Brandt turned, proud of himself for not leveling the man with a fist to the temple.
“Giles Stander. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is Owen Alder; he’s a friend visiting from the Edge.”
Brandt and Ash shook hands and nodded. The Edge was undefined universe, where neither Imperialist nor Federation held sway, when in reality it was far more likely the Imperialists were running illegal activity through to destabilize Federation rule. And Owen Alder was a shadowy figure, with ties to criminals and the weapons runners who made the Edge their private playground—especially those who trafficked in explosives. The situation got more interesting by the moment.
“Lots of credits to be made out my way, gentlemen. Just ask your cousin.” Owen’s beady eyes gleamed as he spoke. “Speaking of money, your woman, she’s quite interesting. I’d be willing to pay quite a nice sum for her.”
“Easy,” Sera whispered through the link as she approached.
“Sela isn’t for sale. There are whores, should you desire one.” Ash crossed his arms over his chest, and Sera approached.
“He’s lucky I don’t knock his teeth out for that,” Ash said through the link.
“Hello, darlings, did you miss me?” Sera handed them their drinks.
Brandt took the drink she’d procured and kissed her fingertips. Ash did the same.
“Of course we missed you.” Ash moved closer on one side, and Brandt did on the other.
“By the way, Ash, I think I’m wasted on Perry. It’s you he seems to be salivating over. Not that I blame him.” Sera’s mouth curved up.
“Ah, but he’s taken, isn’t he, sweet?” Brandt teased back, winking at Ash.
“I see Delia and Rina just over there. I’m going to go say hello so you can keep up the man talk, shall I?” Sera cocked her head and leaned into Ash a moment.
“Oh no, please stay. You liven our lowly circle.” Owen beamed at her in what was supposed to be a paternal manner, but it made Brandt’s skin crawl.
“Oh now, you!” Sela waved at him and laughed. “What were you all discussing then? Did you see this lovely bracelet my boys gave to me earlier today? It’s the little, very shiny things that make a girl happy.” She slid back her sleeve, slowly. The movement was seemingly innocent but filled with an inherent sensuality.
“The Walkers have been doing very well lately.” Perry puffed out his chest, and Sera touched his arm with a smile.
“How you all manage to be such smart men with all these ’Verses to deal with and the Imperialists just a few slips away is so very impressive! I can’t believe you aren’t worried!” She’d widened her eyes at that point, and Brandt noticed the way the others scrambled around to appear more impressive to her. Her artful question, designed to pull information from Perry, impressed Brandt.
“Nothing to be afraid of. The Imperialists want to make credits just like we do. Politics is a silly waste of time, you know.” Stander insinuated himself closer to her, his eyes directly on her breasts.
“Do you really think it’s that simple?” she asked, voice breathy, eyes wide with sincerity. Brandt wanted to laugh, but the act clearly worked on the men in their group.
“If the Federation simply let us make our profits without interfering, the Known Universes would be far safer. Especially for our credits.” Stander laughed suggestively and moved a bit closer to Sera.
“Ugh. How can she stand to let this pig touch her? Delia must use some kind of mind-altering substance.”
Brandt smiled and reached out to touch her hair. Stander caught the movement and stood back a bit.
“I can’t complain about the lovely baubles coming my way.” She laughed, deep and throaty, and Brandt shivered. Ash caught his eye, and Brandt knew his friend was as affected by her as he was.
But they had a job to do.
“Sela, sweet, I’d love a bite of something.” Brandt ran his fingers down her jaw.
“Of course, darling. I’ll get you a plate right now.” She turned to Ash, who played with the end of her braid. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes.” He paused, and Brandt’s cock hardened at the sexual tension between Ash and Sera. “And I’d be grateful if you’d prepare me something to eat as well.”
She kissed him quickly. “You’re a very naughty boy. One of my very favorite qualities. You two behave yourselves.” She winked at the other men. “And you, too. Stay out of trouble.”
It got quiet as she sauntered away toward where the banquet tables lay at the other end of the room.
