Alien (33 page)

For a woman, she had a warrior’s spirit. Kal concentrated
and zoned in on her breathing. Slow, even breaths meant she was calm—for now.
He smiled inwardly. He imagined she was more than pissed at being tied up in
her own ride and if given the chance, he sensed she’d claw out his jugular with
her bare hands.

An internal shockwave bloomed from mid-gut and percolated to
the tips of his fingers and toes, causing him to visibly vibrate, even though
he tried desperately to control it. Out of the corner of his eye, he knew Dio
hadn’t witnessed the uncontrollable semi-seizure. Driving kept him busy. Good,
no reason to upset the boy unnecessarily. He bit back a groan as he shifted in
the seat. It took a tremendous effort to remain upright when all he wanted to
do was crumble into a heap.

He blinked repeatedly, forcing his eyes to focus on the GPS
and the red arrow. It seemed like time dragged before a miniature house finally
appeared in the upper corner of the screen, indicating home was located around
the next bend. Dio slowed to a stop.

“I think something’s wrong with the GPS. It’s saying turn
here, but there’s no road.”

Kal heard the Paoni struggling to sit upright and sensed her
frustration at failure. With her hands and ankles connected behind her, there
was no applicable way she could accomplish that feat. The dryness of her tone
reiterated her aggravation.

“Turn anyway. The path will light itself once the tires
touch the grass.”

Dio followed her command and turned off the road into what appeared
as a narrow field of grass, which led to nowhere but a dead-end at a dense
thicket of trees. As she said, the moment all four tires were on the grass, a
dim light outlined the way. The Bronco jerked, causing Dio to tighten his grip
on the wheel.

“Release the steering wheel,” she snapped. Frustration and
anger laced her words. “The guidance system will take it from here.”

“I don’t like this,” Dio whispered, leaning toward Kal. The
boy’s brows bunched and his face blanched as he added on a rushed breath, “You
don’t look good.”

Kal forced a smile even though it cost him a great deal of
energy. “Had worse days than this, kid.”

“I doubt it.” Kal snorted at her mumbled words not meant for
his ears. The woman had fire in her soul, which kept him on guard. Had she
lied? Was this a trick?

“Dio, I need you to stay focused on everything around us.” Kal
kept his voice low. Dio nodded and turned his face forward, watching nervously
from side to side in the dark.

Without the energy to move, Kal kept his eyes on the
monitor. It changed from the simplistic GPS to a more familiar system—a VIS,
Virtual Intelligence Station. Now this was more like it. The screen produced
valuable information in this format. Not only the layout of the house appeared,
but also the perimeter. According to the data provided, basic security systems
protected the house. Now that didn’t seem wise in his book. She seemed smarter
than that to him.

He looked up in time to see the trees part, giving way to a
narrow, dimly lit path, which led to the house. The second the vehicle cleared the
trees, they returned to their original position, sheltering the compound from
outside intruders. Nice touch. He had to give her that one. Manipulating the
natural surroundings to hide in plain sight. Good technique.

The Bronco came to a halt in front of a large wide door. It
lifted and slid backward into the ceiling, opening a large bay. An overhead
light switched on. The Bronco rolled forward into the center and the door
lowered behind it. After a few seconds, the vehicle shut itself off. Dio turned
to Kal with a look of uncertainty mixed with fear and he knew the kid wasn’t sure
what to do next.

Kal took a deep breath. He wasn’t exactly sure himself, but
he had no choice other than to hope the Paoni hadn’t lied. Slowly, he opened
his door and prayed his legs would hold him. He leaned heavily on the door as
he shifted his weight onto his good leg and stood.

“Hand me the Magnum,” he said as Dio exited the vehicle and
ran around to his side. It’d been a long time since he’d held something this
powerful in his hand and he hated to admit, it felt nice. The cold metal
soothed the heat of his flesh in his palm. Though the stock and trigger were
designed for a much smaller hand, he maneuvered his fingers just right and
prepared to release the Paoni. He waved the Magnum toward the rear of the
Bronco. “It’s time to help our hostess out.”

