Jax snorted, turning to Shade. “Do you?”
“My opinion’s not good enough for you anymore, Jax?” I jumped in before Shade could answer.
“Your judgment is clouded,” Jax shot back, rounding on me again. “You want your family back so badly, you’ll believe anything.”
“I don’t want my old family back, Jax. You’re the one who wants his family back so badly that you can’t see you’ve already got one!”
Brick by brick, his expression walled up and stoned over.Shit. I rubbed my forehead.
“We’ll do it together, okay? All of us,” I offered.
Sanaa looked dubious. “I’m not sure you’ll want that.” She gave me a significant look I had no idea how to interpret.
“You’re not helping,” I ground out.
She shrugged. “Your choice, Daraja.”
“What does that even mean?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“Bridge,” she answered, not expanding on it.
Well, that clears things right up.I shoved my hair back in frustration.
Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. Bonk emerged from inside theEndeavor, sashaying right through the tension by delicately picking his way across the grated metal flooring of the starboard air lock. I let out a noise that might have been a squeal and leaped over to the entrance, a huge smile on my face and my heartbeat notching up a level. His small black-and-gray-striped body rippled with each step he took toward the open doorway. Joy twisted in my chest, and I felt all wrung out with happiness. “Hey, kitty.”
He stopped and sat halfway between the two open doors. His tail curled around him.
I called to him, grinning, my arms outstretched. I couldn’t quite reach him. “Come on, Bonk. Come closer.”
His chin lifted, showing off the white fluff on the underside of his neck. Greenish-yellow eyes stared at me, unblinking.
“What’s wrong with him?” I felt dangerously close to bursting into tears, which was insane. I’d been elated two seconds ago. “Has he forgotten me?”
“In three days?” Shade shook his head. “Unlikely. But hell hath no fury like a feline abandoned.”
Bonk looked down his whiskers at me. “I didn’t abandon you,” I told him.
“He’ll realize that soon.” Shade came over but didn’t try to pat Bonk like I had. “He’s expressing his ire. By tonight, he’ll be sprawled across your pillow, purring his little heart out.”
“His ire?” How did Shade know so much about cats?
“He’s pissed off because he didn’t know where you were. He’ll get over it. Cat grudges don’t last long.”
“How do you know that?”
“My family had a pair of cats. Halley and Comet. I grew up with them.”
“Halley and Comet?” I couldn’t help smiling. I lowered my hands from the open doorway. As much as I wanted to cuddle Bonk and feel his little engine rev up with purring, my temperamental tabby could get over his kitty tantrum while I dealt with Sanaa Mwende.
I turned back to the lieutenant, sighing. “You do realize that I’m going to have to confine you for the next four days, right? Don’t take it personally. It’s just a precaution.”
Sanaa cocked her head to one side. It was her only reaction.
“We have a room for you,” I said. “You’ll have everything you need. Food, clothing, etcetera. Then you’ll be free to go after you bring us to wherever that key card my uncle gave you opens.”
“I decline captivity. Thank you.” Sanaa smiled curtly, as if a little forced politeness ended the discussion.
I grimaced. She wasn’t getting it. “I’m not giving you the choice. We have plans to make, and prying eyes and ears can’t be around for those conversations.”
