Outrageous Fortune-Errant Freight Book One

Chapter 35

Jinna's surprised exclamation softened to a sigh and Rory's grip eased. His hands slid down her shoulders to hold her hands, and he deepened the kiss as she gave a little gasp.

John cleared his throat and looked away.

Jagati watched like they were at a matinee of I Love Lucy.

"I believe that's quite enough of that," Galileo's voice cut through the moment and, as John looked back, gestured to Colin and Ysabel, each of whom stepped up to collect one young lover apiece.

John, looking at where Galileo prowled the aft deck, thought the technocrist was looking a mite rough around the edges.

Ysabel pulled Rory back to the starboard D-ring, this time wasting no time fitting the shackles around his wrists with a foreboding clang.

Colin, meanwhile, led Jinna to port, near John and Jagati. She walked quietly, her hands together as if in shock, and her eyes kept darting to Rory, as if uncertain of what she saw.

"Now young love has been requited," Galileo said, drawing John's attention, "it's time to get back to business." He paused, looked over the assembled. "Where is it?"

"Why bother to ask, Mr. Creeparoundinpeople'sheads? Professional courtesy?" Jagati asked, continuing in her campaign to make Galileo angry.

From the black glare that followed, she'd succeeded.

"I wager he cannot," Eitan said, drawing the glare, and the ire, in his direction. "Hiding yourself for over an hour on the tram, throwing me into the past, blocking time for four minds at once, hiding your crew from ours until you could take the 'ship, and even now forcing Rory to relive his past?" His left arm waved over to where Rory leaned against the bulkhead, still visibly shaken. "It's no less intense than fighting in a long battle. Worse," he added, turning to the others, "because of the backlash."

"You would know," Galileo offered Eitan a hooded gaze. "I may have no more psi-tricks to hand, but 'tis a rare fool who Keeps all his bees in one hive." As he spoke, he crossed the bay to where Ysabel had just secured Rory and held out a hand for her sword.

"No." Jinna started forward, but Colin held her back.

"While it's true I would never harm a mother," Galileo said, holding the blade under Rory's chin, "I have no issue at all with killing him."

"How is that not harmful to her?" Jagati shouted. "The trauma could induce—something—miscarriage!"

John, meanwhile, felt sure the only reason she hadn't pulled his arm out of the socket as she lunged forward was that he'd lunged at the same time.

"I dare say our Jinna is made of sterner stuff," Galileo countered, "but if no one talks, I suppose we'll find out."

"Enough," John said. "You already know I'll tell you. But only if you swear on your honor you'll not harm Rory."

"Assuming he even understands the concept," Jagati said.

"I'd imagine anyone who'd spent time with Eitan would have to," John told her while holding Galileo's gaze.

"Perhaps not the best example," Rory offered gamely, "seein' how things worked out."

"It may be you're smarter than you appear," Galileo told the mechanic, then lowered the sword with a flourish. "There." He send John a slight bow, "He is safe, and will remain so if you tell me where the cargo is hidden."

"It's on the Errant," John told him.

"We searched the Errant, from envelope to cargo bay. T'was nowhere to be found," Galileo said, and swung the blade towards Rory.