Tamed By the Alien Pirate by Celia Kyle Page 0,19

of the bench-style seating and Thrase slides in next to me. Our hips are very close, almost touching, and I can feel her body heat across the short distance separating us. As if it weren’t hard enough to concentrate just having her present.

“Grantian was just about to tell us what he discovered.” Solair gestures to our first mate, who sets down his eating prong and addresses the table.

“Precious little, Captain. We were unable to find any leads regarding our quarry. However, we did find out that the slavers guild we robbed on our last mission has hired assassins seeking any from our crew to punish.”

I chuckle at that.

“We ran into them already, or at least two of them.”

Solair frowns and sets down his own fork.

“What happened?”

“I guess you could say they just fell to pieces.”

Thrase and I enjoy a laugh, which of course no one else gets the crux of. Solair arches his brow, a slight grin playing at his lips, and gestures to me.

“So what did you two find on your… mission? By the way, Thrase, that shade looks lovely on you. Don’t you agree, Zander?”

“Ah…” why is it so suddenly warm in here? Thrase turns her face slightly away from me, but a soft smile stretches her painted lips. “That is… pertaining to the mission, Captain, we may have struck upon an important lead.”

“Do go on.”

“The Starcorp building, long abandoned, has armed guards out front. Armed guards dressed like IHC marines.”

Swipt gasps and jabs his fork in the air at me.

“Hey, way to steal our thunder, Zander.” Crumbs shoot out of his mouth and onto the table. Ilya takes a napkin and dabs at his face. “Thanks, hon.”

“I take it you, also, came across a similar lead, Swipt?”

“You got that right, Captain. Nobody seems to know what’s going on inside of it, however. Guess that means the armed guards are doing their job.”

Solair glances over at Fiona, who sits next to Montier.

“This sounds like your department, Fiona.”

The pale complexioned woman taps on her tablet, bringing the screen to life. Her eyes narrow in concentration as we all give her the time and quiet she needs to work. I’m most of the way through my compote when she finally deigns to speak.

“I can’t tell you for certain who owns the Starcorp building now. It’s changed hands a dozen times since the company folded, and at least two of those owners were dummy corporations who don’t even have a physical office space.”

“Damn.” Solair’s hand clenches into a fist, and Varia places her hand tenderly atop it. I can tell he’s worried about Lokyer. We all are, but Solair is captain, and Lokyer was lost on his watch.

“Cheer up, Solair, I did find something very intriguing, something that may give us a way inside.”

Fiona’s fingers tap on her screen, and she clears her throat before speaking loudly enough the whole table can hear.

“While I can’t tell you for certain who owns the building any more, I can tell you a research firm is renting space on the sixth floor. Azure Visions, according to this.”

She turns the screen around so Solair can see.

“And they’re hiring.”

“Hiring?” Solair strokes his golden chin in thought. “For what? More guards?”

“No, they want more scientifically adept help in their research department.” Fiona frowns as she goes over the proffered contract. “Wow, there’s a lot of fine print on this… non-disclosure agreement, confinement on site for six-week periods at a time… and total ownership by the company for any breakthroughs achieved. Honestly, with this type of draconian contract, no wonder they can’t find decent help.”

Solair grins down the table, not at me, but at Thrase.

“I can think of one person who might be both qualified and willing.”

Thrase nods, much to my chagrin.

“I’m willing to do my part, Solair. While I hesitate to ascribe the title of ‘friend’ to Lokyer, the thought of him being in the hands of those diabolical cretins Blue Dawn makes me angry.”

“Good, then Fiona will help you fill out the…”

“Absolutely not.” I stand up and slam my fist down on the table. “This will not stand. How can you even think about sending her into a viper’s nest like that?”

“Zander.” Thrase’s voice is low, but has a harsh edge. It gives me pause enough for Solair to interrupt.

“We know it’s dangerous, Zander, and we’ll do all we can to protect her, but this has to be done. It’s our only way in.”

“Impossible.”

“Zander…” Solair sighs and spreads his hands. “What do you want me to

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