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“I didn’t realize it then, though,” she continued. “I was so caught up in my own world—in my studies mostly—that I didn’t understand she was in trouble until it was too late.”
Cora felt her eyes begin to prick with tears, and she tried her best to hold them back. It had been years since all this happened, and most of the time, she could talk about Samantha without crying. But most of the time she wasn’t in a jail cell with someone working to take down the corporation behind Motley.
“She was a full-blown addict by the time I realized what was going on. And it wasn’t just that. She was miserable, of course. She killed herself our senior year. And I know that if I’d just paid more attention, that wouldn’t have happened.”
She swallowed back her tears, determined not to come across as weak and emotional. Weak was the last thing she wanted to be. She’d spent the last few years transforming her sadness and guilt into determination. That was the part of herself she wanted Levi to see.
“I also know,” she continued, keeping her voice steady. “That if Umbrosis hadn’t peddled their Motley so aggressively, Samantha would still be here. Umbrosis needs to be stopped, and I need to stop them. That’s why I’ve spent the better part of the last four years digging deeply into the Jorvlens—how they’ve used it for smuggling, the interplay between above-board divisions and ones that operate in the shadows most responsible for the unmitigated spread of Motley. That sort of stuff.”
Levi had been watching her this whole time, his eyes widening as she spoke. He obviously hadn’t expected such a story. As Cora waited for his response, she could see no judgment in his eyes. If anything, she thought she detected a hint of respect.
“Wow,” he finally muttered. “You’re the whole package, huh?”
Cora was a little taken aback by this comment, and it seemed like Levi didn’t expect to say it, either. He did his best to backpedal, but Cora couldn’t help but feel something spark inside her again.
“I just mean, I’m impressed that you’ve looked so deeply into this,” he said, his cheeks turning slightly blue as he spoke. “You obviously know what you’re talking about, and you’re passionate about it, too…”
He paused for a second, looking away as if considering something. When he looked back at her, he seemed serious.
“I know we don’t really know each other, but by the sounds of it, we have the same objective. I have the skills and the connections. You have the intel and the background knowledge. And we both have very good reasons for taking these guys down. What do you say we work together?”
Cora smiled. It seemed he’d read her mind.
“I’d say that sounds great,” she replied, holding Levi’s gaze.
A silent beat passed between them, and Cora saw that Levi seemed to be just as pleased. She got the feeling it wasn’t just the mission he was excited about but rather the same attraction that coursed through her. She wondered how long it would be until she knew for certain, though.
“I’m glad to have your help,” Levi suddenly said. “A lot is riding on this.”
Cora gave him a look that was meant to encourage him to expound. It was clear a weight was on his shoulders when he said those words.
“My kind are relying on me to recover the stone. Literally, my entire planet hangs in the balance. If I fail… Well, I can’t fail. Taking the Jorvlens down—and that includes Umbrosis—is part of that, of course, but my focus is on the stone. I hope you understand.”
Cora nodded slowly. As far as she was concerned, their missions fed into each other.
“Recovering the stone will put a dent in the Jorvlens’ power, and stopping their production of Motley will put a dent in their resources,” Cora observed. “I think we’re on the same page. But the stone is the first priority. I don’t want the Jorvlens to have a weapon of mass destruction any more than you.”
What she didn’t tell him was that she felt their meeting was no mere coincidence. Fate had brought them together under the most unlikely of circumstances, and she wouldn’t pass up a gift like that. The two of them were obviously meant to help each other. And the fact that sparks were clearly flying between them was an added bonus.
Levi smiled, obviously happy to have her on board. Cora smiled back. As absurd as it felt, she was happy to be there, held captive in a Jorvlen holding cell.
Chapter 6
“Nighttime hours will begin in half a flick,” a Jorvlen voice sounded over the ship’s speakers.
Levi and Cora looked at each other, and Levi grinned.
“Ready to get to work?” Levi whispered, and Cora nodded back.
They whiled away the time chatting about their respective home planets and keeping an eye on the guard who had been patrolling the adjacent hall. As expected, the guard cast one last glance toward their cell before stalking off down the corridor and leaving them in peace.
Of course, he did. It was a secure ship, and they were safely locked behind a row of bars that would stop any carbon-based creature from passing through. Surely nothing could happen during the night.
That was the logic Levi was counting on, at least, and it seemed to hold true when no replacement guard appeared. Before long, the lights on the ship dimmed, casting the cell into almost total darkness except for the glow of the cell bars. Even in the corridors ahead, only the occasional dim emergency light offered any illumination.
Levi and Cora waited until the ship had slipped into the silence of artificial night before they rose from the floor and approached the cell door.
“How are you going to…” Cora began to ask. She stopped when she saw Levi pull up his wrist comm.
