Blue solace complete ser.., p.116
Blue Solace: Complete Series Boxset, page 116
Moyra just laughed and slid through the mess, running after the retreating guards.
Crow was about to follow, then remembered Jevio saying something about a boy. He opened the door Jevio had come from.
A shot hit his shoulder, but his shield held. He pushed forward and sliced into one of the two guards in the room. Brisco followed behind him, quickly taking out the second guard while Parker searched the rest of the room.
Once both men lay dead on the ground, Crow looked around. A huddled figure was curled up on the floor next to a bed. The young Cardinal-Wello hybrid looked to be in his late teens. He was naked and covered in bruises and fluids.
Crow scowled, happy he had killed Jevio. Poor kid. “Hey.” Crow struggled to find something to say. “Jevio is dead. You’re free now.”
The young man looked up, grey ears twitching. “He’s dead?”
“Yeah. Are you one of the slaves from Vextonar?” Parker asked, eyes softening. “We came to rescue you all.”
The young man’s eyes darted to the side. “Yes. I’m one of them.”
Crow sighed. “You don’t have to lie. Tell the truth, please.”
Despair filled the man’s face. “No. I’m not with them. I usually work in the kitchen, but Master Philip…” The young man shuddered. “Please let me go anyway. I swear I won’t tell anyone.”
Crow shook his head. “We came for the Vextonians, but all slaves owned by Jevio are free. You’re good now.”
The young man stood, legs wobbling. The hope in his eyes almost killed Crow. “Promise?”
“Yes.” Crow forced the word out between clenched teeth. “Stay here until the fighting is over, okay? We’ll come back for you.”
“No! Please don’t leave me.” The man grabbed a sheet and wrapped it around his body. “I’ll come too.”
Parker tilted his head, eyes unfocused. “That was Ignali on my comm. The estate has been taken. Fighting is still going on downstairs, but the rest of the house is clear. We should stay here until it’s finished.”
The slave limped toward them. “Good. I’ll stay with you two. All the slaves are free now?”
Brisco smiled. “Yeah. I’m Brisco. This is Parker, and this is Crow.”
“My name is Lumi.” The young man leaned against the wall. “I can’t believe this is happening. We heard things, even isolated from the rest of the moon. We heard slaves were being freed.”
“How long have you been a slave?” Parker asked.
“My whole life.” Lumi swallowed. “Jevio owned my mom and dad too. They’re gone now though.”
The door pushed open, and Finn ran in, eyes searching the room until they landed on Crow. “You’re covered in blood.”
Lumi squeaked and darted behind Parker when Leslie and a few other Charybdis Station soldiers came in.
Crow gave Finn a slow smile. “It’s not my blood. I wasn’t injured at all.”
Leslie whistled. “Not a single bit, Finn. Looks like you have some dancing to do.”
Crow stayed by Finn’s side as the fighting wrapped up. Lumi and three of the other slaves stayed right at their backs, huddled close together.
Finn smiled nervously. “Uh, Lumi? You and your friends can pack your bags and wait in the shuttle if you want. We’re going to be here awhile.”
Lumi shook his head, and the young man and woman behind him did the same. “Cook is packing for us, not that there’s much. We’re staying right here. You can’t leave us if we’re with you.”
Crow exchanged a look with Finn. “You can stay with us.”
It took time, but eventually, they got back to the spaceport in Pagent’s Distillery. Dermot, Jenise, and Crow’s mom waited for them at the Blue Albatross’s dock.
In a little over a week, Diana had changed drastically. Her hair was clean and styled in tiny braids that fell to her shoulders. Gone were her usual dress pants, and now she wore clothes very similar to his own – plain black pants and a black jacket of thin and tough material.
Diana’s hard eyes met his. “Is he dead?”
Crow nodded. “It’s over.”
Chapter 11
Finn was exhausted. The last few days of processing the newly freed Vextonians and Jevio’s slaves had been hell. They had recovered a little over half a million Vextonians and countless other slaves owned by the Jevio family.
