Page 7 of Badass Alien Boss

Finally, he emerged in fresh clothing and started down the street.

She tailed him, keeping him in sight while trying tostayout of sight. He walked with a more pronounced limp now. Physical therapy had given his legs quite a workout, and although sparring worked his upper body, it had required standing the entire time.

He hadn’t gone far, less than a couple of building lengths, when he stiffened and cocked his head.

Crap. He’s made me.

She’d been careful to stay back far enough so her reflection didn’t appear in the windows. Still, he’d sensed her.He’s sharp.He’d probably become more vigilant since the ambush.

Again, she wondered at the motivation behind the brutal attack. Knowingwhysomeone had been targeted made finding outwhomuch easier. Ruyn hadn’t known his attackers. So, there was no personal grudge involved. He hadn’t been robbed.

Crime in general and violence in particular were lower on Luturna than other planets because of zero-tolerance. Magistrates gave no free pass for minor or first offenses. No cashless bail. Unfortunately, because people felt safe, they relaxed their vigilance, and that worked against them when crime did occur. But, no matter how stringent the law and dedicated the police and prosecution, the crime rate would never be zero. There would always be a small segment of a population who broke the law and were willing to use violence to achieve their criminal aims.

At least Luturna didn’t have to deal with the Prellims. The galactic cartel had caused a lot of misery on other planets but had yet to gain a toehold on this one.

Without breaking his stride, Ruyn beckoned her forward. “Are you going to follow me all the way home?” Even with a limp, he strode at a fast clip.

She closed the distance to march abreast of him. “Yes.”Night and day,I’m your shadow.

“Some might call that stalking.”

“Others would call it guarding.”

He smirked. The too-familiar mocking grin, coming from him, stung. But she stiffened her spine and suppressed her self-doubt.

“Tell me about yourself,” he surprised her by saying.

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything you consider relevant, but don’t prattle. Give me a high-level overview. Bullet points only.”

“Elite Infantry Division of the Army. Proficiency in several martial arts. Security strategist. Bodyguard,” she said crisply. She had ten years total in the Army, two in special forces. As a civilian, she’d logged two years as a security strategist for a private agency before hooking up with GAL Friday as a bodyguard. She hated that he had her doubting her qualifications now. She’d served her country and accomplished a lot for someone thirty-two-years old.

“Why GAL Friday? The employment is temporary, right? Or is that the point? Do you find it hard to stick to anything?”

She refused to take the bait. “I wished to broaden my horizons.”I’m training on someone else’s dime before I start my own agency.“I wanted to boldly go where no woman has gone before.”

He didn’t crack a smile. Not even a sliver.

“I guess you’ve never seen old vids ofStar Trek.”

“No, what is that?”

“It’s an old science fiction series. Emphasis on the fiction.” None of the old sci-fi vids captured the realities of life on otherplanets, what aliens were like, or traveling in space. But she loved the old vids.

“I’m too much of a realist to waste time with make-believe.”

“That’s the point. It’s an escape from reality.”

“Huh.” He seemed to be considering the concept. “This is my building.” He stopped beside a tall, cylindrical glass edifice, its floors spiraling up ten levels to a peaked architectural “flame.” Rather than landing and parking on the roof, hovercars flew into a hoverport located between the eighth and ninth floors.

“Was this your regular home base, or did you rent it after your discharge?” she asked.

“After. My brother got the place for me.”

Well, that made sense. The architectural style didn’t strike her as the kind that would appeal to him, but it had the urbane and polished Korsan written all over it. She wished she’d been able to advise him in the selection of a residence. She couldn’t see in now, but what about at night? How shatterproof was the glass? Were the windows coated with protective anti-laser film?

“I was never home long enough to need a home base,” he added. “I suppose I’ll see you in the office tomorrow?” He sounded resigned.