Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(61)

“We have a possible target,” Cutter stated, angling his tablet so Destin could see.

“Who?” Destin asked, walking over to get a closer look at the image on the tablet. “What’s that?”

“That is a Raftian. He was doing some electrical repairs today. One of the buildings was this one,” Cutter replied in a grim tone.

“What did you find?” Trig asked, peering over Cutter’s shoulder. “Shewta! Cartis!”

Cutter turned to face Trig. “You know the Raftian?” he asked with a frown.

Trig nodded. “It looks like Cartis. He worked with Cannon, Sword, and Jordan to help free Razor, Dagger, and I on Bruttus. Cannon knows him. If that is Cartis, there will be a Jawtaw named Omini not far from him. They work undercover together on the intergalactic slave market – to break it, not supply them with more.”

“The missing women…,” Destin said with a frown. “Is it possible they would know what happened to them?”

Trig ran a tired hand through his hair and nodded. “If Cartis is here with Omini, there has to be something going on. If there is, they would know. So much for thinking the Waxians and Drethulans were going to be our only issue,” he said with a shake of his head.

Cutter released a muttered curse and glanced around the room. Destin saw the suspicion in Cutter’s eyes. His gut clenched when Cutter turned to him.

“Badrick was involved before with transporting human females off this world. What is to say that Councilor Ikera has not decided to continue her predecessor’s work?” Cutter asked.

Destin’s fist clenched and he took a step closer to Cutter. “Sula has nothing to do with the missing women. Might I remind you that they had disappeared before we ever arrived? Badrick was a bad apple. What proof do we have that it isn’t a group of Trivator warriors behind their disappearance – or you for that matter? After all, this is all happening under your watch and Alissa was last seen talking to you about it!” Destin retorted in a low, angry tone.

“I think we all need to get some rest,” Trig muttered, casting a wary glance at Cutter and Destin. Both men were standing toe to toe. “As much as I hate to tell you this, Cutter, my orders are to protect Destin at all cost. If you two come to blows, I’ll have to defend him.”

“I don’t need protecting or defending,” Destin growled under his breath, not breaking the eye contact he had with Cutter.

“She will be confined to the base until I know what is going on,” Cutter replied in a tone edged with steel. “If nothing else, her remaining in the medical unit would ensure her protection if she is innocent.”

“Like hell,” Destin said with a shake of his head. “She and Beth were under your protection when they were attacked here. She’ll return to the tower with me. My team and I will protect her.”

“Destin…,” Cutter started to say.

“She goes with me. I’m not leaving her here, especially now,” Destin stated with a wave of his hand, barely missing Cutter’s chest.

“Maybe it might be best, Destin. Patch and the human nurse can make sure her wounds heal properly,” Trig suggested.

“It isn’t just her wound. She’s pregnant,” Destin said, his voice tight with determination. “I trust my guys to protect her.”

“Pregnant!” Cutter and Trig muttered in shock at the same time.

“This is the end of this discussion. Tim! Richard! We’re returning to the medical unit now,” Destin called out to the other two men as he pushed past the two stunned Trivator warriors.



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Sula slowly came awake. Her hand instinctively moved down to touch the arm wrapped around her waist. She winced when a shaft of pain reminded her of everything that had happened last night.

“I’ll get Patch or Chelsea,” Destin murmured, his voice thick from sleep.

“No, not yet,” Sula whispered, closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of him pressed against her.

“How are you feeling?” Destin asked.

A small smile curved Sula’s lips when his hand moved down to cover her stomach. Fresh memories washed through her. She couldn’t squeeze his arm without pain, but she rubbed her foot along his jean clad leg.

“I don’t feel quite as good as I did after Patch gave me whatever he did for pain. How is Beth?” Sula asked, carefully rolling over when Destin moved so she could turn. “Did you see her?”

“She’s fine. She suffered a graze to her arm. She’s already peeked in on you,” he murmured, leaning up on one elbow to gaze down at her.

“I was so frightened. Those men… they were going to kill her,” Sula whispered, blinking rapidly when tears filled her eyes. “I never cry and now I appear to do it frequently. It is very irritating.”

Destin chuckled and raised a hand to wipe the tear that escaped. “Hormones – I guess even aliens have them,” he teased before sobering. “What were you and Beth searching for, Sula? It was obvious you two were on a mission.”

Sula swallowed and nodded. Her head turned and she gazed around the room, an expression of worry on her face. Looking back up at him, she licked her dry lips.

“I don’t want to tell you here,” she whispered. “After last night… I don’t trust it here.”