Then there was Crow’s family. Diana had taken the news of Jevio’s death stoically. It was almost as if she didn’t know how to react. Dermot had surprised them all when he’d broken down. Crow had needed to spend some time with them, and Finn was stuck on the Blue Albatross, writing reports with Weber, Halli, and Moyra.
Finn rubbed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. They still had so many Vextonians to find. He looked up and met Roxy’s glowing eyes. She was wedged on top of one of the shelves behind his desk. His glimmer had likely spent most of her life in a crate, so she was only now stretching her wings and learning to fly.
“Meow.” She sounded pitiful.
“Are you stuck up there?” Finn asked.
“Meow.”
“I’ll get her down.” Moyra jumped up and pushed a chair over to the shelf.
“The Yellow General said Vextonar is still in turmoil,” Weber said, drawing Finn’s attention. The captain looked just as tired as Finn. “Leslie and Jada have offered ships to bring the Vextonians back to Charybdis Station for now.”
“I’m glad Derelict, Beton, and Siletus have stepped up to help the other Vextonians. Charybdis Station has to be getting crowded, and the Boral System is closer to Vextonar,” Halli said, stretching her arms over her head and grinning. “All together, we’ve recovered over a billion, guys. We’ve located, rescued, and began transporting over a billion people in a month.”
Finn grinned. “We have, haven’t we?” With a lot of help from the rest of the galaxy. It still shocked Finn when he thought of how the various planets had worked together to help them with the Vextonians.
“We’ll find the others.” Weber ran his hands through his hair. “I know we will.”
Finn’s grin faded. “Are we sure Ezvin wasn’t in this group? Ival and his wife are a mess.”
Halli sighed. “No. We triple checked.”
Moyra huffed at Roxy’s weight, then climbed off her chair and set the glimmer on the floor. Roxy instantly got a running start and flapped her feathery wings, lifting into the air. She flew back to the top of the shelf.
“Damn it.” Moyra glared at the glimmer.
The door opened and Berenna walked in. A few of the freed Vextonians had chosen to stay on the Blue Albatross as they searched for the others. Berenna was one of them.
She gave him a tentative look. “Lieutenant?”
Finn went to her. “I’m sorry, Berry. He’s not there.”
She swallowed and smiled sadly. “Ignali already told me. I need to talk to Ival, and I wanted to know if you would sit with me. I know we don’t know each other well, but I don’t want to do this alone.”
Finn nodded and took her hands in his, squeezing them lightly. “Sure thing. Can you come by my office in a couple of hours? We’ll call him then.”
She gave him a grateful look. “Thank you. I know you have so much to do. I really appreciate this.”
“It’s not a problem.”
Berenna left, and Finn went back to his seat. “Are we sure Ezvin wasn’t there?”
Weber gave him a sad look. “I’ll check again.”
Finn rubbed his face. “I know he’s not there. Ival and Berenna’s situation sticks with me for some reason. Ival is stuck on Genarg and can’t come here, and Berenna is recovering from abduction, forced separation from her family, isolation, and months of being raped by fucking Verulo Malone. I wish she would go to Charybdis Station so she could at least get counseling as she waits for Ival.”
Moyra snarled. “Are you sure I can’t cut Verulo Malone’s dick off?”
“Not yet, Moyra. We need to make sure we’ve gotten all the information we can from him.” After they left Rueal, Finn didn’t particular care if the asshole had an accident.
Weber leaned over and squeezed his arm. “We’re getting Berenna counseling while she’s with us. I talked to my medical officer, and they check on her daily. She has her own quarters here and is close by as we search for Ezvin. We’ll do our best by Berenna and so will you. We’ll find Ezvin.”
Finn raised his tablet and pulled up the child’s picture again. He was only three when he was taken. By now, he would have turned four. “We will.”
“Lieutenant.” Ignali’s voice came from the wall comm.
“Yes?”
“There’s a handsome smuggler headed your way.”
Finn pushed his tablet away and stood. “I, uh, have important things to discuss with Aiden.”
“We’ll pretend to believe you.” Weber arched a brow. “We all need a break. What about meeting back here in an hour to continue?”
“Yes.” Halli rubbed her eyes. “I need coffee and food.”
