Mack 'n' Me: The Wolves of Alpha 9 by C.M. Simpson (top ebook reader txt) 📕

wonder the big guy was in a shit of a mood. Fortunately, said ‘big guy’ couldn’t hear my thoughts. He kept talking.

“You will get him back, alive, and as whole as you can make him. I will send you the specifics, and the contract. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” and I was horrified that Mack hadn’t slapped a few more caveats on his promise.

“Man is more worried about you,” Tens said, “and I might just kick your ass for that, later.”

Him and whose army? but I knew he didn’t need one. Tens could hand me my ass on a plate, any time he pleased. All I could manage was a couple of rounds at best.

“You’re getting better,” was poor comfort, but I had other things to worry about.

I hadn’t heard the wolf captain’s command, or seen him give Varian the signal to move, but the wolf-rebel’s boot came off my chest, and he knelt down beside me.

“You are one lucky bitch,” he said, and I don’t think he meant the term in a bad way; he was a wolf, after all.

I flinched as he took the collar from around my neck, and I had a moment to realize why Tens hadn’t teleported me out of there before a familiar silver light wrapped itself around me.

18— Upsetting Doc

Doc was waiting when the light faded, and I was grateful. Mack was waiting, too, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. The man had been prepared to go a very long way to get me back. And Tens... I could see him, as well, along with Case and Stepyan—although those two looked like they were tooled up for a trip planet-side.

Turns out, they were.

Case stepped up into the teleport circle and knelt down beside me.

“You are one shitload of trouble, kid.”

“Thanks, Case.”

“And it’s good to have you back.”

“Where you going?”

“Steps and I have us a slave lord to kill.”

“Barangail hasn’t paid.”

“He’ll pay.”

That last was said with a deep-voiced certainty that sent chills down my spine, and I twisted my head so I could see Stepyan standing behind Case, looking down at me.

“He is in breach.”

From the tone of Stepyan’s voice, that last little matter was a death sentence in and of itself. Case confirmed it, her voice waltzing through my head.

“How else do you think our captain keeps his reputation?”

She was gone, before I could reply, stepping past me and taking Stepyan with her, and I remembered there were several zones on the teleport station and that Tens could send people out of any one of them. It was something he’d added since K’Kavor, using part of the Vespis bonus to pay for it. Mack had been reluctant, but the first mission had won him over.

“How the fuck did we survive without it?” he’d asked, back then, but now wasn’t the time for memories, as Mack broke through with a question more tuned to the present.

“How the fuck do you survive at all?” he asked, and moved to take Case’s place.

“It’s good to see you, too, boss.”

At least, that was what I’d meant to say. Instead, I looked up at him, and all I wanted was for him to hold me. I hadn’t realized just how much I’d wanted to come back to the ship.

“To me, girl. To me.”

Yeah. Fine. To him, too, and all, and this time I felt my lips twitch into the smallest of smiles. Mack smirked back, looking far too pleased with himself, and I really wanted to slug the look right off his face. It disappeared, and he raised his eyebrows, looking shocked.

“Really?”

Doc made an impatient sound, and I heard Tens, Case and Stepyan groan.

“Get us out of here, Tens—or I’m gonna puke.”

Thanks a lot, Case.

“The lady has a point.”

And who even asked Stepyan for his opinion?

“Who’s gonna stop me givin’ it?” he challenged, but silver light engulfed him, before I could reply.

“Will you just do as the lady wants, and wrap your arms around her?” Doc sounded his grumpy old self, and I wondered why he was siding with me...for just as long as it took, for me to realize this was Doc, and I was hurt—as usual—and that meant...

Well, fuck. Did he have to turn me into a pincushion, every fucking time? I felt the sedative take effect, and couldn’t be sure I heard Mack right.

“And I’m the one that’s gotta kiss that mouth.”

The memory was still with me when I surfaced.

Mack was in his usual place. In a chair. Out in front of the tank. At least that proved the man had to sleep.

“Not sleepin’, girl. Just restin’ my eyes.”

I noted the slur in his voice, and frowned.

“You should be sleeping!”

“Anyone would think we were hitched, the way you try to wear the pants.”

I made a point of eyeing him below his waist-line, and then lifted my eyes to his face.

“Your pants aren’t big enough for what I’m packing.”

Shock was followed by amusement.

“Girl, there isn’t a pair big enough for the balls you’ve got.”

“And I’m supposed to kiss that mouth.”

That was out before I realized I was saying it, and I felt my skin flush red. Mack gave a short bark of laughter, as the door to the med bay slid open.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake! Will the pair of you just shag and get it over with?”

I watched as Mack whipped around to stare at Doc. Doc stared back, his look clearly a challenge to whatever Mack might be thinking of doing next. Mack broke first, his skin darkening from his neckline to his scalp. He gestured at the tank.

“When can she come out of there?”

Doc looked at me, and his lips curled with mischief.

“Depends on what you want her for.”

I couldn’t help it. I just stared at Doc, my shocked look mirrored on Mack’s face. Doc took in both our expressions, and cracked up. He laughed so hard, he had to put his hands on his knees and try to catch his breath, and then he looked up at Mack, and started laughing, all over again.