Page 77 of The Alien Reindeer's Bounty
“But you are a female—”
“Yeah, but when you say it like that, you really mean female animal, not a female person,” she said.
Mads grinned. “She has you there, Svallin. You were condescending.”
“Yeah, condescending.” And a stuck-up butt, too.
Svallin shook his head. “You speaking in Reilendeer is so strange.”
Odessa turned to Mads. “I don’t like your friend. You have terrible taste.”
“You’re my friend, too.” He grinned.
“I was your friendfirst. Clearly, it was all downhill after me.” She returned his grin and the moment stretched out between them. She couldn’t wait to get him home, to throw away that awful T-shirt and inspect his wound. The bleeding had slowed down. Mads said he healed fast, but she needed to see it to believe it.
Svallin cleared his throat. “I will report that the rogue attacked you, stole your pistol, and ended your life. The record on the pistol will show that it was recently fired.”
“Your method is insulting. I would never allow my pistol to be stolen,” Mads said.
“I stole it from you.”
Mads huffed. “It will do,” he conceded.
“Congratulations,” the man said, holstering the weapon. “You are deceased. Enjoy your afterlife.”
Mads tightened his grip on Odessa. “I will. What about the tracker?”
“Stay. I will neutralize the trackers,” Svallin said, just before he shoved Karl up the ramp. He returned in a moment with a cylindrical device that looked like a high-tech needle to Odessa.
Her grip tightened on Mads, fearful of what the other alien intended to jab into her man.
Mads made no sound as Svallin stuck the needle into the back of his neck.
“It will take approximately twenty-four hours for the trackers to be deactivated. You may feel a slight tingling and moderate nerve pain,” Svallin said.
“Marvelous. It will go well with my burn and gunshot wound.” Mads rubbed the back of his neck.
“You’re burned?” Obviously, he had been near a fire. The head to toe in soot and reeking of burnt plastic and smoke said as much. She just didn’t think he had been in a fire. “What happened?”
“We found your missing employee,” he said.
“Bonnie? You found Bonnie?”
“Yes, that is the one.”
“Is she okay? What happened to her? It was Karl, wasn’t it?” Odessa said, already knowing the answer.
Mads nodded. “Yes. It seems my uncle has been very busy. And she is alive.”
Well, that was clear as mud. “Alive? You have to give me more than that.”
“We retrieved the unconscious female from the rogue’s hideout and left her with medical professionals,” Svallin said.
Odessa wanted to ask what would happen to Karl, but the adrenaline in her system was wearing off and her throat hurt. She needed sleep and a lot of it.
“Farewell.” Svallin clasped Mads on the arm and they touched foreheads, before stepping back. He gave them one last look but did not insult Mads by asking if he was sure of his decision.
Chapter 22
