Page 133 of Star Claimed Omega
Santi’s pace was heavy, burdened.
Guilt weighed his every step, etched in how his hands curled into fists and unfurled again.
His eyes were gritty, sleep eluding him since the fateful event.
The door to the ready room closed behind them.
Soft ambient light blinked on; screens across the wall displayed galaxies pulsing with quiet radiance.
Santi turned, speaking in a hoarse timbre. ‘I should have -.’
Xander cut him off with a sudden, firm force: a hug, an arm clapped around Santi’s back, pulling him tight.
Santi tensed for a beat, then yielded.
Enough for his arms to encircle his best friend, his commander, and his brother in all but blood.
His forehead tilted to Xander’s shoulder as his eyes ached. He held back the tears, yet his eyes misted.
‘You weren’t to know,’ Xander rumbled, his utterance deep and steady. ‘You cared for her. That’s not a flaw,hermano. That’s yourfokkin’ strength.’
They drew apart.
Santi let out a shaky exhale; his spine was straighter, his stance less buckled, reinforced by brotherly concern and care.
‘She was under a monster’s control, but she still used me, Xand,’ he breathed. ‘She played me, every damn minute of our being together. I didn’t see -.’
‘Cut the guilt trippin’. You protected her. Like you protect everyone, that’s who you are.’
The Chief of theSombraand head of the Signet pack stared down his Xo until Santi growled, cursed, and relented. ‘OK,cabrón, I’ll take your bead on this.’
‘Tis the only way to look at it,’ Xander rasped, giving Santi an approving chin lift.
Xander stepped around the table, tapping into the holo console with a quick flick of his fingers. ‘Miral has compiled a detailed report.’
Santi nodded, jaw set. ‘Good. I want to review the footage; every camera angle, each second. I need to know how they pulled this off.’
‘You will.’ Xander’s tone snapped to command. ‘Let’s bring the others in. We break this down, piece by piece. We learn, adapt, andfokkin’ come up with a plan.’
The captain and formidable warrior narrowed his eyes, his mind already churning. ‘And then we hit back, and get your woman back.’
‘Not sure I want her back.’
Xander shook his head. ‘Give her the benefit of the doubt, at least track her down so you can ask her what you need to in her face.’
Santi’s gaze lifted. Fire sparked behind the storm of his eyes.
‘Sawa. Let’sfokkin’ hunt down her and her toxic family to the ends of the Wildlight if we have to.’
Starlight from the nearest moon filtered through the panoramic viewport ofTheSombra’sboardroom, casting the space in a twilight sheen.
Santi stood at the far end, jaw shadowed with stubble, his shoulders squared, his face unreadable.
The explosion still echoed in his ears, and Soleil’s final look burned in his memory.
He jolted as the rest of the Signet strong guard prowled in.
Kaal, bruised but back on his feet, still wore his combat rig like a second skin.