Dio walked to the hatch and waited. With great care, Kal
leaned against the side of the Bronco and worked his way toward the rear,
taking slow, deliberate steps. Even the slightest weight on his leg caused
severe pain. Without looking, he knew the moisture rolling down the inside of
his thigh to his calf was a trail of blood. Kal stiffened, pointed the Magnum toward
the hatch, and nodded for Dio to open it.

The angriest pair of golden-brown eyes he’d ever seen stared
directly at him. Though her almond-shaped face, button nose and fair complexion
hinted femininity, Kal didn’t let down his guard. He knew firsthand the tiger
that lived beneath her womanly façade. For several seconds, he couldn’t help
but admire her pleasant features that even a bruise on her forehead couldn’t
mar. When his gaze fell to her lips, he shook himself internally for lingering
too long on her physical attributes.

“We’re going to untie you. One wrong move and I won’t
hesitate to kill you.”

Dio tugged her back toward the edge so he could untie the
jumper cables from her wrists, then he released her ankles. In a split second,
she was on her feet facing Kal. The look on her face was priceless when her
legs gave away. Guess she didn’t count on lack of circulation when she jumped
out. Kal managed to grab her around the waist. The added weight nearly buckled
his good leg, but he pressed against the Bronco for support and somehow kept a
hand on the Magnum at the same time.

He held her tight against him and made the mistake of
breathing her in. Maple and honey, two fragrances he hadn’t smelled in years.
It made his mouth water. His gaze locked on hers and the raw anger he read
knocked some sense into his brain. This was a dangerous woman. She shifted,
quickly groping for the holster he knew held the KO-2.

She thrashed about until he released her and she stumbled
backward, but did not fall. Dio cleared his throat and she spun on her heels to
face him. The younger man held the KO-2 and several other deadly items from her
battle suit.

“What can I say,” Dio cracked in a smartass tone as he shot
a look at Kal. “I’ve got a talent for pick-pocketing.”

The Paoni took a step toward Dio and Kal made sure she
didn’t miss the sound of the Magnum energizing. She froze in place and glared
across her shoulder at Kal. Unable to help it, he returned her glare and gave
her a sideways smile that only added to her agitation. He didn’t take his eyes
off her as he gave Dio instructions.

“You did good, kid. Put those weapons out of her reach, then
I want you to place that strip of leather around her neck.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she hissed. He swore flames flickered
to life in her eyes.

“Oh, but I would.” He watched her shoulders stiffen and her
jaw twitched as Dio did as he was told. The moment the ends met, they became a
solid circle. It thickened into a one-inch band around her neck. Immediately,
she grasped hold and tugged.

“Naaaantah.” Kal clicked his tongue. “You know the rules.
The more you tug the tighter it gets. Dio, hand me the thing that looks like a
short baton.”

“What is this?” Dio handed it to Kal.

“It’s what a Paoni uses to control a criminal,” Kal
explained without taking his eyes off his prisoner. “There are several levels
of pain the Band of Submission can give its wearer. Any unwanted action from
her and one press of a button guarantees she follows our commands or dies.”

He leveled a direct stare filled with deadly intent on the
Paoni officer and hoped she didn’t do anything stupid. He’d hate to have to
kill her.

Her eyes widened and he knew he had her full attention.

“Who are you?”

“I’m someone who doesn’t exist.” It took a great deal of
energy and even more internal determination to stand and hover over her without
relinquishing to the fiery pain ripping through every ounce of his being. He
leaned in close to her ear and added on a heated breath, “Thanks to your
precious Kiengir, my life’s been erased, which makes me a figment of your
imagination. Welcome to my nightmare, sweetie. Now move.”

