Cold silence filled the shuttle, a norm after such a mission. Dark tension coiled and swirled about the group of five men with an intensity thick enough to touch. Rydak leaned back in the leather seat with a groan, head tipped to the ceiling of the transport. Of all their latest assignments, this had been an exhausting one and lasted well over a week. He wanted home and his bed.

“Getting slow in your old age, Jaard?”

“No.” Rydak didn’t bother glancing to his side to see which teammate spoke to him.

Unfortunately, his Team Leader had no intentions of letting him off with the simple one word response and answered on his behalf. “Rydak’s getting his beauty sleep. Looks like his require work.”

As muffled male laughter surrounded him, Rydak tried to hide his smile but failed. Jahul had a way of releasing the tension of those on Team Three with gentle ribbing and soft words. Some would have thought his gentility completely contrary to being a Jutak warrior and yet his nature made him one of the best leaders Rydak had ever served under.

He cracked his eyes open and glared at his teammates. Rare grins flashed back at him but it was the smirk on Jahul’s face which held his attention. Blue eyes invited him to share in the humor at his expense.

“I am letting you say this because you took out two of the sharp shooters while I was down.”

Bane and V’hor grunted. Smug after drawing a verbal response from him, Jahul folded his arms and relaxed, legs stretched out in his black uniform and ankles crossed. “I will be sure and tell Torkel to add you to the training roster for more practice. You’re slow, Jaard.”

“Any time,” Rydak murmured, closing his eyes once more.

It was Khane who whispered overloud, “No one’s beat Rydak in training yet.”

“Hard to beat a man who knows your every thought once he touches you,” Bane returned with a disgruntled edge.

They continued to argue and banter around him but Rydak paid little attention to the conversation. After all, Bane only spoke the truth. Rydak’s family line traced back to the original five families on Enotia possessing psychic abilities.

The Jaard’s excelled in those natural born gifts. The strongest came from those with empathic skills via touch, a great tool since his family had a history of working in the justice system. Not so great for Rydak. As a young boy, he struggled to withstand the agony of invading thoughts and emotions if he so much as brushed hands against a playmate.

His family didn’t understand why the gift manifested itself in him with pain while others suffered nothing more than discomfort. After numerous black out sessions and medic visits, they resorted to gloves to save his sanity.

Rydak dozed lightly until Jahul’s startled curse woke him. He cracked his eyes open. The other three members on the team lost their slouch and sat up straight. Jahul held up one hand while his other cupped the black bud inserted in his ear.

They all wore similar comms but whoever had called used Jahul’s private line. There was only one person who would interrupt on a return op.

“We’re not far at all. I can send someone for her, Torkel.”

Torkel Alonson, Unit Leader for their arm of the Jutak warriors.

A frown pierced Jahul’s blond brows and his lips firmed. Rydak found himself leaning forward slightly in hopes of catching a word or two. If Torkel chose to comm Jahul privately, it wasn’t Jutak business. If it wasn’t Jutak business, it was personal. And personal for Torkel meant his baby sister, Lissi.

Rydak’s tormentor.

A woman he knew enough to stay away from and yet constantly fought to resist her pull. Rydak waited until Jahul ended the conversation. Unable to hold back any longer, he asked, “Is everything good, Jahul?”

His Team Leader shook his head. “Not sure. Torkel received a call from his sister. He wants us to stop by Reiker’s to do an emergency pick up before reporting to base command.”

Rydak’s fingers clenched into fists and his heart picked up a double rhythm. He wanted to be cold. Tried to be cold with her. But this was about Lissi. Lissi who stared at him with desire and possession. As if he belonged to her.

Bane looked up from replacing the fuel cell on his blaster. “Reikers is the new place where other world visitors go. Sometimes the crowd is unsavory.”

“Unsavory?” Jahul asked, blue eyes curious.

“Criminal types use it as a meet up to deal illegals. Guns, drugs, females. Sometimes fights break out.” V’hor’s calm recital didn’t seem to reflect any surprise.

