Chapter 15
Hope dashed, Sasha muffled her cry of disappointment and crouched as Jaron defended their position. The pain in her ankle was the least of their worries. Sasha knew the real reason behind her dismay. She’d allowed herself to care, to love. And now she’d pay for breaking her own rules.
If Jaron’s team stayed behind they’d be overrun. None of them would make it. She wouldn’t let that happen. Sasha let her gaze linger on the tightly drawn shoulders of a male who had proved his worth in the simplest of ways. By just being himself. He was amazing and she didn’t suffer a moment’s regret about their time together or sex sharing with him when she’d had the chance. “Jaron?”
The night went quiet around them. Jaron squatted down beside her, sweat slickened his hair to a darker shade of blond. His chest rose and fell from his exertions. They both were dirty, scrapes covering them from their bid to escape and yet Sasha had never felt more alive.
“They’ve fallen back,” he answered as he checked the weapon then twisted to face her. He caressed her face with a single finger on her cheek. “Don’t worry. The teams are good. Vee and Rydak will realize we didn’t make the shuttle and clear a way for us as soon as they catch up.”
She wanted to believe him. Everything in Sasha desperately wanted to grasp his words and hold them close, except she knew better. The odds weren’t in their favor and Dr. Kirkem was insane enough to continue until he recaptured them. Especially the Jutak warrior he wanted to break.
He’d keep after them. They’d both end up back in the labs and subjected to experiments. And probably his teammates along with them. Unless they had a distraction. Chest tight, Sasha swallowed. She pulled on her inner strength which had made her one of the toughest Bounty Retrievers in demand. “You need to go, Jaron. I’ll hold them off.”
It was the only way the rest of them could make it. Her time was up. Sasha’s stomach clenched tight at the thought. It wasn’t until now that she realized there was so much more she wanted from life. Including a chance to know if Jaron was as real as he appeared.
Fuck it. Sasha ground her teeth and hardened her emotions. She would do her best to take out The Collector while giving Jaron and his friends the opportunity to escape.
“No.” Short and succinct.
Sasha rolled her eyes, though her heart skipped a beat at his instant refusal. “Don’t be ridiculous, Jaron.”
Jaron lowered his laser to the ground and clutched her to his chest. The rabid look in his eyes warmed her insides. “You are ridiculous if you think I’d even consider letting you stay behind to deal with Dr. Kirkem.”
“It’s the only way, you know it.”
***
Jaron’s gut twisted. He held Sasha tighter as if he could block out what she said. She struggled in his arms, so he eased his hold, hands reluctant to let go. She swiped at her damp face. Sweat glistened on her golden-brown skin, her full breasts rising and falling with each panted breath.
But the steely glimpse in her gaze didn’t falter.
“Sasha.” The whisper fragmented as he said it because it was clear she’d made up her mind.
Her mouth pursed and she narrowed her eyes on him. “One of us needs to lead them away. Cause a distraction in order for your team to make a run for it. If…if they see I’m left behind, they’ll want to come after me. It will give you the time you need to get to the shuttle.”
But it didn’t have to be her. Rydak or V’hor would do it. “One of the others—”
“You know I’m right,” she cut in. “I can’t make it with my ankle.”
The plea in her eyes was hard to resist. Acceptance glowed from her eyes tearing him apart on the inside. “I promised, Sasha—”
She pressed two fingers to his busted lip. “We won’t speak of it.”
“My team…” He tried again, but Sasha stopped him.
“They’re not just your team. They’re your friends. Do you want The Collector to have the chance to shoot your shuttle out of the sky? Do you want to lose all of them, your friends after they risked their lives for you?”
His eyes burned. She knew he didn’t. “Damn you, kitten.”
And damn her pride and integrity.
“Let me do this, Jaron. I wish I had friends who would do all of this to get me back.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. The truth ripped free. “I would do this and more.”
“I believe you.” Appreciation glimmered in her green eyes for his words then grew grim. Sasha yanked him close and kissed him, her lips crashing into his. Jaron gripped her hips, wanted to pick her up and take her with him. She pulled away with a rough exhalation before he could act on the reckless thought. “I’m the only choice. Get the others out of here. I know you won’t forget about me.”
