And still the irritating beast ignored her as he activated the link. “Put me on with The League MCO.”
She gaped even wider as he demanded to speak to the mission’s commanding officer. Was he out of his Kirovarian mind?This cannot be good.Bastien and commanding officers didn’t mix. And she said that as one of his former commanding officers.
A bad feeling went through her. And Rian must have felt it too, because he came to stand beside her so that he could whisper, “What’s he doing, Ma?”
“No idea. Now you see why I tell you not to act like your father?”
Rian ignored her.
Just like Bastien.
When the MCO picked up, Bastien didn’t flinch or show any emotion whatsoever. “Hello, Dumbass… back your troops off this station. I’m coming out and turning myself in. But onlyifyou withdraw.”
“No!” she gasped before she could stop herself. Surely he wasn’t planning to commit suicide.
But to protect them, he might. Bastien had a fanatical need to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. And with a son to protect, his suicidal level would be ratcheted up even more.
Bastien turned on the mute and glared at her. “Do you mind not interfering with my noble act of extreme stupidity, Major? Please?” Then he turned the mute off so that he could continue his conversation with The League. “Yeah, I’m on my way as soon as you pull back. I’ll be in my fighter. You can’t miss it. Sentella ship. Has The League flag with a big X going through it on a black field. Will need clearance to land it, though.”
Holding on to Rian, she ground her teeth, wanting to thrash Bastien. If he thought for one minute that she was going to allow him to do this, he was even more delusional than normal! Which was saying something.
And still Bastien ignored her as he made plans to die.
Her sisters were all gaping, too. But they didn’t speak until he had the coordinates and cut the link.
He blinked innocently at all of them while Ember made a sound of supreme disgust in the back of her throat. “What are you thinking, Bas?”
With a devilish wink, he headed straight for his fighter. “Not thinking at all. According to you and my father, I never do.”
“Bas! I’m not letting you do this!”
He gave her a coy glance. “Does this mean I’m forgiven?”
“No, it means you’re an idiot!”
He tsked at her vim. “You know, that’s what I missed most all the years we were apart. Your unfailing support and sweet-talk. It humbles me.”
“Don’t be an ass.”
“See! That’s what I’m talking about. No one else could ever insult me the way you do. And I still have one testicle left you haven’t kicked.”
“Mom?”
Only then did Bastien take pity on them. “Don’t worry, champ. I’ve got this.” Without a word, he jogged to the fighter and shot up the ladder, but instead of getting inside it to launch, he opened the engine bay.
Following after him, Ember frowned as she watched him work on who knew what. Though as she saw him scrambling about she began to have some idea of what he intended.
Yet there was one major problem.…
“You know, they’ll scan for life forms. If you send it up on autopilot, they’ll detonate it before it can cause harm.”
“That would be true in most cases.”
“Meaning?”
“That I’ve had years and years alone to hone my skills and plot my revenge. They’ve no idea what they’re dealing with. But I’m about to set them up for some hostile lessons.”
Brand scratched at her ear as she watched him working. “You think he can do it?”