Only Jahul appeared nonplussed. Rydak understood. He’d never been to Reikers either. Had no interest but he heard the whispers. He knew the club catered to the younger set, those Enotians wanting to experience wilder things. It was only a matter of time before the government got involved and shut the place down.

None of that explained why Lissi Alonson was there. As the daughter of a former government officer and sister to a Jutak Unit Leader, she knew better than to spend time at such a place.

Jahul exhaled and spread his legs wide. “We have to report our mission status as soon as we land, so I can afford a drop off there if someone volunteers. Thirty minutes tops. It needs to be quick and quiet. Not one whisper that Jutaks were seen.”

“I’ll go.” Rydak didn’t blink when his team all turned in his direction.

Bane snorted as his black eyes narrowed and white striations marked the dark pupils. “You?”

“I’ll go,” Rydak repeated, not breaking Jahul’s stare.

“Quiet, Jaard,” Jahul stressed with a knowing look. “That means nothing messy. As few bodies as possible. Preferably none. Can you do that?”

Rydak nodded abruptly. It wouldn’t get messy unless the reason Lissi needed assistance proved a problem.

***

Spots danced before Lissi’s vision and she wondered if help from her brother would arrive in time. Campo roughly spread her legs apart and placed himself between her thighs. His hands grew rougher as he attempted to keep her skirts out of the way and undo his pants. She braced her hand on the brick wall and pushed against his chest with the other. All she could think of was how devastated her parents would be to lose their only daughter.

“You want to let her go. Now!”

The quietly barked command had the males jerking around in surprise.

“Help! Please.” Her cry was thin and weak from her earlier hoarse screaming. It didn’t matter. Lissi didn’t want her rescuer to leave. She struggled in the punishing hold, her feet scuffling the ground as her hands clawed the arm about her throat.

“You should go on. The female and I are getting to know one another.” Harsh breaths panted by her ear as the one keeping her close to his chest kissed the side of her face. Lissi flinched and tried to jab her fists into his middle. She missed. Her combat skills were nil.

“You have three seconds to let her go.”

Lissi stopped fighting and her head snapped up. She knew that low, even tone. The cold menace in the words was enough to freeze anyone. Except her captor.

The one named Jimon grunted. “Sure, I will let her go.”

He slung Lissi away from him and she spun into the wall hard enough for her face to take the brunt of impact. Pain exploded in her cheekbone followed by a rising vicious snarl behind her.

She turned, leaning on the wall for support and touched her stinging face. The tips of her fingers came away wet, but the darkness kept her from seeing if it was blood. Shaking in terror, Lissi faced the backs of her attackers. She peered around them to get a better view.

At the end of the alley, a single male stood with legs braced, wearing the black uniform of the Jutaks. His face covered by a black mask left only his gray eyes visible through the slits. Familiar eyes. The fury reflected there glared hot enough to burn.

She knew him. Would always know him. Rydak. Lissi would recognize the icy tones of his voice anywhere. She heard it in her sleep and listened for it during the day. If not for his voice, his eyes would have been a dead giveaway. To her.

One might say her feelings for Rydak bordered on obsessive. But Lissi considered herself hopeful. Hopeful Rydak would one day notice and return her warm regard.

“Lissi, come over hear.” Rydak never took his gaze from her assailants as he issued the command.

She instinctively responded, taking a step forward.

“She’s not moving,” Campo stated, moving his bulk to block her path.

Five against one yet Lissi never doubted the winner if a fight came about. She licked her lips as nerves tried to get the best of her and inched another step toward Rydak. Surely these males didn’t think they were a match for an elite soldier.

“Lissi.” Rydak’s low growl prodded her to keep moving.

Campo raised his arm, the flat of his palm hitting her chest and halting her progress. The air shifted, filling with an ominous cast. “I said she’s not going anywhere until my friends and I are finished having fun.”

This was her fault. These males weren’t Enotians. They were visitors to a planet known for its peace-loving people. But Reiker’s followed its own set of rules, located at the far-off edges of a rural city where many didn’t venture. The people here were dangerous.

Rydak took a step in their direction and Lissi revised her opinion of his intelligence. He didn’t wear his laser blasters. Was he crazy? What if these barbarians used a weapon?

