Ar'Tok - Alana Khan Page 0,18

negotiations continue.

“How many people are on board these two vessels?” she demands without looking up from her comm.

“Exact?” Zar asks. “We just took on those new gladiators from planet Trent, and I—”

“Never mind. Doesn’t matter,” she says as her fingers fly over the keyboard. “All right.” She breathes a deep sigh and turns to all of us on the bridge: her mate Beast, Captain Zar, Ar’Tok, me, and the silver pilot, Braxxus.

“I’ve got him up to two and a half million and . . .” she pauses as if she’s waiting for a drumroll, “he’s agreed to an all-expense-paid week of accommodations and entertainment on the planet—excluding alcohol and drugs—for every member of our crew. Or three million without the R & R.”

When she’s met with a raised eyebrow by everyone on the bridge, she amends, “Rest and Recreation. Zar? It’s your call.”

I’ve only been here two days, and from what I’ve observed, Zar’s the most serious male on either ship. He’ll never vote for recreation over cold, hard credits.

“R & R,” he almost roars, looking quite pleased with himself. “Two and a half million will carry us a while, and everyone deserves some fun.”

At first, his happy face scared the piss out of me, but now that I’m getting used to his sharp canines exposed in a cheerful grin, I can enjoy his good humor.

Aerie concludes her comm and looks at me. “I’m assuming you can deliver, Star, because I get the feeling Ergonn is no one to play with.”

“I can deliver. I know I need to because rumor has it he’s huge in a cartel.”

Zar’s happy face disappears, his muscles pulling tight, eyes widening. Braxxus’s head snaps back.

“Which cartel?” they both ask at the same time.

“Reclan.”

Their relief is palpable. When I raise a questioning eyebrow Zar says, “We have some . . . history with the MarZan cartel. Working for them while running from them would not be a good strategy.”

“Why does he call you ‘O’?” Aerie asks.

“My mom gave my dad the name. It stands for Omniscient. All my customers think I’m him.”

“Wicked,” she says as she winks at me. Even though she wasn’t at the little breakfast slang meeting, word has traveled.

“Wayy,” I respond.

“Attention all females and males,” Zar announces over the ship-wide comm. “Both ships will be traveling to planet Paragon. We’ll arrive in two days. Every member of the crew will be awarded an all-expense-paid week partaking of any activities you desire.

“I recommend you avail yourselves of your computers and decide on your itinerary. My sources tell me the choices are mind-boggling.”

It looks like his mate, Anya, followed through with her promise to provide everyone with a list of American slang. Go him.

After he clicks off his comm, he turns it back on. “I forgot to mention this rest and recreation has been provided courtesy of the newest member of our group, Star.”

Now, when he blasts me with a warm smile, it doesn’t scare me at all.

“What do we need to do to help you?”

“I’ll need several computers from the Misfit, then I’ll work around the clock in my cabin building the hack. When we arrive on Paragon, I’m leaving nothing to chance. I’d appreciate a contingent of your finest gladiators for the install. As we’ve already discussed, Ergonn is in the cartel. There’s no telling how he might decide to repay me for all the work I’m doing.”

Ar’Tok

When we visited the Misfit yesterday, I sensed Star’s anxiety. I don’t want her to have to return until it’s in perfect running order.

She tells me what she needs, and I make trips until she tells me I ‘rock’ and can quit shuttling things over.

I’m lying on my back under one of the tables I carried in from the cargo bay, inserting wires into computers at Star’s direction. This thing is rigged in a tangled web that makes no sense to me, but is putting a wide smile on Star’s pretty face.

My cock gets hard as I think about the way we shared a bed last night. I’d secretly hoped she’d join me again, but it looks like she’s going to spend the night working.

“Thanks, Ar’Tok. Why don’t you get some sleep? I’m going to be awhile.”

It’s been a pleasure watching this little human take charge of this project. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and she’s going to generously provide a present to everyone on board. I’m proud of her.

“You’re going to need to sleep at some point. Do you want me to clean one