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A grin spread across her face. “Then I guess you better beat up the corner where corridor thirty-seven turns sharply because I wasn’t paying attention and ran right into it.”

My anger evaporated, making way for concern. “You don’t look good.”

“And you look like you’ve been on vacation!” she said, throwing up her hands. “How is that possible?”

Then she was rushing and falling on me. I grabbed hold of her and managed to keep us both on our feet. She was shaking and breathing hard.

“I was so scared,” she whispered. “First I lost Jasper, and then you were gone. I can’t do this alone.”

“You don’t have to. I’m here,” I said. Then I remembered the guys would be right behind me. I moved us to a chair and urged her to sit down.

Leaving her sitting there looking distraught, I locked the door then rushed to sit on the short stool she often used to put her feet up.

“There’s a lot I have to tell you, but I don’t have much time,” I began, but stopped when tears began pouring out of her eyes.

“You’re w-w-wearing a collar,” she sobbed. “You're a slave and you ran away. Oh god, are they hunting you? We need to talk to the station regulators before your owner demands that you be returned.”

“I'm owned, but there's a twist. I own myself,” I said. “I also own another human named Sloane. I’m also an equal owner of a fuel transport ship that’s doing well.”

“You…what?”

“A lot has happened,” I said. “But my boyfriend and crewmates don’t know you exist. That means I can send you money and you can be independent and won’t need to wear a collar, but you have to decide now.”

She slowly shook her head, her eyes wide. “That makes no sense.”

I was making a mess of this!

Taking a deep breath, I tried again. “There’s this species called Talins. They think humans make great pets. The guys that kidnapped me thought they were saving me. It didn’t take long before they realized I’m not a pet.”

“They think we make good pets?” she repeated, brows furrowed.

“It’s complicated, but my guys know I’m their equal. That’s why they made me a partner,” I said, talking fast. I reached up and unlatched my collar. “See, I can take it off any time I want. It’s all pretend.”

I offered her the collar, and she took it. Just like I'd done when Tolly first gave it to me, she closed and opened it several times.

“A collar that doesn’t lock is jewelry," she said, handing it back.

“You're not wrong,” I said, putting it back on. I explained about the Talin laws regarding humans, then more detail about how Narmuna figured out how to get around it.

She was silent for a moment after I was done, then finally summed everything up pretty well.

“What you’re telling me is I can stay with you, but only if I wear a collar and go places where I’m considered a pet. But, if I want, I can stay here by myself living on your earnings.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry I can’t give you much time to decide, but if the guys see you, they won’t want to leave you behind. They’d be scared you wouldn’t get proper care. Honestly, I’m worried too.”

“Justa left,” she whispered.

Justa was the last medical technician that had stayed behind even after they’d closed the medical facility on the station. She still saw patients in her quarters, but we all knew that wasn’t sustainable.

With her gone, there was no one to help Cleo when she went into labor. That's when I realized that even if I sent plenty of funds and Cleo moved to a better-equipped station, she'd be alone. Even with the best medical care available, I couldn't let her navigate birth and then a newborn without me.

I was about to tell her there was no choice, she had to come with me, when she spoke up.

“I don't care what I have to wear,” she said, eyes swimming in tears. “I want to stay with you.”

“Thank fuck!” I muttered, making her laugh. “When the guys get here, I'll introduce you to them. They're going to be thrilled to meet you.”

“Yeah, because everyone wants a weepy and hugely pregnant woman as company,” she said, wiping her tears away. “Are you hungry? I have those spicy food packs you like. Maglia felt so guilty after they left with you that she gave me the entire fee instead of only your portion. Oh, and some packages arrived addressed to you, but I haven't gone to the administration offices to collect them yet.”