Whoever he was, he knew more about Paoni weaponry than the
average criminal. And his sidekick had the fastest hands she’d ever seen even
though she hadn’t actually seen him work. Somehow he managed to lift all the weapons
from her suit without her feeling it. Since the helmet was disengaged so was
the intricate sensation monitors that would have shocked him the moment he laid
a finger on one of her weapons. These two were a lethal pair. A lightning-quick
pickpocket and a deadly assassin, with the label of Lanius attached to his soul.

Shia kept him in her peripheral vision as she moved toward
the door. He must have thought she wasn’t watching and leaned heavily on Dio.
Obviously, he hurt worse than he showed when facing her. Shia found his inner
strength disconcerting. Would he survive this on sheer stubborn will or was he
really a Kiengir super creation? She doubted he was the latter from the look of
pure agony distorting his features as Dio helped him walk.

She disengaged the alarm and stepped inside. With the band
around her neck, she had no choice other than to obey her captor named Kal,
until she could somehow disarm him of the controls. From the looks of Kal when
he was off-guard, she simply needed to wait until he finally passed out from
the pain. She cut a glance at Dio. He wouldn’t be much of a problem once the
big man was incapacitated. Deciding her path of escape led through the pretense
of helping, she held the door open wide and plastered on a fake smile.

“Welcome to my humble home,” she forced in a mocking tone of
pleasantry.

The big man stumbled on the stairs but didn’t fall with
Dio’s help. Shia took a chance and grabbed at the baton. Even hurt, he was
quick. His thumb pressed the controls, sending a shockwave through her system
that set her hair on end. It rippled from the band around her neck and sizzled
along every nerve root. The low setting was enough of a warning—for now. She
met his hardened gaze as she shivered internally from the shock.

“Don’t be stupid, Paoni,” he growled and she sensed his tone
was more from the pain he suffered than anger over her attempt to grasp the
controller. It seemed he expected it.

Shia decided to try a different approach and turned her
attention to the big man’s assistant. “Dio, is it?”

When he nodded, she issued a polite command and acted as if
she wanted to help. “Switch sides since he obviously won’t relinquish the
controls and would probably prefer you were on the side with the hand that
holds it.”

Dio did as she stated and slid around to Kal’s right. She,
in turn, worked her way under Kal’s left arm. Snaking an arm around his waist
alongside Dio’s, she gave him much needed support. The thick arm across her
shoulders bunched and she sensed he did his best not to lean on her as heavily
as he leaned on Dio. Heat skimmed her side when they touched, making her aware
of his increased body temperature. Was he feverish or did his type run hot?
From her angle she noted sweat beaded his brow and upper lip and she felt him
tense and swore he vibrated slightly. Was he having a seizure?

“I don’t need your help.”

She noted a hint of weakness in his tone. “Correction.” She
tried not to sound too smug. “You may not want my help, but in your condition
you need it whether you like it or not.”

“I wouldn’t be in this condition if it wasn’t for you.”

His shoulders sagged and she knew he hated the fact she was
right. Together, she and Dio managed to escort him inside. The door led into a
mudroom. They shoved through the swinging door on the opposite side of the
small area and entered the kitchen. She hit the switch on the wall,
illuminating the room, but they didn’t stop there.

“Let’s get him where he can lie down.” Shia did her best to
guide their progress without appearing to be in charge. She figured that
wouldn’t bode well with the big man. His ego wouldn’t allow being directed in
any format.

As they exited the kitchen through another swinging door,
they entered the main room of the house. This was Shia’s favorite besides her
bedroom. When she had bought the house and the surrounding acreage, she spent a
great deal of time remodeling it to conform to what she needed. She had
reconfigured the main floor by combining the living room and family room into
one large open space filled with every electronic comfort a techno guru might
desire. So even though Dio was a criminal, his sharp whistle in awe of the room
made her smile internally.

“Wow. Is there anything you don’t have?”

Shia glanced around at the huge big-screen TV complete with
surround sound on the main wall, a massive computer system on the opposite wall,
an assortment of gaming systems, not to mention the intricate security system
for the property located on the far wall, then shot the younger man a sideways
smile. “Someone who can beat me in a video game.”

