Retribution
A Total-E-Bound Publication
www.total-e-bound.com
Retribution
ISBN #
978-0-85715-137-7
©Copyright Jambrea Jo Jones 2010
Cover Art by April Martinez ©Copyright May 2010
Edited by Michele
Paulin
Total-E-Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2010 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank,
Way
.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated
Total-e-burning.
RETRIBUTION
Jambrea Jo Jones
Dedication
Joy, thank you for always being there for me when ever I need you.
I’m a better writer because of you. You friendship means the world to me.
Rhonda, thank you for all of your support.
It is for people like you that I write. Your encouragement touches my heart.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following
wordmark
mentioned in this work of fiction:
Boy Scouts: Boy Scouts of America Corporation
Prologue
“Commander Rave Anders, a panel of your peers has found you guilty of theft of government property. You are hereby dishonourably discharged and sentenced to thirty days on the penal colony Devil’s Island.”
Rave fell to his seat in disbelief as the panel left the room. Just like that, his military career was gone, like so much smoke. Most would think that was the worst thing, but it wasn’t. The worst was Rave’s lover,
Kain
, couldn’t be found.
A hand landed on his shoulder. He turned, hoping to see
Kain
. His stomach sank when he saw his friend,
Sela
instead.
“It’s no use, Rave. It’s as if he’s disappeared. His parents don’t know where he is, either. I’m sorry.”
He rested his head in his hands. “I can’t believe it,
Sela
. He’s out there, somewhere, hurt. He’d be here if he was able.”
Rave looked up at
Sela
and saw the guards approaching behind her.
“I’ll do what I can to find him, Rave.”
He gave a sharp nod and turned to follow the guards to the pod waiting to take him to Devil’s Island, his thoughts in turmoil
.
How would he survive the next thirty days? Being in the military put a target on his back and Devil’s Island was one of the worst prison colonies in the universe. His heart ached at the thought of
Kain
, alone and hurt while he could do nothing about it. Nothing really mattered if
Kain
wasn’t safe. The guard shoved him into the craft and shackled him to the seat.
After the criminals were processed, the ship started the journey to Devil’s Island.
“Hey,
you’s
that military thief? Yep, you
is
.
You’s
the guy whose got fucked up the ass, but then, I hear
ya
like that, don’t
ya
?” The passenger beside him snickered. “I’m sure you’ll get plenty of action on DI.”
Rave leaned over and yanked him close enough that Rave could smell the man’s putrid breath. “Shut the fuck up.”
“No need to gets with the rough stuff. I
ain’t
after that pretty ass,” the man mumbled as Rave shoved him back into his seat.
Rave closed his eyes to block out the upcoming nightmare. He had two hours to devise a plan that would keep him from getting killed while being detained. He had a lover to find.
One step at a time.
His thoughts drifted.
What had happened?
That question played over and over in his mind. One minute,
Kain
had left the ship. The next, the Alliance had boarded the ship and arrested Rave. Two days before the ship docked, the crew had conducted an inventory and those government boxes hadn’t been there. The Alliance had shown up, and suddenly, there the boxes had sat, pretty as you please. Something wasn’t adding up.
Rave didn’t do suspicion. He placed his faith in all his crew and expected their trust in return.
Kain
had never given him a reason
not
to trust him. Hell, Rave loved the man. He couldn’t love a traitor, could he?
Focus, Damn it! Worry about now.
The force of take off glued him to the seat. He swallowed then bit his lip. He wasn’t prepared, not really. All the training in the world couldn’t prepare a person for a prison colony—an open world full of the worst criminals in the universe. He couldn’t figure out why the Alliance wanted to send him to a high security planet. He should have been shipped off to one of the minimum security colonies.
When the flight smoothed out, Rave forced himself to relax. He had to get some sleep. He wouldn’t get much on DI. Rave prayed he would wake from this nightmare, wrapped in the comfort of
Kain
arms, ready for their morning romp.
Kain
, where are you?
Chapter One
Rave stared at the vast space in front of him when a ship invaded the beautiful blackness of the universe.
“What is
he
doing here?” Rave wondered aloud.
“The same as us, I’m sure. This
is
a refuelling planet.”
Rave jumped, he hadn’t expected an answer. He shifted in his chair to face his first mate.
“
Sela
, I thought you were on planet.”
“And miss this show? You’ve got to be kidding. I want a front row seat. Got any snacks?”
Rave stood. He didn’t need any reminders of the man who’d walked out on him and taken Rave’s career and heart with him when he’d left.
“Since you’re done with leave, you can take over the
coms
. I’ll be in my quarters.”
“Running, sir?”
He answered with a flip of his finger then left the control room.
Sela
knew the score between him and
Kain
. Rave wouldn’t dwell on it. The
Retribution
would be in port until morning. He could avoid the traitor for one night.
The computer’s musical voice stopped his movement. “Captain Anders, we’re being hailed. Would you like to receive the call here or will you take it on the main deck?”
He strode to a panel in the hull to answer. “Who’s trying to contact the ship?”
“Commander
Kain
Sims. The call is marked urgent.”
“Patch him through.”
He didn’t want to take the call at all, but he couldn’t refuse a member of the Alliance. He was lucky they’d granted him the right to own a ship. Still, they waited for him to make one wrong move so they could take that away, too.
“Anders.”
“Captain Anders, permission to board?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“No.”
“I’ll meet you on the main deck.” Rave released the com to end the call.
Dread pooled in his stomach. He’d managed to avoid
Kain
for a while now. Why had he shown up now, here?
“Sorry, Rave, I tried to divert the call,”
Sela
murmured as he entered the bridge.
“Not your fault. Why don’t you go to your cabin? No sense in both of us being here.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to run interference?”
“It’s better if you don’t witness this. I’m not sure if I can hold my temper, and someone will have to captain the ship if I get hauled in. We have cargo to pick up on
Seid
II.”
Sela
left, and Rave wished he could follow her.
Stop being a pussy. You’re over him.
If he was so over
Kain
, why did his heart speed up at the very sight of the tall man striding towards him? Why did he drool when he looked into
Kain’s
emerald green eyes and want to run his hands through the man’s black hair.
Rave’s boots gripped the floor as if the anti-gravity locks held him in place. He made
Kain
come to him.
“Commander.”
Rave inclined his head, taking in the new lines etched on
Kain’s
face.
“Rave—”
Kain
struggled with his words.
He cocked his eyebrow at the informality, trying to ignore the tingles running through his body hearing his name coming from
Kain’s
lips. “Is there a reason you’re on my ship, two years too late?”
Shit, why did I say that? Damn it. And why does he look so good.
“Yes, but I don’t have time to go into it. You’re going to have to trust me,”
Kain
pleaded
“Trust you? That’s classic. Answer my question, why now?” Rave wasn’t going to give
Kain
an inch no matter how much the man’s voice affected his libido.