Page 74 of Trove’s Purpose

“No, we were friends,” Rok smiled, patting his shoulder. “It’s good to see you, Yurekt. I’m glad to see you doing well.”

The male, bleeding sluggishly from the head, unable to keep himself upright, just stared back at him. And it wasn’t the look of a friend delighted to find out someone he thought dead was alive. There was no relief or victory there.

But there was a darkness Trove didn't like.

“I’ll silence him,” he said, raising the knife.

“No, it’s okay,” Rok took hold of Trove’s hand with one of his upper arms. “Yurekt won’t talk. We had a strict policy about talking in our gang. Right?”

Yurekt, who definitely did not look like he was ready to keep this secret, didn't respond. Probably because he wasn’t stupid enough to provoke the guy with the knife.

“Get back inside,” Trove said, deliberately not using Rok’s new name. He didn't want this guy to know it. “I’ll deal with him.”

“It’s okay,” Rok said, standing straight. “He can’t do anything. He was excommunicated from the gang as well. Even before I was.”

“Uh-huh. That’s nice. You should go to the females now and I’ll just make him go to sleep,” Trove lied completely.

Rok wasn’t the smartest individual. He was big and strong and deeply loyal to Tanin, but thinking was not his strong suit. Trove wasn’t going to convince him that this guy was a problem, he’d rather just take care of it without him knowing.

But before he could do so, the sounds of shuffling had them directing their attention to the front of the room.

It wasn’t more station personnel, however. Instead, it was Tanin. He and Vytln were carrying the painting, one person on each end, holding it straight up. The entire thing was enclosed in a glass and metal case, keeping it isolated. The twins were on either side of them, running defense.

At the sight of them, Rok ran forward to take Vytln’s place. Rok was stronger than Vytln. Tanin, though the shortest, was stronger than all of them. The two, under Vytln’s direction, hauled the painting up through the door of the ship. They needed to tilt it to get it through the opening as they hadn’t attached the larger doors.

Trove turned back to the Yurekt person.

“Hey!” Tanin called out. “Get in here. Disconnect the computer. We’re leaving.”

“But captain-”

“That was an order.”

“Fine. Let me just take care of this guy first.” Trove turned again.

“Do not,” Tanin ordered, his voice harsh and sharp like a whip.

Trove stilled, hand in the air. The guy was weak and helpless, barely able to hold himself up against the wall. He was keeping quiet, a cautious eye on Trove’s blade.

“Captain, I really think we need to deal with this one,” Trove said.

Tanin frowned and gestured to Vytln. He came forward and took his spot and the two large males continued getting the painting into position. Sway was standing by, ready to detach Alred’s cord just before they left.

Tanin, however, came to stand by Trove. He looked Yurekt up and down before asking-

“And why is that?” He asked calmly.

“He saw Uvmont’s face,” Trove said, also using Rok’s old name. Tanin glanced over at him, but that use of that name told him everything he needed to know.

Tanin looked back at him, and there was a brief moment where he contemplated what to do. And Trove waited, at the ready, for the order.

But it didn’t come.

“He lives,” Tanin said instead.

Trove snarled. “Captain, he-”

“Lives,” Tanin finished, cutting him a glare that silenced Trove. Though not without effort. “I know. But if we leave dead bodies behind, we’ll be making problems for ourselves.”