I glanced at Tess, too quick for her to notice. Haunted eyes. Visible sorrow. Her heart bleeding for a stranger who shared her values. I looked dead ahead again, our destination finally in sight. Tess had lived her entire life by unwavering principles. She’d jumped into a black hole for them. She did what she had to, no matter what. And what had I done? I’d floundered with simple decency and nearly cashed her in.
Steeling my spine, I steered my thoughts away from that dark chasm and drove Tess ahead of me with a harshness I had to force. I loved her. She loved me. We had more than a little to build on.
Finally, we stood in front of the elevators, waiting for one of them to open. This nightmare was almost over. No more shock wands nearly sending Tess over backward while I stood there and watched like her pain didn’t matter. This was a heist—a people heist—and there were two things left to accomplish. Up to Platform 5 for the ship we were stealing. Out on Bridgebane’s RI-280. We had this. And we had the women we’d come for.
A lift opened. Mwende and I stepped inside with all the prisoners. I jerked my chin toward a Dark Watch soldier. “You’re with us. There’s no room for the rest of you. Take the next one and meet us on the platform.” I didn’t want us separated at this point. I’d go crazy if I didn’t have eyes on everyone.
The goon followed, keeping a hard eye on Merrick and his hand on his Grayhawk. Flash blasts lined his belt. Nasty little fuckers. The other soldiers stood aside and waited. The doors closed. I pressed the level we needed, and the box started upward.
I squeezed Shiori’s arm as we rose in the elevator, a light reassurance that we were on our way now. She shook less and stood taller. My other hand still held my gun at the ready. We’d have to cross a sea of goons on the platform, and I needed to act exactly like Bridgebane. This was a day like any other. I was taking rebel prisoners to my galactic death ship. No problem.
I braced for the walk across the platform. We’d almost reached our exit.
Instead of slowing down, we blew past the floor I’d selected.
I glanced at Tess, sudden unease corroding my stomach like battery acid. The tiny confused shake of her head inflated my worry to nuclear proportions.
I reached out and hit the correct button again. Nothing changed. If anything, we moved faster. Something else controlled the lift—orsomeone. We passed the middle tier and hit the upper section.
The Dark Watch goon shifted nervously. “I don’t think I’m supposed to be up here, General.”
He shrank under my withering glare. No need to channel Bridgebane for that one.
We’d almost reached the top of the spacedock. “Lieutenant?”What the hell is happening?
The look on Mwende’s face was chilling, a mix of disappointment, rage, and disgust. She snapped her wrists and knives landed in both hands. She lowered her chin. Her eyes flicked up, and she growled low in her throat. I had my answer.
I pushed Shiori behind me toward Jax and Tess in the corner. The lift stopped, the doors opened, and I stared at the man who was now my very personal enemy.
The Overseer stared back, a dozen guards around him all bristling with weapons. The goons were all Merrick-sized. Our only way forward was through a unit of super soldiers.
“Nathaniel.” The Overseer canted his head to one side in question. “What are you doing with my prisoners?”
Chapter 20
TESS
No.No!This wasn’t happening. Not after everything we’d done.
The Overseer wore that smile I hated. Small but gleeful—the one displayed by every fairy-tale villain right before he burned a village to the ground.
Simon Novalight beckoned us out of the lift, and we had no choice but to enter his spacious command center at the apex of Starbase 12. There was no moreupfrom here, and down didn’t really matter when the Overseer controlled the elevator.
“I just heard about a possible rebel infiltration here. I’m bringing these prisoners toDark Watch 12for further questioning,” Shade answered. He knew the man he was impersonating. The intonation, pitch, stiffness—he almost sounded like Bridgebane.Almost.
“Dark Watch 12?” The Overseer’s hard stare bore into Shade, as if trying to peel back the layers of his mask. Behind him, the huge window panels offered an unparalleled view of Alpha Sambian, clouds floating over oceans, green continents, and mountains. “I wasn’t aware that either you or your ship were anywhere near here. Or that rebels were running amok on my starbase.”
Shade didn’t miss a beat. “We only just received the intel. I was about to contact you to verify it. I wanted to lock this lot up somewhere safe in the meantime. I failed to properly deal with Quintessa the last time we met. It’s time to rectify that.”
The Overseer studied Shade, expressionless. “Is it?”
Shade nodded, a quick military-efficient dip of his chin that fit perfectly with Bridgebane’s head.
“And you needed an old blind woman and Reena Ahern for that?” The Overseer didn’t even glance at the women he spoke of. He looked my way briefly, his suspicious gaze like a reptile slithering over my body. It was Merrick he focused on.
Sanaa saw his focus, too, and instantly put a knife to Merrick’s throat. I worried, though… Was this ruse already up? Handcuffs wouldn’t hold a super soldier. Neither would a knife.
“They’re leverage,” Shade said with the same dead flatness Bridgebane used when he spoke.
