Talon nodded. “It’s why Jessica was worried when she heard Jenny asking after him. She was afraid that Jenny may be betraying us or that she could possibly betray us if she finds him.”
Marik leaned against the small railing that ran around the roof. His hands wrapped around the cold steel and he leaned into the wind a little bit. His thoughts were chaotic. He couldn’t seem to focus, and he knew that part of that was due to his exhaustion and the other part was due to his concern for Jenny.
Talon said, “I know you feel for her Marik.”
Marik turned to him. “It would not matter what I felt for her as her heart seems to be taken already by him. Is there any way at all that we can prove or disprove that he is the leader of the Rovers, or even just part of them?”
Talon’s grin was humorless. “Yes, we can engage the Rovers in battle. Even if he’s not among them, maybe if we captured one we could find out for sure from whichever one we captured if he is or not.”
Marik spoke slowly. “You are talking about torture.”
“I am talking about interrogation. I don’t torture.”
Marik shook his head. “If he is, then what?”
Talon said, “If he is you will have to put her back on that ship and take her home. You will not be able to tell her what he is. You damn sure have to make sure that he never knows about her as long as she is here on the planet’s surface. Once she’s on the ship and headed home, there’s no risk to us from her.”
Would Jenny betray them for her lover? Did she love him so very much that she would be willing to give him information if he asked for it? Jenny didn’t know much, true enough, but what she did know was valuable.
Marik’s hands balled into fists. “I should have never brought her here.”
Talon said, “You had no way of knowing. If we had known when we first went back to our planet and you put her name in the hat as a healer to come here to Old Earth, then I would’ve told you then, and I damn sure would’ve kept her off my ship.”
Marik knew that the heat and Talon’s voice was due to his being concerned and angry.
“I only just discovered it as well. If I had known that she had someone here that she had been engaged to, I would’ve told you.”
Talon said, “You would’ve had no reason to tell us unless you knew who she was engaged to. And to have known who she was engaged to you would’ve had to have known that he may or may not be a Rover and may or may not be a Rover leader.”
Marik said, “Don’t do that to me. I know damn well that if you did not believe that information was correct and true, you never would’ve spoken up about it.”
Talon’s broad shoulders slumped. “You’re right. I really didn’t want to tell you this now, to be honest. I know how much you feel for her. I also know that she’s probably innocent, but I have to tell you, Marik, if she is captured, things will be bad for all of us. If I have to, if it comes down to the Rovers attacking us and then trying to take her…”
Marik’s hand shot out. His fingers closed tightly around Talon’s bicep. His voice grated along his next words. “Do not even say it.”
Talon said, “I have to say it. You are my brother, and I love you dearly. I know how you feel for her. She probably does not know because you, well, you have always been the silent one. You have always felt more deeply than the rest of us, and you’ve never voiced your feelings. You just hold them all in. I understand how you feel though, because I feel the same way for Jessica. But if it were Jessica in the same situation, I would draw down fire on her too.”
Marik hissed in a breath. “How could you even say that?”
Talon said, “Jessica would understand the reason.”
Marik’s ire spiked upward. “She is no Jessica.”
Talon’s laugh was rueful. “There’s only one Jessica. I don’t know whether to be glad of that or sad over it. She is one hell of a woman, but I am very grateful that she has decided to love me instead of making me her enemy. I don’t even want to think about what may happen if I was her enemy.”
Marik couldn’t blame him for that. Jessica was a killer. He said, “Maybe I should just put her back on the ship. Maybe I should tell her that this is too much for her. Maybe I could convince her to go now.”
Even as he spoke the words, he knew there was no way she was going to get back on that ship until she found her bridegroom–to–be. She had been dragged away from him in a horrible and terrible way, and it was obvious that she had never thought she would get back, but now that she had she was determined to find him.
Talon said, “There is one other thing we could do, but you’re not going to like it.
His shoulders went stiff, “What might that be?”
Talon said, “We could use her for bait.”
Marik snarled, “Over my dead body.”
Talon said, “I was pretty sure that was how you would feel about it.”
Marik looked over the ruined city. None of this was right or fair. Jenny had no idea what had become of the man that she was supposed to have married. There was no way she could have known any of that as there was no way for her to be in touch with those she had left behind.
He said, “I will never agree to allow you to use her for bait.
Talon said, “I was pretty sure you’d say that.”
“We should get some sleep.” Marik yawned.
Talon nodded. They started off back down the stairs that led to the room where they had all slept. Marik’s eyes went back to Jenny. In sleep, she looked even smaller and even younger. A fierce wave of protectiveness hit him and stayed. No matter what, he would not allow her to be used for bait, and neither would he allow her to be taken by the Rovers simply so they could get information from her. Not even if it meant breaking her heart over the man that she loved. Not even if it meant that she would hate him forever.
The truth of the matter was that if she ever discovered the truth of that implant, and she would, it was all just a matter of time; she was likely not to be too happy with them anyway.