“Never,” he bit out, angry she’d felt the need to mention it. Jaron clicked his comm. “Rydak, Vee, pull back. Get to the shuttle.”
No one questioned him.
Vee and Rydak lit up the air as round after round of lasers blasted through the air. Jaron grabbed his weapon. The men who had he and Sasha pinned down were distracted, Rydak and Vee obviously drawing close.
Jaron aimed and took the enemy out. Simple head shots and their bodies collapsed to the ground. He stood and grasped Sasha by the forearm, pulling her to her feet. “Are you sure about this?”
“Both of us were never going to get out.”
The truth of her words almost caused him to lash out in irritation. Jaron bit down hard on his tongue. The chatter from the team in his earbud became distant as Jaron gave his full attention to Sasha. Rich brown skin with hints of gold was smudged with dirt, sweat and other things, but her gaze glimmered with challenge. Shoulders thrust back in defiance pushed her breasts up and out.
They’d escaped the labs, spent hours in a dirty cave and she appealed to him more now than any other female to cross his path. Jaron wanted to push, to back her down from this course of action. His muscles tensed to do just that but her mouth firmed as if she read his thoughts and only waited to see if he’d be smart and let her do this or stupid and doom them all.
Adrenaline coursed through Jaron and he knew he wasn’t being rational. If there were any other solution, he couldn’t see it and Jaron hated Sasha in this moment. Hated that she was right and willing to sacrifice herself.
One of them did have to provide a distraction. He tapped his comm.
It wouldn’t be her.
“Rydak, follow my signal.”
“Tracking you, Jaron. Coming your way.” The other Team Leader responded immediately.
Panic flashed across Sasha’s face. Her nipples stood out like points, the muscles in her taut abdomen quivered. “What are you doing, Jaron?”
He gripped the back of her nape and drew her to him in order to press a soft kiss to her arched brows—the perfect curves one more thing about her he liked. “We do need a distraction.”
Her breath rasped against the base of his throat. She relaxed against him. “I’m glad you understand.”
The only thing Jaron understood was that he wasn’t leaving her. No way he could let Sasha believe she meant less to him than the men who fought to get them out of this. He pulled back and released his hold after rubbing his thumb over the silky hair at her nape.
Rydak approached them on a run. “There are more of Dr. Kirkem’s men coming. I think the fighting at the lab site is waning, but a small group broke off and is hunting any of those who escaped. I don’t like this.”
“Any idea on the unknown who attacked?” Jaron asked, standing close to Sasha.
“None.” Rydak’s gray eyes took in the both of them. “Plan?”
“Yes.” Jaron glanced at Sasha prepared for her protest. “One of us will act as a distraction. Draw the incoming guards away while the others get to the shuttle. The guards will chase the easier target.”
It didn’t take Rydak long to come to a conclusion. “It should work.”
Sasha gripped Jaron’s arms, the bite of her claws making their presence known. “Don’t forget. We agreed I’d be the diversion.”
He’d agreed to no such but Rydak spoke. “She’s right. It can’t be you, Jaron. Or any of us. Too risky for the Jutak warriors.”
“Jutaks protect. Are you saying it is best to have an innocent risk her life for a group of trained soldiers?”
Rydak cursed, indecision in his gaze and Sasha growled. “Jaron!”
He ignored her, never looking away from Rydak who answered calmly, “I am saying her injury will make the chance of her getting through difficult.”
They did difficult all the time. It was why their teams were elite. Sasha shook his arm to get his attention. Jaron looked down and met her glare. “Do you believe in me?”
His heart dropped to his stomach. The question wasn’t necessary. “Yes.”
“And I believe in you.” She smiled. “I believe you can escape and come back to rescue me.”
Catching them both off guard, Rydak ripped off one of his leather gloves. Jaron tensed. “What are you doing?”
“We are wasting time and you already know she is right. But we need to know if we can trust her the moment our backs are turned.”
Rydak didn’t volunteer to touch people because his gift came with a backlash of indescribable pain. Jaron didn’t doubt Sasha was exactly who she claimed. “Not necessary.”
