Outrageous Fortune-Errant Freight Book One

Chapter 30

It came as no surprise Mia didn't want to leave her friend, but Rory's assurance that Quinn was on the way to recovery, along with John's suggestion Jinna might want some company in the galley, reassured her somewhat.

But it wasn't until she looked up to the starboard pod, where the draco kept vigil, and received a dip of the head from the small creature, that she consented to leave Quinn's side.

Even under the current circumstances, John found himself delighted by the exchange.

He was less delighted to see Rory popping up to follow them. "What was that you said to Jagati, about Killian Del?" he asked, angling around to face John and Mia both.

"That toxic bastard," Mia spat into the tarmac, "he thinks Jinna's babe should be his."

"Sounds like him," Rory muttered, glancing at John. "Half the reason Liam joined up was to get away from his da."

"Jinna said Liam was nothing like the old codger," Mia said with a nod.

"Which is all well and good." John continued to usher the girl along. "But..."

"He's been after Jinna for months," Mia continued over him.

"Months?" Rory asked, his expression going still. "How?"

"Wouldn't take no for an answer," Mia affirmed. "But tonight he stole the hive, comin' into Kit's, loaded with muscle and meanin' to take Jinna to his house and keep 'er there until she had the baby," Mia said. "Can you feature it?"

"No," Rory said, looking up the gangplank, as if he could view Jinna inside the Errant. "I can't."

"Neither could Gideon." Mia's head bobbed in agreement. "You should'a seen 'im! He knocked the honey outta all three Ohmdahls before they figured they was working for a toxic—"

"Bastard, yes," John said, attempting to wrestling the conversation back to the present.

"I need to see to Jinna," Rory said, starting up the gangplank.

"You need to see to Colonel—to Quinn." John stepped in front of him. "Then you need to see to that aft pod, or we won't be able to lift off, and if we can't lift off," he continued before the fire in Rory's eyes became an argument, "Jinna will still be on the ground, in Nike, where Minister Del can reach her."

Rory's jaw twitched and his eyes, which always seemed to grow larger when he got angry, continued to spark, but he jerked his head once and turned back to where Eitan crouched next to Gideon.

John let out a foggy huff of breath and turned to Mia. "Shall we?" he asked.

She shrugged and started up the gangplank. He followed, and found himself hard-pressed to keep up with the nimble street thief as she sprang up the companionway.

"She's a nice 'ship," Mia offered as they headed up the corridor towards the sounds of water on the boil, "excepting it looks like the Coalfarts dropped a plasma barrel on it."

"Yes," he said as the tea kettle's whistling softened, "I'm aware."

"Hey." Jinna's head popped out of the galley's starboard door. "This place is a mess."

"A little misunderstanding regarding a piece of cargo," John said, following Mia.

Jinna's head tilted. "The same cargo Galileo was after?"

"Who?" Mia asked.

"Possibly," John said to Jinna. "You wouldn't know him," he told Mia.

"I hope not," Jinna murmured, then raised her voice. "I've got the water going, but I can't find the tea in," she waved at the wreckage, "all this."