Page 50 of Conquered (The Hidden Planet 1)

“It’s all done?” I ask him eagerly, searching his eyes, trying to figure out if the plan went off without a hitch.

“It’s done,” he assures me, and he turns to Gaz. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go watch the news. If I’m right, Hector is going to try to leave Diamond in the next couple of hours, and we wouldn’t want to miss the show.”

“I don’t have time for that,” Gaz says, rolling his eyes. He nods politely to Quinn and Ezra, who’s standing in the doorway. “Another time, boys. Try not to get arrested again anytime soon.”

Gaz gets in the floating hovercar and drives off. We stand there quietly, watching the car leave. Then we head back inside.

“How long until you think Hayden shows up?” Quinn asks Ezra once we’re settled in the living room.

“She’s already on the way,” Ezra says. “I told her you’d been released and she immediately left work to come here.

I smile as I snuggle against Quinn. I met Hayden right after we arrived on Sapphira. She’s sweet and sassy and fun. She’s so much fun. I’ve never had a sister and part of me worried she wouldn’t accept me as her brother’s girlfriend, but when we met, she wrapped her arms around me and said she’s never seen Quinn so happy.

Sure enough, within minutes, Hayden comes bounding into the living room and plops her body down on the couch with me and Quinn.

“I’m glad you’re home, big boy,” she says to Quinn, and he flashes her that charming boyish grin I’ve come to like so much.

“Was there ever any doubt I’d come home?” He asks.

“I know you’re good with computers,” Hayden admits. “But I didn’t know if you were that good. I mean, manufacturing a fake alibi for a month? And in the course of a few days? I’m impressed.”

Ezra coughs loudly and we all turn to look at him. He’s sprawled comfortably in his favorite chair with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Let’s not forget the little matter of getting the ship back in place,” he says. “Quinn might be good, but he’s not changing-the-docking-numbers good. That was all me.”

“Yes, we’re all very impressed with you,” Hayden says to her brother. Then she turns back to Quinn. “Seriously, though, what happens next?”

“What do you mean?” He looks confused. “Everything is in place.”

“Yes, but for what?” She says. “You weren’t completely clear on that. You got his ship back so he’ll believe it wasn’t taken, or so the authorities will at least believe it wasn’t taken, and no one can charge you with any crimes. What now, though? You left all the drugs on his ship.”

“We tagged them,” Ezra tells her.

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” I sit up because this is the part that intrigues me the most. This is the part where I’m completely impressed with my boyfriend and his brother and their ability to work together as a team on short notice. “They put listening devices in the drug containers. They even put a couple of video cameras in the ship.”

“So when Hector goes to move the drugs,” Hayden says. “They’ll have him on video.”

“The devices all have motion and sound sensors,” Quinn tells his sister. “The feeds will be automatically sent to each member of the police force, the mayor, the government, and any citizen who’s signed up to be on the Diamond community mailing list.”

“You mean…” Hayden’s eyes fill with tears as she realizes what her brothers have given her: closure.

They’ve made sure the man who hurt her pays.

They’ve made sure he gets locked away.

They’ve made sure without a doubt that the evidence against him is strong.

They’ve given her back her life.

“It’s over,” Ezra says. He and Quinn move in unison to Hayden and wrap their arms around her. She starts crying and they both tear up, too, as they hold her in their arms.

How long has this family wanted justice for sweet Hayden? Now that I’ve gotten to know her a little bit, I wonder how anyone could have ever hurt her. How could anyone have captured her, of all people? How could they have looked into her glowing eyes and caused her harm?

Hector deserves to pay for his crimes. He’s hurt many people during his time in Diamond and that time is coming to a close. Soon he’ll be behind bars. Soon he’ll be locked away and no one will be able to touch him.

By making sure the video and audio feeds go to as many people as possible, Ezra and Quinn have ensured Hector won’t walk away. His lawyers won’t be able to explain it away. Not this time. Not when so many people have the evidence.

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