Khiva nodded. It was risky, but Eve could believe that Port Control wouldn’t be able to regulate all trader vessels. It was passenger vessels that they turned their attention to.
Then he said, “Before we go, there is something I need to do first.”
Eve took in a deep breath, already knowing what it was.
She nodded. “Let me go with you.”
“Veki. It is safer if you remain here. I can ask Valerie to sneak me inside without Madame Allegria knowing. She might even be off colony. She tended to leave after our punishments.”
“Khiva,” she said, determination coloring her tone. “I’m going with you.”
“Leeldra…”
“You know I’ll be stubborn about this,” she warned.
He inhaled a deep breath. “Pax. Alright. I can imagine you following me if I do not let you come.”
She smiled, pleased with her victory, and he shook his head in amazement.
“Already I glimpse our future,” he murmured.
She snuggled more deeply into him, careful of his back. And after she gave him the sweetest kiss, she whispered, “It’s better if you get used to it sooner rather than later.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“It looks different in the daylight,” Evelyn noted softly, next to him, as they walked quickly through the alleyway leading to the front entrance of the brothel. But before they reached the courtyard, where he knew Madame Allegria had video feeds installed, he turned them down another alley, along the side of the building.
There was another door, which was always locked from the outside. But Khiva knocked a couple times, hoping that Valerie would be near enough to hear it.
A moment later, he heard the lock unlatch from the other side. Valerie appeared on the threshold and her lips parted when she saw them standing there.
“Is she here?” Khiva asked her.
“No,” Valerie said. “I don’t know if she’s even realized you’re gone.”
“How can that be?” Khiva asked, furrowing his brow and Valerie let them step inside.
“I told her your wounds were bad, that you needed time to recover. She didn’t even blink when I told her I had to cancel your client last night.”
“She is still on Everton?” he asked lowly, exchanging a glance with Evelyn.
“Yes. But she has a charity function on Genesis in two days. She will be gone soon.”
“A charity function,” Evelyn whispered in disbelief. “Sheisa monster. A monster in a mask.”
A grim silence spread over them before Khiva asked, “Are the others back in the Cluster?”
“Yes,” Valerie said.
Khiva turned to Evelyn, “Will you stay here,leeldra? I will not be long. I need to speak them. Alone.”
She nodded, glancing at Valerie. “Yes, of course.”
Khiva reached out to touch her hand and then he left the side room. He exited out to the first floor, where the client entrance was, before taking the elevator up to the top, back to where he’d spent a lot of his time for the past ten years.
Dravka was in the Cluster common room when he stepped inside, as was Tavak. Ravu’s door was closed.
“Vauk,” Dravka exclaimed when he saw him enter. “Khiva.”
