Page 25 of Alien’s Love Child

CHAPTER 25

JESSE

L eo's head droops against my shoulder, his soft breaths tickling my neck. The sugar crash from birthday cake has finally claimed its victory. Through the doorway, I hear Rena's laughter mixing with the others – a sound that used to mean success after a dangerous job, now just the warmth of friendship and safety.

"Time for bed, little man," I whisper, carrying him down the hallway to his room. His arms hang loose, completely surrendered to sleep.

The nightlight casts star patterns across his ceiling – Davin installed it last week, after spending hours researching what constellations would be visible from Kalei. I lay Leo down, his hair spreading across the pillow. My fingers brush his cheek, tracing the constellation of freckles that mirror my own.

"Mama?" His eyes flutter open for just a moment.

"Shh, go back to sleep."

"Did I say g'night to daddy?"

"You gave him the biggest hug, remember? Right after the cake."

He nods, already drifting off again. I tuck his favorite blanket around him, the one with spaceships that Rena brought him for his first birthday. Back when I was still alone, still raw from losing Davin. Back when every gift felt like both a blessing and a reminder of what we'd lost.

I stand in the doorway, watching Leo's chest rise and fall. Three years ago, I never imagined this – a home, a family, Davin returned to us. The sound of his deep laugh echoes from the living room, and my heart swells. Even with everything we've been through, all the danger and uncertainty, we've built something real here. Something worth protecting.

Through the window, the moons cast their silver light across Leo's peaceful face. I close his door quietly, letting my hand linger on the frame for just a moment. We've come so far from that cramped ship cabin where I first realized I was pregnant, terrified and alone. Now, I have everything I never knew I wanted.

I just have to protect it, one last time.

I return to the living room where empty cake plates litter the coffee table. Davin catches my eye, and I give him a slight nod. The weight of what's coming is heavy in my bones.

"Hey," Davin clears his throat. "Need to tell you all something."

Rena straightens, her pilot's instincts picking up the shift in mood. "What's wrong?"

"Got a message from the Lightyear gang." Davin pulls out his PerComm, the blue glow highlighting the tension in his face. "They know where we are. Or at least they claim to. Not really willing to take a chance on it, though."

"Those bastards are still after the data?" Taluk leans forward, elbows on his knees.

"But you destroyed it," Rena says.

"They don't believe that." I sink into the chair beside Davin. "Or they don't care. Either way, they're threatening to kill us if we don't hand it over."

"All of us?" Rena's voice carries an edge I haven't heard since our smuggling days.

"The message was pretty clear about including Leo in that threat." Davin's jaw clenches as he says our son's name.

"Over my dead body." The words slip out before I can stop them.

"That's kind of the point, isn't it?" Rena stands, pacing the length of our small living room. "They're not going to believe the data's gone. Not after what it cost them last time."

"You could run again," Paraxan suggests. "Plenty of space to get lost in out there."

I shake my head. "They found us here. They'll find us anywhere."

"So what's the plan?" Rena stops pacing, crossing her arms. "Because I know that look, Jesse. You've got something brewing in that criminal mind of yours."

Taluk shifts in his seat, his scales shining. "Come on, Captain. You always kept backups of everything." His claws tap against his knee. "Remember that job on Gur? Three copies of the cargo manifest, all hidden in different data caches."

"That was different." I lean back, crossing my arms. "This isn't some shipping manifest we're talking about. It's weapons data that could get a lot of people killed."

"But if we just give them what they want?—"

"There is no backup." The words come out sharper than intended. "I destroyed every trace of it. Every fragment, every temporary file, even the encrypted partitions where it might have left shadows."

Davin's hand finds mine, giving it a light squeeze. His skin is cool against my palm.

"You sure?" Taluk presses. "Maybe in one of your old drives? Or that memory chip you used to wear?"

"The data's gone. All of it." I touch my neck where it used to hang. "Crushed it myself. Nothing but dust in space now. Look, I know you're trying to help, but there's nothing left to give them. Nothing that would satisfy them anyway."

"But—"

"Drop it, Taluk." Rena's voice cuts through his protest. "If Jesse says it's gone, it's gone."

Taluk slumps back, his scales dulling slightly – a sure sign of frustration. "Just trying to find a way out of this mess that doesn't end with all of us dead."

