Free Marianne's Abduction by Ravenna Tate Page A

did? They got the charges
dropped and then helped the prisoners escape from being sent to the Zoo?”
    “Oh
yes,” said Thane. “Many others. A great many of the
Earthlings who came here at the beginning have done that. None of them realized
at first what the Tyranns were really doing. Once they did, they wanted no part
of it, and helped us get prisoners away from them instead. Some have been caught
doing it, including your aunt and uncle.”
    “And
you found their names in this database?”
    “I
found it,” said River, beaming again. “They hide all their information in bits
and pieces, and give the folders and documents fake names.”
    “So
why do you think it might not be real?”
    “I’m
fairly certain it’s real,” said Jakara . “But first we
have to verify they’re still there and haven’t been sent somewhere else. The
Tyranns move people around a lot to try to mask what they’re doing. And then if
they are still there, we have to figure out a way to get onto Voyeur Moon, and
then into the prison.”
    “It
can’t be approached by air,” said Vaughn. “We’ll need to first land on the
planet, and then approach the prison by ground. Then we have to get them out,
and reverse the scenario to get them off the planet.”
    Her
heart sank. Even with what little she knew, it sounded impossible. “Do you have
a plan?”
    “Not
yet,” said Vaughn. “But don’t you worry. This is what we do. Now go and sit
outside with Callie. Have a nice talk. There’s food in the kitchen so make sure
you eat something. And we made fresh coffee about an hour ago.”
    “Thanks.
I’m sorry I slept so late.”
    He
gave her a molten look of lust that no one in the room would miss, and she felt
heat rise to her face. “You needed it.”
    As
she made her way to the kitchen with Callie in tow, Marianne was caught between
joy at finding out her aunt and uncle were still alive, and trepidation at the
complications surrounding freeing them. All mixed up with those thoughts were
the erotic memories from last night. But right now, she needed to push all that
aside so she could talk to someone else from Earth.
     

Chapter
Eight
     
    Marianne
and Callie sat on the same deck where Marianne had been with Vaughn and River
the night before. A warm breeze blew, and the air smelled fresh and clean.
Marianne had coffee and a plate full of food, while Callie had a cup of tea.
    “I’ve
developed a taste for this stuff,” she said, sipping. “Especially
the peppermint kind. You must have a million questions.”
    “I’m
just so happy to see someone else who lived through what I did. Vaughn and
River told me your story. Were you terrified?”
    “Oh God yes. But Jakara didn’t mistreat me.
Not ever. And there was something about him that called to me. I can’t even
explain it.”
    “I
think I know what you mean. Those two are … how do I put this? Charming,
gorgeous, seductive, funny, tender, protective…” She laughed. “I sound like I’m
reading from a romance novel.”
    Callie
laughed, too, and then she asked Marianne where she’d lived on Earth.
    “Fox
Chapel, just outside of Pittsburgh. And you?”
    “A
tiny town in Maine called Castine. Have you heard of it?”
    Marianne
shook her head. “What did you do there?”
    “I
was hoping to work in an art gallery. I have an MFA in art history. But when I
was taken I’d just quit a job at a dry cleaner’s. How about
you?”
    “I
have an MBA and was working in IT consulting, but when Vaughn’s and River’s
friends brought me here I was stocking groceries.”
    Callie
shook her head. “Our planet is dying, and those bastard Tyranns did it. That’s
why I’m committed to helping these guys.”
    “Same here.”
    They
high-fived each other, and then Callie asked Marianne if she was with Vaughn
and River. “You know. As in with them in the Biblical sense.”
    “Well,
as of last night I am.” Marianne gave Callie the short and dirty version.
    “What’s
that like? Having