What is that?The pressure of her lips on his intensified.Don’t care.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Francine broke the kiss to glance down at where they were connected at the waist. “Is that your phone or mine?”
“Phone?” he asked, unsure of the term and puzzled as to why they weren’t kissing.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
“That’s yours. Mine plays music.”
“Music?” He was reeling from the kiss. Then it hit him like a meteor. His communication device was making noise. Not very many people had the ability to contact him. Those who knew how only did so if it was important.
Raphael pulled one arm from her back to put his hand on the vibrating device. He pushed a button to open it, put it to his ear and said fairly wrathfully, “What!”
“Something unexpected has happened. We need to have a conversation.”
He recognized the voice instantly. Victor. Raphael had hoped Edgar was lying about the bounty. Did Victor know about it?
“Where are you?” Raphael asked.
There was a long pause. “Do you remember where I told you I’d never be caught dead?”
The Ossuary Valerian Space Station. The name translated loosely to dead room sleep space station. Halfway from Ichor-Delta to the next populated planet in another galaxy on the far side of Alpha-Prime. It wasn’t truly a space station in the traditional sense, but rather an ancient asteroid complete with ginormous engines and an imitation atmosphere, parading itself as a small planet.
“Yes, I remember. However, I’m not on Ichor-Delta.”
“Where are you?”
“Too far away. Also, a bounty has been issued. Had you heard?”
“Yes. That’s why we need to have a conversation.”
“I’m not certain I can help you.”
“You’re the only one who can. The only one who will maybe disregard the bounty out there in the short term and help me prove my innocence before I’m swept up.”
Any bounty on Victor Campion would be, literally, a king’s ransom. He was heir to his family’s throne on Ichor-Delta. Well, perhaps not anymore.
Raphael had been the second son and his family had easily cast away long ago. And that still wasn’t as toxic as having a bounty put out across the galaxy.
“How long will you be at your current location?”
“Only as long as I remain safely hidden here. Which is likely not very long with a rich bounty on my head.”
Raphael didn’t dare book a flight directly to the Ossuary Valerian Space Station. Edgar was not the best bounty hunter, but even his limited skills would lead him to follow any unexpected trip on Raphael’s part. A sudden plan to help Victor dropped into his brain. He’d been thinking about offering to help Francine go to her sister’s wedding by posing as her fiancé. Perhaps they could continue that ploy after the wedding.
“Hold on for a moment,” Raphael said, and turned his gaze to Francine. Her lips were moist and swollen from their kiss. “When is your sister’s wedding on Ichor-Delta?”
“It’s a week from today. Why?”
Raphael kept his gaze on Francine, but said into his communication device, “I’ll be headed to Ichor-Delta in one week for a wedding. If you can meet me there in our usual spot, fine. If not, I’ll head to the place you wouldn’t ever be caught dead directly afterward. Will that suit?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I don’t know if I can help you.”
“Just knowing you aren’t gunning for me earns my eternal gratitude.”
