Chapter Sixteen
The ridiculous note crumpled in Umar’s sweaty palm. Ransom demand! He would not meet the demands of common thieves. A transporter full of gold. How dare they ask that of him? He would never waste his precious fortune on an incompetent spoiled brat.
Oh, but she would return. Over the space pirates dead bodies.
“Idiots!” he yelled to no one in particular.
Those thieves were idiots if they thought to outsmart him. His plan to rule Laconia had been in the works since his ungrateful sister had married the king. It would take more than an abduction and ransom demand to thwart him.
Umar barreled his way through the palace halls. The sounds of his aides scurrying behind him reminded him they were on his heels.
He stopped and turned. The three aides at his back tripped and stumbled over one another. “Great Ancients! Must I always be followed?” he barked.
“Sorry, sir. You don’t need us?” one of the aides asked.
“Does it look as though I need you?”
The aides shared looks of confusion. Umar threw up his hands. “Be gone! When I need your help or anyone else’s, I’ll call.”
Incompetent. I’m surrounded by fools!
It was time to recycle the palace staff. He would send the scouts out far beyond the capital city. Those country nitwits would clamor at the chance to work in the palace. They would do anything required to remain. They would be compliant, as he preferred.
Umar busted into Antony’s personal quarters. “Change of plans, son.”
He halted, disgusted. No wonder Antony had ignored his summons. Antony sprawled, loose-limbed and bare. A female—Lisil, he thought her name—stroked Antony’s erect penis. A dark-haired male, Sami, paused in his lapping at a substance on his son’s abdomen and fluttered black lashes at him. A blatantly carnal invitation.
Umar closed his eyes in disgust and he grunted his displeasure. Once the princess returned, he would rid the palace of all the whores. That would be the only way to ensure an heir.
“Father. Must you barge into my quarters without notice? As you can see, I am quite busy.” Antony spoke as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“No one else would dare speak to me with such insolence. I go anywhere I want. Don’t ever forget that.”
The side of Antony’s mouth quirked into a smile.
He was too lax with his son. But he had plans for him.
Umar paced in front of the bed. His heavy steps wore a path on the thick carpet. His son thought everything was fun and games. He didn’t understand the delicate balance Umar strived for every day.
“I received a ransom demand for that slinorim worm’s return!”
Antony raised a lazy brow.
“The princess! I received a ransom demand for the princess, you idiot.”
“Is that what has you so upset?” Antony asked. He pushed Lisil’s mouth over his cock.
“Can you stop fucking your whores long enough for us to decide what to do?” When Antony halted, Umar let out a sigh of relief. He finally had his son’s attention. “Her birth cycle is in eleven rotations. We need to secure her before then.”
“Antony,” Lisil begged. Antony leaned to kiss her.
Umar’s face flushed. “Pay attention to me, this is important. I have contracts that need to be signed. I’m losing credits every day that worm is gone.”
Antony paused. “Sign her name. You’ve been doing it all along. What’s to stop you now?”
“The Galactic Council is watching me. I know they are.” Umar’s gaze darted around Antony’s room. The council was so sneaky. He wouldn’t put it past them to have listening devices planted, even in here.
“If I sign anything while she’s off planet they’ll know. Oh, they think they’re so smart. The Galactic Council is trying to catch me forging the princess’s name,” Umar added.
That worm was ruining all his plans. But everything would be righted once he had her back in his clutches. Oh, and once he got her, he’d make sure that she never left the planet again.
“Father!” Antony’s call broke him from his thoughts. “Pay the ransom so we can get her back.”
“What? Waste that type of gold on her? Never!” He would think of another plan. One that wouldn’t alert the Galactic Council.
“You have the gold.”
Antony grabbed the vials within his reach. Umar recognized the pink-tinged liquid inside as synthine. Sami and Lisil’s eyes glazed over as they watched the contents.
“I expect you’ll want to leave now. I plan to busy myself while you arrange to pay the ransom for her return.”
Sputtering, Umar made a hasty retreat out the door. When he finally made it back to his office he sat at his desk, the bonding document spread out in front of him.
I don’t need her to sign it. I can outsmart the Galactic Council.
Of course Sa’Mya could cry her signature had been forged, but who would believe her? Especially after they inspected other signatures. They would all match.
Umar smiled as he signed her name and dated it for a date well before her escape. All he needed now was Antony’s signature. He stopped himself short from rising to venture back to his son’s private room. It would be best if he waited until after Antony was done playing with his whores. He had no desire to witness any more than he already had.