Mercenary Abduction (Alien Abduction) (8 page)

“A reputation based on molesting and kidnapping fellow convicts?” she grumbled as she

squirmed, not because he told her to, but because she didn’t enjoy being carted about like a sack of

potatoes. She also squirmed because she’d never had someone toss her over a shoulder with such

effortless ease and as shoulders went, his was quite nice.

“Molesting? Ha. You wish. Anyone could tell you enjoyed yourself.”

“I was faking it.”

“Only parts of it. Or do I need to throw you up against a wall and show you just how much you

didn’t fake?”

Please do.
“Don’t you dare.”

“Dare? I love a challenge.” His hand crept up her thigh, about to make him a quick winner to his

claim.

“Are you insane? Now’s not the time. We’ll get caught.”

“Then tell the truth. You liked it.”

Why did it matter? His hand moved up an inch. Her heart thumped faster. If she didn’t say

anything, would he make good on this threat? His fingers crept closer and her cleft moistened. Damn him.

“Maybe I liked it a little.”

“A lot.”

“Don’t push it.”

“I won’t, until you beg for it. And you will.” He said the last with a sensual leer as he set her on

her feet.

“You wish.”

“I know. Now, take out that camera, would you?” He handed her a gun, which he pulled out of a

pocket in the cloak, a gun she could have sworn didn’t exist. She’d felt every inch of that fabric. Passed metal detectors. Where was he getting all the stuff from?

Taking the gun, she checked the safety and the indicator level, which showed it fully charged.

“How do you know I can shoot?”

“A scammer like yourself has to know how to protect herself somehow. Since hand-to-hand isn’t

your thing, I assume it’s guns. Or knives. But, given you lack calluses and the fact you get squeamish at the sight of a bit of blood, I’m going to guess firearms.”

How surprisingly astute of him – maybe a little smarter than she gave him credit for. As she aimed

and took fire at the devices manning this stretch of hallway, he bent over, giving her a very nice view of his ass. She couldn’t help but ask, “What the hell are you doing now?”

“With them blinded, it’s time to foil our pursuers, of course, and buy us some time.” Up came a

grate in the floor, along with a knife, which he used to shear a lock off her head.

“Hey!”

“It’ll grow back.” He wedged the hair between the grate and floor, leaving an obvious trail. Then

he caught her hand and dragged her close.

“What is it with you and personal space?”

“In order for the cloak to work, we have to be under it.”

“That doesn’t explain why your hand is on my boob.”

He squeezed. “Because I like it there.”

So did she, but that was beside the point. “What’s next?”

“Now, we go back in the direction we came from.”

“What?”

“Let them split up where we took the cameras out and waste their time looking in the wrong

places. They don’t know about my cloak’s abilities and won’t expect us to return in that direction.”

“Or so you hope. That’s crazy.”

“Shhh. We’re in camera range. Stay close.” Damn him. She clamped her lips tight and trusted he

knew what he did. But the first chance she got, away she’d flee. Promise or not, the guy was a whack job.

A cute whack job, but still, she had enough dealing with one crazy partner without getting involved with a second.

Back up the hall they tread, trusting in the invisibility of the cloak, keeping silent lest the vigilant cameras catch their subterfuge. When the tread of boots came toward them, the urge to run almost took her out from under the cloak. As if sensing her need for flight, Makl tucked them into an alcove, muscled frame squishing hers against the wall, his lips brushing against her ear. Despite the situation, his warm, fanning breath did wicked things to her blood pressure.

The hired guards ran past them, their transmitters squawking.
“They’re in the sewers. Release the
kraken.”
Or so her translator called whatever this planet had that passed for one.

Fucking seriously? Mental note to self: never visit the sewers on this planet.

Coast clear again, onwards they went, past their cell and the dead guards, their flight hampered by

their need to remain out of sight under a cloak meant for one. Thankfully, they didn’t have much farther to go. Passing the empty guard station, they hit some stairs, which ended in a locked door.

This she could handle. “Got any picks in your pockets?”

