that too. His shin still ached from where she’d kicked it to release herself from his hold.
Malik had enjoyed being her teacher for an hour or two, had enjoyed the physical closeness to the woman who managed to confuse, frustrate, and excite him, all at the same time.
His smile faded then as the reality of the situation crept in.Don’t forget your place, Mir-Draven.You’re her bodyguard.
He needed to keep things professional. The truth was that Jenna Mir-Brennan was out of bounds. If this mission was successful, and if they managed to escape Idral with their lives, things would go back to how they’d been before.
They’d return to being distant planets orbiting the same sun.
Malik’s jaw tensed. It was better that way too. Over the years, he’d had women—a few of them—although all his relationships had been casual, and none of them lasted longer than a week or two. He always cited his job as the reason, but it was an excuse.
Truth was, Malik didn’t want entanglements. He wanted to remain in control—and he had until this fateful trip.
He’d let his proximity to Jenna, his desire for her, cloud his judgment. He was in serious danger of getting himself burned.
A buzzing sound intruded then, jerking him out of his brooding.
Vic glanced up. “That’s our signal,” he announced. “We’re about to come out of hyperspace.” His gaze flicked from Jenna to Malik. “Time to get you two hidden.”
20. A TEMPTING OFFER
IT WAS DARK inside the smuggler’s hold. Dark and overly warm.
“Does this hold actually have ventilation?” Jenna murmured, pulling her knees into her chest, and trying to breathe properly. It felt airless in here; the darkness was suffocating.
“Vic assured me it does,” Malik replied, his tone dry. “He won’t get the rest of his payment if he kills us before we land, will he?”
Knowing Malik couldn’t see her, Jenna pulled a face. “I know he deserted from Mir-Ferrin space fleet, but a forty-thousand credit bounty might make him rethink our agreement.” A sickly sensation washed over her as she considered the possibility. “Tian is paying four times what we are … and he won’t care if I’m delivered dead or alive.”
“You have a point,” Malik replied quietly.
