Space Wrangler (35 page)

“It's a fucking miracle,” Rick drawled. “I need your word you'll send for medical help. And that you won't kill Alexia.”

“Kill her?” David grinned. “Son, I might just
marry
her.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

It was over in a matter of seconds. Rick surrendered his weapons, David pulled a silvery device from his pocket and raised the barrier, then the enforcers overran the prisoners. Belker and Sampson grabbed Rick and handcuffed his wrists with plexi-strips, then searched him and confiscated a knife strapped to his ankle. A third guard jerked Alexia to her feet and shoved her toward David, but didn't bother patting her down since the skin-tight dress told the whole story.

A gun in a hooker's boot didn't seem to occur to him. And Alexia had no idea how she could get to it without being noticed. Or what she'd do with it if she could. Hopefully, Rick had a plan for getting it from her and using the two shots to kill David and Belker. After that, maybe TJ could take command of the platform again.

Assuming he was still alive.

The fourth enforcer, a creep named Red, had knelt to examine TJ. Now he announced, “They're right, boss. It's bad. We should send for Dr. Meg.”

“Not yet.” David eyed the group coolly. “Get Gage and his slut to the holding cells. As for my son…” He paused, eerily contemptuous. “Gage can drag him along. Or leave him behind. His call.”

Alexia knew she didn't have the right to ask. Rick had done so much for her. And TJ had erred so horribly. But still she edged over to him and said softly, “Please?”

“Yeah.” He leaned his head down, nuzzling her neck and murmuring under his breath, “Just buy me time, beautiful. Whatever happens, just buy me time.”

Without waiting for her to acknowledge or question, he told Belker, “Use my holster to hook him up.” To TJ, he added with an arched eyebrow, “You're looking better already. Suck it up and we'll all survive.”

After reaching the basement level, the enforcers herded them down a windowless hallway to a pair of double doors marked
Holding Cells
. Four additional enforcers were waiting for them there, their expressions grim.

David barked orders like the madman he was. “Two enforcers stay outside the doors. The rest of you come inside.” As soon as they were through the doors, he continued in a joking voice, “Throw the whore in a cell with my son. Maybe I'll get a grandson yet. And put Gage in the next cell so he can watch.”

Alexia's gaze swept the room. Five bleak but spacious cells. White walls, white bars, state-of-the-art locks. The temperature was cold—almost freezing. The atmosphere even colder.

The only hint of warmth came from Cell Number Five. The one that housed Zeke Angelus, who was grinning despite an assortment of slings and bandages.

“It's about time,” the smuggler quipped.

“You're hurt?” Alexia wanted to run to him. To help him. Thank him. So she tried wrenching herself from Sampson's grip but he caught her quickly and shoved her into the cell with TJ, then slammed the door shut.

“Don't worry about me, angel face,” Zeke said, his tone solemn. “Seeing you in that dress makes it all worth it.”

She glanced down at her outfit, which was saturated with TJ's blood. Everything had gone wrong, yet Zeke was joking and Rick looked completely confident.

Not their first rodeo
, she reminded herself wistfully.
Too bad they have a loser like you for an ally.

TJ had been placed on a mattress on the floor of the cell, so she went to him, hoping to find a way to help him. The wound was bleeding again, courtesy of the rough trip from the third floor, but there was some color in the patient's cheeks, and he actually managed to wink at her through his pain.

“My father may be a monster, but he's not stupid, Lexie. Killing a Montoya heiress, a war hero, and the leader of the smugglers in one day? I don't think so.”

She touched his face, haunted by the fact he hadn't mentioned himself on that list. Killing his own son? Apparently David saw no problem with that.

She turned and stared through the bars at the patriarch. “Send for the doctor, please? I'll do anything you want. I'll have TJ's babies.
Your
babies. I'll proclaim Trent dead—publicly and often. Just save TJ, and don't hurt my friends.”

David's sneer warned he was about to say something loathsome, but Belker interrupted the conversation, murmuring, “Hey, boss. We're getting some weird reports. Locks failing all over the platform. Not this building yet, but the Trading Post and the executive dorm.”

