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Schematics glowed across the wall as she flicked through holos of a new frigate warship designed to replace the Odalon.

As they spoke, Xander was a patient with her questions; he didn’t interrupt unless needed, but when he said, the room shifted.

His words were measured, timbred, and sure.

When he leaned over her shoulder to scroll through a projected schematic, his scent, smoke, cedar, and some subtle cologne wafted into her nose.

Damn,she told herself, fighting to listen to the conversation.

‘It’ll be a third lighter than the Odalon, but twice as responsive. Designed for interception and speed. Forward cannons, rear shielding tech from Sable,’ Kaal explained.

‘Crew capacity?’ Savvine asked.

‘One sixty minimum. Two hundred max designed on the principles of lean manning and a high degree of automation,’ Boaz replied. ‘Full drone capability, too, if you want to run unmanned missions.’

‘Cost?’ she said, sipping her water.

‘351 million schills.’

Savvine nodded. ‘Have you built in contingencies?’

Xander met her arched brow and piercing eyes. ‘¡Claro está,Chief.’

He said it even as he leaned over to top her glass.

‘We can start building the ship for you asap,’ he added. ‘Three months, two with overtime. Payment is half upfront, and the rest is due upon delivery. Materials sourced from our stockpiles so that it won’t bleed the flotilla.’

She asked more questions until she had most of the answers she needed. ‘Can we park the discussion until tomorrow after I’ve run the numbers by Eugene?’

Xander gave her a chin raise. ‘Naam, of course.’

‘One more question, gentlemen, involves broader concerns about the roving mafia clans picking off smaller vessels for supplies, black-market arms trades, and the Lombardis. Are you working with or for them?’

Santi spat. ‘We don’t work with them. Not now, not ever.’

Xander’s jaw ticked. ‘The Lombardi uprising orwhateverthefokkthey’re attempting is tainting the fleet. We’re aware they’re trading illegal weapons. I can assure you it’s not us they’re coming from. As for whatever insurrection they’re planning, we must find a way to quell or incise it. Tis why we agreed to meet you, Chief Bianchi. In the hopes that Signet and the Bianchi clan can collaborate.’

His declaration whisked away any final doubts, which married with Abby’s confession about her skewed intel.

Savvine nodded and scanned the strong guard.

She found no cracks or contradictions. Just loyalty, to each other, to their people, and to an ideal of freedom she was beginning to believe in.

Also, Xander. Always Xander.

She couldn’t help but grow mesmerized by even the slightest aspect of him.

The way his fingers tapped the edge of the table when he was thinking.

How his gaze swept the room like he was cataloging every possible threat.

The utter support of his people, leading from behind and not above them. He operated with earned respect, which now needed to be afforded to him.

‘I’ll take your statement under advisement, and should this ship-building process prove seamless, perhaps we can find a way to work together. Right now, we’re listing out there and can’t defend our ark ship as well as I’d like, so the sooner we’re well armed again, the better.’

They wrapped up with a tentative agreement in place and plans to keep talking.

As everyone filed out, Xander lingered by the door, waylaying her. ‘Any thoughts on dinner?’