Rogue: A Scifi Alien Romance (Galactic Gladiators Book 8) Page 4

  He held himself still, but didn’t move away .

  That’s when Enni noticed her. “Woman. You got a woman?” His eyebrows rose .

  “Can you break the lock?” Zhim asked .

  But Enni’s focus was on her. “Zhim never has woman. Sometimes pretty, glossy dolls. Dolls like his money. Only stay one night .”

  “Enni. The liquescent lock .”

  The hacker blinked. “Right .”

  “I’m Ryan,” she said. “Zhim’s friend .”

  “Friend? Zhim no friends. He came from Skora. Bad planet, bad planet. No time for friends on Skora. Too busy. Survive, survive .”

  “Enni.” Zhim’s voice was sharp now .

  “Can’t break this, Z. Need more firepower. Ask the Sisters. Ask Sisters to link with me. Together, we can break .”

  “Thanks, Enni.” Zhim leaned over and put some coins on the man’s desk. Then he grabbed Ryan’s hand, and pulled her across the room to a dark corner .

  Suddenly, the walls seemed to close in, the shadows thickening. Ryan’s steps faltered. The glow of the screens, the murmur of voices, and the darkness, all reminded her of Zaabha .

  She’d spent days on end locked in the desert arena’s systems room. Sometimes they’d forget to feed her, and most of the time, she’d spent the nights sleeping on the hard floor .

  “You okay?” Zhim asked .

  She nodded, gritting her teeth .

  Suddenly, his hands were on her shoulders, pulling her close. “You’re fine, Ryan. We’re in Kor Magna. In the hacking den .”

  His dark, spicy scent filled her nose, and she breathed it in deep. Zhim. She wasn’t at Zaabha .

  He eyed her steadily, then nodded. “Come on .”

  He pulled her over to where three women sat cross-legged on cushions. Their data was projected in the air in front of them—columns of alien symbols. The women were all of indeterminate age, with white skin and blue hair. Each one of them had milky-white eyes .

  “Hello, Zhim.” They all spoke together, with low, modulated voices .

  “Sisters. I have a liquescent lock for you to crack. Can you link with Enni ?”

  They all started whispering, moving their hands in the air in a complicated dance. “We can. We’re linked with him .”

  The women’s eyes all started flickering, and they got to work .

  “It is difficult,” the woman in the center said .

  “Very difficult,” the second woman said. “Not easy .”

  “We’ve cracked part of it,” the final woman murmured .

  Ryan’s heart clenched .

  “But only part of it,” the central woman added .

  “Let’s see.” Zhim leaned over, to look at the data floating in the air .

  Together, the three women shook their heads. “You need to plug in and fly .”

  Zhim heaved out a breath, and took a set of goggles that one of the sisters was holding. One of the other ladies held up another set to Ryan .

  “Ryan, no …”

  “I’ll stay right with you,” she told him. “I promise .”

  He nodded, and they pulled the goggles on. Lights swirled in front of Ryan’s eyes .

  “Be ready,” he warned. “It can be a hell of a ride.” She felt his fingers brush her temples as he checked her goggles .

  And then, suddenly, she was flying through data. Oh, God . In real life, she felt Zhim wrap his arms around her, his big body pressed against her back .

  “Need to keep you grounded.” His breath was warm on her ear .

  But Ryan focused on the data racing past her, and the feeling of flying. The feeling of freedom .

  She laughed. She sensed Zhim’s presence in the system with her, and together, they ducked and weaved through the data. Every now and then, she saw glowing streaks that she realized were other hackers flying through the system .

  It felt so good. She understood how this could be addictive. It was exhilarating .

  “We’re flying,” she said .

  “Yeah.” She heard the smile in his voice .

  She reached out and touched the data. It ran off her fingers like water. She flicked it toward the bright presence beside her .

  Zhim laughed and splashed her back .

  It was so good. So fun .

  Here, there was no darkness, no beatings, no fear .

  But it wasn’t real. Ryan pulled in a deep breath and repeated those words to herself .

