Retribution by Jambrea Jo Jones Read Free Book Online

him.
    “After they released him from the medical unit, he went into hiding, scavenging food when he could. Like he always says, one day was a day too much. Do you understand his hatred now? That first year, he still had hope that you would save him from himself. He needed you, and no one knew where you were.”
    Kain couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down his face. Yes, he understood the hate Rave must feel. The guilt of not being there ripped through his body, and his hands clutched at his stomach. He worked on wrapping his mind around how the ideals of the Alliance had changed. How could they do this to two loyal members? Two men who would have given their lives to protect what they believed in. His faith broke as did his heart.
    “I didn’t…I couldn’t—oh my God. How could they do this? The Alliance had to know what would happen to him. How could they even hope Rave would help after all of this?”
    “My guess is they hoped the love you two shared would be strong enough to survive the time apart.”
    “Fuck.” Kain slammed his hand down on the console in front of him. How could Rave ever forgive him?
    Kain didn’t have time to beat himself up over the injustice done to Rave because something bumped into the ship.
    “Shit,” Se muttered.
    “What is it? What happened?”
    “Someone locked onto the ship with a retractor cable.”
    The computer’s voice echoed through the room, “The planet patrol has the ship locked down. They’re hailing the control room.”
    “Put them through and contact Rave on planet.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    A recording came through the coms , “Your ship will stand down and prepare for boarding. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Rave Anders for questioning in the kidnapping of Kain Sims.”
    What the fuck was going on? Was this the trap Rave feared? Things were still too fragile for this to be happening. Damn it! Who’d jumped the gun?
    Se turned to look at him, the horror showing on her face. “What did you do?”
    “Nothing! This isn’t supposed to happen. At least not yet.”
    “What do you mean not yet! ” Se yelled at him.
    Kain flinched at the anger flowing from Se.
    “The Alliance told me the arrest wouldn’t come through until after we had the laser on the ship. Then it would be only to retrieve the weapon.”
    “You’ve fucked this up. No way will Rave believe this wasn’t the plan all along.”
    “Damn them,” he whispered. His future without Rave flashed before his eyes. Not this time. Fuck them. No way would he fall in the eyes of Rave. He would fix this. Shoulders squared he prepared to get Rave and his sister back on the ship.
     
    * * * *
     
    Rave made it to Mel’s house in record time. He wanted to get this mission over with so he could tell the Alliance to go fuck itself. He knew he had a hard time ahead of him. Mel’s stubbornness outshone even his.
    He rang the bell and waited for an answer.
    “Please scan your retina into the system,” a computerised voice commanded.
    He complied, and the door swept open. “Confirmed relative. You may enter.”
    “Rave! What are you doing here?” Mel walked up to him and pulled him into a hug.
    She hadn’t changed much. Maybe a little grey threaded through her brown hair and laugh lines around her dark brown eyes. Her head only reached his chest. She was short, like their mother and just as pretty.
    “Hey, sis. I don’t have much time, and you have to cooperate. For once, could you just go with the flow?”
    “What did you do now?” She stiffened and pulled away from him with a frown on her face.
    He smiled. “What makes you think it was me ?”
    She gave him a look that reminded him of them growing up.
    “Because I know you. So, out with it.”
    “ Kain’s back.”
    “And he’s still alive?”
    A laugh slipped out. “Things happened that were beyond our control. We talked a little. I’ll fill you in once we’re on my ship.”
    “And I would be on your ship because…”
    “It