I did a quick calculation. “Five and a half hours.”
Dax’s shoulders were a bit larger than they’d been moments ago, but he allowed Sarah to run her hand up and down his back, help him maintain control. “Councilor Engel is a very powerful man. When Deek turned him in for illegal arms dealing to a non-member planet, he was free in a matter of hours.”
“What?” Sarah gasped and I was right there with her. “What arms deals? What the hell are you talking about?”
Dax braced his hands on the island countertop in the center of the room and stared at the necklace as he spoke. “Deek told me about it in his office the other day, when you two were visiting.”
“Told you what?” I asked, stepping closer.
“Engel was on board the Brekk, overseeing a special shipment of food and medical supplies to a war-torn planet called Xerima. They are a primitive people, scavengers and barbarians who still fight like ancient warlords over territory and females. They are smart, fierce fighters, and are very good at stealing technology from other races.”
“So? What does this have to do with Deek?” Oh, I really, really wanted to strangle Engel now.
“Deek caught him hiding top-grade ion blasters and sonar cannons in the medical supplies. Xerima is protected by the Coalition Fleet, but they are not a full member planet. Giving them arms, transport technology or ships is expressly forbidden by the Interstellar Coalition.”
Sarah’s breath left her body in a long, slow hiss. “So, Deek caught him and turned him in.”
“Yes. But Engel was freed within hours and never faced an inquiry.” Dax looked disgusted. “He has friends in very high places.”
God, did this political bullshit have to be everywhere? I thought Earth politics were bad. “So? So what? He drugged my mate and was going to let him die. He has to pay.”
Dax nodded. “I agree. But we’re going to need proof. We need to get the guards involved now, before we try to take him down.”
Sarah and I looked at each other. She shrugged. “Okay. So call them or whatever. We’ve got the necklace.”
Dax shook his head. “I know. But Deek had several crates loaded with weapons as proof and it wasn’t enough. Engel’s going to have to confess, and we’ve got to trick him into doing it.”
As he raised his gaze to mine, I saw worry there. “You’ll have to get him to admit it, Tiffani. If we can get a recording of him admitting what he’s done, we’ll release it to the news monitors for planet-wide broadcast. He won’t be able to bury it, like he’s done everything else.”
Shit. Confessions were not my area of s
pecialty. I was a waitress, not a cop. Still, I’d do whatever it took to save Deek. “I want Deek home and Engel dead.”
“Amen to that,” Sarah added.
I looked at Dax and squared my shoulders. “Just tell me what to do.”
Seranda and her big tits could just go fuck some other big Atlan warrior. Deek was mine, and I was going to get him out of that fucking prison. Right after I helped Dax kill the asshole who put him there. Well, maybe not kill him, but I was going to kick him in the nuts so hard he wouldn’t be able to use his junk for at least a month. And then I’d let Dax have him. Based on the rage practically shimmering all around Dax’s body, I wouldn’t have to worry about justice for my mate.
And I was very, very grateful that Deek had such loyal friends. “Thanks, guys. I won’t forget this. Ever.”
Sarah reached over and took my hand. “We Earth girls gotta stick together.”
I nodded, both relief and hope forming tears in my eyes.
Sarah squeezed. “Let’s go gut that asshole and get your man.”
Dax led us over to the table where we all sat like generals planning an upcoming battle. “All right, here’s the plan…”
Chapter Thirteen
Tiffani
I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. Everyone said it felt like butterflies, but for me, it felt more like a heart attack. My palms were sweaty, my heart was beating frantically and it was almost impossible to remain calm. But the plan required me to be super chill, so when the vid screen connected with Tia, across town in her father’s house, I pasted on a brilliant smile.
“Tiffani!” Tia said, sitting down in a chair in front of her screen. “Are you all right?”
Her gaze raked over me—or what she could see of me through the screen.