AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cedra
“Damn, that looks expensive,” Trin commented, snapping her dark helmet on.
I’d say that was an understatement.
Although I’d finished my degree in Royal One and thought I’d witnessed all the excesses of wealth, Gillies was a different world altogether. The island glittered under the sunlight, lavishly tiled multicolored pools and striking white houses shimmering with blinding intensity.
As the peacekeepers gathered their equipment, I squinted into the brightness, trying to adjust to the new light.
Magh had landed the tank a block away from the entrance to the large white building that was built like a fortress with high fences on all sides.
It seemed like a huge investment just to spend a small fraction of the year there. Granted, it did look relaxing, with its unnaturally green lawn and perfectly landscaped gardens.
“Okay, so run the plan by me again,” Ana said, swiveling around in the pilot’s chair. She’d twisted up her thick locs into a band, keeping them away from her face.
“I’ll take the lead.” Berr’s rumbling voice reverberated in the small cabin of the tank. “We go in to investigate an unlawful kidnapping. We flash this report...” He held up a regular-sized device that looked positively tiny in his large hands. “Which states that Twyla’s Mate has filed a report with the corps regarding an unlawful kidnapping.”
Magh made an irritated noise. “They’re filthy rich Royals. They might not even give us the time of day.”
“Then we force our way in,” Berr said, sliding the e-reader into a pocket at the front of his combat uniform.
“No violence,” Ana hastened to remind him.
Trin angled her body towards me. “If Twyla’s in there, would she come with us if we mention your name? No questions asked?”
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
Trin slapped her hands on her thighs and stood, as though to say, Well, that settles it.
“We have incoming,” Magh reported, pointing to a sleek silver bopper that was landing on the manicured lawn. Their fingers tapped on the windscreen, which doubled as binoculars, zooming in to check out who it was.
Two surprisingly small people stepped out of the bopper, dressed impeccably in matching white suits. The woman was slightly taller in her heels and wore an expensive-looking string of jewels around her neck.
“That’s Tion Philips.” Trin had taken her helmet off again to get a better look. “I’ve seen him in the Royal tabloids.”
When her colleagues shot her a look, Trin glared back at them. “What? I wanna know how the other half lives!”
She turned back to the screen, pointing at the moving pair. “His mother, Irah Philips, inherited a mining business from her late husband, and Tion is her sole heir. But what are they doing here?”
With each word that Trin spoke, my throat seemed to close a little farther.
“That’s her ex-fiancé,” I murmured.
“Ah, shit.”
We watched as the pair were received on the porch and led inside.
“All right, let’s move.” Berr stood, bending a little so his horns wouldn’t scrape the top of the tank. “Quick extraction. Shouldn’t take long.”
Fully suited, they filed out of the tank. Berr turned his body cam on so we could watch the proceedings through the windscreen.
“Up front.” Ana patted the passenger chair next to her and I slid in. She leaned back as far as the seat would allow and propped her feet on the control panel, seemingly relaxed.
I, on the other hand, sat on the edge of my seat.
Please be okay, I prayed to anyone who was listening.
I reached out again through our half bond and thought I felt...something.
