gloves in the biohazard bag in the med kit and left it on
Terror’s bed, certain he would know what to do with it.
She turned out the lights and fled his room for the safety of
hers, making sure to lock the door behind her. She climbed
into bed but left the lights on in her room. The thought of
being plunged into darkness terrified her.
Rolled onto her side, she hugged her pillow and wished
it was Vicious’ hard body she was curled up against.
She’d never needed him as much as she did right now.
Soon, she’d be back on the
Valiant
and then what?
Terror told her to pretend this never happened but how
could she do that? How in the world could she lie to
Vicious?
* * * * *
“Sir?”
“Yes?” Vicious didn’t even look up from the field
report displayed on his tablet screen.
“Your wife’s shuttle is within docking range. You
wanted to be alerted.”
His fingers tightened around the tablet. For three days,
he’d fought the rage that her betrayal had ignited. The pain
of it left him aching and empty. He’d been so upset he’d
even dodged her calls. He just couldn’t do this over a vid
screen.
Having to face her now presented him with quite the
dilemma. He silently swore that he wouldn’t touch her in
anger. She might have betrayed him and hurt him worse
than anyone ever had but he’d never stoop so low as to
physically harm her.
“I’ll be out of the office for the rest of the afternoon and
evening.”
“Yes, sir.”
Vicious glanced up in time to catch the private smirking.
The younger man obviously had the wrong idea about what
would keep Vicious so busy. “You have something to say,
private?”
The man paled. “No, sir.”
“Dismissed.”
The private fled as Vicious shut down his workstation.
He’d played out various scenarios for how this would go.
None of them ended well. Still, he’d never been the kind
to shrink from danger or pain. He summoned his courage
and left his office. Whatever happened, he’d know that
he’d always behaved honorably toward her.
By the time he reached the docking station, Hallie’s
transport ship had already arrived. She stood with Lenny
Hawk. Both women searched the small crowd for familiar
faces. When Hallie spotted him, she grinned and waved.
Even though his chest ached, he raised his hand and waved
back at her. She said something to Lenny and then rushed
through the crowd to meet him.
His arms opened before he could stop them. She hopped
onto him, her small weight resting comfortably in his arms
as he lifted her a few inches off the ground. Against his
better judgment, he buried his nose in her soft hair and
inhaled her familiar scent. His body responded as it
always did to the feeling of her supple curves pressed
against him. He couldn’t believe his traitorous dick.
“I missed you so much, Vicious.” Hallie squeezed him
so tightly he could barely breathe. She seemed overcome
with emotion. Guilt, he imagined.
“I missed you too.” His words didn’t carry much
feeling. She must have noticed because she dropped down
to her feet and gazed up at him in confusion. He grabbed
her hand and spun on his heel. “We need to talk.”
“All right.”
She scurried to keep up with him. For once, he didn’t
slow his long, fast strides for her. She’d stomped on his
heart and spit in his face. If she had to run to keep up, so
be it.
The elevator ride was excruciating. Thankfully, Hallie
was smart enough to know to keep quiet. She’d obviously
sensed his anger and disappointment. Next to him, she kept
her gaze on the floor, her shoulders rounded in defeat.
Some part of him hurt to see her so despondent. He
quickly buried those sympathetic feelings and replayed the
conversation he’d overheard.
She fucked Terror
.
She fucked your best friend.
His sympathy vanished. Anger and betrayal blazed
through him. They stepped out of the elevator onto their
private hall. He dragged her behind him and into their
quarters. When they reached the living room, he dropped
her hand but kept his back to her. Pain lanced him. He
inhaled a shuddery breath and turned to face her. “I know
what happened.”
Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened in shock. “How?”
“So you don’t deny it? At least I can respect you for not
lying to my face.”
“Please, Vicious,” she begged. “You have to believe
me. It was an accident.”
“An accident?” He shouted in disbelief. “You expect
me to believe that was accident?”
She bit her lip and finally nodded. “You’re right. It
wasn’t.”
“Why?” he demanded. Maybe there was some reason,
something she could say that would help him forgive her.
“I didn’t have a choice. He needed me.”
“He needed you?” Vicious saw red. “
I
need you,
Hallie. I love you. I almost gave up my career for you.
How do you repay my love? By fucking my best friend!”
She recoiled as if he’d slapped her. Her features
contorted. “What? I didn’t—you think I slept with
Terror?” She put both hands in front of her and swept them
outward. “I didn’t sleep with Terror.”
“I’m sure there wasn’t much sleep going on in that bed.”
He frowned at her. “Why are you lying now? You just
admitted—”
“I thought you were asking about—” She stopped and
shook her head. “Vicious, I did not have sex with Terror.
You are my husband and I love you. I
love
you. You’re the
only man I want touching me.”
“Stop lying, Hallie.” Vicious took a step toward her.
She fled back against the wall, the movement reminiscent
of their first night together. It cut him deeply to see her
flee. He stopped instantly and sucked in a steadying
breath. “I’m angry with you but I will not put my hands on
you.”
“Vicious, I didn’t have sex with Terror.”
“Stop,” he pleaded, his throat burning. “Just stop. I
heard you.”
“Heard us?” She closed her eyes. “The call
reactivated?”
“Yes.”
Eyes open and imploring, she said, “Vicious, what you
heard is not what you think it was.”
He guffawed rudely. “You must think I’m stupid, Hallie.
‘Terror, take off your pants and get in bed.’ That’s a hard
one to mistake.”
