Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)(81)

You can’t screw this up. Cyprian and Vintor need you.

Her mind rolled through various ideas, till a ping at the door pulled Riley from her thoughts.

“Aculus dear, it was so kind of you to bring me dinner,” Riley said as she opened the door for the bony giant.

“Of course, little human,” Aculus replied as he entered, then shut the door.

Thankfully the Verrater guard didn’t bat an eye, nor did a single whisker twitch, as he ignored them. Riley led Aculus into the soundproof bathroom and shut the door.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“Here’s the quick version. My owner, Cyprian, and his friend, Vintor, are actually good guys. They infiltrated a group of smugglers working with the Jurou Biljana. They came to Distraho to retrieve me and some other people that were abducted from their planet. They were just discovered by their smuggling companions. The Overseer imprisoned Cyprian and Vintor, because that damn lizard is such a good client.” Riley took in a deep breath. “So now we need to save them along with blowing up the database.”

“This is not possible in the time frame we are working with. Even if you get into the back halls to place the incendiaries, how are you going to also free them?”

“Well, I got a room to myself, and got you past the guard,” Riley hissed in aggravation as she waved her hand at her surroundings. “I’m not about to let your people blow this whole place to hell. And I’m not leaving Cyprian to be sold or blown to smithereens. So, show me what you’ve got, and let’s come up with a plan.”





Chapter 12. Clandestine Plan




Riley

It’s time. It would’ve been better if you slept, but you can do this, Riley told herself as she stood in front of her hotel room door. Riley looked down at herself a final time to make sure everything was in order. Well if I die, at least I’ll go out looking hot.

She adjusted her cleavage, which had miraculously increased a cup size overnight, thanks to a few explosives, then opened the door and stepped into the hall.

“Take me to the Overseer. We have a meeting,” Riley said to the guard outside her door.

“The Overseer didn’t notify me.”

Riley smirked at the hairy man. This wasn’t the same Verrater that had been assigned to her the night before.

“I doubt he tells you everything,” she replied.

Don’t be difficult, she silently begged the guard.

“My orders are to keep an eye on you.”

“So, keep an eye on me,” Riley retorted as she started to walk away.

The guard quickly caught up to Riley and grabbed her arm. Riley glanced down at his hand. She repressed the urge to ram her heel into his foot. Instead Riley cast the man her most imperious stare, arching her brow, like Cyprian would, while saying nothing at all. His eyes widened and he loosened his grip.

Riley pulled her arm free and continued. After several steps, she glanced over her shoulder to see the whiskered man still standing there, looking perplexed.

“Well, are you coming?” Riley asked, with a wane smile.

She repressed an eye roll as the overgrown rodent hustled to join her.

“What’s your name?” Riley asked.

“Nequam,” the furry man replied after hesitating a moment.

“Nice to meet you Nequam. How do you like working at Distraho?”

Riley made small talk to put the man at ease, and take her mind off what was coming. She also wanted to sell her story that she was a fellow new employee.

“It feeds my family back home,” Nequam said flatly.

Oh Jesus. The reply surprised Riley and she took a second look at the guard.

“But surely there are perks working in a gorgeous place like this?” Riley pressed further.

The Verrater abruptly stopped and turned to Riley.

“I don’t know what arrangement you made with the Overseer to get free of the slave hold, but don’t be fooled, the Topus owns you. He owns all of us,” Nequam added under his breath.

“I’m not fooled.”

Riley attempted to maintain her forced smile as she continued walking. Nequam’s comments cemented her resolve to take Cuttles down. It also confirmed that she couldn’t let Aculus’ people indiscriminately kill everyone on the asteroid. There were people on all sides who didn’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire.

As they wound their way through the back halls and approached the Overseer’s office, Riley took a deep calming breath to ease the insane amount of adrenalin coursing through her. The damn implant was yanking her chain, amping up everything she felt.

Remember what’s at stake if you lose your shit. Cyprian entered her mind, like he had all night. I’m going to get you out of here. Please be okay.