Chapter Seven
“Remove these bonds,” Mertan Graiton commanded. “We’re not brutish thugs.”
Gelloh’s meaty paws brushed over Selea’s skin, and she shivered. Scret, the hustler was deplorable. Stank, too.
“Kinda like ya all knotted up tight,” he murmured. His fat fingers lingered over the genetic encoder.
“Really?” The bonds released, and she rubbed her wrists. “I’d’ve thought your natural charm would’ve had women lining up.”
He grinned. “Chucked ’em all for ya, luvie.”
Gelloh lumbered to the side, dropping the engetic bonds on the table. Graiton approached, a twisted smile on his lips.
“Welcome, Ms. Val’keer.” He gestured toward a chair.
She sucked in a breath, and lowered onto the cushion. Drek, she’d left her nasal filter on her ship back on Earth. Her lungs struggled to process the rancid air.
Graiton tilted his head, his brow furrowing. “Difficult time breathing? Here.”
He picked up a box from his desk and opened the lid. Inside laid dozens of filters. She took one and inserted it into her nostrils, the clip fitting snug against the septum. She inhaled, filling her lungs with fresh, sweet air.
He closed the box and set it on his desk. Returning his dark gaze to her, he said, “Better?”
She nodded. Oxygen infused her blood, and a light euphoria swept over her—an O2 high. She hadn’t realized how depleted she’d become while transporting from the ship port to the Vast Innovations building.
Gelloh leaned against the far edge of the desk, his beady eyes scrutinizing her and an odd smirk on his face. He reminded her of a hungry varmint. But more, he appeared expectant, as though awaiting a meal scrap.
Graiton cleared his throat, calling her attention. “I suppose first I should thank you for your assistance, though it wasn’t with your knowledge.”
Selea frowned. “You gave Gelloh the tracer.”
“Very perceptive.”
“No, he blabbed.” Her gaze flicked to the hustler she’d recently captured. “And here I thought the gods crossed our paths so I could collect an easy bounty.” Shifting her focus back to Graiton, she said, “So, what was the point of this exercise?”
“Evierse.”
At the mention of his name, her heart gave a heavy thud. Forcing herself to remain calm, she lifted an eyebrow and eyed the VI founder. “Some underground hack who makes up lies about VI?”
“An underground hack who’s getting a little too close to the truth.” Graiton crossed his arms over his chest. “A hack who is very fond of you, Ms. Val’keer. I knew it was only a matter of time before he contacted you. After that, we set your fellow bounty hunters on his trail.”
Selea gritted her teeth. Oh frick, everything he told me was true. An image of Rhykar, unconscious and bleeding on the bed where they’d made love, bolted into her mind. Her chest tightened at the realization that although she’d been used as bait, she’d ultimately been responsible for whatever happened to him. She should never have met him.
“I’m sure da hunters done got ’im.” Gelloh licked his fat lips. “Prolly collecting their bounty on what’s left o’ ’im, right ’bout now.”
“Yes,” Graiton said. “Keeping my hands completely clean of the situation.”
Thoughts jumbled in her head, and she rubbed her temples. Seemed the extra oxygen had transitioned from a high to headache. Too much.
She shook her head and glared at Mertan Graiton. “Wait. You said too close to the truth. You mean, he was…he was….”
“A threat to my plans for Vitrion,” Graiton finished.
Her vision blurred, cleared. “But then, he didn’t really kill….”
“Kalo Dorvis?” He grimaced. “No, VI’s chief scientist was too smart for his own good. I took care of that myself and then set the scene for Evierse’s guilt.”
Her thoughts swirled. Not the savior of Vitrion. A fraud. Just like Rhykar said. His promise of truth. Could he love me? Selea blinked, narrowed her gaze on Graiton, the lying bastard. “The mind con…control…?”
“Yes, the mind control scheme. Well, I suppose I should thank you again for your assistance.”
His words jumbled in her head, his voice rang in her ears. “What?”
He gestured toward her. “The nasal filter. Laced with nanite tech. Why don’t I demonstrate? Please stand.”
She rose to her feet. Startled, she lifted her gaze to his. Why had she done as he’d said?
“Slap yourself, please.”
She raised her hand and slammed it across her cheek, a sharp smack resounding in her ears. Frick! What is wrong with me?
Gelloh chuckled. “Oh, Mr. Graiton. I’m likin’ this.”
Fear trembled down to her bones as she realized Rhykar’s story about Graiton wanting to rule all of Vitrion through mind control hadn’t been a paranoid tale after all. The proclaimed savior of their world was insane.
“You may test of the limitations of the system, Gelloh. Press her as far as you want.” Graiton turned his evil gaze to her. “And you, Selea Val-keer, will do whatever Gelloh commands you to do.”
A lascivious grin warped the hustler’s nasty face. “Let’s go somewheres private, my chowda-twa. We’s gonna have us a bit o’ fun.”
She wanted to tell him to frick off, but the words jammed in the back of her throat. Oh, how she wanted to kick his ass. But she couldn’t stop herself. She followed the bastard out of Mertan Graiton’s office and down the hall as he’d commanded.
He opened a door. “Inside, luvie.”
Fear danced along her nerves, and she bit her lower lip until she tasted blood in an effort to keep horror from overrunning her. She needed to remain alert, to discover a way to unravel what seemed an unbreakable harness on her will.
Though her mind screamed for her to run, she did as she’d been told and entered the room. She knew what Gelloh intended to do to her, what he would command she do to him, and that knowledge sent terror skittering to her soul. Her only consolation was that she’d found love in the arms of a man who’d dared to reveal the truth to the world, no matter the consequences.
The door slid shut, and she faced Gelloh.
“Lemme see what’s under dem clothes.”
Selea shrugged out of her jacket, letting it crumple on the floor at her feet.