“She’s quite something. I suppose the rest of us will simply wait impatiently until you tire of her.” Stander sent them an oily smile, and Ash wanted to shoot him.
“She is. And we won’t. Tire of her, that is. And in truth? I think she might be a bit more than most men could handle. It’s why she needs two of us.”
Brandt laughed and changed the subject. “But as far as sharing business with you? Well that’s another matter entirely.”
Stander’s eyes lit. “Ah yes. Perry can talk with you on that as well. We have friends in all sorts of places who like to hear things, things you might come across here and there.”
Ash’s stomach clenched a moment, but he kept his expression bland.
“Although perhaps we should move into this back hallway.” Tifrit, the Nondalese who owned the house and the party’s host, indicated with his chin.
“Probably a space with less surveillance. Sera, hold off for a while. Speak with the women and see what you can find out that way.” Once Ash had sent that to Sera, they took their drinks and followed the others.
“So, do share this new Walker economic plan, Perry.” Ash leaned against a wall and watched his cousin.
“Your woman is wearing the benefits, Ash, so don’t take that tone with me.” Perry was a sloppy drunk. Weak. Perfect for Kira, he supposed.
“No tone, Perry. But as my credits are involved here, I admit to having concerns and being curious.” Ash shrugged.
“Calm down, Perry. No one is picking a fight but you.” Stander turned to Ash. “There’s more to the Known Universes than our part of it. Credits to be made, information exchanges to be had. Profit changes hands much more easily when politics isn’t in the way,” Stander interjected.
“Information? Like what?” Ash sipped his drink.
“There’s information and then information. Our friends need a helping hand to get a toehold on this side of the Edge.” Stander smirked, and Ash wanted to know what Owen Alder had to say about the whole thing. Stander was a pompous braggart, but it was fairly clear Alder had more power in this little group.
“Forgive my saying so, Giles, but what is your expertise here?” Brandt asked.
“I know how to spend credits. I know many other people who do as well. And I know the people who help me spend them.” Giles looked smug, but Ash had no idea what the blasted man meant.
“Yes, Giles, your expertise is racking up great deals of debt and having people hold it over you so you get leveraged into a corner. Don’t forget to mention the people you owe the credits to.” Perry sneered, and Ash thought there was more to the spat than simple intoxication. Perry sounded jealous.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen!” Owen stepped in between the men, and Ash realized his good-natured facade had fallen away. Owen wasn’t the fool he tried to portray himself as.
“You’re just jealous, Perry. I’ve got the women, and I’ve got the deals. Without my connections, you’d have nothing.” Giles pushed Perry’s shoulder. Brandt and Ash took a step back. Ash wouldn’t lift a finger to protect either drunken fool.
“If you call those men who hound your every step and threaten to kill you if you don’t pay your chits from the tables connections, I suppose you’re right. Face it, Giles, you’re only part of this because they can use you.” Perry shoved him back.
Owen’s mouth flattened into a tight line. “That’s enough.”
“I agree. This is my home, and there’s no call for this sort of behavior among civilized people.” Tifrit sniffed indignantly as if working with the enemy was civilized.
“No one uses me! I have useful information. And some people want more than they’ll ever have.” Stander glared at Perry, and Ash knew where the jealousy lay. He’d seen desire on the face of many people, but Perry didn’t just want power, he wanted Giles.
But Stander said nothing else as Owen and Tifrit grabbed him and harshly told him to be quiet.
People had turned to look, and Owen shook his head at the others. “You’ve attracted attention, Giles. That’s not healthy.”
“If you’ll excuse us, we’re off in search of Sela and a bite to eat. If and when a serious discussion about business happens, please contact me.” Ash drained his glass and placed it on a nearby table before walking away with Brandt. He knew they’d come to the end of any useful discussion at that point. But in the short time they’d been at the party, they’d discovered quite a bit of information, and it most certainly looked like Stander and Owen Alder were very strong suspects. Unfortunately, Perry looked guilty as well.