He was working with an idiot. “We have a ship with falsified papers, and they could be looking for our old ship ID if Kolben contacted them about our unauthorized departure. What do you think?”
Varik pressed his fist to his lips. No weapons. No safe way to interact with station security. The only advantage he had over The Treasure was speed. That might not be enough if Cyra contacted Cassan first. Would she think of it? Even if she did, what could she report without exposing herself?
She’d kidnapped Jarn.
She was in the wrong.
“Wait. We got a message.” Karnek stared at the screen. He glanced back at Varik, panic in his gaze.
“Read. It.”
Chapter 12
Blaize’s heart raced. Varik was back. Angry and threatening. His ship was practically in the cargo bay. If the crazy asshole rammed them… The ship had security settings, and it would lock down, but they could still die.
“Incoming message, Captain,” Bodi called out.
Cyra halted mid-pace. “Read it.”
“Captain Varik demands to speak to Cyra about the male she is illegally transporting from Kolben.”
Cyra turned to Dez. “Bring Cifer?—”
“On it, my captain.” Dez spun on his heel and jogged off the bridge.
Blaize envied Cyra’s ability to burn off the anxiety with pacing, but it would be a disaster waiting to happen to have both of them stomping around the bridge.
“What should I reply, Captain?” Bodi craned her neck to track the captain, keeping her hands on the keys.
“No.”
“What?” Bodi’s wings flickered.
Cyra froze, her hands went to her hips. “Tell them no.”
Bodi tapped two keys, glanced back at the captain, and then clicked a single key to send the reply. Her gaze locked onto the screen. After almost no time, she flinched. “They say they’re going to fire on us if we don’t release the male we took from Kolben.”
“How the hell do they know we took anyone from Kolben? We didn’t even know.” Rhysa threw her hands up.
“They’re bluffing,” Bodi said calmly and faced the captain.
“How could you be sure of that?” Cyra asked.
“That class of ship doesn’t have the ability to fire on anything. My family owned several of them for short journeys to nearby planets. They’re basically small transports with minimal amenities and barely any defense shields. That’s why we got rid of them.”
Dez returned with Cifer. Veda followed closely.
Cyra’s gills flapped as she faced Cifer. “How do you know Varik Pectori?”
“Who?” Cifer’s face screwed itself into a question.
“He’s asking—no, demanding—I release you to him.” She crossed her arms. “I want to know how you know him. How he knew you were on my ship when I didn’t even know when we left Kolben.”
Cifer shook his head and held up his hand. “Please read me what this Varik character has said.”
Bodi read back the messages.
“He didn’t use my name. He could be demanding the release of a person who isn’t me.”
