Another melodic laugh that sounded sarcastic somehow. “Do you know why I was attempting to apprehend Xelthar Zarnoth on Earth?”
“Of course not.”
“The Brakians are a very physical species. Combined with their tendency to be unemotional, they are active in combat sports around the known universe. Xelthar Zarnoth has been—what is the English word?—rigging fights on multiple planets.”
“Ohh. Yeah, that’s not good.”
“No, it is not. Especially when you cost Vadhea a significant amount of currency.”
“You weren’t going to kill him, like he claimed?” I asked, a flush of embarrassment warming my neck.
A pregnant pause.
“You weren’t, right?” I lifted an eyebrow at his reticence.
“It is not for me to predict what Vadhea will do to punish someone.”
I belly laughed. “That’s rich. He was right.Someonewas probably going to kill him.”
“I am an enforcer for the Syndicate.”
What the fuck did that even mean? Though I had watched enough television and movies to feel familiar with Earth’s mafias. I got the gist. Syndicate wasn’tlaw. It wasn’tjustice. It was power wrapped in structure, violence with paperwork. On Earth, organizations like that didn’t ask questions unless the answers benefited them. “That’s … not comforting.” My mouth felt dry. “Now I understand why you were suspicious of me.”
“Then you helped him escape.”
I sighed. “We’re back on that? I explained that the intimate embrace you saw was an unwanted advance, and I freed him from his shackles because he said he’d return me home.” My voice rose to a shout by the last word.
“That does not explain why you tripped me.”
“Tripped…” I repeated, before remembering he’d accused me of that before. “That was just a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“Yes. I was trying to help you?—”
“You were?”
“Yes,” I snapped. “By then, I knew he had lied about taking me to Earth.”
“Go on.”
“When I realized you were trying to trip him, I attempted to put myself behind him so my body could act as a fulcrum and he’d fall over me.” I shrugged. “Except while I was moving, you guys were too. And I tripped you instead. I’m sorry,” I said, my apology woefully inadequate given the outcome. I placed my hand on his arm. His eyes dropped to it, and I snatched my hand back.
“I understand your story.”
“Story?” I debated whether to push that point. “Regardless,” I said, choosing to refocus on what was more important. Rescue. “We need to convince whoever is coming to get him to take us with them.”
Cair shook his head, iridescent hair and skin catching the lilac light. “There is no need.”
“No?”
“I was able to send my own message to the Syndicate from the brig before going to the bridge.” He tilted his head, yellow eyes narrowing. “Did you truly think it took me that long to recover from your assault?”
“Well.” I stopped, uncertain what to say. A frisson of fear sent wavelike tingling across my skin. “What happens to me when the Syndicate arrives?”
“That will depend on what I tell them.”
“I just explained how everything was a misunderstanding or mistake,” I said with false bravado.
