Rebel Souls (10 page)

“Why?” Seth pulled his collar down and switched his laser from stun.

“Don’t do that in here. He’ll take it as a challenge,” Ava said the words as Brodie tossed his shot back and slammed the glass down on the hovering table next to him. Too late. He’d caught it. “You need to leave.”

“Not until I find out what you’re doing in New Xiera.”

“This is not the time to argue. Get out of here, or I won’t be responsible for what happens.”

“I’m a big boy, Captain Frost. I can take care of myself, and I’m only leaving when you do.” He grabbed her arm, and Ava yanked away. Brodie rose to his feet, murder on his face. He moved across the bar, the crowd parted before him, giving him twice the space he needed. Within seconds, he was face-to-face with Seth.

“Duchess,” Brodie said, not breaking the stare-down. “You’ve brought a friend.”

“Brodie, you’re alive.”

“Yes.”

Both men glared at each other. Energy seethed around them. Several patrons collected themselves and exited as quickly as possible, somehow sensing the trouble coming on.

“It’s not what you think,” she said.

“What is it I think, Duchess?” He turned toward her, his face unreadable.

“Seth is on leave. He escorted me here for my safety.”

“Is this true?” Brodie turned back to Seth. “I somehow doubt the Duchess needs your protection. She’s managed all these years without it.”

“I escorted her here to get her arm bandaged. She said someone at this place could take care of it.” Seth stared back, holding Brodie’s challenge, refusing to look away or back down. “Are you that someone?”

Ava swallowed hard. “Brodie….”

Brodie raised his hand to silence her and broke the showdown, dropping his gaze to Ava’s arm. He didn’t need to posture to prove he was bad. If Brodie wanted to kill Seth—he simply would. He reached out and grabbed her hand gently, raising her wound to the light. “You call this keeping her safe? She’s sliced to the bone.”

“Children.”

“I know,” Brodie said, confirming Ava’s suspicions that he’d had advance knowledge of the encounter with the children and her traveling companion. Knowing Brodie, he already had scouts on the street, digging for information on the Regulator. He’d know everything about Seth, including the color of his undergarments, before the star rose in the sky. Question was, would he play nice?

“If you know so much, would you care to elaborate why the Duchess blasted backward through that wormhole?”

“Don’t call her Duchess.” Brodie’s face grew hard. No one called her that but Brodie. The ice in the words, the sharpness of his stare, made it clear he wanted it to stay that way. “I’d say she wanted to avoid getting blown to pieces by trigger-happy Regulators with nothing better to do than harass innocent freighter captains.” Brodie pulled Ava to him and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her backside against his hips. “Just so you know, if anything happens to Ava, I will kill you—Regulator or not.”

“You could try.”

Brodie tipped his chin down and pressed his lips to Ava’s ear, dropping his voice. “Keep him leashed, Duchess. If he brings the law to my doorstep, I’ll have no choice but to kill him.” Brodie released her and turned around, walking away. “Come. Let’s bandage that arm.”

Seth watched as Brodie wrapped Ava’s arm, the way he stroked his fingers along her bare flesh, the way his knees touched the outside of hers when he leaned in. He’d finished moments before, yet he lingered over her arm as if it were a steak and he were a starving man.

He noticed as the rise and fall of her chest grew more pronounced. Her nostrils had flared, her lips were parted ever so slightly and a blush had colored her cheeks. Seth balled his fist and his knuckles cracked. Why should it bother him? It shouldn’t, but it did.

“You done?” Seth snatched her free wrist and tugged her off the stool and away from the other man.

Brodie lifted his chin and fixed him with a piercing glare. “Not yet.” He grabbed Ava’s belt loops and tugged her back to her perch. “Sit.”

Seth pulled on her wrist, bringing her back to her feet. “She can stand.”

Ava twisted out of Seth’s grip and took a couple of steps away, remaining out of reach of both men. “I’m going into the other room to grab a drink and something to eat. When you two are done pounding on your chests, why don’t you come have a seat with me?” She strode off, not looking back at either of them.

“She’s not from your world,” Brodie said.

“She’s doesn’t belong in yours. What are you dragging her into?”

“What makes you think I’m forcing her into anything?” Ava’s friend turned toward Seth. “What makes you so sure she doesn’t belong in my world, Regulator?”

