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Chapter 11
Karn looked down atan unconscious Marcus. He hadn’t meant to punch him that hard. When Marcus had suggested they toss a coin to decide who won Ivy, Karn saw red. The next thing he knew, Marcus was on the ground and blood seeped from his swollen nose.
He bent down and checked the pulse on the side of Marcus’s neck. He had one; that was good enough.
He stepped away and flexed his fingers a few times. Karn was half-tempted to hit Marcus again and finish the job. This guy was a Grade A sleaze. He had zero respect for Ivy and did not deserve her.
Karn could imagine, when Marcus woke up, he’d go running to Ivy and tell him how the big bad alien hurt him, that he’d punched him for no reason. Karn hoped Ivy had more sense than to believe that. She would see through Marcus’s lies, wouldn’t she?
He groaned as he heard the cell door unlock again. He had no time to arrange Marcus to make it appear he was sleeping. Instead, he stood in front of the door, blocking the guard’s view.
When the door slid back, it was a human guard standing outside. Karn gave him his most charming smile. “Have you come to release me?”
The guard nodded. “Someone is very interested in your case. You’ve been jumped to the front of the queue.”
Karn tilted his head. Who would want him out of the cells so quickly? Could it be Ivy? She’d put in a good word for him? Maybe she’d dropped the charges and realized she’d made a mistake.
“Who’s looking out for me?”
A trace of a smirk passed across the guard’s lips. “Have you ever heard of Diadora Hardwick?”
That named sounded familiar. “Isn’t she something to do with My Single Alien?”
“She’s the head honcho. She pulls the strings when it comes to that place. The Council of Representatives always listen when she talks. Diadora has a lot of influence around here. You don’t get to cross her.”
Suddenly, Karn didn’t feel so great. “She’s the one pushing me to the front of the queue? Is she planning on letting me off with a warning?”
The guard laughed. “Not a chance. She wants you off the station and sentenced to time in the Tenkcet mining prison.”
Cold sweat trickled down Karn’s neck. “She can’t be serious. I’m not a criminal. I can’t do hard labor in some toxic dump.”
“That’s not my decision, my friend. I simply process the orders and send the criminals where they’re supposed to go.”
“Let me speak to somebody else. Who’s in charge? I’ll make them see sense.”
“Diadora has spoken to the boss. He agrees with her. You’re out of here as soon as the next prisoner transport passes by.”
“I’m an intelligence gatherer. I can be useful. Maybe there’s something you need?” Karn looked the guard over. He was young and wore a hand-me-down uniform that was in need of a press.
“If there was, I wouldn’t ask you for it. You’ve got a lousy reputation around here.”
Karn pulled himself upright. “My reputation is impeccable.”
The guard shrugged. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”
“How about letting me off with a warning? I’m sure a guy in your position can help me out.”
“You’re suggesting I let you escape?”
“No, I can get lost in processing. I’m sure it happens. No one will even notice I’ve gone.”
“Sorry, pal. If you’d ever met Diadora, you’d know I’d be a moron to help you. She’d string me up outside the station and take pot shots at me with a laser as punishment.”
“My intentions were not of a criminal nature. I got into this mess because of a woman. You know what they’re like. They make you prove yourself.”
The guard’s eyebrows rose. “You’re in a cell because you did something for a girl?”
Karn detected a note of interest in the guard’s voice. “This is all for the love of a good woman. She’s the most incredible creature I have ever seen. She’s strong, beautiful, and brave.”
