Madeline paused for a second, looking around the spacious office, gaze skating over the now-organized bookshelves. She liked making things fit, making things flow more efficiently. It made her feel productive, like she’d accomplished something.
She’d grown up in a rat-infested apartment in the outer suburbs of Los Angeles, always being slapped down and told she’d never amount to anything. Never be smart enough, good enough, or clever enough. Her mother had been a hard, bitter woman who’d loved the bottle more than her daughter. For a very long time, Madeline had believed her.
But when life had forced Madeline to grow up, she’d realized that her life was in her hands. It was the actions she took that made a difference.
She finished making notes, and picked up some papers for filing. She knew they had an electronic system as well, and made a mental note to get access and take a look at it. As she slid the papers into the file drawers, she heard male voices outside the office. She straightened and turned.
The Imperator of the House of Galen stepped inside. Galen was an intimidating man with a big, muscled form and an air of authority. That he was a few years older than his gladiators didn’t diminish his power at all, only enhanced it. His tough face was scarred, and one eye was covered by a black eye-patch. The other eye was a glittering ice-blue.
Right behind him were Raiden and Lore. Lore’s silver-gray eyes came straight to her, and locked there.
“What are you doing in my office?” Galen demanded.
“The door was open. I’m just tidying up and improving some of your…organization.” Or lack of it. She waved at the shelves, then gestured to her notepad. “I also have some ideas for improving the house’s inventory of goods for the kitchens, cleaning, and Medical.”
As Galen kept staring at her, she felt a trickle of unease, and stiffened her spine.
Lore sauntered forward, and for a second she was caught by the liquid way he moved. Powerful and limber, like he knew exactly how to use his body—to fight, to escape, to pleasure a woman. Madeline choked that thought off.
He perched on the corner of Galen’s glossy desk. “It’s not your real reason for being here, though, is it?”
She scowled. Why did this man always make her feel like she was wearing a neon sign on her head broadcasting everything she was thinking? “No.” She moved her gaze to meet Galen’s. “I want to know what’s being done to find Blaine.”
“I told you that the underground fight rings have gone deeper,” Lore said.
“But we all know they’re still operational. They’re still making him fight.” Madeline’s voice hitched, and she felt a flutter of panic. She hated losing control.
Galen circled his desk, lowering his powerful body into his chair. His face was its usual impassive mask. For a second, Madeline wondered what the man really felt beneath the controlled front.
“I’m waiting to hear from my contacts,” Galen said. “I also have meetings planned with the other gladiator houses that are allied with the House of Galen.”
“Meetings?” She frowned. “Why?”
Galen eyed her. “It’s in our interests to shut down the fight rings. We don’t have a lot of rules here in Kor Magna, but the Srinar and their allies are flaunting the unwritten ones. Plus, the fight rings are luring some of our clientele away.”
Madeline knew that wasn’t really it. The stands in the arena were packed, night after night. “You’re planning to invade the underground fight rings.”
Galen lifted one shoulder. “I have to talk with the other imperators first. The House of Galen can’t do this alone. Besides, we’ve already raided the fight rings once. The Srinar and the Thraxians will be watching us.”
Madeline released a breath. She hated just hearing the names of the aliens who’d kept her captive. The demon-like, horned Thraxians—worse than any nightmare—and the plague-deformed Srinar. “I’m not very good at waiting. I like action. I want to help. I need to help.”
Galen didn’t move. “Madeline—”
“No. The Thraxians pumped me full of drugs, they kept me docile, they beat me. I saw them inject Blaine too. Over and over. But it was different for him…it made him more aggressive. We have to get him out of there.”
She watched the three gladiators trade glances.
“We’re doing everything we can,” Raiden said. “Blaine is Harper’s friend, and I’ve promised her we’ll get him out.”
Raiden Tiago struck Madeline as a man who kept his promises. And she’d seen with her own eyes that he was head-over-heels in love with Harper Adams. It wasn’t hard to believe that the competent, tough space marine had fallen for this alien gladiator.