The Star Thief (Star Thief Chronicles 1)
Page 57“Are the ones I told you about last night. Still hasn’t changed, Renna.” Viktis leaned against one of the empty work tables, suddenly materializing as if out of thin air. “I did a little more research since I had plenty of time to kill.” He raised a mocking eyebrow. “Whatever it is, nobody’s seen it before. At least not that I could find.”
But he was wrong. Someone knew what this drug was. Dr. Aldani’s words came back to her in a rush: “My brother and his wife were working on an experimental drug…”
He’d lied to them about everything.
She needed to get back to the ship and set up a holo call. “I might know someone who can help us, but we need to go. Now.” She turned to Wall. “Thank you for your help on this. I owe you.”
“Yes, you do. But I’m always glad to help a master at work. I’m sure we’ll meet again, Miss Carrizal.” He pulled the slide from his microscope. “I’m assuming you don’t want this floating around?”
“I’m sure you took your own sample, but yes, I’ll dispose of the rest of this.” She slipped the slide into her pocket. She had no illusions as to Wall’s trustworthiness; she would have kept a sample herself if she’d been in his position. One never knew when something like that might come in handy.
Wall shook her hand, his monstrous paw swallowing her own small fingers. “Good luck. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Outside, Renna headed for the hospital. Viktis strode to catch up with her, a frown pulling at his lips. “What’s going on? What else do you know that you’re not telling me?”
She shook her head. “Not here. I need to talk to Finn and Major Larson.”
“Then I’m going with you. I’m not going to be cut out of getting my revenge.”
“The feeling is mutual. But none-the-less, I’m coming with you.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Renna knocked at Finn’s door before pushing it open. Her eyes widened as he turned away from the window where he’d been standing to face her. The bruise on his jaw was nothing more than faintly darkened skin now, and his ribs were obviously on their way to being healed. The accelerated healing regimen had worked.
“You’re up! That was fast. How are you feeling?” she asked.
Finn’s welcoming smile slid from his face as Viktis pushed his way into the room “I was better until he showed up.” Finn gritted his teeth. “What the hell are you doing, Renna?”
She swallowed and glanced between the two men. One at a time, she could deal with, but the two of them together in the same room made the walls start to close in on her. “Viktis has been helping me. One of his contacts analyzed the drug we found on Banos Prime. I have a feeling Aldani knows more about this than he let on.”
Viktis slouched against the doorframe and crossed his powerful arms. “I’m just along for the ride. And to avenge the murder of my crew. Don’t mind me.”
Finn ignored him, turning to Renna with his cold blue eyes. “Does the major know about this?”
“Not yet. I just found out myself. But there’s something more. Sergeant Gheewala stopped me this morning. She heard something out in space. Something she couldn’t identify and it’s coming this way.”
“I had Gheewala tell the crew to prep for takeoff. I know you’ll be in the hospital a few more days, but I wanted them to be ready. Just in case.”
He nodded. “I think that’s wise. I’ll send for Larson, and we can debrief together. Without your…friend.” Finn paused and for the first time looked directly at Viktis. A muscle jumped in his jaw before he said, “I’m sure he won’t mind waiting in the jail down the street.”
“Clever. I can see why Renna’s so hung up on you,” Viktis said with a sneer.
Finn raised an eyebrow as heat flooded her face. Damn Viktis. If he wasn’t trying to kill her, he was acting like a three-year-old boy.
And the fact that she’d made her interest in Finn obvious enough that Viktis had seen it… What the hell had she been thinking?
Renna cleared her throat. “Enough. We have more important things to worry about than who’s got the bigger dick. Viktis, get down to the hangar and see if they can use your help. I’ll comm Keva and let her know you’re coming so she doesn’t shoot you.”
Viktis bowed. “Your wish is my command.” As he straightened, he winked at her. “And I mean that in every way possible,” he added before disappearing down the corridor.
Renna rolled her eyes and fought another flush of heat to her cheeks. He must have been seriously put out that she hadn’t fallen into bed with him at his request. Men were the same no matter what species.
“Nice to see some things don’t change,” Finn said. He had that haughty tone back in his voice. She could practically see him donning his holier-than-thou armor.
“Viktis and I have an understanding. When he’s not trying to kill me or sleep with me, he’s a decent guy. I think he can help us with this.”
“Help you, maybe. I don’t want anything from a dirty merc who kidnaps children.” Finn crossed his arms and turned back to look out the window.
Renna studied the stiff line of his spine, the clench of his strong jaw. Something else was going on here. Could he be jealous of Viktis?
With a growl, Finn spun around to face her. His whole body was coiled like one big spring, and in two steps, he was close enough to grab her arms. He shook her slightly, forcing her to look up at him. “Seeing you standing there with him, with that smirk on your face—it all came rushing back. The facility, the beating. The kiss.”
His fingers curled into the soft skin of her biceps. She’d have bruises tomorrow. But she couldn’t face the blazing questions in his eyes, so she looked away. Lifted her shoulders in a shrug. She wasn’t ready to admit the truth, so she said, “Because you were there? Because we both needed comfort?”
“Liar.”
The word was barely a whisper, and her gaze snapped back to his like a magnet.
“You wanted me. As much as I wanted you. I felt it.” He challenged her with his cold stare—with the twinge of hurt she could read in the furrow between his brows. But why did he care? It was just a kiss.