Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(49)

“What do you want, alien?” Destin demanded, keeping the desk between him and Badrick.

Sula could just imagine Badrick’s expression, or at least the one he would like to give Destin. She had faced Destin when she had first arrived and remembered how terrified she had been of the icy hardness in his eyes and voice. Yet, even then she had been attracted to him, which had caused a great deal of confused and conflicted thoughts long after they had parted.

“I have a… what is the word you humans use… a proposition for you,” Badrick replied with a wave of his hand. Sula noticed a glimmer when he did it and paused the vidcom for a moment.

“Enlarge area around the hand,” she ordered, waiting. “Enlarge. Capture image and run analysis with detailed graphics. Return to normal and continue playing.”

“What kind of proposition?” Destin asked.

“If the fighting does not cease between you and the other human, I will not be able to protect this area any longer. Already the Trivators have expressed a desire to end all conflict so rebuilding can occur. Their Chancellor, a Trivator named Razor, is already on his way,” Badrick said in a calm, almost bored tone.

Sula caught a glimpse of Badrick’s finger running along the edge of the desk in the vidcom. He turned his hand over and she saw the line of dust along the tip before he wiped his finger clean and his hand disappeared from view again. Her gaze returned to Destin’s face.

“If he comes, we’ll deal with him just like we have every other alien that has stepped foot on this side of Chicago,” Destin replied in a clipped tone.

“I find you humans rather amusing. You say such things without realizing how… inadequate you really are against the powers of the Trivators,” Badrick replied with a loud sigh.

“What’s your point, alien?” Destin demanded, crossing his arms.

“Razor is the last resort. He will destroy the city, leaving nothing. The Destroyers will flatten it, scanning for any life form and eliminating it without mercy. The Trivator will annihilate all living forms from this city – but, there is a way to prevent that,” Badrick stated.

Sula’s fists clenched at the smug tone in Badrick’s voice. Oh, how she wanted to put her fist through his face. It was a good thing he was dead or she would’ve killed him.

“And this is where you tell me what your ‘proposition’ is, I take it,” Destin remarked, dropping his arms to grip the back of the chair.

“Yes,” Badrick replied. “I propose supplying you and your followers with alien weaponry and support. If you were to defeat Colbert Allen and regain control of the southern half of Chicago, I could convince Razor to ignore this… region. You would deal directly with me.”

“And, what do you want in exchange for supplying my fighters and me with this support?” Destin asked in a voice that chilled Sula’s blood.

“Don’t,” she whispered, already knowing what Badrick was going to say. She shook her head. “Don’t, Badrick.”

“Human females – within a specific age range and healthy, of course. Those that aren’t would be of little use to me. Ones like the female that greeted me would be sufficient. Though, that specific female would need to be retrained,” Badrick said.

“Why?” Destin asked, staring at Badrick through narrowed eyes.

“The universe is about credits, Mr. Parks. Healthy human females would bring a large number of credits. Your world has a plentiful supply of them and this….” Once again, Badrick’s hand waved into view. “Their lives would be no worse off than what they have here. There is a shortage of females in space. Business is about supply and demand. You supply me with what I need and in return, I give you Chicago. As I stated, I would start by taking a retainer of the dark-haired female that greeted me. In return, I’ll have a shipment of weapons delivered to you by tonight.”

Destin slowly walked around the desk. Pride flooded Sula when she saw Badrick take several steps back at Destin’s approach. Unconsciously, she rubbed her left fist with her right hand.

“If you so much as step one foot back on the north side of Chicago, I will slit your throat. Every man, woman, and child are under my protection. In fact, if I find out you’ve touched one hair on any human woman; I will hunt your ass down and stake it to the tallest building still standing to rot. Tim! Jason!”

“Yes, Destin,” Tim said, appearing immediately in the doorway.

“Toss this piece of alien trash and his comrades over the wall and make sure none of them come back. If he tries anything, kill him. If he even looks at a woman, kill him. Do you understand?” Destin ordered.

“Oh, I understand, alright,” Tim replied in a grim tone.

“You have made a vital mistake, Mr. Parks,” Badrick hissed out, stumbling when Tim grabbed his arm and he jerked it free. “Chancellor Razor will level this city and everyone will die anyway.”

“Get him out of here,” Destin ordered again with a jerk of his head.

Sula watched Badrick and his guards being roughly escorted away from the building. Whatever had happened after they stepped outside of it was lost when he cut the recording. She sat back, her stomach churning with nausea.

The thought of what must have happened to the women that Colbert sold to Badrick was too much for her. Rising off the couch, Sula hurried to the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before she threw up. Her legs shook and she sank down to the cool tile, her hand braced on it to keep from falling over. A soft groan escaped her and she gave up and slid down until her forehead rested against the cool tile.