Right, I’ll be in touch.
Once the colonel was gone, Callum lay on the bed and tried to work out what this meant. It was impossible to think of a plan of action until the intel came through and they knew what they were up against, but he supposed he’d better give them a heads-up on the situation.
If Tannis would see him. She might even decide to finish the job, though he didn’t think so. She wanted the Meridian treatment too much, and he was the only one who could give it to her. Though even that was looking doubtful, right now.
He put his feet to the floor and found, with a little effort, they would support him. He staggered into the shower and washed the sweat and grime from his body. His stomach still felt hollow, but that was no doubt because he was empty. He needed food.
But first, he was going to have to apologize.
Again.
It was becoming a habit.
Chapter Ten
“I’m sorry.”
Tannis glanced around at the softly spoken words. Callum stood in the doorway to the bridge. And he looked sorry.
Well, in a sorry state anyway.
Beneath the gold, his skin had a sickly green tinge, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. He leaned one shoulder against the doorway for support.
Good.
But he was upright, which was impressive considering the state he’d been in when she’d left him. And he’d obviously showered, his short hair was still damp and he wore clean clothes, black pants and a black sleeveless T-shirt. He was beautiful, and she hated him.
“You want me to get rid of him?” Rico asked from beside her. “He can be out of the airlock before you can say, ‘piece of shit Collective bastard.’”
Tannis considered the question. Would it help if he died? Would she feel better?
“Or I can do it for you,” Jon said. “It’s easy if you know how.”
Yes, if anyone could do it, Jon could.
“And I wouldn’t mind having a go.” Janey glanced up from her console where she compared data on Trakis Seven, looking for the best way to get safely onto the planet and away again. El Cazador couldn’t go in—Tannis couldn’t expose the rest of the crew to the poisons of the planet—so they would have to take one of the shuttles.
“And me,” Alex said. “I’ll do it. I wonder what would happen if a Collective member got eaten by a wild animal.”
“You mean like a wolf?” Jon asked with a grin.
Tannis held up her hands. “Nobody do anything. If anyone’s going to kill him, it’s me.” But she was warmed by their support. They would do it for her. Even if they risked the enmity of the powerful Collective.
They’d all been very careful around her, trying to act normal, but she could see the pity in their eyes. Or maybe not pity. Maybe compassion, which was a whole different thing, but still she wished they would hide it a little better. She didn’t do emotional. Not in public anyway.
She wondered who had told them. Maybe Rico, but she doubted it. More likely, Janey had pieced something together from the information. She was about the brightest person Tannis had ever met, and she’d probably have had no trouble putting together the clues.
The truth was she’d had a crap childhood. But so had a lot of people. Alex for instance, had been a priestess, and grown up in an abbey having to pray every day—that must have been far worse.
And just because she’d had a bad start, did that mean she should go through her whole life hating everything and everyone? She could do that, or she could put it behind her.
She couldn’t forgive him, this went too deep, but she also couldn’t put revenge before getting what she really wanted. So they would go to Trakis Seven, and she would get the Meridian treatment.
And then maybe she would kill him.
“So, are you going to kill me?” he asked quietly, breaking into her thoughts.
“I haven’t decided.”
“I think you have. If you wanted me dead—I’d be dead already. Now, if you’re not going to kill me, I have some information you need to hear.” He gave a brief flicker of a smile. “Afterward, you may want to change your mind.”
That didn’t sound good. She wondered whom the information had come from. Venna? Or had he been in contact with someone else?
“No, I’m not going to kill you. Yet. But I need a drink. Rico, go get some of your whiskey and let’s meet in the conference room in five. Janey, are you finished?”
“Yes, I’ve got a couple of options for the best approach.”
“Okay, bring the data. And somebody tell the Trog to get up there, I want everyone in on this.”
Callum stepped aside to let the others walk past him. He seemed oblivious to the dark looks and muttered comments he received, though he winced at something Janey said as she exited the room.
She should leave, but she hesitated. Callum leaned against the wall, hands shoved in his pockets as he regarded her.
“I know it’s not an excuse, but I didn’t know.”