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“I won’t. I should be helping him, not lounging around and sipping cocktails.”
“How bad are things on the waystation? Did you see any Siblet?”
“No, just a couple of their creatures. Station security knows what’s going on, so they’re on the alert for more attacks.”
Cleo was quiet for a second. “Have you seen the news?”
“Nope. I’ve been passed out for hours. What’s going on?”
“There have been reports of beasts being seen on dozens of waystations and smaller planets. The Siblet seem to be making their final move.”
Sloane squeezed her eyes shut for a second. “So this is it.”
“We need to be back on our feet to make sure we can stop them,” Cleo said. “Keep looking for that poison.”
“As soon as I get back to the waystation, that’s the first thing I’ll do.” After she let Dallin know exactly what she thought of his jerk move.
“And Sloane, take it easy with Dallin. We know he can be a little...”
“Annoying? Difficult? Ice-cold?”
“I was going to say different. It’s an unknown how he’ll react in certain situations. And it’s been awhile since he’s left the Apocalypse. When I learned what he’d done, I wasn’t happy. Although I was glad to discover you’d snuck on board the ship with him.”
“Did ELVIS tell you that?”
“He told me everything. Watch out for each other.”
“We need to be in the same place for me to do that, but I’ll get back to the waystation, and we’ll get this sorted.”
“I’ve no doubt about that. We’re not far from the waystation, so I’ll speak to you in person soon.”
Sloane paced around after the call ended. She could do nothing but wait.
She turned on her heel, then checked the time. She had hours before she could get off this thing, so might as well enjoy herself. And she’d use this time to think up what punishment she’d dish out to Dallin. He wasn’t getting away with this. Sloane would make sure he remembered never to cross her again.
After a quick exploration of the facilities the cruiser had on offer, Sloane settled on another double rum and coke, and a seat at a burlesque show. It was pointless stressing about her situation. And as the pleasure android had said, stress was bad for you.
The lights dimmed, the air thick with perfume as the crowd murmured their excitement.
A spotlight lit up as a stunning dark-skinned alien with silvery scales appeared. She had waist-length ebony hair, and her big amber eyes were lined with kohl.
She was dressed in a shimmering green corset that clung to her curves as she sashayed around the stage. The dancer took her time, easing off her gloves, removing her corset, and then her stockings.
Sloane nodded in appreciation of her beauty. She was so confident in her body.
Sloane had never lacked confidence when it came to the way she looked, but being around Dallin and his constant rejection was enough to make a woman pause.
As Sloane watched the performance, and the teasing way the alien revealed herself to her enthusiastic audience, an idea formed in her mind.
She’d planned on yelling at Dallin, but there was a torture she’d much rather put him through. Plus, she’d get pleasure out of it.
After the show finished, she went in search of something to assist with her revenge mission.
Sloane had just made her purchase when there was an announcement, letting passengers know they were about to dock at Olin.
She hurried to the exit and waited impatiently to get off. She dashed to the arrivals and departures board in the transport bay, and found a vessel heading back to the waystation in half an hour.
Sloane paid for her passage, hopped on board, and strapped herself into a seat. Satisfaction ran through her veins as she waited to leave. She wasn’t some airhead you got to play with and then pass on.
Dallin might have given up on her, and figured she wasn’t smart enough or fast enough to be of any use to him as his partner, but she wasn’t done yet.
Sloane was getting back to Dallin and then making sure he saw sense and finally realized he couldn’t live without her.
