Mission: Guardian Angel (Veslor Mates Book 2) Read online

  “I refuse to have them under my command anymore. Not only is the entire Team One confined to their cabins, but I’m transferring their asses ASAP. I just wish they were going to a detention center instead of to another assignment.”

  “I know you did what you could,” she told him, frustrating gnawing at her. “At least they won’t be able to mess with the Veslors anymore. I’m depressed that my fears on that score were definitely founded.”

  “Roth has requested to lead his own team without assistance from ours. I’ve agreed. It wouldn’t be fair to end our association with the Veslors just because of what Rogers did to them. They’re a solid ally, and they detect Cadia far better than our own people. I also replaced Rogers with Clark Yenna. He’s going to lead all the tactical teams for now.”

  “Is he trustworthy?”

  “Yes. That brings me to the real reason I came to talk to you.” Howard leaned closer. “You should go home, Abby.”

  “No.”

  Howard held up his hands. “Hear me out. Please? Just listen to what I have to say before you argue.”

  Abby sealed her lips and nodded. She owed him that much.

  He rested his hands on the table. “You worried there would be a problem for the Veslors, and you were correct. My eyes have been opened. I chose Clark Yenna because he’s been assigned under me for twelve years. He’s closer to retirement age and has chosen to pilot rather than lead a team of his own. I trust him. He’s fair, has worked in the past with alien races, and he’s a good guy. When I sat down with him last night to get his opinion when you were missing, and shared what Rogers had done so far to the Veslors, he blew his fuse.”

  She liked hearing that. “Good.”

  “Us older generations take pride in our fleet members and their conduct. It’s personal when they fuck up, and we aren’t tolerant of that shit. Clark will be assigning the Veslors their duties, and he offered to personally pilot them on every shift. I trust him. Roth and I also spoke in-depth. Veslors don’t complain. I learned that pretty quickly. But I explained that by not speaking up, it was allowing fleet members to break laws. He promised to be more forthcoming from now on. I gave him a direct line to contact me, and we’re going to share a couple meals each week from now on, to help ease relations between our people. I’ll keep on top of how they’re treated.”

  She stared at him as silent seconds ticked by.

  “Your mission has been a success. You thought the Veslors might be mistreated, they were, but now it’s being fixed.” He cleared his throat. “There’s no longer a reason for you to stay here.”

  “I’m grateful for that, but I’m not going home yet.”

  “You almost died!”

  She jolted at his emotional outburst and studied him closer.

  “You’re tired, Howard.” She reached out and touched his hand. “I’m really okay.”

  He turned his hand and grasped hers. “Of course I’m tired! Do you think I slept knowing you were on that planet in some fucking hole with alien creatures that could have eaten you? I didn’t even know if you were alive!”

  “I am.”

  “That’s not the point,” he ground out. “I would have had to tell my two dearest friends that I fucked up and didn’t watch out for you as well as I should have. My career has been my life. The one time I married, she didn’t last two years, and she sure as hell didn’t want to have a baby with me. I watched you grow up like a proud father, Abby. You’re the closest thing I have to a daughter.” Tears filled his eyes. “I was certain you were safe here, that I was humoring you by allowing you to take this job, and that I’d just get to spend some precious time with you. Last night blew that to hell. How was I going to live with it if you had died? My own fucking men pushed you into that hole! And I can’t arrest them for it because there’s no proof.”

  Tears filled her eyes, too, and she squeezed his hand tighter. “I’m sorry you went through all that, Howard. And I’m so grateful that you care. You know you’re family to me, too.”

  “You are going back to Earth, Abby. You made enemies with Rogers and his team. I’m reassigning them to another ship but it won’t be for a few weeks. No other fleet vessels are coming this way until then to switch out an entire team. I can’t keep them confined to their cabins for that length of time without filing charges. That means they might attempt to get even with you—and I won’t allow it.”

  “They wouldn’t be that stupid to try again.”

  “I disagree. I sent a message to your assistant a few hours ago. Mel is sending a private transport to pick you up. I haven’t told your parents what happened yet, that’s information they should hear only when they can see that you’re fine with their own eyes. Otherwise, they’ll just worry until you reach Earth.”

  “I’m staying, Howard.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  She leaned across the table. “I am.”

  “You’re resigning.”

  She shook her head. “Not yet.”

  “Damn it, Abby!” He yanked his hand free of hers. “You’re fired then.”

  She frowned. “You don’t mean that. You haven’t slept. Probably haven’t eaten, either. You’re stressed and in need of rest. You’ll feel better afterward.”

  “You’re going home, Abby.”

  “I, um…made a promise to Drak.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “One of the Veslors?”

  She nodded. “I’m going to let him comfort me after my ordeal later this evening, after he gets some sleep.” A grin curved her lips. “Maybe more. I need to be here to see what that comfort leads to. You don’t want to be a possible romance cock-blocker, do you?”

  He gaped at her, eyes wide.

  “He jumped into a hole to come after me, and talked another Veslor into helping him. Then he let me sleep while they both stayed awake all night, guarding me from the dirt beasts. Drak deserves a shot. And hey, my parents are always telling me I should give them some grandkids.”

  He blinked a few times. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes.”

  “A Veslor?” He continue to stare in disbelief.

  “Vivian’s extremely happy with Brassi. She swears he treats her better than any human guy ever could. Drak doesn’t understand Earth money, and their technology is already better than even what D Corp makes. So I know he’s not interested in me for any of the reasons other men have been. I think he just likes me. He even knows I’m mouthy as hell. Do you want to know what he called me, even after I verbally handed Rogers his own ass?”

  Howard’s eyebrows raised.

  “Sweet.” At his doubtful expression, she nodded. “Yeah. Drak thinks I’m a sweet female. Have you ever heard anyone use that word in the same sentence with my name unless it was, like, ‘it would be sweet if that bitch Abby tripped and broke her jaw so she would shut the hell up’?”

  Howard shook his head but humor sparked in his gaze.

  “Drak risked his life for mine. I’d written off men, Howard, but he’s changed my mind. I want to see what happens between us, and that means I need to stay. Fire me if you must, but please, don’t kick me off Defcon Red. Give me a couple weeks at least to see if this can go anywhere. Also…hang on. Don’t move.” She got up and rushed into her bedroom, grabbed her tablet and turned it on.

  Abby sat down and pulled up a few pictures of Klad. “Look. This is Vivian and Brassi’s son. Tell me he’s not the most adorable baby you’ve ever seen.”

  Howard looked at the images. “Your parents are going to disown me.”

  She laughed. “Okay, so the whole cub thing is different, but as grandkids go, isn’t Klad cute? He’ll learn to shift into the more human form soon. This is their other half. You know Veslors are shifters.”

  Howard flipped though the images. “He is cute.”

  “I gave up on even thinking about having kids. Now I’m actually considering cubs.”

  Howard jerked his head up and their gazes locked.

  “Love, Uncle Howard. I might