“And you’re like any CORE person I’ve ever met. You think you’re important, don’t you?”
Did he know who she was? Was that what he meant? More panic infused her limbs.
When he stepped toward the railing, no longer blocking her exit, the tension in her body eased. But it only increased again when he circled around her. The opening to the corridor was in sight, but he was close enough to grab her if she made a break for it.
Nia swallowed around the growing dryness in her throat. “It’s a beautiful station,” she said, her voice cracking.
“It is, isn’t it.”
He stopped in front of her and glanced at her wrists. She followed his gaze, and a sharp breath escaped her. The light on the side was flickering instead of being a solid blue.
“It’s interference from the engine core,” he said and her eyes snapped to his. “Gives a bit of privacy, doesn’t it?” His lips quirked. “Sometimes captives come here to commit suicide and all that’s left of them is charred bonds at the bottom of the chute.”
“How do you know it’s suicide?”
He grinned fully then. “Some think it would be better if you disappeared.”
Her insides turned to liquid. When she stepped to the side to move around him, he blocked her path. Clenching her jaw, she fisted her hands and prepared to defend herself.
Mace knew the tyros stared at him from the corner of their eyes. He knew Grey’s held questions. But he ignored all of it in favor of pretending he hadn’t carried his ward out of here kicking and screaming an hour ago, then returned with his pants soaking wet and scratches all over his body. He’d put on a new uniform as quickly as possible.
The messed-up thing was what they all thought had happened,hadhappened. Only, no one knew she’d practically ordered him to fuck her.
If he declared to everyone around she’d asked for it, how would that sound?
The old laws were so twisted. Despite the speculation shot his way, no one would do a blasted thing for her. The only people who would listen to complaints were the processors, and Mace could pay them to look the other way.
Nia was right to condescend.
He wiped a hand over his face and glanced at his vambrace for the tenth time since returning. Her tracker showed movement as she headed away from his quarters. Some of the tension in his body relaxed. If she was on the move, then she was doing okay. She wouldn’t mope alone for the remainder of her time off.
Though, Dee had been clear a couple weeks ago not to call it moping.
As Mace watched the tyros grapple in pairs, using the new skills they’d learned, Grey stopped beside him with his arms crossed and sent him a look.
“What?” Mace spat, knowing whatever his friend wanted to say, it wouldn’t be good.
“I’m thinking you’re not setting a good example for the youngsters.” His eyes lingered on the exposed scratches at Mace’s throat.
“For fuck’s sake, Grey, I didn’t hurt her.”
His friend raised an eyebrow, expression skeptical.
“You can ask her yourself,” Mace went on. “I’m sure she’d love that. You can find her in—” He stopped speaking when he’d glanced at his vambrace again.
The connection to her bonds had been severed. He didn’t have a location tag.
Panic made him run towards the stairs. He touched his vambrace to send Dee a communique and slid the comm device from his vambrace to his ear. He took the steps three at a time and was almost to the exit when she responded.
“What do you mean, ‘Where is Nia?’ You were the one who carried her away kicking and screaming.”
His trepidation grew as he stepped out onto the fifth level of the atrium. “I left her in my quarters. She’s not there anymore, and her tag stopped working. I was hoping you were with her.”
“No. I’m in my shop.” There was a rustling of movement before she asked, “What did you do to her?”
Over the railing, he scanned below hoping to spot her. “I didn’t—” He stopped speaking because his protest would have been a lie. He’d fucked her and left her alone.
He ran a shaky hand over his face. “Where would she go?”