  Then, to reinforce the words, she focused on the big, solid body wrapped around her in the real world. She shifted in Zhim’s embrace and felt a hard erection prodding her ass .

  Desire rocketed through her .

  That was real .

  She shifted against him on purpose, and felt a hand grip her hip. A low growl sounded in her ear .

  “Stop that,” he murmured, his voice dark and silky .

  “The lock is broken.” The Sisters voices speaking in unison broke through their shared moment. “Your data is decoded .”

  Really? Ryan’s heart leaped, and she watched the data flow in front of her swirl around .

  “I’m copying it,” Zhim murmured. “We need to leave the system now .”

  A part of Ryan didn’t want to leave. She’d be more than happy staying here, where it was free and fun. No panic attacks or nightmares .

  But she knew she had to .

  No problem ever got solved by ignoring it .

  Ryan shoved her goggles up on the top of her head, and disorientation made the room whirl. Then Zhim’s handsome face came into focus. She slumped against him. “Whoa .”

  He cupped her cheek, his other arm snaking around her. “Just take a second to get your balance .”

  “That was…something .”

  “Yeah.” He reached up and stroked her hair .

  Ryan leaned into him, absorbing his warmth, and listening to the beat of his heart. Desire was a low simmer in her belly .

  And all of it was real .

  She went up on her toes and kissed him. She heard the sudden whispers of the Sisters, but soon she was swept away in the kiss. Zhim gripped her hair, tilting her head back so he could plunder her mouth. She kissed him back with every pent-up emotion inside her .

  Finally, they pulled apart, staring at each other .

  Zhim cleared his throat, and they both turned to see the Sisters silently watching them, with those white eyes .

  “Thanks, Sisters,” Zhim said .

  “Yes, thank you,” Ryan added .

  “Come back to visit us .”

  Ryan and Zhim moved back through the hacking den. Soon, they were back in the entryway, and Ryan had only taken one step when Zhim grabbed her, spun her around, and pushed her up against the wall. He pressed in close, his body hard against hers. An electric tingle skittered over her skin .

  “Did you like being plugged in?” he asked .

  “Yes.” Her voice was breathless .

  “If I touch you between those slender thighs of yours, will you be wet ?”

  His sexy words made her belly jump. “Yes. But it’s not from being plugged in .”

  He tilted his head .

  She skimmed her hands up his arms. “It’s because of you .”

  He kissed her again, rough and fierce. Ryan moaned against his mouth. The taste of him was way more addictive than any alien computer system .

  His mouth slid down her neck, his hands skimming down her body .

  “Touch me.” The words were ripped from her throat and she undulated against him .

  He did, his hands moving up to cup her breasts. They felt swollen and heavy, her nipples pushing against her shirt .

  A giggle made them break apart, and Ryan spotted Zeever scurrying away. Zhim rested his forehead against hers, the sound of his breathing loud in her ears .

  “We need to go,” he said .

  She nodded. “Did you see anything in the data? Anything about Dayna ?”

  “No. But I saw someone else mentioned .”

&n
bsp; Ryan tensed. “Who ?”

  “Neve .”

  Chapter Four

  “L et me see,” Ryan demanded .

  Zhim tapped on his comp screen. “Just wait.” Ryan was leaning over his shoulder, bouncing on her feet .

  “Where is Neve? Do the Srinar still have her in the Illusion Mountains?” Ryan tossed her hands into the air. “I don’t understand why she didn’t come with us when I was rescued .”

  Zhim had spent many years collecting information, and he’d learned a lot about people in that time. One thing he was certain of, Neve Haynes of Earth had her own agenda .

  Ryan leaned in closer, trying to look at the screen. Once again, the sweet, sexy smell of her hit him. Instantly, he was transported back to those moments in the hacking den, the feel of her body pressed against his, her mouth on his, his hands filled with her. Something hot ignited, low and deep, inside him .

  The text on his screen blurred. Developing emotions for people never worked out well. He’d learned that very young. If you let yourself care for somebody else, it always led to pain and suffering. They either betrayed you or they left you. If he’d had parents—he had no recollections of them—they’d abandoned him. And he remembered one too many street kids on Skora that he’d befriended. They’d all left their bruises and scratches on him. One had even stabbed him in the back for a scrap of food .

