So where the hell was everybody?
Because all was not clear. There were comms about the kidnapping and reward all over the city, and she was just about to give out the “good” news that everyone was confined to ship. Except just about “everyone” was conspicuous by their absence. Only Daisy was present, and she looked decidedly shifty.
At that moment, Alex strolled onto the bridge, hands shoved in the pockets of her hot-pink jump suit. She appeared relaxed. “Have you told her yet?”
Daisy shook her head, her ponytail swinging. “No.”
“Told me what?” Tannis said.
“Where is everyone?” Janey asked, as she and Skylar stepped onto the bridge.
“I was just about to find out.”
“They’ve gone,” Alex said.
“Gone? Who’s gone and where?”
“Callum, Rico, and Jon.”
“Jesus,” Tannis muttered. “Is no one capable of taking orders on this ship? Did I not say, ‘do not leave the ship’? Is that so hard to understand?”
“So where have they gone?” Skylar sounded way too reasonable.
“We’re not sure,” Daisy said. “It was Callum’s fault.”
Irritation pricked at her nerve endings. He was turning out to be more trouble than he was worth. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“It was just after Alex and Jon turned up. Callum came and told them he wanted to go into the city. Said he had something important to do and apparently he’s never been to Pleasure City—fancy that—living all that time and never—”
“Will you get on with it?” Tannis ground out.
Daisy pursed her lips but continued. “Well, Rico told him no. That you’d said none of us were to leave the ship. There was a bit of an argument. You know, I really don’t think Callum is good at taking orders. He seemed to back down and stalked off in a sulk. Next thing we know, he’s pinched a speeder and set out on his own.” She giggled. “Rico wasn’t happy. In fact, he was livid. He took Jon and they set off after Callum, but that was an hour ago.”
“Have they called in?”
“No. But I’m sure they’ll be all right. They’ll catch up with Callum. Rico might punch him again—or Jon might—I don’t think Jon likes him very much—then they’ll bring him back.”
Tannis tried to ignore the worry gnawing at her insides. Janey was right; chances were they would all get home without any problems. But bloody Callum was hardly likely to blend into the crowd with those wings. “Try and get hold of them. If you can, stop them before they get into the city. There are pictures of Callum blazoned over every building in Pleasure City.”
She paced the bridge and choked back the urge to rant. Why the hell couldn’t he have stayed put? And what the hell did he want in Pleasure City?
Stupid question.
He’d been trying to get it on with her since he’d come on board. No doubt, when he’d failed, he’d decided to go somewhere he could guarantee a more certain result. There were more pleasure providers on Trakis Two than the rest of the known universe put together. The idea of Callum screwing one of them filled her with rage.
She tried to tell herself that her anger was because she’d ordered him not to leave, but she knew there was more to it than that. The thought of him with another woman made her blood boil. Maybe she didn’t want him, but that didn’t mean anyone else was going to get him.
“Wait,” Janey said. “It looks like they’re back. They’re pulling up outside right now.”
Tannis hurried from the bridge and down to the docking bay. Through the open double doors, she could see Jon and Callum exiting the speeder. They both appeared okay, and some of the tension left her. Though she was still going to give him a bollocking.
She waited until they had entered the docking bay then strode up to stand in front of Callum, hands on her hips. His expression was closed, but irritation flickered in his eyes as he looked at her.
“Just which part of ‘do not leave the ship’ did you not understand?”
Callum shrugged. “I wanted to see the city. I—”
“Wanted to get himself a blowjob more like,” Jon interrupted.
Callum ignored the comment. “I was going to keep a low profile. If these assholes hadn’t come along, I’d have been in and out without anyone noticing.”
“You had half the bloody city on your tail by the time we caught up with you.”
Callum opened his mouth, closed it, hugged his cloak tighter around himself, and stalked away. Tannis watched until he’d disappeared then turned to Jon.
“Where’s Rico?”
“They got him.”
“Who got him?”
“One of the many groups who decided to go for that reward. Rico covered us while we got away, but I’m pretty sure he was overpowered.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, that about covers it. I was just bringing His Leadership back, and then I’m heading out there. We’ll find him.”
“I’m coming with you,” Skylar said from behind them.