“That’s right, I’m a Regulator, and I know a criminal—a killer, when I see one. I don’t know who you are, or what you’ve done, but I know whatever it is, it wasn’t legal and someone died because of it. Ava isn’t a killer. It’s not in her genetics.”

“Maybe not, but she is Nexian.” The corner of the other man’s mouth curled. “So, are you going to arrest me?”

“If I find proof.”

“Leave her alone.”

“I can’t do that. I have a job to do, and until I get my answers, I’m sticking to her like an extra limb.”

“That could be hazardous to your health.” The man Ava had called Brodie rose and went nose to nose with Seth. “I’ve known Ava since she was a child. You hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

***

Moments later, they joined Ava. Chairs screeched across the floor on each side of her. Both men sat directly across from one another, posturing again. Ava ignored the stare down and shoved a full shot glass toward Brodie, knowing his favorite by heart, and a Terran beer toward Seth, trusting her instincts.

Seth lifted the beer and took a sip. A slight smile curled the corner of his mouth, letting her know he knew exactly what he’d just tasted. Bootlegged beer was almost impossible for someone outside Earth to get their hands on. The planet had died, along with the unique plants that gave the beer its flavor. The beer could only be obtained by looters, who’d sifted through the ruins in nothing short of grave robbery.

“You know this is illegal?” He turned the beer in the light and studied it. “Terran?”

Ava nodded.

“I’d be breaching multiple regulations if I drank that, including ethical standards.” Seth set it down and laced his fingers together. Even bootlegged beer was outside his standards. “But you already knew that.” The man simply wouldn’t break a law, anywhere, and that would be useful information to keep in the back of her mind.

She shrugged. “I thought you’d be thirsty.” She had, but it wasn’t the reason she’d ordered the beer. She wanted to see if he’d drop his standards, break a small law. Most Regulators would have shrugged it off and drank it. Bootlegged, yes, but not dangerous and the fine was minimal, smaller than if one jaywalked. Besides, it wasn’t enforced by local authorities. New Xiera could give a shit less about where the beer had come from.

She caught Brodie out of the corner of her eye. He’d crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat, watching the exchange.

“Not for illegal brew,” the Regulator said.

Brodie shoved his shot across the table. “Do you mind? I have a date with Captain Frost.”

“Funny, so do I.” Seth picked the shot up and downed it without flinching. He slammed the glass down on the table. “What game are you two playing?”

“Do I look like I play games, Legatus Reynolds?” Brodie said in a voice so low, Ava had to strain her ears to listen.

“So you know who I am.” Seth twisted the glass of beer around in the dim light. “Care to return the favor?”

“Not especially.”

This was going nowhere good and fast. Ava waved the waitress over. She’d need a lot more liquor to pacify these beasts. Seth raised his hand to stop the server in her tracks. “You’re not here for a date. She looked more than surprised to see you, mentioned she thought you were dead.”

“It’s been a long time.”

Seth smiled. “I’ll bet it has.” He lifted the glass of pilsner. “So is this what you smuggle, Captain Frost? Illegal beer?”

“I’m not a bootlegger or grave robber, Legatus Reynolds.”

“Seth, please. Legatus Reynolds seems so formal now.”

Brodie’s expression grew murderous. “Are you insinuating you’ve fucked her?”

Shit
. Ava clamped down on her seat. Heat flooded her face. “Brodie.”

Brodie shook his head, warning her to stay quiet, and leaned toward Seth. Ava swallowed. This wasn’t going to be good.

“So, you two are well acquainted?”

“Brodie, enough.”

Seth stared. “Funny thing about names. I knew your name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it until now.”

Brodie pulled his laser and pointed it at Seth. “I think you should leave.”

“I think you should put that away before my backup arrives.” Seth set a blinking tracer down on the table. “I wouldn’t fire with all the witnesses.” Brodie glanced over at the door and stood. He holstered his sidearm and nodded to Ava. “I’ll see you later, Duchess.” He spun on his heel and headed for the back of the club, past employees and patrons that simply moved out the way to let him by. He continued through a set of doors, disappearing into the dark alley behind the building. Ava wasn’t worried. He’d keep his promise and see her later. The Regulators wouldn’t find him if he didn’t want to be found.