  He was better off alone .

  Fingers clicked in front of his face. “Hello? Zhim ?”

  Ryan’s pretty face came into view .

  “Where did you go?” Concern flickered in her deep-brown eyes .

  He shook it off. “Just thinking. Here’s the data on Neve.” He quickly scanned through it .

  “What’s it say ?”

  Drak . This was not good. “Go over to the other comp, and get Galen on the line .”

  Ryan’s cheeks paled. She reached for the other comp, and tapped the screen. She spoke briefly to someone who answered, and then they waited for Galen .

  When the screen changed, Zhim saw Galen sitting at the head of a long table. The rest of the table was surrounded by gladiators and the women from Earth. Even Corsair, the desert-caravan leader, was there .

  Mia, her blonde hair feathered around her face, was standing with her hands pressed to the table. “How did it go ?”

  “We got some info,” Ryan said. “Nothing on Dayna. Yet .”

  Mia’s shoulders slumped .

  “But we found something on Neve,” Ryan added .

  “You found her?” Corsair asked .

  Zhim wondered briefly at the intense look on the man’s face. He took a deep breath. “She’s been captured by Gabriez .”

  Corsair cursed .

  “The information lord,” Galen said .

  “Who is he?” Ryan asked .

  “Technically, Gabriez is a she,” Zhim said. “She’s a Tylonian. They are a species of shape-shifters, although she prefers to stay in a snake-like, reptilian form .”

  Ryan winced. “Where is she ?”

  “Gabriez is bad news,” Galen said. “Most of the Houses avoid her at all costs. She is arrogant, convinced of her own greatness, and believes every single one of her own lies .”

  “She buys and sells information to the worst of Carthago’s sandsuckers.” Corsair’s hands were clenched into fists on the table .

  “She was one of the earliest inhabitants of Kor Magna,” Galen added. “So unfortunately, she’s always been well-connected. It’s the only thing that’s saved her from many an imperator’s sword .”

  Zhim nodded. “Galen is correct. Around here, I’m known as a trustworthy information merchant .”

  There was a snort from somewhere in the room but Zhim ignored it .

  “Compared to Gabriez, I’m a shining, celestial body anointed by the Creators. She is a black-market dealer, who is the worst kind of scum .”

  Ryan pressed a hand to her mouth .

  Zhim knew he had to lay this out for all of them. Knowledge was power. “She likes to collect toys and people, usually by luring them in with flattery and friendliness. Then, once you’re in her clutches, she likes to play games. She likes to break people. Her home is an underground labyrinth at the edge of the city .”

  “I hear people go in and never come out,” Raiden said .

  Corsair made an angry, strangled sound .

  “Why would Neve have gone anywhere near this woman?” Ryan said .

  “I don’t know,” Zhim answered .

  “Well, we can’t leave her,” Corsair said. “So, what’s the plan ?”

  “We won’t leave her,” Galen said. “But we will need to carefully plan this mission. Gabriez is dangerous .”

  Corsair stood. “We should go in now .”

  Zhim shook his head. “Gabriez’s labyrinth is near-impenetrable. It’s well-protected, and she collects tech as a hobby. She has one of the best security systems in the city. The place is riddled with booby-traps, cyborg guards, and layer upon layer of security detection .”

  “Every base has a weakness,” Galen said .

  “I’ve never been able to get my hands on the layout of her labyrinth.” Zhim had spent a lot of money trying. “Without knowing the exact layout of her lair, there’s no way a team of gladiators can sneak in .”

  Ryan turned to face him, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. “So, where does that leave us ?”

  “The only way to get the layout is to go in and steal it from her system.” Zhim stared at Galen. “I’ll go. Gabriez has always wanted to toy with me. And I know she wants some of the new tech I’ve been working on .”

  Ryan gave a nod. “I’m coming, too .”

  Zhim reared back. “No. I took you to that drakking hacking den. That was like a luxury vacation compared to Gabriez’s labyrinth. Absolutely not .”

