fool. They didn’t get more real, or more female, than his captive.
He directed his report at Ryker. “I don’t think there are many of these pre-arrivals left, which means, numbers-wise, we’re not at a disadvantage. If she’s any indication, they’ve got golden skin, are smaller in stature, with sharper teeth, and most significantly, glowing spears that carry an electrical charge. I don’t think it’s enough of a jolt to kill our kind, but it does mess with the nervous system. It could even the playing field and make it harder to take them down. Still, there’s something about her…them,” he corrected. “There’s more to learn before we take them out.”
“You sound way too fascinated.” Malin’s hand hovered over his dagger handle. “I think it would be better if I handled it from here. I’m not trying to be disrespectful. I just know some guys have a hard time with female targets. That’s not a problem for me—and I understand what’s at stake. There are innocents waiting on us to bring them home.”
“I can get the job done.” Grif’s hold on his ax went tight.
“Malin, Grif, stand down.” Ryker’s command cracked through the air. “Grif acquired the target. He has already gotten valuable information. He’s more than earned the right to continue. If he proves unable to deliver, we know you’re willing and able.”
Except it would never come to that. Grif made the silent vow. Malin wasn’t coming within twenty feet of his captive.
The silence stretched.
Ryker blew out a long, slow breath. “Time to let Grif get back to work.” He pointed down the cliffside. “Let’s hustle. I want to deliver this news to the commander ASAP.”
Along, Grif suspected, with the news that their top interrogator was still behaving strangely.
He could feel that second-in-command position slipping through his fingers like Dragath25 sand.
A chorus of goodbyes and the other males headed down the hill. Malin was the second to last to go, offering Grif the middle finger and a smirk as he left.
Bastard probably thought he had the promotion in the bag.
“I don’t need to tell you what’s at stake.” Ryker’s comment dragged Grif from his thoughts.
“No, you don’t.” He dropped his ax back to his side.
“Or that the Commander will likely support bringing Malin in as a last resort if you can’t deliver.”
“I know.”
“Does what happened with your sister make this harder?”
Hells, Grif had told the male more than intended one evening while they’d both been drinking. The fact that his teammate was rehashing it now was not a good sign. Thank the Goddess, he hadn’t been drunk enough to mention his own shit with his sick fuck of a father. He could only imagine the looks he would have gotten, then.
He’d intended this interrogation to prove he was back on top. Instead, he’d ended up raising more doubt and making his superiors consider past shit he didn’t want considered.
Still, he knew enough to pretend not to be bothered. “Actually, it makes this easier. I see my sister’s eyes and I remember I don’t want those missing females going through what she did.” He unclenched the fists he hadn’t even noticed he’d made. “I wasn’t able to save her, but I’m not a kid anymore. I’m stronger and meaner. I won’t fail those women. I won’t fail Melody and Hope.”
“Got it. Right. Grif to the rescue.”
This time, it wasn’t so easy for him to keep the glare from his face.
Ryker lifted his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “All I’m saying is, I’ve seen you break a hostile in a few heartbeats and then sleep like a baby right after. Seems like this situation might be more complicated.”
“She’s a flesh trader who abducted Hope and Melody’s mom and put me in 223’s prison camp. I think I’m okay.”
“Jade was a fucking Council assassin and I still fell for her. Ava was the breeder of the Commander’s worst enemy. Things get messy.”
“I don’t do messy.”
“Right.” Ryker grinned. “How could I forget? No gray for you.”
Grif didn’t smile back. “I fucked up with you, but I won’t be doing that again.”
Ryker’s expression shifted to a scowl. “What are you talking about?”
“I was so busy trying to protect someone I thought was helpless, I got us both put in the enemy’s hands back at 223’s camp.” The admission had been a long time coming. “I’m sorry.”
“You take way too much on yourself.” Ryker waved his hand in dismissal. “Jade and I did that all by ourselves. We were out to kill each other when we