Seth turned to her. “Care to tell me why you’re meeting with the leader of the Nexian Underground? I knew his name seemed familiar, but it wasn’t until I downed that liquor that I knew who was sitting across from me. Only a Nexian would drink that piss.”

“Brodie is like my brother. We grew up together.”

“You did more than grow up together. I know possession in a man’s face when I see it. He thinks he owns you, and the only reason a Nexian male would think he owns a Nexian female is if he’s been with her intimately.”

“I don’t have to explain anything to you.”

“No, you don’t,” he said and twisted the glass around, letting the light play across the surface, as though he contemplated something deep. “Do you have any idea how many Regulators are looking for him? I just did you a favor. I let him walk out of here.” He shut the tracer off. “And the tracer wasn’t activated. I bluffed. So I think you owe me an explanation. Start talking.”

Ava swallowed. “I had my uncle on my ship. That’s why I blew through that wormhole backward.”

“You know I can arrest you for harboring a fugitive.”

“Yes.”

“And Brodie?”

“I didn’t expect to see him here. I just wanted to relax.” She sighed and gave him her most serious expression. “Do you really think I’d bring you to him if I knew he’d be here?” Which was true. If she’d known it was Brodie who would be here for the meeting, she wouldn’t have shown. Not only because she wanted to protect him, but after ten years, Brodie was the last man she wanted to face. He was in her past and that’s where he should remain. Her heart couldn’t take his resurrection.

Seth nodded. “I don’t give second chances.” He dropped credit on the table and rose to his feet. “If you’re smart, you’ll stay away from him. If I find out you’re involved in any of his endeavors, I’ll arrest you along with him.” He stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “Do you understand the consequences of conspiring to overthrow the Nexian government?”

“Death,” she said.

He held her gaze for a moment, twisting her insides into knots. She knew better than most the penalty she faced. Her father and mother had died for the same cause. He gave a slight nod, turned around and walked from the bar, leaving her sitting at the table alone. The last thing she’d expected. She blew out a breath and collapsed against the back of her chair. Was he setting her up, or was he really giving her a second chance?

***

Seth leaned against the outside of the club. Perhaps he’d been a little harsh? He didn’t need to push so hard. Maybe she hadn’t known the Rebel leader would be there, and she’d told the truth, that she’d come to the club to relax. She’d also admitted the reason she’d escaped through the wormhole. His gut told him she hadn’t lied.

Still, he felt there was more to it. When Ava had seen Brodie, she’d panicked. She hadn’t wanted Seth near him, and something told him it was because she wanted to protect him. Brodie may be the friend she claimed, but he’d also been something more in her past. To Ava, whatever had gone on between her and the Nexian revolutionary was over. He could see it all over her face.

Seth wanted her, but he wasn’t alone. From the heat in Brodie’s eyes, the way he touched her, he believed he owned her, and made it clear encroachers wouldn’t be tolerated. For Ava, it may be over, for Brodie it wasn’t.

The Rebel leader would be back for her shortly, but not until he said what he had to. Brodie wouldn’t leave Ava alone for long. He had a few things he wanted to say, and Seth knew whatever it was, he didn’t want to say it in front of her. Something more was at stake, or he wouldn’t have left. If it were simple jealousies, he’d have pulled the trigger and put a hole in him big enough to walk through. Things like threats and tracers didn’t scare a man like the Underground’s leader. He’d intentionally backed off.

“She doesn’t belong in your world.”

Seth turned to look into the dark, where a shadow shifted in the dim crystalline light from a hovering lamp. He’d known he wouldn’t go far, had felt him watching. “Don’t drag her into yours.”

There was a snort. “She was born into my world. Do you know who
she
is?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t make her a criminal. Her actions will determine that.”

“What do you want with her?”

“Nothing now. She told me why she blew through the wormhole backward.” Some of what he said was a lie. He wanted her. Every cell in his body screamed for her.

“You’re not very convincing. Why didn’t you call in your backup?”

Seth didn’t know. He knew if he had, Ava would never forgive him. He could see in her eyes that she loved Brodie. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“So talk.”

“Let her go. If you drag her into your revolution, it will be the same as putting your laser to her head and pulling the trigger. The Nexian authorities have a sizeable head price on you, but not on her. Not yet.”