  “I can help.” Her face got a stubborn look. “I’ll be your technician .”

  His teeth were clenched so tightly his jaw hurt. “Listen to me. Gabriez gets off on other people’s pain, Ryan. She has tech to dig deep into your head, and uncover your deepest, darkest secrets .”

  “Like Catalyst,” Winter said. The small woman was standing, her arms wrapped around her middle. “When we broke into his desert lair to rescue Mia, there was a blue energy field that made everyone relive painful memories .”

  Zhim gave a harsh laugh. “Catalyst purchased the initial tech from Gabriez, but what she can do with it will make you feel like you stepped into that darkness. You’ll see it, smell it, feel it .”

  Ryan shuddered, then drew herself up. “It doesn’t matter what this Gabriez can do. I’ll suffer whatever I have to in order to free Neve. Those people—” she pointed to the screen, to the gladiators and the women “—they all risked their lives to rescue the others, including me. It’s my turn, now. I have the skills to help you .”

  “I want to go, as well,” Corsair said .

  Zhim hissed out a breath. “I can’t take fighters in there. She’ll know I’m up to something .”

  Galen held up a hand. “Zhim’s right, Corsair .”

  The caravan master cursed, spun, and strode out of the room .

  “I’ll pay your standard terms for you to go in, Zhim,” Galen said .

  Zhim waved a hand. “We’ll discuss that later.” He was more concerned with how the hell he was going to stop Ryan from entering the labyrinth of a crazy, sadistic alien who enjoyed hurting people .

  Ryan had been through enough .

  She stared back at him, her chin lifted and her gaze resolute .

  Damn these stubborn Earth women. He tried to force the words out to tell her that he wouldn’t take her. But he couldn’t seem to say no to her .

  “Fine .”

  Ryan broke out in a smile .

  “You’ll stay right beside me. You don’t make eye contact with Gabriez, you do as I tell you, and you don’t take any unnecessary risks .”

  “I’ll do what I have to do to help you .”

  Zhim was ver
y aware that she hadn’t agreed to his terms .

  “Ryan and Zhim,” Galen said. “We’ll be here if you need us. If anything goes wrong .”

  The thought of being at Gabriez’s whims made Zhim’s skin crawl. The idea of Ryan being there… He nodded at the imperator .

  “Good luck,” Galen added. “And Zhim, you keep Ryan safe .”

  * * *

  R yan sat back in the curved seat of the transport that Zhim was driving. He zipped in and out of traffic on the busy Kor Magna street. His transport was a sleek, dark vehicle that hovered just off the ground. She stroked the soft leather beneath her, and glanced his way. The red glow off the dash made his face look mysterious. She loved the vehicle, and he drove it too fast. Her heart raced .

  She loved that, too .

  She was going to add driving a fast alien transport to her list .

  They moved away from the glitz of the District, among the lower, two-story buildings that formed most of the city’s dwellings. Here and there, she saw people walking on the streets, children skipping and playing, and people clustered together in groups. Everyone going about their regular lives .

  It didn’t matter that they were half the length of the galaxy away from the life she’d known, some things were the same. Life went on, even on a lawless, wild, desert planet .

  “How did you finagle an invite from Gabriez?” she asked. “Did she suspect anything ?”

  Zhim shook his head. “She was very eager. I offered her a Nova .”

  Ryan sucked in a breath. His new tech .

  “She’s wanted one for ages. Been hassling me.” He glanced Ryan’s way. “Of course, I informed her I had to install it…for an exorbitant cost .”

  Ryan quirked an eyebrow. “So you’ll make money off Gabriez, and you’ll charge Galen, as well ?”

  He looked away. “That’s what I do. Buy and sell my time, skills, and information .”

  The buildings around them changed. They looked older, some with crumbling walls and broken windows. She caught glimpses of the desert between some of the structures, and knew they were near the edge of the city. Here, groups of people also gathered on the street. But no one was skipping or smiling. Faces were drawn, expressions suspicious. Shifty eyes watched them as they passed .

  “Doesn’t seem like a nice area,” Ryan said .