Page 6 of Alien's Luck
“Apologize,” Poppy said.
The creep snorted.
Poppy’s hand darted forward, wrapping around the man’s throat.
He clawed at Poppy’s fingers but couldn’t pry them off. “I apologize,” he croaked.
This was good. A bit brutal but a nice display of strength, exactly the kind of unsophisticated display people responded to. She’d make her point, and they’d get the hell out there.
“Not to me. To Carla.”
Then she had to go and ruin it by being sentimental.
“It’s fine,” she said, her voice quiet. She was still pretending to be a timid pet, after all.
What did she need an apology for? She wanted to pick up something deep -fried and delicious from one of the street carts on the way back to their rented apartment.
Tavat made a series of squeaks that might generously be interpreted as an apology. Poppy relaxed her grip enough, and coherent words finally escaped the man. “My apologies. I was mistaken about the cheating.”
“Thank you,” Carla said, accepting the apology, even though Poppy absolutely was a cheat. That’s how they made their living, after all. Some things—like money—were too important to leave to chance.
Poppy stepped back to the table, slapping down a stack of credits. “I’m in the mood for another round. What do you think, Carla?”
What was she doing? They needed to leave, not double down. This wasn’t like her at all. She was being reckless. Vengeful, even.
“I think we should call it a night.”
“That does not appeal to me,” Poppy said.
Really? Why ask Carla’s opinion if she was just going to ignore it?
Instinct told Carla to run away, but she trusted Poppy’s judgment. If she wanted to push it with Tavat, she’d back her. Plus, she’d like to wipe that smug, spidery look off Tavat’s face.
“Fine. Taking all his money is an acceptable apology,” she said.
She never claimed she made good decisions.
The night was young. There was profit to be made.
Life was tough on Reazus Prime. Nice people didn’t thrive here, and she was going to thrive, dammit.
CHAPTER 2
ARI
Ari recognized the female at once.
Human. In the possession of a Nakkoni female.
She was dressed as a pet, complete with a collar, and wearing a fitted black dress, the fabric covered in sequins that caught and shimmered in the light. Sleeveless, her exposed arms highlighted her beige complexion and soft human skin. A bracelet of white pearls adorned one wrist. Her yellow hair gave the appearance of a summer blossom. No scales. No skin that could shift to stone. No wings or claws or anything that could be used defensively.
Except her intellect.
Yes, he saw how she studied the room. Her appearance was delicate, arguably decorative, but that was a ruse. She subtly touched the Nakkoni female, utilizing a code or a signal they devised. She threw the dice a few rounds, watching the Nakkoni lose more than she won. Always modest amounts. Never enough to draw suspicion.
Was this Miriam’s friend Darla? Miriam’s description had been vague: a human female kept as a pet, in the company ofa male called Logus. This was a female called Poppy, but that meant little. Humans were purchased and sold frequently.
Tavat was making a nuisance of himself. He had plenty of credits and used them as a bludgeon. He kept battering at the other female, trying to wear her down and agree to sell.
