Page 25 of Tempting Jupiter (Arena Dogs #2)

Chapter Seventeen

Seneca sprawled across one of the comfortable benches in the common area of Feeona’s ship while Jupiter paced its length. The relaxed pose was an attempt to put Jupiter at ease. It hadn’t worked. Jup was well on his way to wearing a path across the floor with his pacing.

“Alfred, please explain that in more detail.” Seneca had taken on the task of talking to the computer when it became clear Jupiter didn’t feel comfortable doing it. So often, Jupiter took the lead, but this was one situation in which Seneca could easily bear that burden.

“The Arena Dogs called Mercury, Diablo, and Carnage are not currently listed on the Roma Rex active roster.” Alfred’s calm, artificial voice did nothing to soften the statement.

“But you also said they haven’t been listed on the death roll.” Seneca’s gaze followed his pack-mate’s progress across the room. He didn’t miss the hesitation in Jupiter’s gait at the mention of death.

“Correct. I can confirm their existence based on previous match announcements and results available from multiple gambling services.”

Seneca huffed a breath of frustration, then a thought occurred to him. “When was their last match on record?”

“2210.140. Featured match. Main Arena. Mercury, Diablo and Carnage against Jupiter and Seneca. Mercury, Diablo and Carnage listed as winners. Would you like me to read you the match description?”

“No.” He definitely didn’t want to hear how their masters had sold the match to the patrons. “Jupiter, no report of death has to mean they’re still alive.”

Jupiter stopped his pacing and met Seneca’s gaze. “Then why haven’t they been scheduled for another match? It’s been ten days.”

“That’s not so long. Not if their injuries were severe. I know you ripped into Mercury pretty deep.” It had been after he’d seen Mercury aiming a cudgel at Seneca’s head. He’d overreacted. They both knew Mercury would never intentionally cause either of them serious injury.

Jupiter’s hands clenched at his side, knuckles white. “We’re free and they’re still there. What if they’re punished for our escape? Damn it! I don’t even know what questions to ask the damn talking machine.”

“My programming is quite advanced.” Alfred interjected. “As an example, I can anticipate that you might be interested to know that you were both listed as deceased after your last match and your records have not been updated, even though Roma now knows Seneca is alive.”

If Seneca didn’t know better he’d think Alfred had taken offense at Jupiter’s damming him.

But Alfred couldn’t have feelings. No offense, no worry, no fear.

Jupiter’s emotions were real. The sense of helplessness eating at him was as clear to Seneca as the training walls that had kept them imprisoned.

“Alfred, can you run a broader search and tell us if there’s any mention of them…

anywhere you can search, after the last match? ”

“Of course, Seneca. The search is running now. I should have the information for you momentarily.”

Jupiter returned to pacing. Seneca wanted to go to him. To hold him and sooth him. Instead, he kept his seat and waited.

“Search complete. One record found. The Arena Dogs named Mercury, Diablo, and Carnage were named on a list of assets included on a secured manifest declaration.”

Jupiter growled. “I don’t know what any of that is.”

Seneca shifted on the soft bench. “I’m not sure of most of it, but I think that if they’re listed as assets, then they’d have to be alive.”

“That is correct.” Alfred’s confirmation seemed to ease some of Jupiter’s tension.

A chime sounded, startling them both.

“We have a visitor outside the ship,” said Alfred. “He is requesting entry.”

“Alfred.” Seneca sat straighter. “Identify the visitor and assess the threat.”

“The visitor is a human male. Caucasian. Age approximately nineteen Earth standard years. Weight approximately sixty kilograms. No weapons in view. Facial recognition reports 60% match to a human male that traveled on this ship 2200.045 to 2200.50.”

That managed to surprise Seneca. He couldn’t imagine Feeona taking passengers. “That would mean the man was a child at the time.” Feeona would have been young then, too. Seneca got to his feet. “Alfred, what is the man doing?”

“He is striking his fist against the hull and asking for entrance. His current activities and level of force will not harm the ship.”

Seneca glanced to Jupiter and rolled his eyes at Alfred’s threat assessment. “Alfred, how is he dressed? Is he wearing a uniform?”

“Would the ship be able to tell that,” Jupiter rumbled low.

“He is wearing pants, a shirt, and shoes. There is no insignia to indicate a uniform and he is not carrying a security ident-card or tracking device.” Jupiter and Seneca shared a moment of hesitation as Alfred paused. “Would you like to see him?”

