Page 9 of Throwing Fire

“For the record,” Exeter says. “Michael has reported a number of potential threats to Miz Tyng’s well-being.”

Myhre nods. “Have all of those been relayed to the Tyng SecChief?”

“Every. Single. One,” Exeter says.

“You will submit all of Michael’s reports to me so that I cancross-reference them against our security records. Within four hours.”

Exeter’s shoulders bunch under his charcoal grey unisuit, but he says evenly, “Those are Sabadeen classified records, but given the circumstances, I agree. You’ll have them within the time specified.”

I feel a pinch of empathy for the guy. He’s going to have a long night, since it’s already eighteen-hundred.

A ping from the ship’s console distracts me. Ship security. Kez is at the outside door.

I tap off the security so my kitten can board and rotate the flight couch so I can watch her walk up. I love watching my kitten move.

She doesn’t disappoint me. I hear the click of her heels on the ceramsteel flooring before I see her. She turns the corner from the entrance and takes my breath away. Again.

She’s not classically beautiful, my kitten. Her face is sweet and expressive, framed by her long, white-blonde bangs. The metal rings she wears through her ears, nose and eyebrow give her sweetness a little edge. Her skin’s milk-pale. She colors easily, and she’s flushed now: hot pink rising across her cheeks and along her collarbone when she sees me looking at her. But that’s not what makes my chest tight. It’s her eyes. Huge baby blues. Deeper than Kuseros’s oceans. Kez’s soul is right there in her eyes, looking back at me. Beautiful.

I stand, open my arms, and she comes to me. The way she always does. Without hesitation. She comes to me and hugs me and nuzzles her face into my neck. She doesn’t wear make-up, except for kohl around her eyes, which I’m pretty sure is permanent. I never have to worry about what she’s getting on me or messing up her make-up when I kiss her. Which I do. A lot.

She smiles up at me when I finally break the kiss. Normally she’d drop back onto her heels once I let her go, since I’m a quarter-meter taller than she is. But the heels that were making such a racket belong to a pair of over-the-knee boots. They’re so tall her mouth is almost level with mine, and I take advantage of that, brushing my lips over and over hers, enjoying the plush, velvet texture.

She breaks the kiss and glances around me when Myhre’s voice rises from the flight console.

“What’s going on?” Kez asks.

I lead her forward, into the space between the flight couches, so she can see the feed from Myhre’s office.

Kez whispers into my ear. “Can they hear us?”

“Nope, feed’s one way. If you want to communicate with Ree, plex her from there.” I nod at the console’s touchpad.

“Who’s the guy with Mike?” Kez asks.

“Mike’s boss.”

“What the hell happened?”

I give her the quick-and-dirty.

“Do you believe him?” Kez asks when I finish.

I breathe out into her hair, take a deep breath before I answer her. “Probably shouldn’t. But, yeah, I do.”

“Okay, then,” Kez says.

I kiss the back of her head. “Like that?”

“Like that.”

“Cause we’re both idiots with poor judgment?”

“Uh-huh.” She twists her neck so she can look up at me. “He could have killed Chi a thousand times. Seriously, a thousand. He’s been with her every minute of every day. I’m not sure he even sleeps.”

I’m hoping he’s not with her when she’s screwing Ape, but I wouldn’t count on it. “Yeah, but maybe he was waitin’ for someone to offer him a fuckload of credits to do it.”

“Do you really think so?”