Janey and Daisy entered and the conversation was over. Janey sat down at her console and immediately her manicured fingers were flying. Daisy took the seat next to Rico. Daisy was genetically modified, a GM like Tannis, though in Daisy’s case, her DNA had been mixed with some sort of plant—Tannis had no clue what.
El Cazador had picked up her escape pod floating in deep space after her family had been slaughtered three years ago, as part of the Church’s purge of GMs. Daisy was now copilot and loved flying, taking the controls whenever Rico would let her. According to Rico, she was a natural, though he never said it where Daisy could hear.
Today, as usual, she was dressed as some sort of mini Rico—whom she had a huge crush on—black shirt and black pants tucked into knee-high black boots. Her green hair was pulled into a ponytail, her pale green skin glowing. Her chlorophyll levels were high—she must have been on her sun bed.
“Where is he?” she asked.
“Who?” Tannis replied, although she knew exactly which who she meant.
“Callum Meridian.” Daisy almost bounced with excitement. With her boundless enthusiasm, she made Tannis feel old. “Those wings were just amazing. Did you know he was a fighter pilot back on Earth? And he was the best.”
“Christos,” Rico muttered.
Tannis almost grinned. It looked like Rico was in for some competition in the hero-worship department, and he obviously didn’t like the idea. It wasn’t funny, though. This trip was already fraught with potential catastrophes, and they could do without any testosterone-fueled pissing contests.
What they did need was a meeting.
“Get everybody together in the conference room in half an hour, including his Leadership—we need to find out just what it is he’s paying us to do.”
…
Callum was hungry. It wasn’t something he was used to—he had servants to make sure he had everything he desired, the second he desired it. He only had to think he wanted something and it would be there.
Obviously, not any more.
He’d go in search of this galley as soon as his other hunger was under control.
He stared at the open doorway where Tannis had exited ten minutes ago. Her reaction to his kiss had been unexpected. So had his. At least it confirmed there was nothing wrong with his libido—his dick was rock hard. His disinterest must have merely been boredom. There were too many women all too eager to bed him for reasons he’d not bothered to question, but in the end the charm of having anyone he wanted had faded.
Now, it felt as though his body was coming awake after years of hibernation. Heat pooled in his groin and he shifted. He could still taste her, hot, spicy woman tinged with the exotic, and he wanted to finish what they’d started. Except, they hadn’t started it. He had. And from her expression afterward, he’d been the only one to enjoy their kiss. Before she’d wiped it clean, he’d seen shock and even fear on her face.
She was such a mystery, and that intrigued him.
Callum.
The colonel’s voice sounded in his head, and a ripple of unease ran down his spine. They’d agreed no contact except in emergencies. What is it?
Trouble. The Council have refused to recognize me as a member.
I left specific instructions—
Which they’re ignoring. But there’s more—all hell broke loose after you did your flying stunt. They are not happy. They put out a comm that you’ve been kidnapped, and they’re sending out everything they’ve got after you. They’ve also already posted a reward. A big reward.
Shit. You can at least stop the Council coming after me. Hell, you’re in charge of the Corps, they can’t move without your order.
Not anymore. They’re suggesting I’m complicit in your “kidnapping.” I think they’re planning on arresting me any moment, so if you don’t hear from me again—good luck. He was silent for a moment. They’re at the door. I’ll—
Callum swore loudly as the colonel was cut off. He must have been knocked unconscious.
Tyson?
The man’s mind was closed, but Callum shoved his way in—he was the only one of them who could do it, which came in useful if people were ignoring you.
Callum, you’re not very popular around here right now.
Like I give a shit. I’m finished with hiding—I told you that. Now reinstate the colonel, recall the Corps, and get rid of that reward.
Come back, and we’ll call everyone off. We can do some damage control, say it was a stunt.
Piss off.
He broke the contact. It looked like the Council had some balls after all. Pity they had to wait until now to show them. At least his hard-on was gone. He supposed he’d better go and tell the captain that they should expect company, so they could start thinking about how to avoid it.
The crew of El Cazador had spent two weeks being pursued by the Collective and had managed to successfully evade them. He hoped they could do it again—one of the reasons he’d employed them. He’d wanted someone with no connections to the Council who could keep him out of sight while he worked out what he was and what he wanted to do with the rest of eternity.
The comm unit beside the bed buzzed. He pressed it to open.