“Oh man, if this were any other time, I’d take you on,” Dio
proclaimed excitedly.

“But it’s not,” Kal weakly interjected, causing them both to
return their attention to him.

“This way.” Shia nodded toward the hallway.

She led them to the doorway at the end of the hall. It was
her bedroom. She knew the bed in the other bedroom would not be able to
accommodate his size. Even though she hated giving him her king-size bed, she
did. She jerked back the covers and helped him sit on the edge. With every
movement, she noted he fought the demons ripping him apart from the inside out.
She knew he had to be hurting.

Kettlemine poison alone was known for its ability to inflict
severe pain at various increasing stages until the victim succumbed. His system
had to be fried, or at least short-circuiting from the KO-2 blast and the
residual shockwaves of the Pulsar dart. She’d never seen anyone absorb a KO-2
blast and still remain capable of movement, as he had been at the escape port.

The escape port! She never sealed it. For a split second
panic thrashed through her as the need to know attempted to take precedence.
Hopefully another Paoni completed the task she so miserably had failed to
accomplish. Shia stepped back. The big man seemed to sway but refused to bow to
the exhaustion that hovered on the outskirts of his determination to remain in
control.

She turned, took a step, but froze the moment a tiny
shockwave slithered from the collar and shot down her spine to pool in the tips
of her fingers and toes. Damn, that was annoying.

“Don’t even think about running.”

Shia looked over her shoulder at him and something speared
her heart. The big man struggled to stay conscious. His eyes showed depths of
pain she prayed she’d never know. Blood trickled from the makeshift bandage
around his thigh, while miniature spasms made him appear helpless, though she
doubted he’d ever be rendered completely helpless and would remain alive.

“I’m not running. I’m getting the medical kit from the
bathroom.” She lightly touched the unwanted necklace. “Besides, you hold the
key to my every move.”

His thumb stroked the baton, causing her gaze to fall upon
that one thick digit. If she got her hands on that controller, she’d be free
and he’d be toast, but for now she was trapped. Shia’s gaze slid up his arm to
the berth of his chest then lifted to his face. Those emerald eyes were
darkened by pain, yet hinted of an inner strength she was just seeing a sliver
of its magnitude. It was the only reason she fathomed as to how he remained
upright.

“Very well,” he stated on a heavy sigh. His eyebrow hitched
as he questioned, though she doubted he thought she didn’t know the answer.
“You are aware of the limited range on this?”

“Yes.”

The band kept a prisoner within one hundred feet of the
baton. Anything past that and the prisoner instantly sizzled from the inside
out, leaving nothing behind but a charred, unrecognizable carcass. These were
normally used on criminals convicted of lesser charges and appointed to work
details on whatever planet the Kiengir chose as punishment. She’d once seen the
deadly results of being too far from the baton and hoped never to see it again.
Especially not on her. Shia swallowed hard against the thick band.

“Good, don’t wander outside of its range. I’d hate to have
to clean up your ashes.”

Shia sneered then walked across the room into the master
bath. Not knowing his identity was really getting under her skin. She slammed
the door behind her. The band vibrated around her neck and she yelled, “Dammit,
that’s not necessary.”

“Just checking.” His retort seemed laced with a hint of
laughter, which elevated her agitation another notch.
This
was not
funny.

“Think we can trust her?” Dio inquired as he helped Kal get
situated on the bed.

“Not like we have much of a choice right now, kid.” Kal
eased onto the pile of pillows at the headboard. “I’m not exactly in prime
condition at the moment.”

“At least you’re finally admitting it.” Dio gently worked the
boots from Kal’s feet.

The bathroom door opened and he paused mid-breath. She
somehow managed to remove the breastplate and battle suit without messing with
the band. Wearing a plush white cotton robe, she crossed the room carrying a
medical kit and a basin of steamy water. He couldn’t help but peruse the length
of her.

