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“No, she’s absolutely not.”

“She’ll see it as being just that. She’s being taken off the mission. Daisy will think she’s failed and blame herself.”

“I figured as much. Which is why I need you with me when I tell her. Daisy can’t be alone right now. You’re close to her. She’ll need your support during this difficult time. Help her work through this. We need her to know we’re on her side.”

Rexx felt shattered on Daisy’s behalf. This would destroy her. She lived for her work in the field. “I’ll be there. Whatever she needs.”

Cleo nodded and patted his arm. “Let’s not keep her waiting. It’s time to break the bad news.”

This was shitty news, but they’d get through it. No matter what Rexx had to do, and no matter how long it took, he’d be there for her.

Chapter 7

A huge yawn consumed Daisy, and she scowled at the ceiling. Angel had given her a light sedative to keep her chilled. Light sedative her butt. She’d been zonked out for hours.

She didn’t want to be sedated. She wanted to get out and get on another mission. Or better yet, blow this whole place off and leave. How could she trust anyone on board the ship after they’d done this to her?

And that wasn’t the only thing pissing her off. It was the way everyone was being so careful around her and not answering her questions. She must have asked Angel a dozen different ways when she was taking out the implant, but she never got the response she wanted.

Daisy chewed on the inside of her mouth as her thoughts lingered on what happened on that Gente ship. That was the reason everyone was treating her like she was a freak.

Maybe she hadn’t been completely truthful, but she didn’t remember them implanting her with anything. There had been a few moments when she’d been unconscious, though. One of the Gente guards had slammed his fist into the side of her head so hard that she’d seen stars, and everything had gone black. That must have been when they’d done it.

But why give her an implant? Was it a tracking device? What was the point of tracking her? To raid their cargo? Try to get the women so they could impregnate them?

That wasn’t important. It didn’t matter. As soon as Daisy got free, she’d cut the damn thing out herself. Everyone was being way too cautious. This had to come to an end.

She shoved aside the fear that bubbled inside her. She had nothing to be scared about. When they realized their mistake, it would be too late. She was getting out of here. She didn’t care what anyone said, not even Rexx. She felt most betrayed by his cowardice.

Her eyebrows rose as Cleo, Rexx, and Angel entered the room. They looked like a solemn group. “I get no visitors for hours, then you come for a party. Where’s the cake and champagne?”

Cleo’s smile was tight, Angel wouldn’t meet her gaze, and Rexx looked angry, as usual. This wasn’t going to be fun.

“Okay, so no one’s in a joking mood,” Daisy said. “Give me the bad news. How long have I got left to live?”

Rexx growled and approached the bed. “Don’t ever joke about that.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you had a humor bypass.”

His expression tightened. “I don’t see anything to laugh about in this messed up situation.”

Cleo and Angel joined him. Cleo stood by the end of the bed, while Angel moved to stand by Daisy’s shoulder.

Angel looked at Cleo, who nodded at her. “Daisy, I’ve run all the tests I can think of on the implant in your neck. I’m certain it’s not Gente tech inside you.”

The news sucked the sharp smile from Daisy’s face. “Even though I don’t remember, that must have been when it happened. No one else has been messing with me. I want you to get this out of me.”

“I can’t take it out,” Angel said. “I’ve never handled this kind of implant before.”

“Let me out of here, and I’ll go find someone who can help me,” Daisy said.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Rexx said. “This is your home. We’re your team.”

“It doesn’t feel like it. It don’t feel like you’re on my side. None of you. And you’re hiding things. What’s taking so long? Why is this thing so difficult to extract?”

Angel touched her shoulder. “The implant is spreading something through your system. It’s a behavioral modification drug.” She looked at the scanner in her hand. “It could be that the Gente are testing its effectiveness on Humans.”

“Why would they want to mess with the way I act?”