Mission: Planet Biter (Veslor Mates #4)(29)

Vera turned her head in the direction of the nurse’s voice and opened her eyes. “No thank you.”

The woman smiled, then turned toward Roth.

“We are fine,” he quietly stated.

The nurse left, keeping the door cracked open behind her.

Vera took a deep breath and tried to get her shit together as she forced herself to look at Roth. She licked her lips when their gazes met. He’d put on a shirt. It was probably so she wouldn’t hit on him again.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I can’t say it enough. You’ve been my rock since you rescued me from the pods. I owe you so much that I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you. I’ll think of a way though. That being said, I’ve taken up enough of your time. You should go, Roth. I’m sure it’s been difficult putting your life on hold for me. I’m okay to be on my own now.”

He stepped closer to the bed. “You’re still suffering from the drug.”

“I’m not as crazy as I was. You’ve stayed with me long enough, and I owe you everything for that. I’ll be fine on my own. Please, Roth. Return to your life. You’ve truly been my hero, and I appreciate you.”

He scowled. “I would feel better staying.”

She fought back tears, wanting the same thing. He wasn’t interested in her, though, and never would be. She was very obviously getting too attached to him. “Roth, you really should go. Please. I’ll be fine. You have a life to live. I’m going to sleep now. Thank you…and goodbye.”

She rolled back onto her side and closed her eyes, pulling the blanket up to hide her face. Tears slipped out of her eyes but she tried not to make a sound.

“Vera…” His tone was husky and soft.

“I just think it’s best if you go now. Thank you.”

Long moments passed, but then she heard him sigh. “Have the humans call me if you need anything, Vera.”

“I will.”

The door creaked, and when she finally dared to peek…he was gone.

She let the sobs come then.





Chapter Eight



Vera had chosen to sit in a shadowy booth inside one of the fleet bars, waiting for a glass of wine and the appetizer platter she’d ordered. Her seating choice would hopefully dissuade anyone from wanting to talk to her.

She needed to try to figure out what her next step would be.

She had been released from medical the evening before and assigned to a guest cabin. The drug had completely left her system. The doctors said she just needed rest, plenty of food to regain the weight she’d lost, and they were confident she’d suffer no long-lasting damage.

At least to her body. Her mind was another matter. She was the sole survivor of her team. Dr. Kane had subtly recommended seeking therapy.

Vera figured she would do that at some point. The more she thought about what had happened on Biter, the guiltier she felt. Now that she knew how they’d been drugged inside the pods, there was no denying that she’d made things worse once she’d taken control of the security room. It had been Vera who’d raised the temperature in the pods to make it warmer. That meant she—and who knew how many others—had stopped wearing layers of clothing that had protected their skin.

“Fuck,” she muttered. “I didn’t know. Hindsight is perfect.”

Shaking her head, she focused back on her task.

A visitor coordinator on Defcon Red had set her up with some clothing and other necessities. The borrowed personal data device the fleet had provided her with held messages when she’d logged into her communications account. One caught her eye immediately. She tapped on the message, hoping the work protection agency had good news. She paid fees to them to represent her if anything went wrong on a job.

And it really had.

The first few lines were the typical crap they always said, assuring her that they appreciated her business. She kept reading—and anger flared. New Worlds planned to hold her pay wages until after the investigation cleared her of any wrongdoing.

She hadn’t been the one who’d sabotaged the pods, drugging everyone!

The agency representative assured her that was normal procedure, and they had faith she’d be cleared. All medical leave would be paid for if she still needed treatments beyond the length of one year. That was good to know. She was also assured that they were getting copies of her medical records, which they’d use to go after New Worlds for additional monies if they were found to be at fault.

New Worlds would also have to immediately reimburse her for any and all costs while she was a guest of the fleet, until they could arrange travel for her to be taken back home to Earth.

There was a thump of something being set down on her table.

“Thanks,” she mumbled without looking up. She blindly reached out, but her hand bumped into a thick mug instead of a wine glass.

She lifted her head. A beer had been placed in front of her. The server had also forgotten her food.

“Hey!”

The guy at the table nearest her booth turned his head, staring at her.

Vera forced a smile. “Sorry. Not you. My server brought me the wrong drink.”

He glanced at the beer. “You don’t want it?”

“I can’t stand the stuff.”

“Do you mind if I have it?”