“Welcome to my humble home,” she forced in a mocking tone of pleasantry.
The big man stumbled on the stairs but didn’t fall with Dio’s help. Shia took a chance and grabbed at the baton. Even hurt, he was quick. His thumb pressed the controls, sending a shockwave through her system that set her hair on end. It rippled from the band around her neck and sizzled along every nerve root. The low setting was enough of a warning—for now. She met his hardened gaze as she shivered internally from the shock.
“Don’t be stupid, Paoni,” he growled and she sensed his tone was more from the pain he suffered than anger over her attempt to grasp the controller. It seemed he expected it.
Shia decided to try a different approach and turned her attention to the big man’s assistant. “Dio, is it?”
When he nodded, she issued a polite command and acted as if she wanted to help. “Switch sides since he obviously won’t relinquish the controls and would probably prefer you were on the side with the hand that holds it.”
Dio did as she stated and slid around to Kal’s right. She, in turn, worked her way under Kal’s left arm. Snaking an arm around his waist alongside Dio’s, she gave him much needed support. The thick arm across her shoulders bunched and she sensed he did his best not to lean on her as heavily as he leaned on Dio. Heat skimmed her side when they touched, making her aware of his increased body temperature. Was he feverish or did his type run hot? From her angle she noted sweat beaded his brow and upper lip and she felt him tense and swore he vibrated slightly. Was he having a seizure?
“I don’t need your help.”
She noted a hint of weakness in his tone. “Correction.” She tried not to sound too smug. “You may not want my help, but in your condition you need it whether you like it or not.”
“I wouldn’t be in this condition if it wasn’t for you.”
His shoulders sagged and she knew he hated the fact she was right. Together, she and Dio managed to escort him inside. The door led into a mudroom. They shoved through the swinging door on the opposite side of the small area and entered the kitchen. She hit the switch on the wall, illuminating the room, but they didn’t stop there.
“Let’s get him where he can lie down.” Shia did her best to guide their progress without appearing to be in charge. She figured that wouldn’t bode well with the big man. His ego wouldn’t allow being directed in any format.
As they exited the kitchen through another swinging door, they entered the main room of the house. This was Shia’s favorite besides her bedroom. When she had bought the house and the surrounding acreage, she spent a great deal of time remodeling it to conform to what she needed. She had reconfigured the main floor by combining the living room and family room into one large open space filled with every electronic comfort a techno guru might desire. So even though Dio was a criminal, his sharp whistle in awe of the room made her smile internally.
“Wow. Is there anything you don’t have?”
Shia glanced around at the huge big-screen TV complete with surround sound on the main wall, a massive computer system on the opposite wall, an assortment of gaming systems, not to mention the intricate security system for the property located on the far wall, then shot the younger man a sideways smile. “Someone who can beat me in a video game.”
“Oh man, if this were any other time, I’d take you on,” Dio proclaimed excitedly.
“But it’s not,” Kal weakly interjected, causing them both to return their attention to him.
“This way.” Shia nodded toward the hallway.
She led them to the doorway at the end of the hall. It was her bedroom. She knew the bed in the other bedroom would not be able to accommodate his size. Even though she hated giving him her king-size bed, she did. She jerked back the covers and helped him sit on the edge. With every movement, she noted he fought the demons ripping him apart from the inside out. She knew he had to be hurting.
Kettlemine poison alone was known for its ability to inflict severe pain at various increasing stages until the victim succumbed. His system had to be fried, or at least short-circuiting from the KO-2 blast and the residual shockwaves of the Pulsar dart. She’d never seen anyone absorb a KO-2 blast and still remain capable of movement, as he had been at the escape port.
The escape port! She never sealed it. For a split second panic thrashed through her as the need to know attempted to take precedence. Hopefully another Paoni completed the task she so miserably had failed to accomplish. Shia stepped back. The big man seemed to sway but refused to bow to the exhaustion that hovered on the outskirts of his determination to remain in control.
