The closet door burst open. Lissi screamed as her fingers slipped. The comm fell as the two men entered on a rush, lasers aimed at her face.

“Why did you run?” They asked in unison, voices chilled with an anger she couldn’t describe.

“I was frightened.” Trembling, Lissi put her hands in the air and nudged her comm with her foot to disconnect the call.

One of them rushed forward and grabbed Lissi’s arm roughly. Holding in a ragged cry, she didn’t struggle as he dragged her out. They’d almost cleared the doorway when his partner called out. “Wait!”

Lissi turned. He bent and retrieved her comm from the floor. His gaze went from the comm to Lissi and back again. Then he curled his fingers tight and crushed it in his grip.

Lissi’s heart dropped because now Torkel had no way of tracking her.

“Who did you contact?”

The lie slid free easily. “No one yet.”

Please believe me.

“Take her back.”

Jostling between their two large bodies, Lissi hop skipped on the way back to the main area where the other captives sat. The group had grown by an addition of two who she recognized with reluctance.

“Lissi!” Madlyn jumped to her feet but Heinlirk stopped her from rushing forward by wrapping an arm about her waist as he swept her back against his chest.

A none to gentle shove pushed Lissi in the direction of the others. The glare she sent over her shoulder went unheeded.

Di-Tel glanced up from his data pad at her arrival. Menace radiated from his dark eyes. For longer than she preferred, he stared back then shifted his gaze to the whole group. “I will read the names of those present. Rozo was nice enough to share his list of special guests.”

Rubbing her hands over her arms, Lissi listened as he named royalty and dignitaries. Despite sniffles from some of the women and the muttered growls from a few of the men, everyone else remained quiet.

Di-Tel looked up. “Two are here due to winning a drawing. Madlyn and Heinlirk.”

Madlyn cried out and buried her face into Heinlirk’s chest. News on Enotia traveled and Lissi knew they’d gone through presentation and were Chosen.

The corners of Di-Tel’s lips twitched. “We also have an inspector for the United Tourism division. Which of you is the inspector?”

“I am.” It took effort to speak past the knot in her throat.

Blue eyes glittering from the well of tears, Madlyn’s head came up slower.

“Excellent.” Di-Tel’s smile curled into a gruesome display. “Now listen carefully and this will be over fast and easy. I have taken over Lafett if anyone is confused. My reasoning is my own but I expect law enforcement to try and save you all.”

Hope gleamed on some faces but Di-Tel destroyed it with his next words. “That will not be allowed until I get what I want, which is the destruction of a certain group of Jutak warriors. And as a sign I mean what I say, we will start with convincing their government I am serious about my wishes.”

“You’re mad,” a male in blue velvet yelled, his purple face flushed with anger. Antennas atop his head quivered. “If you know who we are, then you know it’s best to treat us well.”

Lissi nibbled her bottom lip and shoved her hands beneath her arm pits to still their shaking. This was not good and would not end well.

“I only plan to damage one of you to get things moving.” Di-Tel twirled his pointer finger in the air. “Who, who, who will be my example?”

“Her! You should take her and the Jutak warriors will respond.” Madlyn stood up and though her legs shook, she thrust an arm out and pointed at Lissi.

Lissi’s face heated then cooled as everyone turned their gazes on her. Di-Tel’s expression grew speculative. “Really? Who are you?”

Unable to swallow, Lissi shook her head and refused to speak. Telling him anything about Torkel and the Jutaks would only make things worse for her.

“Her brother is in charge of one of the Units. Torkel Alonson.” Madlyn continued to ruin any chance Lissi had of walking out of here unharmed and never had Lissi disliked her more. “He’ll come for her.”

“Alonson?” Di-Tel snarled and if possible his eyes darkened more. He took a threatening step toward Lissi then stopped abruptly. His jaw clenched as he looked on the verge of erupting. “Is this true? Are you related to the Jutaks? Torkel Alonson?”

There was such rage in his question. Personal rage. And Lissi knew whatever his reason for what he was doing, he blamed the Jutak warriors in some way. Any answer she gave would only place her in greater jeopardy.

Biting down hard on her inner cheek, Lissi held her tongue and dug her nails into her skin through her shirt.

Brows lowered to dark slashes over his forehead, Di-Tel growled, “Bring her.”

Rozo rocked in his chair, causing it to wobble on the back two legs. “Leave her alone. She’s here for the inspection. What are you doing?!”

Lissi tipped her chin up, not fighting as she was grabbed and pulled from the room by two of the men with Di-Tel. She risked a glance over her shoulder and some ducked their heads in shame, probably glad not to have been singled out. Madlyn, however flushed a rosy shade of pink then ducked her head back into Henlirk’s chest as if she needed consoling when it was Lissi who’d been thrown into danger.

As soon as she entered another room, this one with a green waterfall against one wall, Di-Tel snapped at one of his men. “Find out if it’s true.”

“It’s hard to tell. The Enotians, they all look alike Di-Tel.” The guard shifted on his feet and avoided Di-Tel’s searching look.

Never had Lissi been more grateful to come from a world of indigenous blue eyed blonds.