Casually, Rydak peeled his ever present black leather gloves off one finger at a time. Lissi’s breath caught and her gaze jerked between the males and the soldier she knew who would not stand down.

“You are out of time.” Rydak moved and it was like nothing Lissi had ever seen before.

He was fast. Faster than anyone she’d ever witnessed, including her brother. He ducked and weaved, his body a power to be reckoned as he kicked and punched and twirled around the group. His hands touched his enemies and he seemed to read their thoughts, countering each strike. Grunts, groans and cries of pain spilled out.

Wrapping her arms around her middle, Lissi stayed clear as he decimated the unruly gang. Her breath caught at the beauty displayed in his skills. He spun around the last male, palm stretched out and slammed him to the ground. In no time at all, the five lay on the ground silent with the exception of one male on his hands and knees. Lissi winced as he retched onto the hard ground.

When Rydak straightened, his chest rose steady and even. His gaze met hers. “Lissi, let’s go.”

Rydak snapped his gloves on with a brisk motion and waited, impatience in his every gesture. Ignoring the way her nipples tightened, Lissi forced down her out of control hormones and hurried forward. As soon as she reached him, he grabbed her upper arm. She flinched when his touch connected with the already forming bruise on her forearm.

Rydak snarled, stopping once they were out of the dank alley and stood on the walkway in front of the club. No one was about, the silence almost sinister save for the muffled music coming from inside the neighboring building. Not that he seemed concerned.

Rydak lifted her arm, studying the small purple dots. Next, he took in her throbbing cheek. Lissi cringed when he faced her again. Gray eyes kindled with rage. “Khane will see to these.”

Great, that meant he wasn’t alone. If Rydak and Khane were here, it meant all of the men from Team Three were here.

Rydak dragged her down the street and Lissi tripped behind him as she tried to match the hectic pace he set. “Did Torkel send you?”

He didn’t pause or glance back as he led her further down the dimly lit street. They hurried down the paved walkway, his grip inescapable as Rydak constantly scanned their surroundings. “How else would I know how to find you?”

At least he spoke to her. Usually Rydak ignored her when Torkel brought the members of his Unit to the house. If she and Rydak crossed paths when Lissi visited the military base, he remained impassive to her friendly overtures and sometimes looked right through her.

But Lissi didn’t feel the same. Her desire for him knew no limits. Her fingers clenched on the leather covered hand in hers. The flexing muscles of his powerful arm tugged her faster as they walked. Or hopped in her case.

“Can you slow down? I can’t keep up.”

Rydak paused and his head jerked around to flash his steely gaze down at her. “If I slow down, your new friends may decide you are worth fighting for. Is that what you want, Lissi Alonson? More of your rebellious behavior may result in someone permanently injured because I don’t have time to handle this delicately.”

Embarrassment flared along with her anger. Lissi dragged her feet until he came to a stop. “Are you serious? Do you think I wanted to be attacked?”

Rydak took a deep breath and Lissi prepared to be blasted by his words. In the next instant, the minute sign of anger vanished as if never there. But something far different than anger smoldered in his gray eyes—a heat she’d never seen before from Rydak.

“What I think doesn’t matter.” Calm coated his words which were completely opposite of the emotion simmering in his gaze. He tugged on her hand and Lissi had no choice but to walk behind him again or risk falling flat on her face.

Lissi wanted as far away from Reiker’s as possible too. Her gaze dropped to the taut lines of Rydak’s shoulders, the fluid motion of his hips and his rapid strides as his boots ate up the distance. The all black uniform was easily recognizable if one chose to pay attention. The fitted material of his shirt stretched across his broad back tucked neatly into the black pants at his narrow waist. Her heart sputtered. A Jutak warrior through and through. Even with his face covered, she wanted this male.

However, Rydak made it clear he had no interest in her that way. Lissi attempted to lighten the mood to distract herself from going down that path. “I should thank you for coming. Torkel is probably upset with me.”

“As he should be since you have shown poor judgment today.”

Her spine snapped straight but his words found their target and pain lashed at her chest. Torkel had warned her but she hadn’t listened.