For once he had killed someone for his own reasons, and he felt wholly justified. Moreover, he relished every scream and every rivulet of blood flowing down their bodies as he cut them. He saw nothing redeemable in men who would do that to a female.
Jolt was holding her hand and staring at her face with she finally blinked her eyes opened and flicked them back and forth trying to make sense of her surroundings. Finally, her gaze settled on his face and she looked into his midnight blue eyes.
Startled, she tried to pull her hand from his.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe here---you’re going to be all right,” he said softly. “Can you tell me your name?”
“Iris Bloom. Who are you? Where am I?”
“I am Jolt Somber,” he said, holding her gaze. “You’re in our Med-bay. Do you remember what happened?”
“Gangers chased me and attacked me. I remember getting hit, but that’s all,” she said and sighed. “They raped me too---didn’t they?”
Jolt hesitated, wishing he could lie and deny it, then he nodded grimly.
Iris gripped his hand and groaned. “I don’t remember it. I just remember getting hit, then I woke up and couldn’t get up… You were there.”
“Yes, we were getting people out of the ruins so we can take them down. We’re building a new starport here.”
“Then, where will we live?”
“We?”
“People like me. It’s the only place we’ve ever known.” As Iris looked up at him, she saw the tiny piece of tech attached to his right temple. “You’re a cyborg!”
“Yes.”
“You picked me up and brought me here,” she realized.
“Yes. You have nothing to fear from me. I will take care of you and keep you safe,” he said softly.
“You want me,” she realized.
“Yes,” he admitted. “But, it’s more than that. You are my genetic complement---my female---my mate. Don’t worry about that now, sweetheart. After what you have been through, I don’t expect you to want to think about mating.”
“You still want me after what they did to me?”
“I made them pay for what they did. They’re dead,” he said with quiet vehemence. “You were a victim. All traces of them were removed from you when you were healed.”
“What if I’m pregnant?” she murmured.
“You are not. The medic checked.”
Iris sighed in relief. “Thank the stars.”
She started to sit up and realized she was naked under the sheet. Her mouth dropped open, and she held the sheet up to cover her breasts.
“You were naked when I found you. Your clothes were in pieces. I’ve requested some to be sent from our ship’s stores. They should be here soon.” He looked at her, she thought, kindly.
Jolt was so handsome with his dark brown hair and midnight blue eyes, square jaw, and firm full lips. Even though she was still stunned by the vicious assault on her, she couldn’t help thinking it would be nice to be wrapped in those muscular arms.
She figured the rapes happened while she was unconscious, and she would just as soon not remember. It wasn’t the first time she’d been raped. At least that time she didn’t get hurt---not that it was pleasant. He just took what he wanted and left her. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right, but it happened with regularity to women who didn’t have a family or male protector.
Iris had known they were trouble as soon as she noticed them. She was looking for a place to hide from the explosions, but she ran as soon as she saw them. They were faster. She only struggled to get away when they caught her, kicked one of them in the crotch with her bare feet. That’s when they all started beating her. The beginning of the beating was all she remembered.
Iris was glad the cyborg had killed them, the cowards. It took four big men to give an averaged sized woman a beating. They deserved it. She almost wished she could have seen it. Then again, maybe not. Cyborgs were made to be ruthless killers.
He would not have killed them quickly.The bastards had no right!