Rydak didn’t relent. “You know it has to be done if we’re relying on her.”
Sasha dropped Jaron’s arm and hedged back a step. He caught her elbow then turned her own question on her. “Trust me, right?”
Her abrupt nod was the most he’d get.
“Do it, Rydak.”
Before Sasha could move, Rydak’s bare hand clenched on her arm, above where Jaron still held her. Teeth gritted, his fingers pressed hard enough to leave light impressions on her smooth skin. Jaron resisted the instinct to break away the connection. He didn’t like the sight of another man’s hands on Sasha. For her part, his kitten hissed and growled until Rydak released her and stumbled back, swaying.
Jaron started to grab him, but Rydak took a quick hop, step back. Any touch at this point would trigger his reaction. “No. I’m barely holding it together. She means what she says. She’ll lead them on a chase. Hurry, Jaron.”
With less than his usual coordination, Rydak raced for the shuttle, shoving his hand back into the glove.
“Now, Jaron! We don’t have much time.” Sasha yelled, pushing Jaron after Rydak.
The half-trot sped into a light jog, but his steps dragged with reluctance. Escape was feet away. If they made it. But the thought of leaving Sasha in The Collector’s hands didn’t sit well with him.
“Go, Jaronoto!” Her claws dug into his back as she used her Argoran strength to lift and toss him in the direction of the other Jutak warriors.
Jaron cursed as he put on a burst of speed and raced in the direction of the shuttle, shooting in a controlled spray. Sasha sprinted behind him, limping and trailing behind more and more until he knew she’d never keep up. The choice he’d made pierced his soul and delved deep to tear him to pieces.
“Now!” Sasha snapped and broke away in the other direction.
The opened door of the shuttle came into view. Bane waited, one arm outstretched. Vee and Khane stood on either side of him, firing at the enemy. Rydak raced up the ramp, hunched over.
Kirkem’s men shouted and their attention shifted toward Sasha’s fleeing form. Ropey white bands shot in Jaron’s direction circling his torso. Jaron found himself flying through the air to land with a stumble in the open doorway of the shuttle. Bane banged on the rim of the door and shouted, “Go, go, go!”
Jaron jumped to his feet and turned, grasping the sides of the door, heart pounding as he peered back at the distant ground. Sasha could make it, too. They only had to give her the necessary time. Her vanishing figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance.
He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t leave her.
Just as Jaron bent his knees, prepared to do something stupid, a heavy weight slammed him away from the opening. He fought and struggled against his teammates, catching a glimpse of Sasha over a black clad shoulder forcing him away.
With a swiftness that managed to catch him by surprise, she shifted into her large white cat on the run. Her roar set the hair on his neck on end.
“We have a fast exit, Jaron. Strap in.” The door slid closed.
“I’m not leaving without her.” Jaron stood toe to toe with Rydak when he made the declaration. In other circumstances, he wouldn’t have risked going against the Team Three Leader.
Rydak ripped the mask from his head and ran a hand through the length of his damp blond hair. “We’re not asking you to leave her behind permanently, Jaron. We just need time to plan and regroup.”
The logic was sound, but Jaron couldn’t be logical about Sasha. Thinking about her with The Collector kept him on the verge of exploding. “If we wait, Dr. Kirkem might get away. He’s slippery and hard to catch.”
Bane slapped a pressure bandage on V’hor’s shoulder for an injury no one realized he’d received during their perilous escape. The Ceratin’s black eyes met Jaron’s. “While wanted for his crimes, he’s not at the top of the list for Jutak warriors to go after.”
Jaron glared. “I don’t care a—”
“Jaron!” Rydak’s voice whipped out.
Breathing deeply, Jaron turned his back on the men he considered brothers. They’d risked their life for him. He was free, but how was he supposed to relax knowing he’d left Sasha behind? His throat locked and he jammed his hands through his hair. This felt like the worst betrayal after all they’d been through.
“Consider the others. We have to get them somewhere to be questioned by authorities and returned to their families.” This from Khane who remained calm and level now they were away while everyone else’s emotions ran hot.
