Free Arak's Love: A World Beyond Book 2 by Michelle Howard Page A

to go over the mission details again.”
    Faruk nodded his blond head. “I was on my way to talk with Torkel this morning but he wasn’t in his quarters and Faye said he’d called a meeting so I came on down.”
    “How is Faye?” Many of the Jutak warriors had grown close to the female from Earth and all could appreciate the love she bore for their Unit leader, Torkel Alonson.
    Faruk grinned. “Excited to have women from her world to talk to. She left when I did, racing to have breakfast with them.”
    Arak snorted. He could imagine. The women had a lot in common. All came from Earth through the Singles Program in search of male life partners. All had been held prisoner by the Marenians to be sold as sex slaves. In Faye’s case, she’d been snatched by an Enotian with revenge in mind but his plan failed and she’d been rescued by the teams.
    When they reached the Comm Center, the door opened to reveal a laughing Jaron. Arak tensed since the team leader’s humor was often misplaced. In fact, Jaron’s smile broadened when he and Arak’s gazes met. Inwardly, Arak sighed and tried to prepare himself.
    “How did you sleep, Arak?”
    A flash of his teeth only made Jaron laugh harder. The team leader closed the door and waited until Arak and Faruk joined Torkel and Kyele at the small table in the center of the room. Computers hummed in the background and alarms beeped in a steady rhythm. The Comm Center served as the communication hub for the facility as well as the Jutaks. Jaron controlled everything at the tips of his fingers. For all his joking ways, Arak trusted his team leader for Team One implicitly.
    As soon as they sat, Torkel launched into the reason for their presence. “As we all know, yesterday’s mission did not result in the rescue of the Earth female Lindsey Ferra. While it is never a loss when we save anyone from the cruelty of the Marenians, it has placed us in the unique position of being the center of attention with the Jutak governing council.”
    When he said the last, Torkel grimaced.
    Jaron drummed his fingers on the table top, slouched back in his seat. “The council knows about our efforts. Lindsey isn’t just an assignment. She’s Faye’s friend.”
    “Agreed,” Torkel stated. “Her husbands, however, are adding pressure for any knowledge of her whereabouts.”
    Arak frowned. Not good. “They could make things worse instead of better if they’re not careful.”
    “Exactly,” Jaron chimed in with a firm nod as he rocked back in his chair.
    Torkel sighed and shoved a hand through his shoulder-length brown hair. His dark eyes narrowed. “We all know that but it doesn’t change the facts. She must be found and I’m curious as to why we haven’t tracked her down as of yet. There are alerts all over for her. Keeping such a high profile female hostage can only bring trouble to whoever has her.”
    “It doesn’t make sense. Did Sylvia Forrester and Joni Miller say anything else? Remember anything about another Earth woman?”
    Faruk’s question was a good one and everyone waited for Torkel’s response.
    Torkel shook his head. “They’re pretty adamant about never crossing paths with a female fitting her description. I spoke with them again briefly when Faye introduced herself to them this morning.”
    Torkel opened a file on his electronic tablet and tapped the screen. “I’m sending you all the notes I have after speaking with the Commander. He’s also spoken to the members of the Commission and the rescued females will be welcome to participate in the next presentation for a Chosen if they’re interested. It’s understandable if both of them preferred to remain single. If they decide to reside on Enotia, they’ll be granted citizenship because of their negative experience through the Singles Program. An asylum should they wish it.”
    Arak straightened in his seat at this bit of important news. “What if they decide not to stay?”
    Torkel raised a brow and laid his