you might think.”
If he was rambling this much, then it must be bad. “Who is it?” I demanded.
He glanced away and whispered, “We sold Ferdinand to MineCorp.”
Fury blazed bright. “You sold my brother, the heir to House von Hasenberg, to a group of slavers?”
“They prefer indentured—” Riccardo stopped speaking with a strangled wheeze, and I didn’t bother to stop Ian. MineCorp mined some of the most dangerous sectors in the universe, largely with a force of slave labor masquerading as “indentured servants.”
Some people, like my brother, were sold to them under false pretenses, but some signed up voluntarily, lured by the company’s slick spiel. When you had less than nothing, the promise of food and shelter was tempting, especially to those who didn’t fully understand the contract. Thus it became a complex legal tangle, one the Consortium had no particular desire to untangle—not when profits were so high.
“Where did they send Ferdinand?” I demanded. “I’m assuming you disabled his identity chip?”
Riccardo gasped something unintelligible.
“Let him breathe,” I told Ian.
Ian loosened his fingers and Riccardo sucked in air. “I don’t know where Ferdinand is. We didn’t want to know. We sold him through a series of intermediaries. His chip was removed and replaced.” When Ian’s fingers tightened again, Riccardo whined, “His new name is Nando Black. That’s all I know, I swear. Now keep your promise.”
Ian shot me a questioning look. Technically, I had already let Riccardo go, so my vow was met. However, I understood the true meaning behind the vow and promises were important to me. Just because a loophole gave me an out didn’t mean it would be honorable to use it.
But honor and desire didn’t always match up. “Don’t kill him,” I forced out with a grimace.
“Letting him live is a mistake,” Ian growled. Riccardo began to struggle as his throat closed off completely. Ian kept him pinned to the wall with effortless strength. It would be so easy to forget the spreading blood on the front of his shirt.
“It is not a mistake because he will not cause us any trouble. If he does, I will personally ensure House von Hasenberg takes a much more active role in eradicating the Silva family one ship at a time.”
Riccardo tried to nod, but I knew it was a lie. He wouldn’t let this insult go. I would have to deal with him sooner or later. But a promise was a promise. I sighed. “Knock him out and we’ll tie him up. Someone is bound to wander up here eventually, unless you killed all of the guards?”
I meant it as a joke, but Ian grimaced and didn’t clarify one way or the other. My eyes widened. Surely not . . .
Riccardo’s struggles slowed and stopped. Ian kept him pinned for another thirty seconds, then lowered him to the ground. “Do you have ties?” he asked, his voice rough.
“No.”
He stripped off Riccardo’s jacket and suspenders. He rolled Riccardo onto his stomach and wrenched his arms behind him. Ian used the suspenders to tie him hand and foot with quick efficiency.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine.”
So, in universally understood language, he was not fine. “Did you call the ship back?”
“Yes, but Riccardo revoked our authorization. Alex is landing nearby and Aoife is going to meet us at the perimeter for an escort back.” Ian staggered to his feet and I rushed to brace my shoulder under his arm.
“How many guards are between here and there?” I asked.
“Fewer than there were,” Ian said. A glance at his face revealed a grim smile.
“How many did you disable?”
“We’ll take the stairs,” he said, changing the subject. “We’ll be able to hear anyone coming up.”
Warm blood had soaked through my dress, so I decided now was not the time to argue. “I don’t suppose you saw a medkit on your way up? You’re bleeding badly.”
“Tie his jacket around my waist,” Ian instructed as he took the blaster from me. “It’ll work until we make it to the ship.” He was starting to look gray, but the determined set of his mouth was familiar.
I picked up Riccardo’s jacket and folded it to make a pad out of the front and back, then tied the arms tightly around Ian’s waist. He grunted but didn’t complain.
I found my clutch and tucked my com down the front of my dress, then I activated the cuff on my left wrist by swiping my right hand over the smooth surface from inside to outside and back again. I kept my hand