Page 50 of Star Crossed Delta

Zolan’s posture was slumped, his face drawn, haggard, eyes sunken like a man carrying the load of the planet on his shoulders. Even his hands quivered as he spoke.

‘My world is a battlefield, one where my family is on the brink of collapse as they resort to crime to survive. I need a lifeline to hold them all together, to keep them from shattering and falling apart.’

Saba couldn’t watch him suffer anymore. She couldn’t stand that he was struggling with the pressure of his failing community and clan.

She also couldn’t handle the sorrow in Shiloh’s eyes, the tears she flicked away as she gazed at Zolan, her man.

A drowning commander man caught in a maelstrom of chaos, his once-proud people now reduced to desperate measures for survival.

He was a captain with an ailing ship, a leader without resources, and a protector devoid of power.

What kind of sister would Saba be to leave her and her man flailing?

So she leaned over and whispered into Mak’s ear.

He tilted his head, and his eyes sliced to hers.

Saba nodded. ‘Tis the right thing to do, you know it.’

Mak took a ragged inhale, reluctance written all over his face.

However, he was aware that the idea they discussed a few nights back was the only way forward, a card they could play as a final peace offering.

Her man stared at Zolan as if pondering the consequences of allying with the old adversary.

He cast his eyes at Saba, then he jerked his chin as if to commit that it was a risk worth taking if they were fighting a common enemy.

Mak braced with a deep breath. ‘Zolan, let me make this clear. Shiloh is family, and Saba is the woman I love. This is the only reason I’m contemplating this concept, but only if you play nice. I have a last-resort solution in reserve to overcome our stalemate. But only if you fokkin ’ listen.’

Saba jolted at his words, shocked at his unbidden revelation about how he felt about her, perhaps without even thinking.

Her heart thudded as Mak continued, oblivious to her astonishment.

‘We might have that lifeline you need. It concerns a project Saba is spearheading to create an innovative hydrogen scoop and fusion drives to help us get to Pegasi quicker.’

Zolan narrowed his eyes at Mak with suspicion. ‘OK?’

‘We require manpower, workers to build those freakin’ engines and new ships, get people off these aging clunkers like yours and into faster, more efficient, clean energy vessels.’

The Sidani ?arkhan angled his head and studied her husband. ‘Sounds promising.’

‘It is. Zolan, it’ll give your people a lifeline other than crime and piracy. I’m willing to consider a profit share of each craft we sell, a reasonable percentage of the sales, and maybe a discount on new ark ships. What do you say?’

Zolan took a moment to mull over Mak’s proposal, his eyes never leaving his face. Finally, he assented with a twist to his lips. ‘Alright, I’ll think on it.’

Mak’s grip on the armrest tightened as he nodded in agreement.

‘All good, but time is of the essence. Until then, I can see if the Signet charities can assist with food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities. Possibly even industry training and building a Sauvage factory on Selburnia will bring the jobs here instead of offshore. Will that help to make the deal sweeter?’

‘Perhaps,’ Zolan conceded, relief on his face. ‘I’ll speak to my family, but you have my tentative support for now.’

He inhaled, reached into his shirt pocket, and grasped an object.

He leaned forward and slid Saba’s wedding diamond across the table to Mak.

Mak’s eyes narrowed, his temple furrowed, and he whipped his eyes to Saba.

‘That yours?’

Saba raised her chin in affirmation. ‘It is. He took it off me on the flight.’

Zolan huffed. ‘Didn’t want you rushing to her guns blazing before I was ready for you.’

Mak scoffed, taking hold of the gem and handing it to Saba. ‘Or you just wanted me to stew in rage at how you one-upped me.’

‘That too,’ Zolan murmured with some solemnity.

Tucking the jewel in between her breasts in her bra, Saba still sensed a wariness in Zolan’s voice, the reluctance to trust Mak and the Essen dynasty.

The weariness from decades of conflict was heavy, casting a shadow over their tentative coalition.

‘I’mma let the ring go. We’ve bigger fish to fry, but try another move like that, and I’ll have your soul,’ Mak said, rubbing his head and wincing with the movement.

‘Your prerogative,’ his cousin rasped.

They shared an extended stare as Mak narrowed his flaming eyes, making clear his menace.

‘About the alliance, we have to tread with care. Our families have been enemies for too long, and not everyone will accept this sudden change of heart.’

Zolan nodded, understanding the gravity of Mak’s words.

‘Agreed. We’ll have to approach this with caution, but I believe it’s worth the risk.

I’ll also require support with the Solanite threat, a danger to us all.

We’re facing a radical and ruthless enemy, and we can’t afford to let them continue to cause chaos in our clans. ’

Mak jerked his chin. ‘Let’s keep the ruse going for now that we’re enemies still. Until Tewa is captured, at the least, for his conspiracy against us both.’

Her husband flicked a glance first at Saba, then at her sister. ‘Saba, Shiloh, we need your help to fokkin ’ shut down your uncle. Can we count on you?’

Her allegiance to the man she loved was unquestionable. ‘Naam,’ she said with conviction.

Her twin was slower to the mark, her face clouded with indecision. Zolan glanced at her, his eyes plaintive.

She nodded with a sigh. ‘Anything, for you, my love.’

It appeared devotion was winning over greed, after all.

Over the following minutes, Mak told them what he wanted them to do.

As they discussed the details of his plan, Kaal gave a grunt of satisfaction.

‘Do tell,’ Mak invited.

‘I’ve managed to gain access to Zolan’s systems. I’ve been scanning to see what Ladik was up to and if I could find dirt on the Solanites.

I’ve found a link to a dark web server that the Solanites are using to coordinate their attacks.

I’ve also unearthed solid proof that Sejazmatch Tewa is one of their leading fanatic leaders, along with a Seer called Khaman. ’

Saba’s heart sank. The name was that of Aveline’s husband.

Kaal went on, oblivious to her consternation.

‘He was pushing Ladik, who indeed hacked us. In recent messages, he has been advocating for the restoration of a Solanite separatist government to take over the Syndicate. His plan, in writing, was to eliminate both heads of the Sauvage and Asivan clans, then utilize their combined power to overthrow Signet and seize control of their businesses. As well, he’s been paying criminals and sachem to attack and destabilize our families and steal from supply chains to fund the movement. ’

Mak’s expression darkened as he processed this new information.

‘Sounds like the threat Tewa and the Solanites pose is more significant than we think.’

Zolan clenched his fists, his jaw set as he contemplated the implications of Kaal’s discovery.

‘We can’t let them freakin’ win,’ he declared. ‘They’ve sewn enough chaos and destruction.’

Mak nodded. ‘We need to act with swift, zero fokks . Saba, Shiloh, let’s put our plan in motion first. Kaal, do what you must with your access to Solanite’s comms.’

Saba and Shiloh shared a glance before turning back to Mak, their twin hearts unwavering.

‘We’re with you,’ Saba said, squeezing Shiloh’s hand.

As both leaders continued to discuss the agreement’s terms, a sense of unease eased in the pit of Saba’s stomach.

The stakes were high, and the consequences of failure loomed.

Despite the risks, this new alliance would be the key to uniting two former warring clans against their true enemies.

Only time would tell if this fragile partnership would withstand the trials ahead or crumble under the strain of old grudges and fresh betrayals.

For now, however, a flicker of hope shone through in this moment of brittle truce.