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“I did what you wanted.”

“It wasn’t good enough. We want compensation,” Coven said.

Karn eased his hand inside his jacket pocket and frowned. His laser was still with the guards. He dropped his hand. “I can’t pay you back. I did that job for free, remember?”

“We don’t want payment. We want you to sort out this mess,” Til said.

“How do you expect me to do that?”

“Get back into the database and fix things.”

“That’s not possible. The staff at My Single Alien know what happened. They detected the changes in the files. It would have happened, even if I hadn’t been caught.”

“You don’t know that. We want it fixed. We want our matches.”

“I can’t help you.”

“You need to get someone from inside My Single Alien to deal with this. Don’t you hang out with that uptight female who is always taking pictures of aliens?”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” There was no way Karn would ask Ivy for help. She’d slice his dick off and use it as a scarf if he tried to get back in that office.

“However you do it, fix it. You’ve got a day to sort out this mess,” Til said.

“Or what?” Karn asked. “Security already knows I’m involved. There’s nothing else you can do to me.”

Coven leaned over the table. “We can make you take a spacewalk. I doubt you’d enjoy it much if you weren’t wearing a suit.”

Billy stood from his seat and glared at the Dackins. “Karn’s already said he’s done what he can. Back off.”

“Stay out of this, kid,” Karn cautioned. “This isn’t your fight.”

Coven smirked at Billy. “Is this your right-hand man? Oh, my mistake, he’s only got a left hand.”

“He is not a part of this,” Karn said.

“I am.” Billy jabbed a finger at Coven. “You don’t go badmouthing my friend.”

“What are you going to do about it?” Til said. “I doubt you’re much use in a fight.”

“I’ll fight you.”

“Billy, sit down,” Karn ordered.

“Yes, little boy. You’re not ready to play with us.” Coven laughed and nudged Til.

Billy lunged at Coven.

Coven gave a startled gasp as Billy’s head connected with his stomach. They landed in a heap on the floor of the bar.

Karn grabbed hold of Billy and pulled him off the ground. He was not quick enough to stop Coven from slamming his fist into Billy’s face and splitting his lip open.

“I’ll kill you, you little brat,” Coven spat.

“Enough. We’re not fighting over this.” Karn shook Billy roughly by the shoulder. “Understood?”

Billy scowled at him as he nodded. “He was disrespectful.”

“If this is the best ally you’ve got, you’re in trouble.” Coven glared at Karn as he jumped off the floor. “You’re over. If you don’t fix this, we’re going to fix you permanently. You owe us for this, and you still owe us that money.”

Karn checked Billy was okay before turning to the Dackins. “I’m sorting this out. You’ll get what’s coming to you.”

Til glared at him. “Make sure you do. You’ve got twenty-four hours. If it’s not sorted, we’re coming for you and your one-armed friend.”

Til and Coven marched out of the bar.

Karn turned to Billy; his eyes flashed red with fury. “What were you thinking?”

“I was helping you.” Billy touched his split lip. “They were acting like they were better than you.”

“It’s nothing I haven’t heard before. You don’t go fighting other people’s battles. As you’ve just found out, it ends badly. Here’s your lesson of the day: always look after yourself first. Keep yourself safe. Don’t go being the hero. It will only get you killed.”

Billy frowned. “I thought it was cool to be the hero? Don’t the girls love that?”

“They might, but if you’re dead, you won’t know about it.”

“I’ll always stick up for you,” Billy said. “Those idiots were out of line. They can’t order you around like that.”

Karn sighed and ran a hand through his hair. That was the thing; they sort of could. He’d gotten in over his head. He owed them too much money and had messed up their assignment. “Come on, let’s forget this dumb station. It’s time for us to go.”