Starfall (Starflight #2)(65)

“Ammunition and imported fuel, like we discussed. I leaked the location to enough sources that the rebels are bound to find out. We’ll have them in custody by morning and begin interrogations right away. One of them is sure to give up the commander. Once we cut the head off the beast and take out the secondary leadership, the rest will scatter.”

“Good. Keep me posted.”





From the galley stove, Kane absently stirred a pot of chili while checking the clock display on the wall behind him. The rebel sting would take place soon, and he hadn’t been able to send a warning transmission to his mother because Renny hadn’t left the pilothouse a single time, not even to use the bathroom.

The man must have the bladder of a whale.

Kane couldn’t stop hearing the words take out the secondary leadership. He didn’t know his mother’s role within the rebellion, but he did know that take out meant execute, and he couldn’t risk that happening to her. If he had to physically drag the captain out of the bridge to make that call, he would do it.

Hopefully, an early dinner would accomplish the job.

He reached for his com-link, then caught himself and strode to the speaker embedded in the wall. He wanted to avoid using the link until he knew it was secure. While balancing a stack of bowls on one hand, he used the other to push the intercom button.

“Dinner’s ready,” he called.

Renny was the first to arrive. Kane held his breath and kept watch for Cassia while he set the table. More than anyone, he needed her to stay in the galley. Doran and Solara joined them from the lower level, followed by Arabelle and finally Cassia.

Kane met her at the threshold and handed her a ladle. “Serve the chili, will you? I have to run to the washroom.”

Cassia gave him a searching look.

“I’m fine,” he called, already climbing the stairs. “Don’t wait for me.”

To complete the ruse, he ducked inside the washroom, where he paused at the door until he heard the scrape of utensils. Once he knew the crew had begun eating, he tiptoed up another flight of stairs to the com-center in the bridge. Quickly, he entered the code and held a finger to his lips when the farmer answered.

“I need to talk to my mom,” Kane whispered. “Hurry.”

“She’s not here,” Meichael whispered back.

Kane’s heart jumped. He was too late. “You have to find her and bring her home. The military’s setting a trap. I don’t know where, but they’re using ammo to lure you in. The whole thing’s going down tonight.”

He hadn’t expected the farmer to smile. “We know.”

“What?”

“Badger wasn’t our only informant. Don’t worry about your mother. She won’t be anywhere near the sting operation tonight.”

Kane blew out a long breath.

“She’s at a meeting to form a secondary co-op school. A lot of teenagers dropped out when the war started, and most of them haven’t gone back.”

“That’s nice,” Kane said, not really listening anymore. His mother was safe. That was all he needed to know. “I have to go before anyone finds me here.”

“I understand, and thank you. We appreciate the warning.”

Kane shut down the transmission and crept quietly out of the bridge to the stairs. He had just released the nervous tension from his shoulders when he rounded the corner and came face-to-face with Cassia waiting for him on the upper landing.

He froze.

His skin flushed hot and then cold. For an instant, they only stared at each other. He scanned her expression, hoping against all odds that she hadn’t overheard anything, but when her eyes began to water and her chin trembled, he knew better.

“Cassy, no.” He held a tentative hand toward her. “It’s not what you think.”

But she was already running down the stairs. He chased after her, following all the way to their quarters because he had to make her understand what he’d done—and more important, what he hadn’t done. He hadn’t spied on her. He hadn’t lied.

She darted into their room and tried to shut the door. He wedged his boot in the jamb to hold it open. All that earned him was a pillow to the face.

“Take it,” she shouted. Then she ripped his blanket off the top cot and threw that at him, too. “Take it all, because you don’t bunk here anymore.”

“Cassy, you have to listen to me. I told the truth when I”—he dodged a handful of clothes—“when I said I wasn’t a spy. This was the only time, I swear. People could’ve been killed. People I care about.”

That seemed to enrage her even more. Her cheeks were wet and her eyes wild when she planted both palms on his chest and tried to shove him into the hall. He refused to budge. He had to make her listen. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Get out!” she screamed.

“Just let me explain.”

She clapped both palms over her ears. “Get out.”

“Cassy, all I want is to talk—”

“I swear to god, Kane,” she yelled, clenching her eyes shut so she didn’t have to look at him, either. “I know where Solara keeps her stunner, and I will use it on you if you don’t leave me alone!”

He could tell she meant it, so he staggered back a step, giving her enough leeway to slam the door in his face. The bolt slid into place immediately afterward. He slowly collected his clothes from the floor. Soon Renny appeared, offering a sock he’d picked up from farther down the hall. The captain didn’t ask what had happened, and Kane didn’t volunteer any details. The two of them gathered everything he owned and made their way to the common room, where they assembled a makeshift bed out of chair cushions and extra blankets.