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

  Some of the crew gave her odd looks as she passed them going to the lift. Abby ignored them. It wasn’t any of their business why she was moving that many clothes. She went to the level where Drak had relocated and stepped out of the lift, almost slamming into a security guard.

  He frowned, glancing at her suitcase. “What’s in that?”

  “Some of my clothes.”

  His gaze lifted to her face. “I wasn’t informed of a cabin change. Who are you?”

  She reached inside her pocket and withdrew her ID. “Abby Thomas, personal assistant to Commander Bills.”

  He blocked her path, lifting his communications device as he read her ID.

  “You won’t find a cabin change order. I’m spending a few days with my boyfriend. Am I breaking fleet protocol by walking around with a suitcase?”

  He scowled. “No. It’s just unusual. It’s my job to investigate.”

  She wanted to roll her eyes but refrained. “Well, now you know who I am and what I’m carrying.” She tried to step around him, but he blocked her away again.

  Now she was irritated.

  “I need to check that.”

  “Are you for real?” She lowered her ID and placed the suitcase down. “Go for it. Just don’t touch my undergarments. That would be creepy.” She stepped to the side to give him room.

  “Who are you staying with?” He knelt, opening her case.

  “That’s none of your business. I’m a civilian employee. I don’t have to answer to you unless I’m breaking laws, which I’m certainly not.”

  He looked inside her open suitcase then closed it, standing. “Answer the question, or I’ll escort you to security.”

  Her temper flared. “Let me guess. You’re not a fan of mine.” She stepped closer, reading the name on the ID that was attached to his uniform. “Are you a friend of Bradley Rogers or someone on Team One? Listen up close, Mercer. I’ve got better things to do than play power trip with you.”

  His eyes narrowed and his mouth pressed into a tight line, but he stepped out of her way. Abby lifted her suitcase and glared back at him. “Tell your buddies in security that I won’t tolerate being harassed.” She walked toward the family unit.

  “Making friends, as always,” she muttered.

  She reached the Veslors’ new suite beyond a curve in the corridor and placed her palm on the lock scanner. It opened for her.

  Motion out of the corner of her eye had her turning her head. The security guard had followed her around the curve. She resisted the urge to flip him off, instead just entering and letting the door seal behind her.

  Security couldn’t override the locks to this suite. She’d made sure of that. Only Howard had the authority, besides her and the Veslors. She hadn’t even added Clark Yenna. Not until she was certain he could be trusted.

  The lights had automatically come on in the big living space. She crossed to Drak’s bedroom, opened the door, and walked to the closet to unpack. The master had a walk-in closet space. Ten minutes later, she had changed into her pajamas and curled up on the bed with a data pad to read a book.

  Hours passed.

  Abby kept glancing at the communications device, worry steadily building.

  When another four hours passed, she got out of bed, pacing. Drak and the grouping should have been back already. She cursed, finally calling Clark.

  He answered right away. “The colony is under heavy attack tonight. All pilots have been ordered to stand down and wait for dawn to pick up their teams.”

  “Who gave that order?”

  “Commander Bills.”

  “Are you sure it was him? Not some shithead screwing with his orders?”

  “I spoke directly to Howard. I don’t like it either. They’ve been down there for two consecutive shifts and now they’re going into three. I’m in the shuttle right now, ready to go down to pick them up if they call in early or need assistance.”

  “Okay. Thank you for letting me know.” She disconnected with him and paced some more, before deciding to call Howard.

  “I know what this is about, Abby. I’m sorry I had to keep the Veslors down there all night. Clark already chewed my ass out, bitching about how his boys must be exhausted by now. The settlement is under heavy attack, more so than usual.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I don’t know.” Howard sounded stressed. “They usually get maybe half a dozen of those damn Cadia trying to get past their defenses. Tonight, they’ve had at least four dozen of those fucking worms trying to break through the barriers. We sent down another team three hours ago to assist.”

  “How many teams in all are down there right now?”

  “Three. We usually have two, and only one team for the third shift, to cover the settlement walls. Since we’ve started bombing the nearby caves and holes, it’s reduced their numbers, and we assumed the remaining ones had to travel farther to reach the settlement, since they now attack a few hours after dark.”

  “What could have changed?”

  “No idea. Roth and the other two team leaders said the creatures are smaller in size than normal, so perhaps this is a breeding cycle for the Cadia.”

  She digested that information. “Like a breeding season just happened, and now the young ones big enough to hunt have come out looking for food?”

  “That’s one theory. I have the science teams working late tonight, too, trying to figure this out. There’s a lot about those creatures we don’t know. The damn colonists didn’t do much research on what they were going to be living with before they built the settlement. Fucking civilians.”

  “Okay.”

  “Clark is on standby inside his shuttle to fly down to the surface at first light. He’s refused to return to his cabin until he gets his team back onboard.”

  That made Abby feel better. “Please update me if it gets worse down there.”

  “The teams are holding the barriers.” Howard paused. “Roth actually sounded excited about it.”

  “They do like to fight.” She just hoped none of the Veslors were hurt, especially Drak. “Definitely update me if you hear anything bad, please.”

  “I promise, Abby. I know what Drak means to you. I’m sorry I had to make the decision to keep them down there all night. Though, Roth volunteered them.”

  That didn’t surprise her, either. “Fine. I’ll keep my communications device right next to me.”

  “We both will. It’s going to be a long third shift. Try to get some sleep.” He disconnected with her.

  Abby went into the bathroom and got ready for bed. Not that she believed she’d get much sleep. Now with Drak and his grouping in danger down on the surface.

  * * * * *

  Drak snorted a laugh, watching Gnaw open fire on a Cadia slithering toward the tall wall they stood on. It screamed, thrashing as it was hit. Gnaw grabbed a grenade, snarled loud in warning to their grouping, and pitched it hard.

  They all ducked behind the raised edge of the wall, taking cover. The explosion was followed by pieces of the Cadia hitting the wall. Drak counted to three before rising, wiping blood splatter from the arm he’d used to shield the faceplate of his helmet. The creature lay still, the front of it a mess of gore.

  “That is six for me,” Gnaw announced. “There’s another one.”

  Drak followed his grouping’s gazes, seeing movement out in the dark coming toward them. It was farther down the wall from where they stood. “Where were they hiding? We cleared this area today.”

  “They are getting smarter at hiding,” Maith called out. “Or more determined to kill the humans for food and willing to travel longer distances.”

  Roth opened fire on the new one, making it scream in pain. Then their leader pitched a grenade at the Cadia while its mouth remained open. They all ducked, right before it blew. A large piece of the creature landed next to Drak. He pitched it off the wall.

  Throughout the long day and night, his thoughts kept drifting to Abby. Drak had wanted to contact her when th