She turned, took a step, but froze the moment a tiny shockwave slithered from the collar and shot down her spine to pool in the tips of her fingers and toes. Damn, that was annoying.
“Don’t even think about running.”
Shia looked over her shoulder at him and something speared her heart. The big man struggled to stay conscious. His eyes showed depths of pain she prayed she’d never know. Blood trickled from the makeshift bandage around his thigh, while miniature spasms made him appear helpless, though she doubted he’d ever be rendered completely helpless and would remain alive.
“I’m not running. I’m getting the medical kit from the bathroom.” She lightly touched the unwanted necklace. “Besides, you hold the key to my every move.”
His thumb stroked the baton, causing her gaze to fall upon that one thick digit. If she got her hands on that controller, she’d be free and he’d be toast, but for now she was trapped. Shia’s gaze slid up his arm to the berth of his chest then lifted to his face. Those emerald eyes were darkened by pain, yet hinted of an inner strength she was just seeing a sliver of its magnitude. It was the only reason she fathomed as to how he remained upright.
“Very well,” he stated on a heavy sigh. His eyebrow hitched as he questioned, though she doubted he thought she didn’t know the answer. “You are aware of the limited range on this?”
“Yes.”
The band kept a prisoner within one hundred feet of the baton. Anything past that and the prisoner instantly sizzled from the inside out, leaving nothing behind but a charred, unrecognizable carcass. These were normally used on criminals convicted of lesser charges and appointed to work details on whatever planet the Kiengir chose as punishment. She’d once seen the deadly results of being too far from the baton and hoped never to see it again. Especially not on her. Shia swallowed hard against the thick band.
“Good, don’t wander outside of its range. I’d hate to have to clean up your ashes.”
Shia sneered then walked across the room into the master bath. Not knowing his identity was really getting under her skin. She slammed the door behind her. The band vibrated around her neck and she yelled, “Dammit, that’s not necessary.”
“Just checking.” His retort seemed laced with a hint of laughter, which elevated her agitation another notch. This was not funny.
“Think we can trust her?” Dio inquired as he helped Kal get situated on the bed.
“Not like we have much of a choice right now, kid.” Kal eased onto the pile of pillows at the headboard. “I’m not exactly in prime condition at the moment.”
“At least you’re finally admitting it.” Dio gently worked the boots from Kal’s feet.
The bathroom door opened and he paused mid-breath. She somehow managed to remove the breastplate and battle suit without messing with the band. Wearing a plush white cotton robe, she crossed the room carrying a medical kit and a basin of steamy water. He couldn’t help but peruse the length of her.
The occasional peak of upper thigh from between the robe’s folds teased his senses. Through heavy lids, he allowed himself a moment of enjoyment as his gaze did a slow scouting exhibition from her red-painted toenails to the angry golden-brown eyes that stared directly at him. A few ringlets of deep golden-colored hair had escaped the thick braid down her back and hung loosely, framing her face.
The bulky robe gave nothing away.
There were no buttons, only a belt tied at the waist. Kal dragged his eyes away from the female Paoni. She was the enemy. But it didn’t stop his libido from conjuring a naked image of her inside his head. Kal closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose hard, trying to dispel the fantasy from taking full form.
She is the enemy. When he opened his eyes, she stood beside the bed.
“We’ve got to change the bandage on your thigh. It looks as if you’re still bleeding.”
Kal simply nodded. Setting the rather large medical kit on the nightstand, she opened it, pulled out several items and set them on the bed beside his leg. Turning to Dio, she asked for his help.
“Lift his leg just a little so I can remove the dirty bandage.”
Kal watched as she carefully used scissors to cut the tattered remains of his jumpsuit off his leg, leaving him exposed from the crease at his hip down. Then she cut through the bandage. She worked the material from the wound. Blood seeped at a slow pace. At least it wasn’t gushing like earlier. Dio held his leg while she cleaned the area. He bit back a yell and gritted his teeth when she poured antiseptic into the wound. Her touch was featherlight and accurate. After several moments, she looked at him.
