“Okay.” Riley nodded.
Cyprian was right. This wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
“Just relax,” Cyprian said as they reached the suite.
“I wasn’t real relaxed before.” Riley gave Cyprian a wane smile.
Cyprian opened the door and they walked in. Mave, Pacen, Gio, and Nomino were talking and laughing in the central sitting room.
“You missed quite a show, but I see you got your human back,” Mave said.
“I did.”
“You didn’t happen to come across Adeoda did you?” Mave asked as he approached them.
“Unfortunately, I did. We need to talk about that. First, where’s Vintor?” Cyprian asked.
“In your room.” Mave gestured.
Riley followed Cyprian to the bedroom. When the door slid open, Riley froze in shock. Vintor lay bloody and bound on the floor, and the despicable reptile stood pointing a gun in Cyprian’s face.
“You’ve been playing a dangerous game, General,” Mave growled. “Did you think my friend wouldn’t find a way to reach me?”
Faster than Riley could process, Cyprian reached back and pushed her out of the line of fire. He ducked while lunging for Jyk’s gun.
Mave grabbed Riley from behind. She felt the point of a knife bite into her ribs, and gasped.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Mave growled, while tugging Riley over to his friends.
The three other smugglers had their guns drawn and trained on Cyprian. The general eyed them as he pointed Jyk’s gun back at the reptile.
“Lower it,” Mave snarled.
Riley bit her lip to repress a cry as the knife pressed deeper between her ribs.
Cyprian growled in frustration, then eased his finger off the trigger and lowered his arm.
No. Shit. Shit. Shit. Oh, no.
“I’ll take that back,” Jyk hissed as he retrieved his gun from Cyprian.
“If you harm her, I promise I’ll take you apart a piece at a time,” Cyprian snarled as he eyed the knife pressed against her side.
“Don’t worry, General. We’ll show the curvy human the same hospitality you showed her,” Mave sneered.
Cyprian struggled as the reptile and the smugglers bound his wrists. Riley tried to get free of Mave, but he held her tight. If she hadn’t been there, Cyprian might’ve had a chance to fight his way free.
“Is the distasteful business over?” Cuttles asked as he emerged from another room along with several of his guards. “I am sorry, General. I appreciate what you did for me, however, Jyk is a very important client, and he suggested you might be bad for business.”
Cuttles, you fucking bastard!
Cyprian eyed the Overseer menacingly but kept his mouth shut.
“I should kill you for the betrayal,” Mave informed Cyprian. “But, you’re going to earn me a pretty credit on the auction block.”
Riley could see the concern in Cyprian’s eyes, though his countenance was stoic. He glanced briefly at her pendant before he was jerked away.
Riley’s mind spun as she watched Jyk and the Verrater guards haul Cyprian and Vintor out of the suite. She had to do something. She would contact Aculus, but she didn’t know how long it would take him to respond. There was no way she could stay with Mave and his band of perverts. God only knew what they would do to her. Riley also refused to lead Aculus into a bad situation. Her eyes landed on Cuttles.
Perhaps the greedy bastard is my ticket out.
This time, Riley didn’t hesitate to act, like she had one too many times before.
“Overseer.” Riley captured Cuttles’ attention as he turned to follow his guards.
Cuttles stopped and looked at her inquisitively.
“If I’m not mistaken, now that I’m without an owner, I revert back to the house,” Riley said while pinning the tentacled man with a pointed stare.
Come on take the hint, you greedy fucker.
“Despite our differences, we are the general’s kinsmen. We’ll take possession of his property,” Mave insisted as his grip tightened on her.
Cuttles looked from Riley to the Cadi smugglers, then back to Riley. She wanted to smile in triumph as she saw the avaricious gleam creep into his eyes.
“Unfortunately, gentlemen, title to this chattel was in one name only. Since that individual has forfeited his rights, while on my asteroid, his property becomes the property of Distraho. If we were on Cadi, we would abide by your laws.”
Mave growled in anger when Cuttles waved a few guards over to collect Riley. Mave had no choice but to release her. His few men were nothing compared to the entire security force of the asteroid. Riley shrugged off Mave, and walked toward Cuttles, her head held high.
“You are a scheming one,” Cuttles commented as they entered the hall.