Varik tracked Yonash as he rushed off to the restroom. What kind of amateur ass was this guy? You don’t take a piss during a negotiation. A server hustled to the table, blocking Varik’s view of the hall. Before he could tell the useless tool to fuck off, the foul-ass blob with the merchandise began asking about every brew the bar stocked. Varik scowled and considered walking away from the negotiations. Selling flesh was a loser’s game, but there weren’t many more profitable. Or riskier. A single sale was all well and good, but there were limitless opportunities there.
Corvus would be interested to know there was a new supplier trying to establish a foothold in the market. The pirate had made a fortune moving flesh and basically controlled the trade, limiting the supply to keep the prices high. He also kept a very low profile on Cassan, unlike the idiot sitting across from Varik. Sharing the name and location of the gaseous loser could be of value to Corvus. Maybe take away some of the debt he’d built up before he’d been able to leverage his relationships with Blaize and Auvi. Worth a favor, at least.
Varik had the credits to pay Corvus back in full, but it would leave him low on funds. Maintaining the debt served him better. Varik leaned forward and grinned at the Gordinian.
The creature held up his hand. “No negotiations without both parties.”
Varik clenched his jaw but swallowed his reaction.
Yonash dropped back into his chair. “Sorry about that. The beer here is so watered down, it went right through me.” He grinned, and Varik wondered if the male was all that bright. “Let’s talk price of goods.” Yonash rubbed his hands together.
The man was a clown.
Varik threw out a number, a flat amount multiplied by the number of bodies he’d seen in the video.
Yonash pursed his lips and nodded at Varik.
What the fuck did that mean?
“Does the sale come with papers?” the clown asked.
“Of course.” The Gordinian belched in what Varik assumed was a reaction to lying.
“Do the contracts expire when they age out? Are they transferable? I might want to auction the older one.”
The Gordinian babbled about no limitations and excellent value.
“That’s good,” Yonash said. “Because the little ones aren’t good for much, depending on where they hail from.”
Varik was bored. He doubled the number.
Yonash scoffed. “I wouldn’t give you more than?—”
Yonash named a price so low, Varik’s jaw dropped.
“Obviously, you have a better offer for this lot. But I suspect he’s not a regular buyer, and he won’t be back when he realizes you sold him inferior goods.” Varik’s competition shrugged.
Varik sputtered. How dare he?
“I’m headed to Chalcanth.” Yonash dipped a nod in Varik’s direction, as if to acknowledge what was obviously his birthplace. “They are quite prolific at producing hardy offspring, but it’s not a wealthy planet. I think our arrangement might be better served if I became your supplier. Assuming you can get out of whatever deal brought you this shipment.” The male leaned back in his chair and sipped his drink.
Everything was a game to this fool. He hadn’t needed to piss. He hadn’t even consumed his drink. And there were places on the station that would pay a premium for virgin flesh to be trained in a variety of service positions. Varik’s vision went red and spotty. His gills flapped—something he never allowed to happen, especially in public. With a thrust of his hips, he scooted back his chair and barely restrained himself from flipping the table. “You have my final offer.”
The Gordinian jumped up. “Yes, of course. I’ll send a credit request. Where can I deliver the goods?”
Varik rattled off the berth where he’d docked Cain’s Alibi. “I’ll transfer half now in good faith. The rest when you deliver.”
The bloated bug of a being wriggled in excitement, naming a time the following cycle.
Varik nodded in approval and left the table. A new plan formed as he stomped out of the bar. It would require some delicate timing and coordination. But he might have the pieces on the board to finally take Cyra down.
Chapter 21
Years of discipline allowed Cifer to calmly make his way to Master Corvus. His heart demanded he leave the negotiation table and follow Blaize. If it hadn’t been for the children, he would have. But his brain ruled his body, and he had loaded the weapon that was Master. It would be far too dangerous to leave him cocked without verifying the direction he was pointed.
“Master.” Cifer stood in front of the table.
“Sit.” The old pirate’s steely glare combined with the threat of his flanking bodyguards had Cifer pulling out the single empty chair and fitting himself onto the edge of it.