“This needs to be cauterized.” She fumbled in the bag for something. “It’s deep but shouldn’t be too hard to seal.”
She located the slender metal cauterizer. Flipping a switch on the end of the handle, the rod glowed from a light, barely there red to a full-fledged inferno red orange. He wiggled the baton, reminding her he remained in control.
“Don’t stick that anywhere other than the wound,” he warned.
The smile that split her lips brightened her face with a devilish gleam. “Afraid I might tattoo my initials in your balls?”
He half laughed, half snorted. “Depends on the initials.”
Her eyebrow hitched as she shot him a sideways look. “Is that your way of asking my name?”
Kal met her stare. The anger in those golden browns had softened. It still lingered in the background, but wasn’t as fierce as earlier. Deciding not to fall for any of her feminine tricks, he grunted. “Nah, Paoni will do just fine.”
With that said, she didn’t hesitate to stick the cauterizer directly into the wound. Kal flinched but refused to scream. He battled his lids to keep his eyes open and focused on her every move. Deliberate in her actions, she seared the wound from the inside out, stanching the flow of blood. When she finished, she cleaned, medicated and wrapped the area with gauze and tape.
“I’d like to know your name,” Dio stated, lowering Kal’s leg.
She touched Dio’s arm, which garnered a wide grin from the younger man and it was all Kal could do not to groan. When was the kid going to learn not to trust a woman? He saw right through her tender act.
“You can call me Shia,” she stated in such a pleasant tone, Kal wanted to puke. Then she nodded toward him. “He can stick with Paoni. Suits his demeanor.”
Dio laughed but cut it short the moment he met Kal’s glare. “You got anything for pain in that kit. He won’t admit it but he’s suffering.”
“He’s suffering all right.” Returning the cauterizer to the bag, she rummaged through it for the case she kept the meds in. “But I doubt he’ll take anything for the pain. Ain’t that right, big boy,” she taunted, lifting her gaze to his.
“Wouldn’t want to miss a moment of your pleasant company by passing out and giving you the chance to escape,” he growled, rolling the baton between his fingers.
She shook her head, pulled out the medicine case and opened it. She removed a glass vial, a syringe and a bottle of pills and held them up for his inspection.
“I’ve got antibiotics and a shot of Panacea. You need both.”
Though he knew Panacea was exactly what he needed to combat the pain, repair his short-circuited nerves and stop the seizures, he couldn’t take it for fear it would put him out. Panacea was the wounded warrior cure-all. It fixed everything in one shot. Kal stared at the meds in her hand for several long seconds.
“Antibiotics only.” He noted the slight look of displeasure in her eyes. Maybe she thought he didn’t know the effects of Panacea, especially on a man in his condition. In no way was he giving her a chance at getting the baton. As long as he was conscious, she was his prisoner.
“Okay. I’ll get you some water.” She acted as if she returned the vial to the medical case and dropped that back into the bag. Curiosity reached a fevered boil. Who the hell was he? He seemed to know everything about the Paoni ways. Why else would he have rejected the one medicine that would help him most? Because he knew it would render him unconscious in order to restore the body and shorten the healing process.
Shia palmed the vial as she walked to the bathroom. Once out of view, she turned on the sink, got a paper cup from the dispenser and cracked the breakaway neck on the vial. A glance toward the bedroom and she knew he couldn’t see her actions. She emptied the vial into the water, knowing it was completely undetectable, at least in this newest form. Prior samples gave off a pungent odor when mixed with water, but not now. A sly smile tainted her lips. Let’s see just how up-to-date he truly is. She hid the empty vial under a stack of towels on the shelf then returned with the cup in hand to his bedside.
She shook two antibiotics from the container and held them out along with the cup to Kal. “Here, Mister Stubborn, take these, at least it’ll help with the infection, but it’ll do nothing for the pain.”
