Free Blake, Abby - Keen Inclination [A Bride for Eight Brothers 4] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) by Abby Blake Page A

huh?”
    “You have got to be kidding me,” Matt said, knowing he sounded completely pissed off. The only reason they were still on this strange jungle planet was because they were protecting the female scientists. If the profit—legal profit at least—had been taken out of the mouse tears equation, then it was a good bet that the medical consortium would pull their research funding. Considering their track record, it was even more likely that they would abandon their scientists right here.
    “Are the girls safe?” Matt felt Mikayla bristle at his use of the term “girls,” but he didn’t have time to apologize. With two ships worth of raiders and probably the rest of his brothers outside trying to track them down, he felt responsible for all four women in his care.
    “Ty is with them,” Ryan said reassuringly. “I was talking to them when the alarm sounded.”
    Matt nodded, grateful that he didn’t have to figure out how to keep Mikayla safe and somehow get the scientists here or Mikayla over there. Ryan seemed a little too calm and entirely engrossed with his computer until Matt realized he was monitoring the teams’ movements.
    Lachlan and Bryce had headed toward the larger of the two raiding vessels and John, Brock, and Peter had headed out the front door to intercept the smaller craft. Matt almost held his breath as twin images from their own satellite played on the screen.
    “Oh my,” Mikayla said with a stifled laugh. “You weren’t kidding when you described the potency.” On the screen you could very clearly see John stun two men who’d basically wrapped around each other and were pressed together like a sandwich. Matt had the fleeting hope that they were gay and then dismissed his concern just as quickly. What did he care if those two ended up having an awkward conversation? They shouldn’t have been on the planet in the first place.
    Lachlan and Bryce weren’t so lucky. Five women had stepped off the larger ship and quickly spread out. Even on the tiny screen it was obvious that they were well armed and fully prepared to defend themselves.
    “Call Bryce and Lachlan back,” Matt said urgently.
    “I can’t,” Ryan said frantically as he did something and started talking to John. Within moments Brock, Peter, and John were all headed toward Lachlan and Bryce’s position. Fortunately, Lachlan and Bryce had already discovered the armed-to-the-teeth status of their newest visitors and stopped to assess the situation.
    Matt could finally breathe when he saw his brothers all head back to the station without making contact with the raiders.
    Within minutes they’d all gathered in the dining area, and a swift agreement followed. Only one of the female scientists, Misha, had argued to stay, but when Ryan showed her the news bulletin, she’d blanched and quickly agreed with everyone else.
    Whether their contracts were void or not, none of them were willing to risk their lives any longer to stop the harvesting of what was now an illegal substance. It was like being caught in the middle of the poppy fields as a drug war broke out. None of them wanted to be the collateral damage.
    “So we’re all agreed.” Brock glanced around the room as everyone nodded. “Okay, we need to move as much as we can into the ship part of the stations. We’ll leave the rest behind for now and hope it survives until we can come back with an armed escort. Let’s get this done.”
    Everyone scattered in different directions, and soon it was only Matt and Mikayla sitting at the table.
    “Are you okay?” Matt asked his wife. She looked pale, and he knew she hated change. It wasn’t until her confession about being shuffled around from foster home to foster home that he really understood her love of stability.
    “I’m fine,” she said absently, even though it was very obvious that she wasn’t. She must’ve seen the incredulity on his face because she smiled and tried to be more convincing. “Really, I’m fine. I