Page 114 of Star Claimed Omega
A high-priority fugitive. Former merc commander. A rumoredRed Skullseniorcapoand chief of theCrimson Widow.
‘You Signet dogs think you’ve won?’ Vargus spat blood, grinning. ‘You’ve only stepped into the game now.’
Santi crouched before him, violet glow still burning in his eyes.
‘Nada, Vargus. We’ve just started playingourway.’
The Xo gave Zev, who shackled and cuffed thekinai.
The bridge was theirs,The Widow, subdued.
The mission was a success, executed with panache.
However, in Santi’s gut, a cold unease settled.
Because Drew Vargus hadn’t fought to the death.
He’d surrendered too easily.
Santi needed to find out why.
The rear deck bay was colder than necessary, a deliberate setting.
The polished obsidian walls hummed, rigged with pulse-suppressing fields and surveillance nullifiers.
Santi stood with his arms folded, legs braced, staring down at theRed Skullcaptain now strapped into a magnetic restraint chair.
Drew Vargus sat in it, blood crusted along his temple, his jacket stripped down to a gray under tunic stained with plasma soot.
His jaw was bruised, one eye swollen, still, the bastard smirked.
Boaz and Kaal flanked the room, silent and watchful, while Zev loomed in the shadows, alert for action. The room felt caged with energy.
Santi stepped forward, the clang of his boots the only sound in the silence.
‘Start talking,’ he said, voice a rolling thunder. ‘What wasThe Widowdoing this close to our perimeter?’
Vargus’ lip curled. ‘Just a hungry old bird driftin’ where the stars take her.’
‘Cut the shit.’
A pause. Then a laugh. A slow, rasping chuckle that crawled under the skin.
‘You’re asking the wrong question, Signetlupo.’
Santi’s jaw ticked.
Vargus lifted his eyes, the amusement behind them sharpened to something more malevolent.
‘You think we stumbled into your space like idiots?’ He leaned forward as far as the restraints allowed, grinning with bloodied teeth. ‘Nada. While you were looking at us, we were making our move.’
Santi’s eyes narrowed. The room crackled with sudden tension. ‘Thefokk?’
Vargus inhaled, then whispered with sneering malevolence. ‘The scarlet bird flies.’
Silence fell, ice-cold and thick.
Santi’s gut clenched. ‘What did you say?’
