Chapter 28
Bane sat beside Mischka’s bed in the medic center, holding her hand. The door behind him opened and Rydak came in. Bane’s shoulders eased in relief. Every day for the past week that Mischka had been in the medically induced sleep, his friend and Team Leader gave Bane this small measure of peace.
“Is she still doing it?” Bane asked after a few seconds passed.
Rydak had two fingers of his left hand on Mischka’s temple. He concentrated then shot Bane a pained grimace when he removed his hand. “No. She no longer calls to you.”
Bane closed his eyes briefly, the vise around his heart letting go at last. He squeezed Mischka’s fingers, hoping in some way she’d know he was here. It had been close and though medics said she was no longer in danger of dying, he trusted Rydak’s opinion on the matter more than theirs.
“You should get some rest, Bane.”
“I will,” he lied. He wasn’t leaving until Mischka opened her eyes and he could tell her everything was alright. She was safe now.
“Torkel has Team Three on standby indefinitely. The other teams will respond to calls until he deems otherwise.”
The plan of action made sense. Kyele and Vee needed time to recover then they’d submit their reports. Bane stared at Mischka running his fingers over her knuckles. He’d almost lost her being a stubborn ebo.
Rydak slid his black gloves back on and gave him a warning look. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Yes and no. Mischka was his and he wasn’t changing his mind any time soon or refuting the claim. He just hadn’t figured out how to make it work yet. “I meant what I said that day.”
Rydak sighed and leaned a hip against the wall. Lines bracketed his mouth from the brief skin to skin contact with Mischka but at least he didn’t look on the verge of collapse as he had that day.
“Jaron has filled us all in on what she’s done, Bane. Do you think it can really work between you?”
An admitted Marenian criminal with an extensive list of crimes and a decorated soldier. On the surface, that was who they were. Bane honestly didn’t know if a relationship between them could work. But he’d let Mischka down before by not trying harder to see beyond her façade and discern her reasons for why she acted on Lothar’s behalf.
Until Torkel’s interrogation, he’d believed she did those things willingly. Almost losing her had solidified his feelings and he wasn’t going to give up on her so easily again. “I should have watched over her better. I didn’t trust and she paid the price.”
It didn’t matter that she’d lied. She’d been honest on the one thing that counted most—her feelings for him. Her reactions hadn’t been fake. They had been all she’d had to give and Bane had turned a blind eye to the single most important truth she’d shared because he’d let his anger rule his judgment.
Rydak tried to absolve him of the guilt. “Don’t blame yourself. This was all on Gordo.”
“And Lothar,” Bane added. The mastermind behind this was fully to blame because of his evil nature and machinations.
Rydak nodded. “I have to get back to Lissi. Vee is in the hall if you need someone to sit with her while you take a break.”
Vee also came to visit and wait. They all cared about Bane and his desperation at the space port had told them all they needed to know.
After Rydak left, Torkel entered. In his arms the head of their Unit held his daughter Shiloh. The dark-haired little girl had her head on his chest but perked up with a small grin when she saw Bane. Torkel tipped his chin toward the door and with a sinking feeling in his stomach, Bane got up to follow him into the hall.
The time had come.
Sitting off to the side in a chair braced against the wall by Mischka’s door, Vee met his gaze. Bane tilted his head toward the door and Vee slipped into Mischka’s room to wait until Bane could go back in.
One of Bane’s growing concerns was the government’s ongoing demand for Mischka to be turned over to the authorities and sent to a prison run medic center. They hadn’t been pleased that one of the prisoners had died, nor did they seem to care that Mischka was severely injured.
They only wanted her turned over for her judiciary hearing so they could move forward with the sentencing and have her shipped to a prison colony.
“The Commander approved it,” Torkel said straight out.
Bane blew out a breath in a rush and braced a hand against the wall.
“I hope you know what you’re doing Bane.”
He’d never been more certain of anything in his life. He had no intention of failing Mischka this time.
***
Mischka blinked her eyes opened slowly. An annoying beep had disturbed her sleep. Tipping her head to the side, she found a blond male slumped in a chair next to her bed. His torso was stretched across the distance, his head facing her on the sheets. Fingers clasped hers.
She tried to lift her arm and but couldn’t. Then she realized silver threads bound their wrists.
Bane. Her lips moved, but no sound escaped. The swish of the door opening drew her attention. A blond male entered wearing a cool expression.
“Greetings, Mischka.”
She wet her lips and swallowed. “Where am I?”
“A medic center on Enotia. I’m Dr. Maku. I work directly with the Jutak unit under Torkel Alonson but since I was on site for the incident, I’ve been assisting on your case.”
Incident. The attack. Her brows crinkled as she tried to remember more. Dr. Maku came to the side of the bed, opposite where Bane slept undisturbed.
“How long?” How long had she been here? Why wasn’t she in prison? What was going on?
Dr. Maku arched a brow and his lips curved up. “How long have you been here? Almost a week. Touch and go for a while but you pulled through.”
It took effort to speak with her throat dry. “Gordo?”
The medic’s brows lowered, his anger palpable. “Dead.”
Justice for once. Mischka’s lids grew heavy. She had more questions, though. Turning in the bed, she winced at the burning sensation in her middle.
“I’m going to give you something for the pain.” He fiddled with a machine to the side of her head.
Her body hurt. Worse than any punishment she’d withstood under Lothar’s hand. Possibly worse than when she’d lost her horns. Mischka went to lift her arm again and managed to pull up Bane’s as well.
He jerked upright and appeared confused. Then he stared into her eyes and a wide smile broke. “Mischka.”
Why she wanted to cry, Mischka didn’t know. Bane stood and leaned over the bed placing a soft kiss on her temple. A tear leaked out anyway and she sniffed. Bane brushed it away with his other hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Hurts.” She didn’t even consider lying. Everything at her midsection burned.
Bane kissed her again, this time on her lips. A light brush of contact.
“What happened?” she asked when he leaned back. Everything in her head was muddled
Bane resumed his seat and brought their joined hands to his mouth. He pressed his lips to her knuckles in a gentle kiss. “What do you remember?”
“Give her this first. Nutrient enhancer.” The medic handed Bane a sealed container with a drinking tube.