Lissi sat on the floor huddled with a mix of dignitaries, wealthy land owners, a shipping tycoon and the third son of a King among others. All had come to Lafett for a fun time with no concern about danger or risk. Security forces had been left behind as Rozo promised absolute discretion and only allowed a limited number on the premises for this special event.

How wrong they’d been. The group who’d forced their way here and taken over were a motley crew. So far, she’d counted seven but they used comm units to communicate and she had the feeling more were present but in other areas somewhere on the pleasure satellite. The sex workers sat stone faced in a corner slightly apart from the VIP guests and Lissi. Faces drawn and resigned, she wanted to offer a semblance of comfort but the best thing Lissi knew to do was contact her brother. She just needed the excuse to be alone for a brief window of time.

Rozo cried out from a blow to the face and Lissi winced. The criminals had him tied to a chair and kept asking him questions.

“How long will it take help to arrive?”

“Did you trigger the alarm?”

“We won’t hurt you if you answer honestly.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know.”

It was all Rozo managed to say and Lissi truly believed the poor director didn’t know. His role was to smooth over guests, make everyone happy. Kidnapping and hostage situations were beyond him. Probably something he never thought he’d ever experience.

Leaning against a wall, arms folded over a chest covered by a bulky jacket, the man who’d introduced himself as Di-Tel merely watched. The emptiness in his narrowed gaze scared Lissi the most. He didn’t care what the director said. He already knew what we wanted to do. In time he’d reveal it and Lissi had the feeling it wouldn’t be good for any of them.

Clearing her throat, she tried to get the attention of the two men from earlier. It was better than staring into the stark madness and rage in Di-Tel’s eyes. While they oozed evil from their pores, she sensed a thin razor of honor. Was there such a thing as evil with honor?

“I need to use the cleansing room,” Lissi announced before she could change her mind.

The questions cut off abruptly and Rozo’s head slumped forward, chest heaving. Not only did she now have attention on her, she actually had a full bladder in response to her fear.

In synchronized motion, the dynamic duo glanced toward Lissi but it was Di-Tel who signaled them with an absent wave of his hand. On a shaky breath, she rose to her feet. Two more women chimed in about the need to go as well. Lissi studied the men with weapons. They didn’t look concerned at all and with a benevolent nod, the women were allowed to accompany Lissi.

They traversed the hall in single file with their identical guards. The group came to a halt in front of the plain door labeled with images that depicted the facilities. In order to comm Torkel without suspicion, Lissi let the other women go ahead of her one at a time.

Their make shift guards watched her all the while. Fighting an involuntary shiver, Lissi smiled as each woman came out. As the last one to go, she locked the latch and headed for a back stall and contacted her brother.

“This is not a good time, little menace,” Torkel greeted.

All the worry and shock she’d blocked hit at the sound of her brother’s voice. Tears burned the back of her eyes and her throat clogged.

“Lissi?” His tone changed, became concerned.

Lissi remembered how he’d always looked after her and held onto the memory of safety as she whispered, “Tor-Tor, it’s bad.”

In an instant, he went from from annoyed older brother to leader of the Jutaks. “What is wrong?”

“I’m on Lafett and someone has taken over the satellite resort. He’s keep—”

Lissi didn’t get to finish. Torkel’s enraged snarl cut across the comm. A loud crash sounded on his end. At the same time, violent knocking pounded on the washroom door. “You will come out!”

Lissi hustled further away until her back hit the wall of the stall, though she was far from the door leading out. Her heart plummeted. “Please hurry, Torkel. I am scared.”

Admitting the truth increased her terror as if highlighting her situation. No longer did she feel calm. Her brother uttered a foul curse then in a quieter tone asked, “The leader...is it someone named Di-Tel?”

“Yes.” Exhaling in excitement that Torkel might already be on the way, Lissi ran into the corner stall and pushed the refuse release button. Suction and swirling water filled the air with a loud gurgle. She held a hand under the sink to activate the water sensor. “I cannot talk long. They will want me back with the others.”

“How many, Lissi? Tell me what you can. Quickly.”

She rattled off as much information as she knew. Then because she couldn’t help it, added, “Rydak, tell hi—”

The door handle jiggled and she jumped. Pressing shaking fingers to her mouth, Lissi whispered, “They’re coming.”

Thankfully he didn’t question the statement. “I will come for you.”

“I know.” The words fortified her. It was what she needed to hear. Nothing would stop him from getting to her. She just needed to stay safe.

Heart thundering, Lissi glanced around frantically and spotted the dual windows near the stall she’d used. Hope soared as she hurried over. It took several tries due to her trembling but the latches finally released. Her determined shove sent the plexi pane swinging wide. Stay calm, stay calm. “I might be able to hide.”

“Do what you need to stay safe, Lissi.”

Lissi couldn’t answer Torkel and climb at the same time. She tucked the small comm in her pants pocket and hiked a leg up. With a short jump and biceps straining, she managed to swing her hips up.

Behind Lissi the door slammed open, its frame banging hard and bouncing against the wall, but she wiggled through the opening. On the other side was a narrow platform running the length of the corridor of the building. Lissi landed awkwardly.