"Actually, we do have a plan already." I lean forward, keeping my voice low. "Davin and I are going to hit them first. Just us."

"Like hell you are." Rena jumps up, her boots scuffing against the floor. "You're not leaving us behind."

"This isn't up for discussion." I glance toward Leo's room. "We need you here."

Taluk's scales flush dark red. "You can't be serious. After everything we've been through?—"

"Someone has to protect Leo," Davin cuts in. "Someone we trust."

"So what, we just sit here while you two get yourselves killed?" Rena's voice rises. "That's not?—"

"Keep it down." Davin holds up his hand. "The kid's sleeping."

Paraxan's fur bristles. "There are other solutions. We could?—"

"No." I shake my head. "Leo needs protection. Real protection. Not just someone to run with him if things go wrong. He needs people who can fight back if they come here."

"And what happens if you don't come back?" Rena's words hit like a punch to the gut. "What then?"

"Then Leo has the best family anyone could ask for." I reach for her hand. "People who'd die to protect him. People who know how to disappear if they have to."

"That's not fair." Rena yanks her hand away. "You can't just?—"

"Shh." Davin stands, moving to check the hallway. "Arguments won't change anything. We leave tomorrow night."

The room falls silent except for Taluk's claws drumming against his leg. I watch my old crew – my family – as the weight of our decision settles over them.

"I worked with your parents, and then with you," Paraxan says simply. "I'd be honored to continue working for your son."

My eyes burn as I wrap my arms around Paraxan's furry frame. His warmth envelops me, and a few of his loose hairs tickle my nose. "You've always been family."

"Come here." Rena's arms circle both of us, her head resting against my shoulder. "You're both idiots, but you're our idiots."

"This is insane." Taluk's scales flash a deep crimson as he leans forward on the couch. "Two people against the entire Lightyear gang? That's suicide. Hell, any Glimner game that's made a name is too much, these guys have expanded since last time."

"Numbers don't mean much when you know what you're doing." Davin crosses his arms, his blue skin almost luminescent. "I've taken down larger operations with smaller teams."

"In the military, sure. With backup and intel and?—"

"And now I have something better." Davin's eyes meet mine. "A partner who knows every dirty trick in the book, and insider knowledge on how they operate."

"They'll see you coming." Taluk's claws dig into the couch cushion. "They're not stupid."

"No, they're worse." I pull away from the group hug, wiping my eyes. "They're arrogant. They think they've got us cornered, desperate. That's exactly what we need."

"But—"

"You ever wonder why I hired you, Taluk?" I cut him off. "It wasn't for your muscle. It was because you understand how criminals think. You know their weak spots."

His scales ripple, darkening further. "That's different."

"Is it?" Davin steps closer to him. "Because from where I'm standing, it's the same principle. Find the weakness, exploit it, get out clean."

"And what happens when they catch you instead?"

"Then you better be ready to run with my son." The words come out harder than I intend, but I don't take them back. "Because that's your real job here. Not trying to talk us out of this."

Taluk's scales fade to a dull red. "Fine. But when this goes sideways – and it will – I'm getting Leo somewhere they'll never find him."

"That's exactly what I want to hear." I squeeze his shoulder.

Rena steps forward, pulling something from her jacket pocket. Metal glints in the dim light. "Here. You'll need these."

The familiar weight of my old ship keys settles in my palm. The worn metal feels like coming home, complete with the lucky trogan tail keychain I'd stolen from some market when I was ten years old.

"Ship never felt right without you at the helm." Rena shrugs, but her eyes are wet. "She's been waiting for you. Kept her maintained, just in case."

"In case what?"

"In case you needed to be you again." She pulls me into a fierce hug. "The real you. Not this cozy cottage mom act you've been pulling."

"Hey, I rock the cottage life."

"You really don't." She laughs against my shoulder. "But you do rock that captain's chair."

Davin clears his throat. "We should move. Less chance of being spotted if we leave while it's still dark."

I pull back from Rena, wiping my eyes. "Right. Practical as always."

"Someone has to be." He's already checking his weapons, efficient and focused. "Ready?"

The keys warm in my hand as I curl my fingers around them. "Yeah. Let's go remind some gangsters why they should've left us alone."

"Remind them?" Davin raises an eyebrow. "Pretty sure they never knew in the first place."

"Even better."