Free Halcyon Nights (Star Sojourner Book 2) by Jean Kilczer Page B

into him and heard Bjorn's jacket rip as they both went down. Leo shoved Lisa at the 'bot. “Take her.”
    Lisa screamed when the 'bot tucked her under a metal arm.
    I backed away as Sharkie jumped to his feet.
    There was no way out of this, and the alien did not seem inclined to help.
    “I'll make a deal,” I said, with my breath coming fast. “You promise not to hurt my daughter and I'll cooperate.”
    “Oh, you'll cooperate,” Leo said and approached me.
    “Daddy!” Lisa whimpered and struggled. “His arm is cold.”
    Robots are not programmed to harm living entities. “It's all right, Lisa. He won't hurt you.” I tried to shove Leo aside to get to her. He stood like a stone statue. I drew back a fist and hit him with everything I had. He swayed. His fist shot out and caught me on my cheek. The room jiggled. My knees buckled and I slumped to the floor. I gasped and squeezed my temples to ease the pain.
    Leo dragged me to my feet and toward the door.
    I kicked the glass clock on my way past it. It didn't break, but chimes clanged in a cacophony of tolling bells. The Cockatoo tried to fly away, but one leg was tied to his perch.
    “Lisa.” I watched the 'bot roll into the hall with my daughter tucked under his arm.
    “Daddy! Don't go away,” she cried. She clutched the doorframe. The 'bot gently pried her fingers off it.
    “I'm here, Lis'. I'm right here.” I lowered my head as tears slid down my face. With Sharkie and Leo clutching my arms , I couldn't wipe them. They pulled me toward the door, but I followed Lisa willingly.
Damn you!
I sent to the alien,
you want my help. Why aren't you willing to help us?
    I can do no more than you can, for now.
    You impotent bastard! If they hurt Lisa, you'd better find yourself another telepath.
    I looked back as we went into the hall. Bjorn was on his knees, a napkin spread under them, trying to fit the pieces of a broken china lily back together. He looked up at me. “Philistine!” he spat.
    I felt weak and shaken as I stared at the cryogenic units. What would happen to Lisa? I wiped a hand across my eyes and pictured her ripped Cleocean doll.
It's not Lisa's fault,
I sent, hoping the alien was still tuned in.
Get her out of this mess. Your mess.
    Nothing.
    Are you out to lunch?
    Tickbag lay within the smoky confines of a cold unit. Two more were open, ready to receive sleepers. Bjorn stood by in his ripped jacket.
    ”Lisa?” I said with weariness dragging at my muscles.
    She looked at me from where she sat crying on the rim of a unit's bed, rocking, the stuffed bear squeezed tight in her arms. “Daddy! I don't want to go in the cry chamber. I'm scared, Daddy.”
    “Baby, it's not a cry chamber.” Which perverted piece of slimeshit had come up with that one? “It's just a bed, Lis', just a bed. Let me comfort her,” I begged Sharkie.
    But he was not about to.
    “It's OK, Squiggles. You're just going to take a nap, baby, and when you wake up, they'll bring you home to Mommy.”
    She rubbed her eyes with her shirt and stretched out her small arms to me. “Daddy, pick me up.”
    I tried to reach her. Sharkie put out a stiff arm to hold me back.
    I glared at Bjorn. “If you want my cooperation with the dons, you'll take her home first. Unharmed!” I tried to push Sharkie's arm away. He threw it around my neck.
    “Damn you!” I grabbed his wrist with both hands but he just tightened the grip. “Is that a deal?” I rasped to Bjorn.
    Bjorn raised brows and fingered the rip in his jacket. “A deal, Mister Rammis, “is when both parties are equal.” His lips twisted as he stared at Lisa.
    I wondered, with a sudden stab of terror, just what he might do to her when I was asleep? I tried frantically to read his thoughts, his feelings, and got a strange sensation of lust and guilt coming from him as he watched her. Then the repression of guilt. Jesus ChristLotus!
Don't touch the child!
I screamed the message to his mind.
Dirty
.
Contagious! Fatal disease
! I