The answer didn’t satisfy Di-Tel, who slammed his fist on the table knocking over utensils and other objects scattered about. “I want to know if she can be used to leverage my position. Find out now!”

The man took off running. Di-Tel stared at Lissi and her skin crawled. Minutes ticked by. Followed by more. As time passed, Lissi grew more and more uncomfortable from the unwavering stare aimed her way.

When the man returned, grinning in triumph, he held up a handheld. Di-Tel stood. “I sent a message, Di-Tel. They already responded that she is not to be injured. No confirmation on her relation to any of them but the Jutak council stressed their willingness to listen to demands.”

Lissi swallowed and waited while her blood rushed in her veins. Di-Tel’s full lips curved up as he faced her. “Excellent.”

***

Dread rolled through Rydak’s stomach. Torkel’s expression before they took off replayed in his mind’s eye. The entire trip became one living nightmare for Rydak. Luckily no one attempted to speak with him. He couldn’t have responded. His entire focus stayed on Lissi.

They landed far enough away from Lafett to hide their presence and the pilot was given instructions to wait for their evac. Rydak disconnected his safety harness first and was on his feet.

Jahul gripped his upper arm. “Are you able to handle this?”

“I need to separate the mission and my feelings. I can’t.” Rydak met his stare.

Jahul nodded and released Rydak. “Because you finally found someone you couldn’t keep at a distance.”

There was no distance with Lissi. “Yes.”

“Does Torkel know?”

“We have made no efforts to hide what we feel for one another.” Of course, Torkel knew. Her family as well. Lissi had an affectionate nature with no sense of boundaries. The moment Rydak gave in and slept with Lissi, a dam had broken. She touched him without reserve and fates forgive him, he sucked it up like a starving man.

Jahul signaled the others. Kyele, Arak and Faruk gathered close. They knew what needed to be done, had gone over it repeatedly on the flight. The scans they’d reviewed showed access to the facility required entering from above. It was the only way in if they wanted to go undetected.

“I’ll scout ahead,” Kyele said before vanishing with unnatural speed.

Arak huffed but followed while Rydak, Jahul and Faruk brought up the rear. They rappelled silently up the side to the domed roof. One hand at a time, Rydak scaled the building, no other mission had ever counted more. At the top, he crouched beside Faruk.

Kyele commed in. “Hostages in one centralized location. Armed guards on perimeter of the room.”

“Di-Tel?” Jahul asked.

“No visual.”

“Lissi?”

Rydak held his breath waiting for Kyele to answer Jahul.

“No sign of her either.”

They all exchanged grim glances. It wasn’t a good sign that both Lissi and Di-Tel were unaccounted for. Arak shifted about and used a specialized laser tool to cut away a section of the tempered glass roof. One by one they slid down the corded cable held by Jahul and then using a detachable support, the Team Leader came down last.

Hefting his laser, Rydak faced Faruk. He was the best marksman in their Unit out of all three teams. Rydak trusted him to make sure Lissi walked away from this alive. “You get a shot, take it. Di-Tel doesn’t deserve life at a prison colony.”

Faruk’s pale blue eyes held steady. “We will take care of Lissi, Rydak.”

He believed him but still. “Don’t miss.”

In all seriousness, Faruk replied, “I never do.”

Silent and deadly they spread out, Jahul going with Faruk and Rydak accompanying Arak.

“You and Lissi?” Arak said beside him.

Rydak offered him a patented stare. Arak cleared his throat. “Right.”

Even as he scanned and checked rooms with Arak, Rydak listened as Faruk and Jahul cleared their areas. Conversation flowed via the comm, soothing in its familiarity. Rydak and Arak approached Kyele at the last door in this section.

Kyele nodded and tipped his head toward the closed barrier. Nothing had changed. They lowered the special optic lenses over their masked faces. On a silent count they burst through, visual sensors transmitting the position of each target holding a weapon.

“Jutaks! Jutak warriors!”

They moved like a coordinated killing machine. Kyele used his knives with brutal efficiency anyone would admire. A flick of his wrist represented a kill for each person he aimed for.

Arak whirled around the room claws slashing and the screams from the men he attacked resonated in the confined space. The VIP guests scattered to one side of the room en mass. Even as he picked off the remaining offenders with precision and nothing but cold calculation, Rydak held in his annoyance that there might be no one left to question. 

It was over in moments. Sniffling and broken cries replaced the zip and whine of laser fire. Several targets sprawled unmoving about the floor. Rydak wanted to pace off his anger but he never gave into restless energy on a mission.

“Jahul?”

A click in his ear. “Here.”

“The room and hostages are secure.” Another glance around left Rydak’s heart lurching. He swallowed. “Lissi Alonson is not present. Nor Di-Tel.”

“Hold steady. Faruk and I are still searching.”

Rydak breathed through his nose and stayed in position. Behind him, Arak grasped his shoulder and squeezed.

“The man, D-Tel and the young female...,” a voice piped up. Rydak and Arak spun toward a man tied to a chair. His lavender skin color flickered but he met Rydak’s gaze evenly. “I think I might now where they are.”