Jaron faced them. He hadn’t noticed the occupied seats. Minu, Luna and a partially aware Ari were strapped in and slumped over across from him. “I can’t leave.”
It wasn’t even an option. The very idea almost sent him to his knees. But they were in the air. It was too late.
“Bane, see if you can find where Dr. Kirkem might go. No ship was left operational and his facility is damaged beyond repair. He’ll hole up somewhere until he can get off planet.”
“Sure, Rydak.” Bane headed to the front of the shuttle to join the pilot in the cockpit.
Rydak pointed at Jaron. “Sit down.”
Wanting to defy the order, Jaron met the warning looks from Vee, Khane and Uri and capitulated. He sat in one of the jump seats and drummed his fingers on the arm. Closing his eyes, he tried to relax. His brethren wouldn’t let him down. They clearly recognized how important this was to him.
In the background, Rydak murmured to the others. Then his heavy footsteps headed toward Jaron. A firm gloved hand landed on his shoulder. Jaron flicked a glance up.
“You haven’t said how you are. Is there anything we need to worry about?”
Tricky question for a variety of reasons. “Dr. Maku will need to give me a full work over. I’m not sure what I was injected with during the time I was held. The Collector seemed focused on recreating Argoran muata at one point.”
Deep creases furrowed Rydak’s brow. “Muata? The male mating heat for Argorans.”
Jaron nodded.
“Did it work? How much do we need to worry about him releasing something like this to the underground market?”
The underground would love such a drug. Remembering the final test conducted by Dr. Kirkem with the help of the female Marenian brought back Jaron’s anger. He fisted his hands on the top of his legs. “It worked.”
It didn’t take long for Rydak to understand his meaning. His mouth set in a hard line. “Anything else? Did he discover our secret?”
Our secret. Not the identity or mission of the Jutak warriors. Rydak spoke of something closer to the heart of Enotians. Descendants of the original five families who settled on Enotian possessed a range of psychic gifts. In Rydak’s case his gift was sometimes a curse as evident by the black leather gloves he wore at all times.
“He mentioned strange things showing in my blood work but couldn’t pinpoint why.” Jaron shifted in his seat and leaned forward. “With the lab destroyed, I hope he lost everything.”
A muscle ticked in Rydak’s jaw. “We’ll make sure of it.”
Yes, they would. He trusted his Unit. He trusted these men. Dr. Kirkem would pay. Rydak finally stepped away from him and took the seat to his right. More like dropped into the seat, his features growing ashen by the minute. The price for reading Sasha.
“Thank you by the way. For what you did.” For touching someone when skin to skin contact brought him tremendous pain. Except with his Chosen. Torkel’s sister, Lissi, was the only one who’s touch didn’t affect Rydak.
Jaron might regret disappointing his family line by not showing any signs of an extraordinary ability but after working side by side with Rydak for years he knew the positive didn’t always outweigh the negative. Although to his knowledge no one else suffered the backlash from using their inborn gifts the way Rydak did.
Head leaned back against the seat and eyes closed, Rydak asked, “She matters to you?”
“Yes.” Jaron gave the answer on a heavy exhalation. It was written in vivid color. “Sasha matters.”
Rydak cracked his lids open and stared. His fellow Team Leader intimidated without saying a word. There was a reason Torkel selected him to lead Team Three, which consisted of some of the most deadly men in the entire Jutak system.
“You change your mind about having a Chosen in your life?”
A flash of heat as his face filled with color. Jaron’s original plan had been to avoid having a Chosen for as long as possible. He didn’t want to worry about a female each time he left for a mission or to have his Chosen worried about him.
Except he’d changed his view. Sasha was indescribable. He faced Rydak’s questioning look. “Yes.”
“Then we go back to Enotia. Do what needs to be done and we’ll come back and find her.”
Rydak’s command left no room for argument. Jaron sat and buckled his harness all the while tipping his head back to blink back the disturbing burn of tears.
Leaving Sasha insured the safety of his teammates. It was the right thing to do. The only option.
But why did it feel like someone was ripping his heart from his chest as they traveled farther and farther away from the female who owned him?