Her stomach hardened. She also had the bad feeling it was because of her that their attackers had known where to find them.
Her throat was so thick she could barely breathe. She’d almost gotten Justyn killed.
After another minute of fiddling, he sat back and the console came sluggishly to life.
She cleared her throat. “Good work.” She looked over his shoulder as he ran the scans.
“Okay, we only have info for a two-kilometer radius.” The topographic map flashed onto the screen.
“There!” She pointed to a red spot on the screen. Higher ground.
It wasn’t much, but when Justyn switched to the geological analysis, he pumped his fist in the air. “It’s made of pure, solid rock. No vegetation.” He grinned at her. “Might just work.”
Then her shoulders slumped. “But we have to get there first.” Again, she looked at the dense jungle…and thought of the blood-sucking vines and whatever other horrors might be out there.
As if reading her thoughts, an eerie screech sounded in the distance, and goosebumps broke out on her arms.
“How the hell are we going to survive the wildlife long enough to get to this hill?”
“We’ll wait for sunrise, which is only—” he glanced at the console “—four hours away. So for now, we eat and get some rest.”
As they munched on more unappetizing nutribars, Nissa sat quietly beside Justyn. It was…nice. Just sitting quietly, not having to fill the space with needless words. She would never have guessed she’d ever find an ease like that with a man like him.
“When we get back, I want to know how the hell someone found out you and I were leaving theNomad. Only Ry and Dare knew so we could avoid the mole.” Even in the dim darkness, his eyes glowed hot.
Her stomach clenched. She couldn’t keep lying to him. “I think it was my fault.” Goddess, it was hard forcing the words out.
He stilled, his head turning slowly. “Explain.”
His tone sent a chill down her spine. “I…I’ve been reporting in to Admiral DeRuyter at GSS.”
Justyn blinked, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Reporting in.”
She swallowed the giant lump lodged in her throat. “I’ve been giving her updates on our hunt.”
“I thought you were on a leave of absence.”
Nissa moved to the edge of her seat. “I am. I…she promised me that transfer if I could get the Constitution back.” Nissa didn’t bring up her father and his commendation. She scrubbed a hand over her mouth.
“You endangered everyone on theNomad. Us.”
“I was careful. But someone must have hacked my transmissions?—”
“Or someone at your precious GSS is a mole!” He exploded out of his chair, his body tense.
“Justyn, I’m sorry?—”
“I don’t want to hear it, Nissa.” He let out a harsh breath. “Every time I think I’m getting closer to uncovering the real you, there’s another wall.”
He glanced at her with such a blank look in his eyes it made her feel sick.
He shook his head. “Or maybe I’m just imagining that you’re different from the uptight Patrol captain who only cares about her career.”
His words were like blows slamming into her. She couldn’t find anything to say.
With an oath, he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Get some rest. At first light, we’re out of here with the beacon.”
He strode to the other side of the cockpit—to the farthest point from her—and dropped to the floor, his back against the wall. He tipped his head back and closed his eyes.