His fingers trembled ever so slightly that, if she weren’t tuned into his every move, she would’ve missed it. The pain had to be unbearable. He popped the pills into his mouth and she held her breath as he downed the entire cup of water. Good, now maybe he’ll get some rest and heal. Surprise shot through her. Why did she care if he healed? Shia turned on her heels and pretended to organize the medical kit. So she could kill him without it feeling as if she took out a wounded animal in an act of mercy. She accepted that theory as the motivation behind her prior thought, instead of the possibility that he might even be likable if this were a different scenario entirely.
“You need to roll over. The entry point of the Pulsar dart needs to be examined.”
“No.”
“The wound should be cleaned.”
“The Pulsar dart sears the hole upon entry. There is no need to clean it. It does not bleed.”
“But it can become infected.”
“The antibiotics will take care of that.” He looked at her through mere slits and she knew the Panacea was taking effect. It was only a matter of time before he’d be unconscious.
“Suit yourself.” She turned to Dio. “I’m hungry. Care to join me in the kitchen and keep an eye on me for your friend, while I prepare something to eat?”
Dio’s stomach growled loudly at the mention of food. “You bet. It’s been ages since we’ve had a decent meal.”
“Watch her closely, Dio,” he called weakly behind them. “Make sure she doesn’t poison the food.”
Shia shook her head. “Idiot,” she grumbled under her breath but Dio still heard it.
“Kal’s not an idiot. Stubborn maybe, but definitely not stupid by a long shot. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have escaped from hell.”
Pure admiration laced his words and shone in the younger man’s eyes—a hero’s worship among thieves. Shia wasn’t sure what Dio saw in Kal. In her opinion, he was an arrogant asshole, but so were most men as far as she was concerned.
“How long have you known Kal?” She stopped for a second in the main room to reset the security system then led him into the kitchen.
“He was already there when I arrived about a year ago. From what I gathered, he’d been in hell a long time. Doesn’t talk about it though, but I’ve got a theory.”
Shia walked straight to the refrigerator and stood with her hand on the handle. The young Sirian had a theory about his counterpart. This she wanted to hear. “Care to share that theory?”
It didn’t bother he
r that Dio made himself at home by taking a seat at the table and flipping on the small flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. There was something about this young man that oozed likeability, even though he was a criminal.
“I think he was shafted.” He flipped through the channels without looking her way.
“How so?” She opened the refrigerator. Maybe if she won him over, then she could obtain her freedom and his help. Cutting a sideways glance at him, she doubted she could separate him from Kal. Not with him feeling obliged for his escape. But what if she promised him amnesty in return? This she needed to mull over as she gained his confidence.
“Not exactly sure.” He turned his soft brown puppy eyes on her.
For the first time since this adventure started, she took a moment to study him more clearly. If she had to describe him, boyish good looks and charm fit the bill. Long arms and legs hung from his lean frame, which appeared in need of a home-cooked meal. Shia smiled and he smiled too. She noted he took care not to broaden his smile and show what she knew existed in his mouth—sharp canine incisors. Every true Sirian or Dog Star native shared the same trait.
“Kal doesn’t talk much about his past. From what I gathered from other inmates, he used to be someone important.”
“Important how?” Shia pulled out a bowl of fresh-cut strawberries, cantaloupe and grapes and set it on the counter. This was supposed to be part of her movie-night feast. The sight of his nose crinkling made her laugh. “Even Sirians need fruit, so eat. Earth’s fruits aren’t too bad. Besides, it’s a start. How would you like a steak?”
“Now you’re talking.” Dio grinned then popped a grape in his mouth. After chewing he agreed. “It’s not so bad. But I’ve had grapes before.”
Though she wanted to steer the conversation back to Kal, she didn’t want to raise suspicion with Dio and have him shut down their little talk. “I have to admit I overheard you say your grandparents have a vacation home here.”