Page 44 of Honor Bound

La’Rue wryly chuckled that the trickiest part would be stuffing a former Legion general into a bot the size of a trash compactor and getting him to the docking bay without anyone noticing.

“H and I will handle the freighter,” La’Rue had assured her earlier, already heading toward her ship. “All you have to do is get Roan out and meet us there.”

Simple.Julia thought.

Simple never went well—especially in space.

* * *

She breathed out when the lift doors slid open with a soft whoosh. Sergi waved Julia forward, motioning toward the guard stationed outside Roan’s cell. She took a slow breath, steadying herself, and walked toward the guard with the tray of food balanced carefully in her hands.

The guard looked up, his expression bored until his eyes landed on Julia. His eyes swept over her, changing from suspicion to respect and a touch of awe when he recognized her. Guilt flared inside Julia.

Enjoy it while it lasts, Julia,she silently mused.

“Late-night meal delivery?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at the tray in her hands.

Julia tilted her head, offering a polite smile. “Even a prisoner deserves to eat.”

The guard pursed his lips and shook his head. “He’s been fed. Better than he should have been.”

Julia continued around the curved console, drawing the guard’s attention with her as she walked until his back was to the entrance. He never saw Sergi coming. The butt of Sergi’s weapon hit him squarely at the base of his skull, dropping him in one smooth motion.

“Quick and painless. Well, maybe not painless, but he will live,” Sergi cheerfully said, bending down to retrieve the key card from the guard’s belt.

Julia set the tray aside and slid the card into the control panel. The door hissed open to reveal Roan seated on the bench inside. His eyes gleamed with dry amusement when he saw her in the doorframe with Sergi grinning over her shoulder.

“You look comfortable,” Sergi greeted.

Julia elbowed Sergi in the ribs and scowled at him. “We don’t have much time. Get the supply bot.”

Sergi grimaced and rubbed his side. “She’s bossy.”

Julia swallowed when Roan stood. Her eyes swept over his face, noting that most of the bruising and cuts were healed, but there were still shadows of the deeper wounds.

“You know,” he said. “I could get used to being rescued by the two of you.”

Julia arched an eyebrow. “Wait until you see what we are about to squeeze you into.”

Roan’s amused expression faded as his gaze flicked to the compact supply bot waiting just outside the cell. He blinked, clearly unimpressed.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Nope,” Sergi said cheerfully, patting the bot. “It’ll be cozy. Think of it as a portable meditation pod.”

Roan sighed, stepping toward the bot with resignation. “Remind me to return the favor someday.”

“I’m sure Sergi can’t wait,” Julia replied, suppressing a smile as Sergi laughed.

* * *

Less than a minute later, Julia glanced at the guard lying on the cot in the cell. Sergi decided it would be best to put the man there to keep him from sounding the alarms should he wake before they made their escape. She turned and shot Roan an apologetic expression when she noticed his grimace of discomfort.

“Hopefully, it won’t be for long,” she murmured, stepping forward to close the side hatch.

“I just hope no one tries to put anything else in here, or better yet open it. They are in for a surprise if they do,” Roan muttered. “I thought the soiled linen cart was degrading.”

“Oh, there are many more things that are worse than this, trust me,” Sergi said with a shuddered.

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