“We don’t have time for that,” said the male who’d never seen her in action. Before Olivia could

show off her unlocking skills, Makl pulled out a laser pistol and shot the control panel. The door

whooshed open and a new alarm wailed to life.

“What was the point in hiding all the way here if you were going to do that?” she complained as

he dragged her through the portal.

“The few extra galactic units we gained as a head start might be needed later. Now, follow

closely. I’ll need my hands free for the next little bit as we might have to fight to make it to my ship.”

“Which will never clear the dock. They’ll have it clamped down tighter than the chastity belt I had

to wear as part of my ruse.”

He stumbled. “I would have liked to have seen that.”

“I’ll bet you would.”

“Distract me later with the stories. Follow and prepare to be amazed as I single-handedly save

your delicate human skin and escape this cursed planet.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” But even she had to admit, the more she saw of Makl – and despite

his flirting demeanor – the more she realized he hid a cunning mind. However, did he have enough skill to get them out of here?

If anyone could get them out of this, it would be Ifruum, her friend and teacher, but since her

mentor seemed to have left her to her own devices, she’d have to make do with her purple killer.

Uncle Murphy save them both.

I need to get away from here and off planet.
Easier said than done, and if by himself, Makl

would give it odds of around fifty percent for accomplishing it alive. Dragging along a human, who

winced when he killed to protect? Bound to either get him shot into pieces or catapulted into fame.

It seemed his pretty barbarian, while cool and collected in situations she’d scouted and planned

for, didn’t do so well when confronted with too much pressure – and violence. That or his awesome kiss still had her wits addled. He preferred to think the latter because it sure scrambled his thought process for a few moments. Oh, the temptation to ravish her, audience, danger, or not. Next time, maybe he wouldn’t stop.

Enough. He mustn’t think of sex – most specifically with
her
– right now. He needed a clear head to make it through the net of guards and mercenaries probably headed his way. Alone, he could have

probably melted away and blended in to the crowd, but with a distinctive human in tow, he would have

appreciated some help. If only he’d spent more time looking for a travel companion, a sidekick of sorts, to provide outside support during such situations. A partner to…

A warm breeze fluttered overhead as an aircar dropped from the defined aerial street and

hovered. He peered up, expecting to see a strobe light flick on and the security force blare its orders.

Instead, from the open door on the side of the vehicle, a ladder unraveled, its metal limbs unfolding and clacking into place.

What in the universe?

“Get in!” a voice shouted. A furry face poked from the opening of the floating car and a paw

waved.

Shoving him aside, Olivia scrambled to grab hold and clamber up.

He grabbed her leg in an attempt to hold her back. “What are you doing?”

Kicking free, she turned his way and rolled her eyes. “I’d say it was obvious. I’m escaping. I

knew if anyone could save me, it would be Ifruum. Although, you gave it a nice try, purple. Are you

coming?”

Coming? I hope to soon,
was his leering thought as he stared up at her waggling buttocks, her tight slacks contouring her shape nicely as she clambered up the suspended ladder. If only she wore a skirt, with no undergarments. He would have enjoyed a peek.

Sirens increased in treble and he snapped out of his drooling state – with a mental reminder to

garb her in a dress as soon as possible. Grasping at the rungs, he muscled his way up the ladder to her.

They didn’t have far to climb as the craft began reeling them in. Soon enough, they left the prison and horns behind and sat in plush chairs. Above the city they zoomed, just another speck of traffic. Makl didn’t relax, eyeing instead the furry male who listened to Olivia’s severely edited version of their escape.

What in the universe is it?
Makl couldn’t say he recognized what race Olivia’s companion

belonged to. Floppy-eared, his nose black and moist, the very tall, shambling carpet possessed a

somewhat humanoid shape, covered in hair. Lots of it. Straight in spots, tufted curls in others, and

splotchy in hue. The odd creature appeared as if he’d started out brown in color, then for fun, someone flicked a paintbrush at him and gave him blobs of grey, white, and black. Slightly comical in appearance, he looked about as dangerous as a newborn with his first wooden club.