“What?” David glared at Alexia as though certain she had caused the problem. “Check the cell doors.”

Belker tested Alexia's door first. “It's locked,” he said. Then he gave Rick a threatening stare. “Move to the back of the cell.” As soon as Rick complied, he tested his as well, then moved to Zeke's and repeated the instruction to stand back.

“What are you going to do?” Zeke demanded cheerfully. “Stomp on me again?”

“Zeke!” Alexia scolded him. “Just stand back.”

“Where's the fun in that?” he asked her, but he complied with her request, and Belker confirmed that Cell Number Five was also secure.

Still wary, David opened a screen on his pulse band. “Rousseau? Are you there?”

“I'm here, sir,” Gabby's voice assured him. “Are you calling about the locks? Maintenance is looking into it.”

“Open a channel to the sentient for me.”

“I can't do that, sir. There's no link from the prison area.”

“I'm sending you a single-use code. Just get the sentient on the line.”

“Yes, sir.”

The computer's voice rang out almost immediately. “How can I help you, Mr. Seaton?”

“The locks are failing. Did Gage do it?”

“No, sir. It appears to be a glitch caused by activation of a security shield in the third floor hallway. I was not aware of that feature until now, and my data is still incomplete. But Maintenance is working on the problem.”

“I want
you
working on it. Make it your top priority.”

The computer's tone stayed patient. “I am not able to do that, sir. Not without bypassing core systems, which would take time. As you know, the lesser computers are tasked with routine matters.
My
talents are reserved for high-level systems and issues. But I am confident the maintenance network will resolve it quickly. Would you like me to monitor their progress?”

“Are you telling me you don't control the goddamned locks on this goddamned platform? Not even in
this
building?”

“I do indeed control certain locks. Including the ones in the holding area in which you are now located. Also, your office and your son's office. And the doorway to my own compartment, although that appears glitchy too, most likely because of the partition that was installed without my assistance.”

“I get your point,” David drawled. “But you're saying you control the locks on the cell doors, right?”

“Absolutely, sir. They cannot fail, even if— And now I am receiving word that in fact, all dormitories have been affected. But full security in the Trading Post has been restored. Which confirms my theory that this is a glitch, not sabotage.”

“Very good.” He raised his voice, “Rousseau?”

“I'm still here, sir,” Gabby said briskly.

“Do you know where the doctor is?”

“I believe she's in the infirmary. Do you need her?”

“No, but tell her to stand by. I'm closing this screen, but leave the link with the sentient active.”

“Understood, sir. Rousseau out.”

David moved to the middle of the room, then swept his gaze over his prisoners. “Any ideas?” he asked them, taunting but also attentive, as though he would actually consider their input.

Rick spoke up quickly. “Get TJ patched up, then perform the ceremony between him and Alexia. Put out a bulletin that the smugglers faked Alexia's death in the sinkhole but have actually been holding her hostage. Tell the world you paid the ransom demands and recovered her safely. They'll love you for that.”

“What do I do with
you
?”

“Let me take Lana and the newlyweds to Sector Fourteen. You have my word of honor we'll stay there until the baby's born. We won't try to communicate with anyone.”

“The baby.” David pursed his lips. “What if the baby is
mine
, not TJ's? Does that change anything?”

When Rick's jaw clenched, Alexia broke into the negotiation. “It doesn't matter to me. As long as TJ's alive, and you let my friends go, I'll do what you want. The world needs hope, David. A Montoya-Seaton baby would give them that. Like Rick said, you'll be a hero in their eyes.”

“Except they think you're dead,” David reminded her. “And I like it that way. Plus, I promised Sergeant Belker he could have some fun with you like he did with Lana. I'd hate to disappoint him.”

“Fuck you, you fucking monster!” TJ shouted angrily. “You won't get away with it. There are too many witnesses. Too many loose ends. Just let Rick take Alexia to Sector Fourteen. If he gives you his word he won't bother you again, you can take that to the fucking bank.”

David chuckled. “Speaking of loose ends, what about
you
, Captain Angelus?” He gave Zeke a disrespectful grin. “Would you like to make a lot of money for a few hours' work?”

