safe and well cared for and I can pop in to check on her
during my breaks.”
“That sounds great.” Hallie smiled at her big sister.
“I’m glad you’re happy here, Bernie.”
Bernie reached across the aisle and squeezed her hand.
“I’m sorry that it came at your expense.”
Hallie shook her head. “It was worth it. Besides, it
turned out well for me. You got your freedom. I got my
Vicious.”
Terror snorted next to her. She narrowed her eyes at
him and thumped his arm. “Be nice, Terror.”
He didn’t tear his gaze away from the window. “Yes,
ma’am.”
Bernie and Lenny eyed her with a mixture of fear and
awe. She didn’t blame them. A few weeks ago, she would
have been terrified of a man like Terror too. She never
would have dared to playfully whack his arm or make
little jokes. She knew better now. Like Vicious, he looked
intimidating but deep down inside he was the sweetest,
gentlest man imaginable.
When they reached the hotel, Terror hopped out of the
transport vehicle first. He opened the door and quickly
ushered them inside. She thought he was being a bit
dramatic about it but kept that to herself. Besides, the hotel
was more interesting. It was absolutely beautiful and the
most expensive place to stay in the colony. She’d fought
Vicious on spending that kind of money but he wouldn’t
back down. He wanted her to enjoy herself with her friend
and sister. Now she felt a little silly fighting him. This was
a gorgeous place!
Once they were safely installed in their rooms, Terror
came to see her through the shared door between their
suites. It didn’t surprise her that Vicious had booked
rooms that shared a door for her and his best friend. He’d
probably sent orders with Terror demanding she keep the
door open so his friend could babysit her while she slept!
“I’m heading out for a bit.” Terror stepped inside her
room as she unpacked her small bag. “You will not leave
the hotel.”
She blinked at him. “We were going to have dinner.”
“Eat in one of the hotel restaurants. They’re all much
better than anything out on the street.”
She noticed his tense muscles. “Okay. We’ll stay in the
hotel and eat at one of their restaurants.”
“There are policemen stationed at this hotel around the
clock. They’re our men.”
“Military policeman?”
He nodded. “This hotel is a hub of cross-galaxy travel
so it’s within our purview to see to its safety. If they tell
you to evacuate, you leave immediately. Do you
understand?”
“I do.” Her stomach clenched. “Should I be worried?”
He relaxed a little “No. The intelligence reports were
clear. I don’t expect any trouble, but I have to go out for a
bit.”
She frowned. “To meet friends?”
He hesitated. “Yes.”
She sat down on the edge of the bed and studied him.
“You’re lying.”
Hallie knew because she used to look like that when she
was preparing to go out to deliver newsletters or work on
forged documents or lead families through the woods to
rendezvous spots to meet with sympathizers from the
colonies. She gestured to his forced relaxation and the
tight lines around his mouth. Finding her courage, she
asked, “Are you doing something illegal?”
“You mean like forging travel documents?” Terror’s
eyebrow arched. “Or maybe aiding and abetting the
smuggling of undocumented women and children onto
black market transport ships bound for the colonies.
Something like that?”
She reeled back in surprise. Her voice lowered, she
asked, “You know?”
“I know everything about you, Hallie.”
Betrayal cut deep. “Did Vicious tell you?”
Terror’s eyes widened slightly. “No. He loves you.
He’d never betray your confidence. No, I investigated you
on my own.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“Do you think I’d let my best friend marry a stranger from
another planet without checking her out first?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
“But you didn’t tell Vicious.” She remembered her
husband’s surprise that day she’d told him everything. He
couldn’t have faked that.
“What you did was illegal but it wasn’t without its
reasons.” He shrugged. “I figured you’d tell him when it
was time.”
“I already have.”
“Good.”
She swallowed hard. “Terror, are you going to be in
danger?”
“Probably.”
“What if—what if you get hurt? What if you can’t get
back? How will I help you?”
His expression morphed to one of shock. “Help me?
Hallie, I don’t need your help. I’m a highly trained
operative. What I need is for you to be safe here so I’m not
worrying about you while I’m in the field tonight. Can you
do that?”
“Yes. Of course. I won’t leave the hotel and I’ll be as
safe as possible,” she promised.
“Thank you.” He headed back to his room without
another word and shut the door between their suites. She
waited to see if he would lock it but there was no beeping
noise from the other side.
Alone in her room, she considered what kind of work
Terror might be doing here. It occurred to her that Terror
probably hadn’t come with her just to be her escort. Had
Vicious known? She highly doubted that. He’d sent an
armed guard with her to the food court with Lenny—on his
own ship! He wouldn’t have dared to send Terror with
Hallie if he’d known his friend was working some kind of
covert mission.
The fact that Terror had confided in her spoke volumes.
Apparently whatever he’d learned about her background
made him feel comfortable enough to trust her. She
wouldn’t speak of this to anyone. She’d never reveal
something like that. Even when the inquisitors of the
prison back home had given her their worst, she’d refused
to name her accomplices in the Red Feather.
Losing her hair, though humiliating, had been worth it.
She’d found comfort in the knowledge that at the very
moment her head was shorn in public, while rotten fruit
and vegetables pelted her bruised and battered body, three
women and their children were escaping Harper’s Well
forever.
A knock at the front door to her suite pulled Hallie from
those old, painful memories. She found Lenny and Bernie
waiting on the other side. She ushered them inside. “So,
um, there’s been a change of plans.”