Moyra huffed. “I need to go haunt someone. Maybe I’ll sneak up on Noe. He’s been in a foul mood for months.”
Finn winced. Poor Noe. The Full Moon operative was the lieutenant of Moyra’s ship. He had stepped in when Wolfe had decided to stay home for this mission.
The door to his office slid open and Crow stalked in, eyes focusing on Finn. They really hadn’t seen enough of each other the last few days.
Finn stood and Crow picked him up, tossing him over his shoulder and heading for the door to Finn’s quarters.
“Be back in an hour,” Weber called out, laughing.
Finn stroked a hand down Crow’s back and let his mate carry him into the bedroom. Crow stopped once the door closed behind them and let Finn slowly slide down his front. Crow tightened his arms around him and buried his face against Finn’s neck.
“Mom is taking over my business,” Crow said wryly. “Lumi and his two friends live in the villa now too. She spoils them rotten and put them to work sorting goods in the warehouses.”
Finn snorted. “She needed something to do.”
“She does it better than me.” Crow sounded pitiful. “My contacts like her better, and she’s the best haggler I’ve ever met.”
Finn rubbed his back. “She can’t help being efficient and charming. Where do you think you got it from?”
Crow sighed. “I guess I can’t begrudge it for her. She’s more like her old self since she moved into the villa.”
“How’s Dermot?”
Crow squeezed him, then set him on his feet. “Better. I don’t think he dealt with Dad’s death as well as I thought. It helped to know Jevio and Teresa Malone are both dead. Jenise said it was eating at him.”
Finn nibbled his lip. “I wish he had talked to you. Then again, you didn’t talk to him. I’m starting to think that the Crow men are a little too hardheaded.”
“That is a good possibility.” Crow nodded. He looked around. “Where’s Hiss Beast?”
Finn pinched Crow’s side. “Her name is Roxy. She’s currently lurking on my office shelves.”
Crow smiled softly. “She started flying?”
“Yes.” Finn grinned, feeling proud. “Her wings have gotten bigger, and it’s just been a week.”
Crow sat on the sofa and pulled Finn onto his lap. “Brisco reported back on the Weasel.”
Finn’s ears twitched. “Really? Gus and Draif haven’t been able to find much.”
“Rumor has it the Weasel is a human hybrid and related to one of the aristocratic Rueal families. Brisco hasn’t been able to find his base, but I have a hunch who might know.” Crow kissed his neck. “Do you want to come along and have chat with Verulo Malone?”
Finn’s tail swished back and forth against Crow’s leg. “Why yes, I would enjoy that. Thank you for asking. We haven’t been on a date in a while.”
“It’s important to keep our relationship fresh.” Crow helped him stand. “Let’s go interrogate a whiny, privileged, formerly rich man.”
Finn kissed his cheek. “You have the most romantic ideas.”
Finn stared at the slender, greasy looking man across the table from him and Crow. It would be so easy to stab his fork into Verulo Malone’s eye. Crow took his hand, and Finn wondered if his expression had given him away. They sat in a simple diner in Pagent’s Distillery. The city was slowly starting to come back to life. Thousands arrived every day and went back to their broken homes and businesses.
Finn forced himself to focus on the piece of shit in front of him. Verulo Malone may not be rotting in a cell, but he was now in a prison of his own making. Finn had confiscated every last credit of the Malone estate in the name of Charybdis Station and passed it on to a distant cousin of the Malone family.
Jada and the senate had approved, and now Verulo was completely destitute. Any friends he had thought he had were long gone, and no one on the planet would loan him credits.
Finn didn’t feel an ounce of pity for the man.
Verulo leaned forward. “Are you buying?”
Crow smirked. “If you give us the information we need.”
Verulo gave him a dark look. “I told that horrid banshee everything I knew about the fucking Vextonians.”
“Not everything,” Finn gently corrected. “There is one very large group we haven’t been able to find any mention of, and Jada said you wouldn’t talk about them.”
Verulo sat back, a smug look on his face. “All I know is what was in Mother’s notes.”
“Strangely enough, they weren’t mentioned there.” Crow shrugged. “Somehow, about a million people just vanished.”
