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“What’s going on?” Angie demanded.
“We’ll explain later, Trouble,” Ryek said. “Delaney will be fine.”
Ulrek sure hoped so. As for the ones who took her? He hoped they'd gotten a good look at the sunrise this morning because they would never see another one again.
Delaney
Delaney stared daggers at Craig as he walked out from the bunker with his friend.
“I knew it! I knew you weren’t sleeping with that alien.” Craig looked practically giddy. “A technician for some plant shit. I should’ve guessed. I should never have let you take those extra courses.”
Delaney put on her best I’m-not-scared-of-you-anymore face. It was easier than she thought, probably because those Tallean thugs who’d just stepped back into their shuttle were much scarier than him.
“I can’t believe you’ve stooped so low as to work for the Dominion, Craig. They don’t even have the right guy.”
“Nah, not the Dominion. Just some random bounty hunters. Besides, who cares if it’s not the right guy as long as I get paid.” Hearing a notification, he took his comm out of his pocket. “And there’s the first part of the payment right now.” He sneered. “I was waiting to see what you said before deciding what to do with you. If you’d slept with that monster, I would’ve left you here for the coilbeasts. But since you didn’t, we’re going home.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Delaney said. “I’d rather stay with the coilbeasts.” At least that part was true.
Behind him, Eric laughed. “See, man. I told you Vicky wasn’t worth it. She’s only interested if you’re taken. You’ve lost a good, pure-blooded woman in this one, Craig. Jake and Nate followed her yesterday, and they said two humans came out with the captain. Half theNew Horizon’s crew is human. Isn’t that right, Dee?”
Delaney wasn’t sure what he was getting at. TheNew Horizondidn’t hide the fact that it was a mixed ship. “Yeah. So?”
“See? I told ya.”
“Whatever.” Craig waved the comment off. “I’m just happy they fucked up and got caught, and these alien freaks hired us for the job instead.” He started toward Delaney. “Now get back in that transport.”
Delaney backed away. “No.” If Ulrek was on his way, she was going to do anything to delay leaving. He was going to have to drag her back, kicking and screaming.
“It wasn’t a yes or no question.” He tried to grab her, but she darted out of his way.
Eric sniggered, then came to stand between her and Craig. “You fucked up, bro. She doesn’t want you anymore.” He kept his eyes on Craig but spoke to Delaney. “You can come home with me, Dee. I won’t cheat on you, or break your shit, or knock you around. I’ve been waiting so long for you to finally come to your senses. I’ll be so good to you, I promise. Way better than him.”
Delaney gawked. Eric was supposedly Craig’s best friend, though Craig often talked shit about him behind his back. Delaney never had any idea he felt that way about her.
“You son of a—” Craig lunged for Eric.
To Delaney’s surprise, Eric pulled a blaster from his messenger bag and pointed it at Craig. “Get back.”
Craig blinked in shock but slowly obeyed.
“More. Right up against that tree,” Eric ordered. “Delaney, it was his idea to drug you. I just planned on bringing you here to talk to the aliens. It took you so long to wake up. I was worried. You could’ve died.”
“That’s fucking bullshit, you back-stabbing piece of shit. You’re supposed to be myfriend.”
“You fucked Trish! At least I waited until Delaney left you.”
Trish had briefly been Eric’s girlfriend. Craig had cheated on Delaney with her too?
“Whatever, man,” Craig said. “Trish was a slut who fucked everyone.”
Delaney felt sick to her stomach. She’d never go back to Craig, and Eric wasn’t much better. He was the one who got Craig into the New Earth bullshit in the first place.
Suddenly, Craig lunged, grabbing Eric’s weapon, which went flying to the ground. Eric threw a punch, and the two were soon brawling on the leaf litter like two Tasmanian Devils.
With the two otherwise occupied, Delaney quietly crept toward the trees. There were dragus and coilbeasts out there, but maybe she didn’t need to go too far. None had attacked yet, so there must be a sonar repellent somewhere. The trees were thick in this area; all she needed to do was get lost behind a few.
She ducked behind a tree and made her way around the shuttle. The two were still fighting when the taller of the two aliens stomped out from the vessel. Scarface pulled the two apart and hit one of them hard.