Bernie’s face fell. “Are you leaving already?”
“What? No!” Hallie smiled and touched her sister’s
arm. “No. Terror has to meet with someone so he can’t
escort us around town tonight. Can we just hang around the
hotel?”
Bernie looked relieved. “Actually, I think that’s a great
idea. I’m feeling beat after working today.”
As Bernie and Lenny swapped tales of pregnancy
fatigue, Hallie let her thoughts wander to Terror. She
prayed he’d be safe.
* * * * *
Vicious drummed his fingertips on his desk and stared
at the vid screen as he waited for his call to Hallie to
connect. He’d tried three times already but the satellites
had been busy. It was late onboard the
Valiant
—he’d have
to report for duty in less than five hours—but it wasn’t
quite midnight at her hotel. He hated keeping track of time
differences. Thank goodness there were apps for that.
The screen flashed green. He sat forward in
anticipation. She’d been gone three days but it felt like a
lifetime. Each call they’d shared had been quick and
perfunctory. He was really hoping tonight’s call would be
different.
Hallie’s grinning face filled the screen. “Vicious!”
“Hey, Kitten.” He smiled at her excitement. “How is
your sister?”
“She’s great. Huge,” Hallie added with a laugh. “She’s
having a girl, by the way.”
“That’s nice.” He wasn’t good at small talk, even with
Hallie, but he tried. “The trip between the colonies went
well? Were there any problems?”
“Calm down, Vicious. The trip was great. The hotel is
beautiful, by the way. Did you know they have a spa? I let
Bernie and Lenny talk me into going. It was so much fun—
but I think kind of expensive.” She looked sheepish.
“Sorry about that.”
“I don’t care about the money, Hallie. I’ve rarely spent
any of my salary these last two decades. There’s plenty for
you to spend. I’m glad you’re enjoying the hotel.”
“It’s nice but it would be nicer if you were here with
me.”
His heart ached. “I miss you too.”
Hallie reached out to touch the camera on her end. Her
fingertips filled the upper section of his screen. He
reached out and placed his fingertips against hers. It
wasn’t nearly enough but it helped to imagine her warm
skin under his.
“We’re leaving the day after tomorrow. I think it’s an
express transport ship. We should dock with the
Valiant
in
twenty-six hours.” She frowned. “Or, at least, I think that’s
what Terror said.”
“Where is Terror?” Vicious let his fingers drop from
his screen. “I tried calling his room earlier but he didn’t
answer.”
“Oh, I think he went out to check the perimeter or
something.” She shrugged and waved. “You know how he
is. Mr. Vigilant and all that.”
“Yes.” Vicious let his gaze roam his wife. “What are
you wearing?”
Hallie laughed and blushed. “Vicious, behave!”
“I can’t. You drive me crazy. I am being serious,
though. Is that one of my shirts?”
She nodded and touched the fabric. “It’s the last one you
wore before I left.”
“Is that where it went?” He laughed. “I dug through our
hamper for ten minutes this morning trying to match up all
of my uniforms to be sent to the cleaners.”
“Sorry. I just wanted to be able to smell you while I
was gone.”
Heat burned through him. Only Hallie could make such
a sweet gesture seem so fucking sexy. “Take it off,
Hallie.”
“What?” She looked scandalized. “Vicious, no!”
“Take it off. Let me see you.”
“You’re out of your mind. I’m not getting naked in front
of this camera.”
“It’s a secure line, Hallie. Now let me see you.” He
made sure to use that gruff tone that made her shiver.
She swallowed hard and bit her lower lip before
scooting forward a little on her chair and grasping the
bottom of the shirt. She pulled it up and over her head as if
in slow motion. Her small breasts filled his screen. His
mouth watered at the very idea of licking and sucking
those nipples he loved so much.
“You were naked under the shirt.” His hungry gaze
roamed her bare skin.
“Feeling that shirt on my skin is as close as I can get to
you right now,” she admitted.
“Were you going to touch yourself later in bed and think
of me?” He sure as hell had been planning to do the same
thing.
“Vicious,” she hissed, her eyes wide with surprise. “I
don’t do
that
.”
He tried not to laugh. “Kitten, we’ve done things
together that have eclipsed something as innocent as
masturbation. If you want to think of me and rub your clit, I
happily approve.”
“Really, Vicious,” she whispered and looked so
embarrassed.
He sometimes forgot how wide-eyed and innocent she’d
been just a few short weeks ago. In that time, she’d come a
long way. Had he really overlooked a lesson as simple as
this one?
“Sit back and bring your feet up onto the arms of the
chair, Hallie.”
She gasped. “No, Vicious.”
“Hallie…”
“You first,” she countered.
He called her bluff. “Fine.”
She squeaked as he stood and pushed down his sleep
pants. His half-mast cock no doubt filled her screen now.
He kicked his chair back a few inches so he would be
fully viewable by the camera. When he sat down, he
stroked his cock and checked the small square window in
the lower right hand of his screen to be sure Hallie was
getting the full picture. “There. Your turn.”
Hallie licked her lips but did as he’d asked. She pulled
her legs into the chair, widened her thighs and placed her
feet on the metal arms. He groaned at the sight of her pussy
filling his screen. He craved the taste of her sweet, salty
cum and couldn’t wait to get his tongue on those pretty