“Who and what are you?” he asked when Olivia finally paused her narrative to take a breath.

Soulful brown eyes turned to peer at him. “If it isn’t the mighty Galactic Avenger himself. I am

most honored to meet you.” Down bowed the fuzzy head as if in admiration.

Makl didn’t fall for the act for a second – although he wanted to. “How do you know who I am?"

“Doesn’t the whole universe?” Eyes, holding a hint of mirth, rose to meet his.

Mockery. The recipient of it at family functions, Makl knew how to recognize it when he saw it.

He just didn’t understand it, not from a creature he’d never met before. He stared hard at the talking lintball. Big, innocent orbs blinked.

“Ifruum knows a lot of things,” Olivia said, snapping her fingers between them, breaking the stare

– a staring contest Makl would have won. “He always knows what to do and who people are. It’s his

gift.”

Somehow, Makl would have wagered it less a gift than people underestimating the seemingly

innocent alien. “Since you know who I am, then you also know who I’m related to.”

Ifruum’s muzzle peeled back in a freakish grin. “Very well, actually. You could say I’m doing this

as a favor to them.”

Makl pursed his lips in displeasure. “Please don’t. I prefer to incur and pay my own debts.”

“As you wish.” A glint of something, cunning perhaps, or mischief, shone in that disturbing gaze

for a moment. Makl frowned.

“So Ifruum, what’s the plan? Did you book us a flight out of here?” Olivia asked, as she tugged a

clean shirt from a sack at her feet and pulled it on. A shame, because he rather preferred her current look with the tight bandeau outlining her breasts and hinting at the dark valley between.

“Why pay for a ticket when our new friend has a ship to get us out of here and to our next job? As

a matter of fact, we’ve arrived already. I hope you don’t mind, I took the liberty of moving your

spacecraft before they confiscated it.”

Forget just frowning, Makl snapped. “How did you get through my security? For that matter, how

did you find my ship? I left it frukxing cloaked and locked.”

“Does the how really matter when it suits us?” Ifruum queried, as he guided them into the familiar

landing bay, which opened at their approach.

Enough was enough. No more riddles. Makl sprang up, as did Ifruum. Toe to toe, they stood, the

furball not tall enough to tower over Makl even if both their heads practically rubbed the ceiling of the car. “The how does matter if you want to live.”

“Oh, for God’s sake. Stuff the testosterone and stop screwing around. We need to work together if

we’re going to escape.” Olivia came out of her seat and inserted her whole body in front of him. She

pushed against his chest.

“He started it,” Makl accused.

“Because you can’t take it. It’s what makes it so much fun.” His soon-to-be new carpet didn’t even

try to hide his mirthful disdain.

Makl growled.

Olivia pressed her palm against his chest, but spoke to her friend. “Ifruum, stop. You’re

antagonizing him, and Makl tends to kill people he perceives as a threat or annoyance.”

“I’d listen to her if I were you.”

“He won’t harm me.” Ifruum didn’t appear worried in the slightest.

Idiot. “Don’t be so sure,” Makl snarled.

“Mercenary rule number eleven.”

Don’t kill your allies. But, was this pain in his buttock an ally? Let’s review. Helped him escape.

Knew Olivia. Olivia trusted him. Appeared to have aided him despite his wayward tongue. Damn. There

went his new shag rug. Although, ally or not, there were exceptions to the mercenary rule. Perhaps Makl could hope Ifruum broke one of them. He didn’t like people knowing his business. Or at least the private parts of it. But he especially hated it when people or other aliens touched his belongings. Makl, as an only child, never had shared well.

“You know the mercenary rules too?” Olivia asked her friend as Makl exited the small craft into

his ship’s landing bay. He didn’t pay attention to the answer as he stomped to a control panel, ready to wrest, physically if need be, control of his ship from the furry interloper. To his surprise, he needed to do nothing as his spacecraft responded to his commands without hesitation.

However, to be sure his new ally hadn’t left a surprise, he’d run some diagnostics later.

The door to the bay sealed shut, the cloaking device engaged, but only for the moment. As soon as