Only one of the dressing room doors was unlocked. Venom stepped inside and caught the slightest hint of Terror’s antiperspirant. As Venom shut the door, Terror stepped out from behind it and into the light. The harsh brightness of the dressing room illuminated the crags and puckers of the scars marking Terror’s face.
Terror’s lips slanted. “You up for a quickie or has that pretty new mate of yours worn you out yet?”
Venom snorted. “No and no.”
“Pity,” Terror replied and leaned back against the wall. “I’m surprised you didn’t get roped into babysitting at family day aboard the Arctis.”
“Technically I’m on call.” He tapped his watch screen. The timekeeping device doubled as a communication unit. “The SRU teams on the Arctis were already scheduled for an escort mission, so Raze has our team on standby in case the police have any problems.”
“It’s highly unlikely anything will kick off. It’s a bunch of farmers visiting their daughters. Unless someone sneaked a pitchfork by the ground team…”
Venom chuckled softly. “I’ve seen weirder shit happen.”
Terror hummed in agreement. “How is the new bride?”
“She’s perfect.”
“Perfect, huh? That’s not what I heard.” He gestured toward his head.
“It was a mild medical issue that was easily fixed. She’s fine now.”
Terror studied him. “You look about as smitten as Vee was when he took Hallie. What’s it been? Five days?”
Venom nodded. “Five amazing days. Clawing my way through the Sendarian Siege was worth it, Terror.”
Terror’s eyebrow lifted. “She’s that good in the sack?”
Venom punched Terror in the arm. “That’s my mate you’re talking about so watch your step.”
Terror rubbed the spot he’d hit. “Torment said you were touchy when it came to the girl.”
“Yeah, well, Torment has a good whack upside the head waiting for him. He had no right to drop that bomb about Dizzy’s biological father on her like that. It was wrong. It hurt her.”
“I know it did.” Terror actually sounded as if he regretted causing Dizzy pain. “It should have been handled more delicately.”
Venom’s eyes went wide with surprise. “Man, it sounds as if Menace kicking your ass and your exile to the Arctis is making you soft.”
Terror didn’t dignify that with a response. Instead he offered up a bit of advice. “This thing with your mate’s biological father? Let it go, Venom.”
He frowned. “What? Why? She has the right to know who her father is.”
“I’m not arguing that fact. But if her father wanted her to know he existed he would have done something about it by now.”
Venom took a step forward. “You know who he is.”
“I do.” Terror exhaled slowly. “But I can’t tell you. His files are classified and the only reason I know his identity is because there are no private DNA profiles when it comes to my clearance.” Terror squeezed his shoulder. “Tell her to let it go. You don’t want this man interfering in your life, Venom.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s not my decision to make.”
“The hell it isn’t.” Terror’s hand dropped to his side. “She belongs to you. She follows the orders you give her. Just tell her that her father’s profile is classified and there’s nothing more that can be done.”
Venom decided not to get into an argument with Terror about his assumptions about how a man should treat his mate. “But that’s a lie. She could file a grievance. One of the doctors onboard could petition to reveal the records because she needs to know her medical history.”
Terror shook his head. “This is a box you don’t want to open, Venom. If you follow this path you might be the one who gets hurt.”
“I trust that Dizzy will make the right decision for us.”
“I think you’re playing with fire.” With a wave of his hand, Terror ended the discussion about Dizzy’s parentage. “Talk to me about Devious.”
“Oh, so that’s what this rendezvous is all about,” Venom said as he rested his shoulder against the wall. “I didn’t think you would risk sneaking back onto the Valiant over a DNA test.”
Terror chortled. “What risk? Orion likes to bark loudly but there were no teeth behind his threat to vent me into space.”
“You hope.”
Terror shrugged. “I’ve gotten out of worse spots unscathed.”
Venom didn’t doubt that. “What do you want to know about Devious?”
“How did he look?” True concern darkened Terror’s expression.
“Tired,” Venom answered. “Haggard. I suspect being undercover for that fucking long wears on a man.”
“Yes, it does.” A far-off look crossed his face. “Believe me when I say that there are men undercover in far worse places.”
Venom shuddered to think of the backwater shitholes where the Shadow Force had stashed their operatives. “What’s he doing down there?”
“He’s climbing the ranks of the Splinter force. After we framed him and drove him out of the corps, he was taken right in by them. He’s been building rapport with them for over a decade. He’s a well-liked and very highly respected member of their organization.”
“It has to be tough to play both sides.” Venom worried that Devious might be in too deep. Of course, Terror probably worried the same thing.
“I’ve never doubted him. Not once.” Terror reached into the pocket of his uniform shirt and retrieved the small chip Devious had slipped to Venom that morning of the Grab. “Thank you for bringing this to us. It’s loaded with invaluable information.”
“I’m always happy to help, Terror.”
Terror clapped him on the shoulder. “I know you are.”
Venom considered the tiny chip Terror had tucked back into his shirt. “Should I be worried?”
“Not any more than usual,” Terror calmly replied. “The Splinters are planning a big move but we will make sure it fails.”
“And if you don’t?”
Terror’s lone eye narrowed. “We won’t—but just in case you might want to hurry up and get that beautiful new mate of yours pregnant.”
The warning came through loud and clear. Whatever the Splinters had in the works could bring the front lines of the battle to Calyx. It would mean months—maybe even years—away from Dizzy. The very thought of being separated from her and forced back into the thick of the bloody, brutal war made his stomach churn.
“Speaking of your little mate,” Terror glanced at his watch, “I think it’s time to queue up to collect her. You wouldn’t want one of those skinny flyboys to sneak in and snatch her right under your nose.” Then, just to goad him, Terror added, “I heard Risk was quite taken with her. I saw that he was on the list of speakers for their meeting today. Maybe he’s hoping to privately examine her.”
“I’ll break every damn finger on both of his hands,” Venom grumbled and reached for the door.
Terror laughed but stopped him from leaving. “Hey, are those Series 7 pants?”
“Yeah.” Venom slapped them against Terror’s chest. “But they still have that janky fucking pocket on the right side.”
“What? Still? Damn.” Terror took the pants and shook them out to study them. “Fuck it. I’m taking them.” With a lopsided grin, he remarked, “Looks like I found a way to get into your pants after all.”
Venom groaned at the corny comment and smacked Terror’s arm. “I’ll see you around, man.”
“For your sake, I hope not. I’m rarely the bringer of good news.”
They shook hands and Venom exited the dressing room. He found the soldier with his boots searching the store for him. After a quick apology, he purchased the boots and headed out to pick up Dizzy.
Terror’s parting words rattled round in his brain. He hoped like hell his run-in with the Shadow Force operative wasn’t a portent of things to come.
* * * * *
Finally getting the hang of the tablet Venom had given her, Dizzy took notes as the different speakers took to the small stage. Every now and then she stopped tapping at the screen to rub the irritated spot on her neck where her collar chafed her scars.
She hadn’t been very excited about coming to the meeting. Venom had practically dragged her through the door to get her here but now she understood why he was so adamant that she attend. The brief chance to interact with other women from her planet who had gone through the strange experience of being Grabbed was priceless.
After finding a seat, she had glanced through the pamphlets in her welcoming packet. Not long after, the program had started. So far the segments had been interesting.
First, General Vicious, a frighteningly huge and harsh-faced man, and Admiral Orion, an equally as tall and intimidating officer, had taken the stage to welcome them. Vicious certainly embodied his name. He had a loud, booming voice that made everyone pay attention, but there was an unexpected gentleness and kindness about him. From the looks of utter adoration he shot his wife Hallie, it was clear the man loved her like crazy.