“You're singing my song,” Zeke assured him.

“No, boss,” Belker interrupted. “You can't trust him. He's a liar. And he's got a thing for the Montoya bitch. They
all
do.”

David shrugged. “Captain Angelus?”

“I don't kill women,” Zeke informed him coolly. “But otherwise, I'm your guy. Just tell me what you need.”

“Fuck you, Angelus,” Rick said contemptuously.

Zeke eyed him with amusement. “Your girlfriend never paid me, so I don't see the problem. It's just business, Gage. Nothing personal.”

“I'll double what Alexia promised you,” David told him. “All you have to do is blast Gage's ship to bits, then forget everything you know about the last two weeks.”

“No!” Alexia ran to the bars and grasped them desperately. “No, David. Just let Rick and his ship go.”

“Captain Gage has to die. Because of
you.
It's a pity, since I've heard he's an honorable man. The good news is, my son will stay alive, assuming he falls into line. And he
always
falls into line. Don't you, TJ?” Without waiting for a reply to his mocking words, he continued. “I'm confiscating Gage's ship and awarding it to Angelus. Then I'm executing Gage for your murder. I have witnesses that saw you two together and suspected an affair. When you married TJ instead, Gage went ballistic and killed you, then faked your death in the sinkhole. It's clean, don't you think?”

“Mr. Seaton,” came the computer's smooth voice. “Is this a convenient time for an update?”

“Not really,” he muttered. “But go ahead.”

“Locks have been restored on all dormitories, but they have failed again on floors two and three of the Trading Post. And it appears your son's penthouse has been affected as well. Of course, the holding area and your offices remain secure since they are in my exclusive control.”

“What about
my
penthouse?”

“So far it is unaffected.”

“Fine. Do what you can to solve this. And keep me informed.”

“Very good, sir.”

David walked closer to Zeke's cell. “Do we have a deal?”

“Double what Alexia offered me? And all I have to do is keep my mouth shut and blast the
Drifter
into space dust?” He pursed his lips. “Can I salvage her equipment first? The ACTs and the hyper drive?”

“Just blow it all up. With the money I pay you, you can buy any equipment you need.”

“Sounds like a deal.” The smuggler sent Alexia a rueful glance. “Sorry, angel face.”

She stared at him, wondering how to react. Was he bluffing? Or maybe not. He might betray Alexia for money, but Gabby?

Except Gabby wasn't actually in danger. And Zeke couldn't hope to save Rick and Alexia in his battered condition. So maybe he was just being practical. Separating himself to save his own skin, knowing she—and Rick—would die either way.

David turned to the enforcers. “Sampson? Red? Escort Captain Angelus to the space dock. Tell the docking crew to release the
Drifter
to him. Then come right back.” Raising his voice, he called out, “Computer? Unlock Cell Number Five. And be prepared to open the main doors.”

“Yes, sir.”

The soft click was almost imperceptible but Zeke swung the door open immediately and grinned at the two enforcers. “Be gentle with me.”

“Fuck you, Angelus,” Sampson muttered, grabbing him by one arm while Red took the other. Then they marshalled him past Rick and Alexia, who were standing near their cell doors, staring in silence as their supposed ally deserted them.

Zeke gave Rick a cheerful wink. “Look at it this way, Gage. At least you rescued
me.
Not bad, considering the odds you're facing.”

Rick's fists tightened around the bars but he said nothing. Or at least, not until Zeke and his escort disappeared through the heavy doors and into the outer hallway.

Then he shocked Alexia with a cheerful tone. “I didn't want to say anything in front of that pirate, but I have something you want, David. Once you hear it, you'll return my ship to me and let me take Alexia to Sector Fourteen. I can guarantee you that.”

“There's nothing in the world—on
either
side of the sinkhole—that could make me do that.”

“Sure there is. I'm your most experienced wrangler, right? Meaning I've spent hundreds of hours with the thugs. The infodroids. Learned their secrets. And since I've spent more time with the Titans than anyone else has, I've learned
their
secrets too.” His flippant tone hardened. “I know how to activate them.”