Page 59 of Solan

“Wise words, barman,” Solan said as he dragged Padam to his feet.

Heather twisted out of Olid’s grip. “I can’t watch this. I need help, not free viewing of a Galaxar smack down.” She hurried out of the bar.

Padam slammed his elbow repeatedly into Solan’s chest. “Help her.”

“For what purpose? To have her reject me again?”

Olid snorted a laugh. “You don’t need to kill each other over a human. Vegas likes you.”

Solan looked up. “What did you say?” His attention diverted, Padam twisted out of his grip and slammed a fist into Solan’s nose.

Solan grunted and swiped blood from his nose. “I’ll remember that.”

Padam scowled at him. “Listen to this barman. He knows Vegas.”

Olid nodded. “I’ve served her drinks for months. She often talked about you with her friends. From the conversations I overheard, she’s into you.”

Solan glanced at Padam. He maintained a fighting stance but was not attacking. “Then why fight the attraction?”

Olid’s smile faded. “You’ll have to ask her that. Right now, it sounds like Vegas really needs you.”

“What about Boros? Has Vegas ever spoken of him?”

“Not to my knowledge. But you,” Olid fanned his cheeks, “she thinks you’re fine.”

“I will keep punching you until you agree to help,” Padam said.

“Then you will die,” Solan growled.

“No, he won’t because I’ll help him.” Olid folded his arms over his chest, looking surprisingly menacing for a Koob. “Vegas is a friend and a hell of a good customer. I’m not having her handed over to this creepy sounding thug.”

A surge of possessiveness hit Solan. Olid and Padam were right. He did want Vegas. Even if she rejected him, he had to assist her. He had to rescue her.

“Enough of this.” Solan grabbed Olid’s elbow. “Where is Vegas?”

“Heather said she was being arrested. Vegas must be in the holding cells by now.”

Padam smacked Solan on the back. “From the first time you communicated with Vegas, you’ve behaved differently with her. I knew then you’d found the one you were meant to be with.”

“You knew no such thing.”

Padam winked at Olid. “I did. Solan was in love and he didn’t even realize it.”

“We can discuss this later. We need to set Vegas free.” Solan looked around the bar. “Where is Heather?”

“She fled when you started attacking each other,” Olid said. He looked around the half-empty bar and shook his head. “I can’t say I blame her.”

“No matter. We need to get to the cells and release Vegas.”

***

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME Vegas had been behind bars. The cell was quite cozy. There was a single bed to sit on, and she could watch the comings and goings of other people who’d broken station rules through the open hatch on her door.

What she was really watching out for was Boros. When he arrived, he would stake his claim and drag her away. She couldn’t fight him, but she wasn’t going quietly when he came for her.

Vegas would fight back, even if that meant going up against Boros himself. If she screamed loudly enough it might put him off. She imagined he didn’t like his women to have opinions.

She reckoned she’d last about ten seconds, if she was lucky and dodged the first blow Boros swung. At least she’d go down fighting. That Galaxar was not going to have her. Vegas didn’t care what he’d paid for her; she wasn’t up for sale. In fact, she wasn’t on the market at all. Her life was My Single Alien. She wanted nothing else.