Page 105 of Star Bringer
“I think I should go with you and Gage.”
He turns to study me, one eyebrow raised.
“I’m not going to contact my mother,” I protest. “Surely you believe me by now?”
He looks pained, but he says, “I do.”
“I’m just thinking that if you do get into any trouble, then having me along might make a difference. You could use me—or rather pretend to use me—as a hostage. Or I could persuade them not to shoot you. The possibilities are endless.”
“I think you’ve forgotten that you are also wanted dead or alive.”
“I absolutely haven’t. But I’m convinced that there’s more than one lot of people after us. One group might want us all dead.” And I really wish I knew why. “But the other—the Corporation—I think likely just wants to get me back. And then there’s also a chance we might run into the security forces. My mom is bound to have everyone she can out looking for us.”
He’s considering it; I can all but see the thoughts flickering through his mind as he studies me, and I cross my fingers behind my back.
“You might have a point,” he says eventually, but then his lips twitch. “Hmm. Just give me a minute. I might have an idea.” He disappears in the direction of his room, then reappears a few moments later, looking way too pleased with himself. “Hold out your right hand,” he says.
I frown but do as he asks.
Then quickly regret it as, quick as a bug jumping off a dead drokaray, he grabs my wrist and slaps a silver cuff on it. I’m still staring at it in disbelief when he fastens the other half of the set to his left wrist, officially binding us together.
“What the actual fuck?” I screech, tugging at my wrist. “I thought you said you trusted me!”
“I said I believed you, and that is not the same thing,” he points out. “And anyway, this just proves your little hostage story. We’re making it believable.”
I scoff. “Sure, sure. And what sort of pervert actually carries handcuffs around with him?”
“One who’s prepared for anything.”
Merrick appears in the doorway to the bridge. He sees us, and his eyes widen, then narrow almost immediately. “Am I interrupting something?” The disapproval in his voice would be hilarious if I wasn’t freaking out so much at this newest turn of events.
“Just preparing to disembark,” Ian says with a grin, holding up our joined wrists. “The princess wants to come along—apparently, she can’t bear for us to be apart. So I’m just making sure we’ve got our stories straight.”
Merrick turns to me. “Are you okay with this?”
What am I supposed to say? No, I’m not okay with this—not even close. But the last thing I want right now is to instigate another fight between Merrick and Ian—Merrick’s black eye is only just fading.
I do want to go down to this planet, too. I actually do think I can be of some use if things go wrong. And while I’m furious with Ian, I’m also a little bit impressed. The man’s well of dirty tricks never ceases to amaze me.
So, I give a resigned smile. “I wouldn’t say okay, exactly, but I’ll be fine. At least he won’t leave me behind.”
“I do have a key,” Ian murmurs.
“If I’m so slippery, aren’t you worried I’ll knock you out, steal the key, and leave your bleeding corpse behind?”
“Bloodthirsty, isn’t she?” he says to Merrick. “But you have a point.” He pulls a small silver key out of his pocket and tosses it to Merrick. “Look after this until we get back.”
Merrick catches it, then says, “Beckett asked me to tell you we’ll be setting down at Rodos in five minutes. Be ready to disembark; theStarlightwill be taking off again immediately. They cleared us for drop-off, not landfall.”
Ian nods. “Where’s that tosser Gage?”
“Here,” Max says from behind us. I turn. Gage is with him. He’s wearing a blanket over his lab suit like a poncho. Good move.
“Nice bracelet, Kali.” Max grins. “If I’d known you were into the kinky stuff, I would have obliged.”
“Ha-ha. It was a present from Ian.”
“Yeah, he pinched them from my bag.”
