Zac’s response was inaudible behind Osopa’s palm. At least he wasn’t yelling any longer.
Osopa shifted so they could look each other in the eye. “If you’ll be quiet so Callie doesn’t wake up scared and crying, I’ll let you go. You have to be a man instead of a screaming boy. Can you do that?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Zac nodded. Osopa moved so they weren’t touching, but remained close enough to shut the kid down if he reneged on the agreement.
Zac glared at them with open animosity, but that was all. Tukui relaxed. “Good. Now we can talk like men to you.”
“About what?” Sullen tone to go with the expression.
“Tina’s exhausted. She’s helping other survivors all day long. They’re scared and often sick, you know. Missing their families, the same as you.” He was heartened to see something compassionate flicker in Zac’s eyes. There was empathy to be had. “While Tina’s working hard to make refugees feel better, she’s having to take care of you and Callie because you haven’t let us share that responsibility. It’s too much for her.”
“I want my daddy and mommy.” Zac maintained his sulk, but there was enough pain in those words to make even Osopa wince in sympathy.
Tukui swallowed rising pity. “If we find them, you can have them. As it’s already been explained to you, there isn’t much hope of that.”
He choked on the awful statement. It was wrong to be so blunt with a child, but with Tina at the end of her tether, Zac had to relent. He had to find a route to cope with the misery before she snapped.
Nevertheless, Tukui conceded to a more understanding demeanor. “I’m sorry so many bad things have happened to you. I’d do whatever it took to fix them, if I were able. Unfortunately, all I can do is care for you and your sisters.”
“It’s not fair.”
“I agree. You’re entitled to be angry and sad and everything else you feel. But Tina is in danger of becoming sick from worrying about you and everyone else. Callie doesn’t understand what’s happened or why her brother is attacking everyone around her. It’s up to you to be as strong for them as your grief will allow. You have to give them space to get over their sadness and confusion.”
“How?” Zac’s eyes shimmered with tears. Tukui wished he could grab the boy and hug him, to somehow erase that lost expression. Had he believed Zac wouldn’t reject the comfort, he’d have done so.
Osopa answered the child’s question. “You’ll go with Tukui and me to our duty stations today.”
“It’ll give Tina a break so she can rest and not be anxious,” Tukui added.
Fresh anger flared, Zac turning red again. “I won’t go with you!”
Osopa had his duty face on. “There’s no choice in the matter. If you behave, you’ll see how warriors secure the rescue site. I’ll take you to watch them run emergency drills and practice with weapons.”
Zac’s glower diminished the slightest bit. “Will they be shooting stuff?”
“They’ll use sim blasters so no one is actually hurt. But the fighting will be real. There might be actual injuries.”
The child’s interest was piqued. He stared at Osopa as if the Nobek had just transformed into a god. Tukui hoped his offering would be met with as much excitement.
“When Osopa has to do more boring duties, you’ll be with me. I’ll show you how we find survivors needing rescue. My teams are running drills too, and you can see how we help those who are badly hurt. There’s a lot of fake blood and acting as if the victims have broken bones.”
“Do they scream? Do they do this?” Zac grabbed his throat and writhed, apparently simulating someone in their death throes.
Tukui managed to keep from laughing. “They’ll shriek like Callie when she wants to be held.”
“Like babies?”
“Except these are big Kalquorian men doing it. Imagine us bawling as Callie does. Beating our fists on the ground, our legs waving in the air.”
That earned a ghost of a smile. Then the hard light returned to Zac’s eyes, giving Tukui another regretful pang. No child should look that way.
The verdict was positive, however. “I’ll go. For Tina, because I don’t think I’ll like it.”
Tukui went along with the stubborn act, relieved he’d won the concession. It was obvious that Zac was looking forward to seeing the training simulations. “Thank you, Zac. Your big sister will be happier after a few hours free of worry.”
Osopa stood and offered him a hand up. “Yorso made a breakfast pocket for you to take with you.”
“It has bacon in it, along with eggs and cheese,” the Imdiko called. His smile was stiff, a mask stretched too tight in the effort to hide his unhappiness that they’d bullied Zac.
Zac ignored Osopa’s offered hand, scrambling off the sofa. He accepted the pastry pocket without thanking Yorso, but he left the apartment willingly at Osopa’s side.
“That sucked,” the Imdiko grumbled when the door shut behind them.
Tukui drew a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “What is it the Earthers say? Desperate times call for desperate measures. The children are important, but so is our Matara. She needs this.”
“There has to be a better way of getting on Zac’s good side without intimidating or manipulating him.”
“How many kids are you used to dealing with? Never mind; I won’t take my guilt out on you. We’ll figure it out.”
“Sorry. You’re doing your best.” Yorso handed him a warm pastry pocket. “At least Callie’s not liable to resist going to the office with me. I have the easy task.”
Tukui took a bite of his breakfast. Bacon turned out to be pretty good. No wonder Zac kept badgering Tina for it. He swallowed. “I hope Tina’s understanding when you tell her what we’ve decided.”
“She’s in no shape to argue. If I have to lock her in to make her take the day off, so be it. We’re all tyrants this morning.”
Tukui patted his shoulder and readied to leave for duty. “Hopefully, we’ll be forgiven.”
* * * *
Warmth against her pussy. A slow, deliberate lick. Tina moaned. Tried to open her eyes.
She was blindfolded. When she attempted to move, she discovered she couldn’t. Slight pressure on her wrists and ankles told her she’d been immobilized by hovercuffs. Arms and legs spread wide. Her pussy open and vulnerable.
The mouth on her continued to work. A tongue thrust deep into her. Retreated. Flattened as it traveled up her folds. Flicked her clit.
Then gorgeous, incredible sucking. She cried out.
Yorso spoke. “Hush. Callie’s still asleep.”
He went back to work, shoving fingers inside her. Fucking her that way, rubbing the sensitive part within, making her crazy as he continued to draw hard on her clit. A wash of heat traveled throughout as he forced excitement on her. She arced higher and higher, biting her lips together to contain the noises rising in her throat.
Mouth retreating. A hum. Insistent vibrations pressed to her clit, demanding her surrender to orgasm. As always, unable to comply without permission. She arched, her body straining.