She cringed. “Please, it’s not—”
The doorbell chimed. Vicious swore but made the
mistake of glancing at the console mounted on the nearest
wall. The screen displayed Terror’s face. He’d been
planning to kick Terror’s ass someplace else but this was
as good a place as any.
He fixed Hallie with an angry glare. “You sit. Now!”
She scampered to do as he’d ordered. He stormed to the
door and jerked it open. Terror met his gaze. His face
twisted in shock as Vicious grabbed his friend by the shirt
and hauled him into the apartment. “You son of a bitch!”
“What the—” Terror’s head snapped back as Vicious
planted his fist right in the man’s face. Dazed, Terror
shook his head and wiped at his bloody nose. “What the
fuck is your problem, man?”
“You touched my wife.” Vicious flew at Terror and
clocked him again. “I’ll kill you!”
Terror sidestepped and punched Vicious in the gut.
“You’re out of your mind, Vicious. I held her hand. That
was it.”
His rage faltered at Terror’s insistent reply but before
he could muscle down the jealousy that clouded his
judgment to reconsider the situation he’d overhead, Terror
lunged at him. Vicious reacted on reflex and hit first. He
caught Terror around the waist and drove him into the
wall. Terror grunted at the impact but didn’t hesitate. He
pounded Vicious in the temple until he was forced to let
go and move back. They stared at one another and walked
a slow circle.
“I don’t know what you think happened, Vee, but you’re
wrong.”
“Vicious, please!” Hallie had left the couch and now
stood too close to them. “Stop.”
“Get back!” Vicious worried she’d be inadvertently
harmed. “Go back to the—
oof
!”
Terror took him down and straddled him. He put his
forearm against Vicious’ throat and shoved hard. “Stop
fighting. Listen to me. I didn’t fuck your wife!”
Vicious stopped thrashing and stared into Terror’s one
eye. He’d known his friend a long time. What he saw in
his face was truth.
“Damn it, Vicious!” Hallie grabbed Terror by the back
of his shirt and jerked him back. “Terror, get off my
husband now! You’re bleeding again!”
Vicious sat up and coughed to clear his compressed
windpipe. Hallie shoved Terror into the wall. “Sit. Now!”
His friend did as told and slid to the floor. Hallie turned
angry, tearful eyes on him. “Get the med kit. Go!”
He noticed the bloody splotch on Terror’s thigh and
scrambled to his feet. He grabbed the kit from the kitchen
and brought it back to Hallie. She quickly opened the box
and fished out the scissors. He watched as she cut open
Terror’s pants and revealed the nasty gash that had been
sutured. Some of the stitches had been popped in their
battle.
Guilt soured his gut. “Why didn’t you tell me you were
hurt?”
“Oh, shut up, Vicious. Just shut up!” Hallie snapped at
him and shoved the med kit into his hands. “You don’t get
to blame the victim. Now find the suturing glue for me.”
His cheeks burned with the humiliation of being talked
to in that way in front of Terror. He did what she asked
and found the glue. Hallie made quick work of cleaning
the wound, fixing it with the suturing glue and giving
Terror a quick shot of antibiotics.
She narrowed her eyes at Terror. “I told you to go to the
med bay when we got home.”
“I tried but then I found out Vicious had dragged you
back to your quarters. I had a feeling he was going to do
something stupid.” Terror fixed him with a hard stare. “I
tried to get here as quickly as possible. I could hear the
shouting from the elevator.”
Vicious winced at the knowledge he’d made this so
public. He dropped to his ass and stared at Hallie, who
moved closer with a wet wipe from the kit. She started to
clean away the blood on his face. Her touch was angry and
hard. “I can’t believe you’d think I’d cheat on you. That
doesn’t say much for your trust in me.”
His heart ached as he saw the pain on her face. “Hallie,
I’m sorry.”
“You have to tell him.” Terror grimaced as he moved
into a more comfortable position and dropped his head
back against the wall.
“I know,” she said and sounded so sad.
Dread settled into his chest. “Tell me what?”
Hallie lifted her teary gaze to his face. “I killed a man.”
Chapter Seventeen
Vicious blinked. Hallie’s statement circled in his head.
Her face crumpled and he reached for her. He hauled her
onto his lap and hugged her tightly. “Oh Kitten. It’s all
right.”
“It couldn’t be helped.” Terror looked grim. “Our hotel
rooms were adjoining. She heard me fighting with him.”
His Adam’s apple moved. “She saved my life, Vee.”
Torn between comforting Hallie and screaming at
Terror, he chose the latter. “What the hell were you
thinking? Were you on a job?”
Terror nodded. “I tried to find another way to get onto
Jesco colony but working escort for the new general’s
wife was too good to pass up. I had to make the meeting
with our man on the inside. He had time-sensitive
information.”
“You son of a bitch.” Vicious really wanted to kill him
now. “I was almost sorry for kicking your ass. Now I’m
sorry I stopped.”
“I never wanted to put her in danger. The attack on me
wasn’t even directly related to the mission. It was an old
foe catching up to me.”
His heart skipped a beat. “Dodson?”
Terror nodded. “Who knew he’d take it all the way
from the prison to here?”
Vicious looked down at Hallie. His Hallie had killed
that madman? “How?”
She wiped her eyes. “I just grabbed Terror’s knife
and…you know.” She made a stabbing motion. “I had to
do something. The man had a belt around Terror’s neck.