Neither of them had seen that coming. “Yes. Can we speak to him without leaving the ship or opening a door?”

“Yes. Shall I engage the com?”

“Yes.” Jupiter barked.

A projection of the space along the walkway outside the ship appeared on the main wall.

“I know you’re in there.” In the image the visitor, barely a man, still pounded a fist against the hull, making a dull noise. “The Angel is in trouble. Or don’t you care about that?”

“Angel,” Seneca questioned quietly.

“Feeona,” said Jupiter. “Has to be.” He vibrated with tension.

“It could be a trick,” Seneca warned. His heart twisted at the evidence of how important Feeona had become to Jupiter.

“What?” The man in the image straightened and rubbed his hands down his pants. “Hello? It isn’t a trick. I mean…me coming here isn’t a trick. It’s the Angel that’s being tricked.”

“Who are you?” Jupiter growled the demand, apparently more comfortable talking to a computer generated image of a real person than he’d been talking to the computer.

“They call me Ears.” The young man’s voice carried a note of impatience.

It was an odd name, but Seneca didn’t know the naming customs of other worlds. On Roma, their owner had named them when they began training.

“I work for Celia Morris—she’s a money-lender.

Your friend came into her office earlier and made a deal with my boss.

But somebody named Owens had a bulletin out for the Angel and they offered my boss more money.

She’s going to turn the Angel over to somebody who can extract the information they want from her implant then kill her.

” The young man wrung his hands. “Please. We don’t have much time. ”

Jupiter’s body tightened.

Feeona had said it wouldn’t be safe to leave the ship. They’d be recognized. But Seneca knew Jupiter wouldn’t be willing to wait. “Close com.”

“What—” the man began.

Sen really had no choice. “Alfred, let the man in.”

Jupiter raised an eyebrow in question.

“I will listen for a lie,” Seneca offered as explanation.

Jupiter scowled but nodded. Seneca would have to be close to the man, to touch him and gain his trust. Seneca hesitated.

He wouldn’t be using the skills Jupiter taught him.

This skill had come from his life before Jupiter.

All the reasons that might anger Jupiter weighed on his heart, but he couldn’t worry about that now.

The pop of the hatch opening and the sound of feet striking the steps swung them both around to face the man called Ears as he appeared in the entryway. His eyes widened and his forward progress stalled. “It’s true, then. You’re Arena Dogs. But they said it was only one.”

“Come in Ears, we mean you no harm.” Seneca took a small step toward the man, reaching out a hand as if welcoming a friend.

He softened his voice, relaxed his shoulders and tilted his head forward, letting his hair fall around his face.

It completed his transformation from fierce Dog to something less threatening, almost feminine.

It was a role he’d played in the pleasure house often, but he’d never let Jup see him this way. His stomach twisted.

When Ears took his hand and let Seneca pull him closer, Jupiter growled low in the back of his throat.

Ears flinched, but Seneca held fast. He edged closer and put an arm around Ears’ shoulder. “It’s okay, Ears. He’s house broken. I promise.” He chuckled and the boy accepted the unspoken invitation to join in. “Tell us what’s happened to our friend, Ears. We’re so glad you came to warn us.”

Ears nodded, his body relaxing in response to the thick warmth in Seneca’s voice. “It’s like I said. She made a deal with Celia. She’s going to have a surgery to remove her implant so she can sell it. She needs money. Roma’s looking for her and they put a hold on her accounts.”

Seneca flicked a glance to Jupiter over the boy’s shoulder. They both knew why Roma had done it. By helping them, Feeona had been pulled into their trouble. Seneca furrowed his eyebrows as he returned his attention to Ears. “They can do that?”

“They can do anything. Money talks, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know.” Seneca smiled gently, teasing for more information.

“This whole place, the station, it’s all about money. People who have it get what they want. It’s the same everywhere. And Roma has enough money to make them gods here on the station.”

Money gained from the pain and deaths of Arena Dogs.

Seneca’s smile wavered. “They were god-like on Roma, too.”

Ears settled a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry. It isn’t right what they did to you, and it isn’t right what they’re trying to do to her .”

There was no change in the young man’s skin temperature or respiration or heart rate. Being able to sense those things by touch was one of Seneca’s talents. Useful for a whore. Not so much for a fighter.