“Stop!”

Her feet pounded as she took off running over the slick ground.

***

All attention turned toward the man who never lost his temper and exhibited more patience than anyone Rydak knew under the most daunting circumstances. There was no sign of the calm Unit leader as Torkel pounded his fist into the wall leaving cracks and fine dust behind.

“Are you still there?!”

Knowledge slammed into Rydak with a clarity that had nothing to do with his empathic abilities. Her name slipped passed lips. “Lissi.”

Holding the comm to his chest, Torkel dragged in a deep breath, body shuddering. He met Rydak’s gaze. “Lissi...Lissi is on Lafett.”

Fear rippled through him as Rydak’s heart went into a crazy freefall. The room grew still. This was no longer an ordinary mission. This was Lissi. She belonged to all of them. It was personal.

“I am going.” Rydak’s announcement broke the stupor and everyone spoke at once. Ignoring the clamoring of voices, he kept his attention on one man only.

Torkel shook his head. “Rydak, it won’t work. You would not be calm. Let the others handle it.”

“Are you going?” Rydak asked outright. He had the pleasure of witnessing Torkel’s flinch. Instead of dwelling on his victory, Rydak continued. “She is my one weakness.”

His acknowledgment brought everyone’s attention to him and Rydak gave up all pretense. No way could he go on this assignment and not reveal his emotions regarding Lissi. Even now he struggled to maintain his composure when everything urged him to leave as soon as possible.

Torkel didn’t answer as he paced, the comm in his grip as if he willed something to happen.

“She’s scared,” Torkel murmured in an aside to them.

And Rydak was here on Enotia. Useless. What good were his skills if he couldn’t use them to aid the one woman he needed like air to breathe?

Torkel infused his voice with strength and courage. “Do what you need to stay safe, Lissi.”

Just stay alive, Rydak mentally added.

Shaking, Torkel shoveled both hands through his shoulder length brown hair. Unlike him, his Unit leader wasn’t doing a good job of hiding his reaction to Lissi being in danger. “Find out more, Jaron. Now!”

Jaron had his head down to his data pad already working his magic but nodded in Torkel’s direction. Torkel hit Lissi with a barrage of questions to get more information. He flinched from something then closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

Rydak was seconds away from losing control. They needed as much intel as possible if they were to do this with minimum repercussions. Her connection to the Jutaks raised Lissi’s risk for harm exponentially. “Do they know who she is?”

“At this time, I have no reason to believe they do.” Torkel adjusted his comm, allowing the call to go to speaker. “She’s left the line open.”

Panting breaths filled the room and Rydak stilled. The slap slap of feet running then dim shouting in the background emitted from the comm. Someone chased Lissi. Nothing could have gutted Rydak more. All his mental struggling about pursuing a relationship for naught.

Time wasted. It might have saved him from physical hurt but he would have given anything to have had a thousand moments of being with Lissi saved in his memory. Touch or no touch.

“There’s a shuttle ready. Who do you want to send Torkel?” Jahul asked calmly while impatience to get to Lissi crawled across Rydak’s skin.

“Faruk, Kyele, Arak.” Torkel’s gaze paused on Rydak and Rydak fisted his hands at his side, body humming. He didn’t want to violate orders but he would if he had to. “Fuck! Rydak and Jahul are going too. I’ll stay behind.”

Bane entered the room and began tossing weapons and equipment at those named. A sign of how far gone he was, Rydak hadn’t even noticed him leaving. He was thankful for the quick thinking, since they could prepare faster. After shoving the protective armored vest over his shirt, he began doing up the sides and checking his weapons and the back-up cell packs.

“Stop!”

At the rough male voice on the speaker, Rydak jerked and turned toward his Unit Leader. Torkel held his comm up, motioning for silence. Rydak strained to hear. Lissi’s whimpers came across for all to hear. His gut tightened and he burned with the need to hold her.

Then a whispered. “Tor?”

“I’m here, Lis.” Lissi would never know the agony visible on her brother’s face at this moment. An agony mirrored in Rydak.

“I...” Pant. “I am hiding in a supply closet but the male...Di-Tel has two beings with him. Aquatic, dual natured.”

The tremor and rough edge to her voice sliced through Rydak. He consumed Lissi’s fear with every breath.

“They scare me the most, Torkel.”

Acid burned low in Rydak’s throat. Torkel waved at the group selected and they all exited at a run. Not once did Torkel stop in reassuring his sister and misplaced jealousy bit at Rydak. He wanted to tell her he was on his way and nothing would hurt her.

“The team is coming for you, Lis. If they find you, know we will be there. Nothing will stop us. You know this.”

A sniffle. “Rydak, too?”

At the plea in her voice, Rydak shut down his emotions and kept moving toward the shuttle.

“Yes, Rydak too.”

Torkel exchanged a grim look with Rydak. Neither of them wanted her upset when her situation was already a deadly one.

Lissi’s scream corresponded with the slamming of the shuttle door and there was nothing Rydak could do except stare at Torkel on the other side of the portal as the pilot rushed the launch sequence.