She didn’t speak. She didn’t need to. The slight pressure of her fingers said everything… I’m here for you.
Tomorrow. Everything they’d planned. His half on the field, hers in the corporate box with a dead man’s switch and evidence that could bring down the R'Tev. They’d expose the conspiracy, clear his name, and then?—
Then she’d go back to her cargo runs and her ship, and her life. And he’d go back to… whatever was left of his.
15
Chapter 14
Raaze was pacing. Again.
Cait sat in the cockpit, reading through the security schematics for the stadium. The plan was solid. Raaze would take the field as a wildcard, drawing attention with his undeniable skill. Meanwhile, she’d slip into the box, present the evidence, and force a confession from these crooked assholes. It was clean, efficient, and minimal risk…
At least on paper. But she knew every plan had the potential to fuc-fudge… fuck up.
Behind her, Raaze paced the small room like a caged predator.
“You should rest,” she said without looking up. “Big day tomorrow, remember?”
He didn’t reply, just kept up his pacing. Perhaps he was trying to wear himself out before sleep. She could think of far more pleasurable ways to do that.
His heart rate is elevated, Fred murmured to her.
She glanced up. She’d expected pre-match jitters, but Raaze’s expression was too tight for it just to be nerves. His jaw worked as if he were grinding his teeth.
She set down her data-slate. “Okay, what’s up with you?”
“I can’t let you walk into that box.”
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Tomorrow.” He stepped closer, and the cockpit felt smaller than it actually was. “The R’Tev box. I can’t let you go in there.”
“Can’t let me?”
“It’s too dangerous.” His voice was rough and urgent. “You’re human, and you’ll be surrounded by Latharians with absolutely no reason to let you walk out alive. You will get hurt, Cait. I can’t—” he stopped. Swallowed. “I can’t allow you to put yourself at risk like that.”
The anger started in her chest. A slow burn that expanded with every breath.
“You can’t allow me?”
“That’s not—” He stepped closer, towering over her. “I know these people. I know what they’re capable of.”
“So do I. I read the same files you did.” Heat rose in her cheeks. “Did you think I missed the part where they murdered people?”
“This isn’t a game, Cait.”
“No shit.” She surged to her feet, refusing to be intimidated by his size. “But it’s my choice.”
“Not anymore. You will not do this. I forbid it.”
“Forbid it? Excuse me? Does having sex with you come with a permission slip I didn’t see?” Her voice was sharp, but she didn’t care. “Do you think you magically get a say in what I can and cannot do now?”
“Yes.” Anger flashed in his eyes. “Yes, I draanthing well do.”
The words hit her like a slap.
“We’ve been intimate,” he said, his voice steady. Too steady. “Even though I didn’t expect to be. Even though I shouldn’t have. I picked you back on Parac’Norr because you were the easy target. The easy female to manipulate.”