The occasional peak of upper thigh from between the robe’s
folds teased his senses. Through heavy lids, he allowed himself a moment of
enjoyment as his gaze did a slow scouting exhibition from her red-painted
toenails to the angry golden-brown eyes that stared directly at him. A few
ringlets of deep golden-colored hair had escaped the thick braid down her back
and hung loosely, framing her face.

The bulky robe gave nothing away. There were no buttons,
only a belt tied at the waist. Kal dragged his eyes away from the female Paoni.
She was the enemy. But it didn’t stop his libido from conjuring a naked image
of her inside his head. Kal closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose
hard, trying to dispel the fantasy from taking full form.

She is the enemy
. When he opened his eyes, she stood beside
the bed.

“We’ve got to change the bandage on your thigh. It looks as
if you’re still bleeding.”

Kal simply nodded. Setting the rather large medical kit on
the nightstand, she opened it, pulled out several items and set them on the bed
beside his leg. Turning to Dio, she asked for his help.

“Lift his leg just a little so I can remove the dirty bandage.”

Kal watched as she carefully used scissors to cut the
tattered remains of his jumpsuit off his leg, leaving him exposed from the
crease at his hip down. Then she cut through the bandage. She worked the
material from the wound. Blood seeped at a slow pace. At least it wasn’t
gushing like earlier. Dio held his leg while she cleaned the area. He bit back
a yell and gritted his teeth when she poured antiseptic into the wound. Her
touch was featherlight and accurate. After several moments, she looked at him.

“This needs to be cauterized.” She fumbled in the bag for
something. “It’s deep but shouldn’t be too hard to seal.”

She located the slender metal cauterizer. Flipping a switch
on the end of the handle, the rod glowed from a light, barely there red to a
full-fledged inferno red orange. He wiggled the baton, reminding her he
remained in control.

“Don’t stick that anywhere other than the wound,” he warned.

The smile that split her lips brightened her face with a
devilish gleam. “Afraid I might tattoo my initials in your balls?”

He half laughed, half snorted. “Depends on the initials.”

Her eyebrow hitched as she shot him a sideways look. “Is
that your way of asking my name?”

Kal met her stare. The anger in those golden browns had
softened. It still lingered in the background, but wasn’t as fierce as earlier.
Deciding not to fall for any of her feminine tricks, he grunted. “Nah, Paoni
will do just fine.”

With that said, she didn’t hesitate to stick the cauterizer
directly into the wound. Kal flinched but refused to scream. He battled his
lids to keep his eyes open and focused on her every move. Deliberate in her
actions, she seared the wound from the inside out, stanching the flow of blood.
When she finished, she cleaned, medicated and wrapped the area with gauze and
tape.

“I’d like to know your name,” Dio stated, lowering Kal’s
leg.

She touched Dio’s arm, which garnered a wide grin from the
younger man and it was all Kal could do not to groan. When was the kid going to
learn not to trust a woman? He saw right through her tender act.

“
You
can call me Shia,” she stated in such a pleasant
tone, Kal wanted to puke. Then she nodded toward him. “He can stick with Paoni.
Suits his demeanor.”

Dio laughed but cut it short the moment he met Kal’s glare.
“You got anything for pain in that kit. He won’t admit it but he’s suffering.”

“He’s suffering all right.” Returning the cauterizer to the
bag, she rummaged through it for the case she kept the meds in. “But I doubt
he’ll take anything for the pain. Ain’t that right, big boy,” she taunted,
lifting her gaze to his.

“Wouldn’t want to miss a moment of your pleasant company by
passing out and giving you the chance to escape,” he growled, rolling the baton
between his fingers.

She shook her head, pulled out the medicine case and opened
it. She removed a glass vial, a syringe and a bottle of pills and held them up
for his inspection.

“I’ve got antibiotics and a shot of Panacea. You need both.”

Though he knew Panacea was exactly what he needed to combat
the pain, repair his short-circuited nerves and stop the seizures, he couldn’t
take it for fear it would put him out. Panacea was the wounded warrior
cure-all. It fixed everything in one shot. Kal stared at the meds in her hand
for several long seconds.