Page 21 of On a Rogue Planet
All centered on the small woman in front of him.
CHAPTER FIVE
Watching Xander’s face, Mal knew most people would think it was the perfect mask of calm and control.
But she noted the slight flicker of his eyelids, the tightening at the edge of his eyes. Something was bothering the cyborg.
“Do you remember where you are?” she asked. “How we got here?”
He blinked and his hand fell away from her. “I remember.”
He really didn’t look good. “Are you okay?—?”
“Malin!” Dathan’s shout echoed through the hangar.
“I’m fine,” she called out. “We’re coming down.” She looked at Xander. “Please don’t hurt my cousins.”
He gave her a short nod. “I’m sorry I…frightened you.”
“Youdidn’t frighten me. It was that crazy-high leap. I’m not real fond of heights without a damn good railing around me or a harness.” She led him toward a set of stairs. As they started down, she felt the warm heat of him close at her back. Below, she saw her cousins with their pistols aimed behind her.
She huffed out a breath. “Enough. Put the weapons down?—”
Before she could blink, she was shoved behind Xander’s hard body.
“Hey!”
He didn’t let her pass, his gaze zeroed in on Dathan and Nik.
“Dathan, he’s fine now.” She stared holes in Xander’s back. His heavily muscled, bronze, touchable back. She raised her voice. “He remembers everything. He didn’t mean to go crazy.”
No one moved or spoke. She managed to peer around him. Dathan’s gun was still aimed at Xander’s head, her cousin’s mouth a firm line.
She shoved her hands on her hips. “Dathan!”
Her cousin cursed and with great reluctance lowered his weapon.
When she and Xander reached the bottom of the steps, she managed a smile. “Xander Saros, I’d like to introduce my cousins, Dathan and Niklas Phoenix.” No one shook hands. “This is Dathan’s wife, Eos.”
Xander managed a stiff nod at Eos.
The woman smiled. “Nice to meet you.” She nudged her husband. “Why don’t we head to the rec area? I know I need a drink.”
Dathan crossed his arms over his chest. “CenSec, I want to know why the hell you hijacked our cousin’s ship and put her in danger.”
“There has been a coup on Centax,” Xander said.
“What?” Niklas exclaimed. “Jesus.”
“Why should I care?” Dathan raised a brow.
“I want to hire you. Those responsible have stolen the Antikythera.”
Mal gasped. “Sweet scrap.”
“TheAntikythera?” Eos asked.
Dathan frowned. “Okay, what am I missing? What is it?”