“Weird.” Verulo’s eyes followed the waitress as she carried a tray of food to the table next to them.
Crow leaned on the table. “Tell us about your brother.”
Verulo’s attention snapped back to him, eyes narrowed. “Charybdis Station assassinated my brothers.” He didn’t sound too angry about the fact.
“Not Antonio and Raleigh.” Finn picked up the menu and started looking over it. “We’re talking about your brother the otter.”
Verulo snorted. “It’s the Weasel, and he’s my cousin, not my brother.”
Crow rubbed his chin. “So, he is a Malone.”
Verulo flushed and slumped in his seat. “I don’t know him. Mother never let him come to the estate.”
“Where is his base?” Finn asked. “Hmm, this all looks good. You eat here before, Aiden?”
Crow stretched an arm around his shoulder. “Yeah. The burgers are great.”
Verulo’s stomach growled loud enough for Finn to hear over the noise in the busy diner. “I don’t know.”
“Bullshit.” Crow didn’t look up from the menu. “You hate the man. Why protect him?”
Finn looked up. “Do you think he’ll help you?” Verulo’s angry expression told Finn all he needed to know. “Ah, so you’ve already asked.”
Verulo leaned forward. “Give me credits, and I’ll tell you where his base is.”
Finn tapped his chin. “Or, you tell us where the base is and we buy you dinner and don’t kill you.”
“He’ll kill me if I don’t get out of here.” Verulo swallowed hard. “Give me enough to get off Rueal.”
“Where you heading?” Crow asked.
“Not your business, hybrid,” Verulo growled.
Finn sighed. “Okay, here’s what I’ll do. You tell us where the base is and one of Charybdis Station’s ships will take you anywhere you want to go in the galaxy.”
Verulo eyed him. “You’ll buy me dinner too?”
Finn shrugged. “Sure.”
“All I know is his base is on one of the moons surrounding Aruta. It’s shielded well, and he works closely with the Belcrest assassins.” Verulo looked around nervously. “When can I leave Rueal?”
Finn sent a message on his comm. “Let’s order your meal, and Weber will come pick you up.”
Verulo looked relieved. By the time Weber was there, Verulo’s meal was ready and boxed up. “We’re leaving right now?”
“Yes.” Finn curled into Crow’s side. “Weber will take you to one of our ships.”
Weber grinned. “Let’s get you somewhere safe, sir.”
Crow frowned at Finn as the other two men left. “I don’t like helping him. The first thing he’ll do is warn the Weasel.”
“He can’t do that from a cell aboard Ronnie’s ship.”
Crow arched a brow. “What about giving him a ride to anywhere in the galaxy?”
“Oh, we will. We’ll just wait to do it until after the Weasel is dealt with. Well, if he doesn’t accidently die from a knife in his chest before then.” Finn took a bite of his burger and chewed. “This really is good.”
Crow shook his head and laughed. “You are something else, mate.”
Finn grinned. “Now, tell me what you know about the Weasel. You said he was a pain in the ass.”
“Yeah. He has a large fleet and attacks merchant ships. He also deals in slaves. He’s known to board ships and take the crew and passengers to sell on the black auction.”
Finn leaned back. “Black auction? Wait, Wyther said something about that. It’s like a black market for slaves, right?”
Crow nodded. “They’re harder to trace when they’re sold through there.”
“Do you think he’s sold the Vextonians there?” Finn pushed his plate away, stomach gurgling.
“I don’t know.” Crow pulled him close. “The only way we’ll know is if we take the base.”
Finn leaned into him and typed out a message on his comm. “I’m sending Moyra’s crew to scout Aruta’s moons. We need to find him.”
Crow waved the waitress over and packed their food up while Finn spoke with Moyra. By the time he was done, Crow had a bag of food. “Let’s get you back to your ship.”
Finn frowned. “I wish I could spend the night with you.”
Crow cupped his face and leaned in for a kiss. “You are. I packed a bag.”
Finn sat with Berenna in his office while Crow showered in their quarters. It really did feel like their quarters now.
Berenna took a big breath and let it out. “If this doesn’t go well, can I join your mate’s crew? I met Lumi yesterday, and he seems to like it.”
