Jo's Journey (12 page)

“
I’ll carry Jo,” a soft voice came forward.

Tami looked up into Tony
’s concerned eyes. “Thank you, Tony.”

“
Let’s move out,” Walter said, pulling a small pistol from his waist.

Jade touched the ringmaster on his shoulder.
“If you see any of those ugly lizard-looking bastards with tails, aim for their head,” she said quietly. “I’ll stay to help secure this level.”

Walter nodded sharply.
“Let’s go, people! Time is running down.”

Katarina, Jade, and the remaining warrior watched as the misfit group of circus warriors headed down the corridor. Never had there been a stranger cast of characters so determined to succeed. Jade felt her lips curve up in a wry smile as she thought they didn
’t teach her about this shit in the academy.

“
Do you think they will make it?” Jade asked out loud, not really expecting an answer.

Katarina turned with an arrogant tilt to her head.
“Of course, they will succeed. We are the Cirque de Magik. We do not fail,” she said before calling out to her pets.

Jade watched as the tall Siberian walked away, the large cats trotting beside her. The doors closed behind her. She turned to look at the warrior who was staring at her with a question in his eyes.

“Well hell, I can’t expect you to guard the damn door all by yourself, now can I?” Jade muttered as she bent over to pick up some of the weapons from the dead pirates.

The warrior just shook his head. These had to be the strangest species he had ever encountered. His thoughts were interrupted as three pirates emerged from the end of the left corridor.

“Stay behind me,” he growled out before he realized he was talking to the back of the female as she yelled out a loud war cry as she swept past him, charging the surprised pirates.

Jo drifted back from the dark, swirling waters of unconsciousness in slow waves. Rising closer to awareness before sinking back down. The last wave felt like it had slammed her against an immovable cliff.

It
is a good thing I don’t suffer from seasickness or I would be tossing my cookies right about now,
she thought vaguely right before she did lose them.

She had to admit a few minutes later, she felt much better once she was done. She just hoped she didn
’t totally disgrace herself in front of half the circus, or… Manota. She struggled on the next rise of the waves, forcing her eyes to open.

A low moan escaped her as she stared into the amused dark brown eyes of Tony.
“Please…,” she started to say. She swallowed and licked her lips before trying again. “Please tell me I didn’t just puke all over you,” she croaked out.

Tony
’s lips curved into a huge grin. “Naw, you didn’t.”

“
Thank God,” Jo whispered and closed her eyes briefly.

“
You puked all over He-man,” Tony said with an amused laugh. “Caught him right in the center of his chest. Made it all the way down the front, too.”

Jo
’s eyes popped open at his words. “Oh God!” She groaned in mortification.

“
I thought it was pretty cool,” Tony chuckled before he grew serious. “He hasn’t let me near you in almost three days. I’m glad you did it. Otherwise, I’d still be waiting in the hallway.”

Jo
’s eyes softened as she saw the worry in his. She had thought he had outgrown the crush he had on her. From the dark shadows under his eyes and the lines of strain around his mouth, it was obvious that he hid his feelings behind the jokes and teasing.

“
Tony,” she started to whisper, stopping as he touched her lips.

“
I know,” he replied quietly. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t still dream. You scared the hell out of all of us. I just wanted to make sure you were really going to be alright. Shavic has been giving us all updates but when you didn’t wake, well, let’s just say it was scary.”

“
What happened?” Jo asked turning her head as she gazed around the medical unit. “The pirates?”

“
Are dead,” Manota’s deep voice replied from behind Tony.

Tony grimaced and let go of the slender hand he had been holding. He rose and turned slowly to face the huge warrior who had threatened him at least two dozen times with about sixty different ways he was going to die if he didn
’t stay away from Jo.

“
I was just…” Tony began, edging around the bed.

He stopped in surprise when he felt the same slender fingers he had been holding just seconds before curl around his. He looked down and saw the sweet smile of the girl he had dreamed about every night since he was seventeen. She looked at him with such sadness, it tore at his heart. He gave her a crooked smile.

“Thank you,” Manota interrupted the human male who was staring at his mate with an expression that spoke of his love for her. “Thank you for helping to save my mate.”

Tony looked at Manota with a quiet resolve. The look conveyed his acceptance that Jo would never love him the way she loved Manota. A part of his heart felt like it would break while another part couldn
’t deny the woman of his fantasy her happiness.

“
It was my pleasure,” Tony replied softly as he pulled his hand free from Jo’s and walked toward the door. He paused at the entrance, his shoulders stiff. “Just do me a favor,” he said without turning around.

“
Anything,” Manota replied staring at the stiff back.

Tony
’s lips curved up into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Keep her safe and make her happy,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the huge warrior.

“
I promise,” Manota vowed.

Tony lowered his eyes to Jo
’s one last time. “I love you, circus girl,” he said quietly, referring to the nickname he used to call her when he first met her. “If you ever need anything, I’ll be there.”

“
I know,” Jo said, fighting the tears that threatened to choke her. “I love you too, elephant man.”

Jo
’s eyes widened as she fought the tears but it was no use. The more she tried to stop them, the more determined they seemed that they would fall. Manota gathered her in his arms, holding her tightly against his chest as she cried at having broken the heart of such a good man.

It took a few minutes for her to realize that the arms holding her trembled violently. A warm dampness coated the skin of her neck. She held tight as Manota
’s body shook silently as he released his own pent-up emotions.

“
Shush,” she whispered. “I won’t let you fall. I’ll catch you. I’ll always catch you,” she murmured softly against his ear as he pressed desperate little kisses against her neck.

“
I almost didn’t catch you in time,” he admitted in a harsh, choked voice. “I… almost didn’t catch you,
mi t’belle
.”

“
But you did,” she responded soothingly. “You caught me just like you said you would.”

Manota
’s huge body shuddered as he pulled her completely into his arms and sank into the chair where he had spent every free moment over the last three days in. He just held her tightly against him until he felt he had regained control of his emotions. He understood now how his brothers had felt when their mates had almost perished.

“
Tell me what I missed,” she requested as he finally pulled back. She rested her head against his chest, enjoying the feel of him. “I’m sorry I puked all over you,” she added sheepishly.

Manota
’s chest rumbled as he chuckled softly. “Shavic warned me you would more than likely be sick as the last of the poison worked its way out of your system. I didn’t care.”

She pulled back enough to frown up at him.
“Poison?” She asked confused. “When did I get poisoned?”

“
The red-skinned pirate you fought is a species called a Killian. They are renown for using poison on the tips of their blades. The poison is slow moving, spreading throughout the body over a thirty minute time frame. It uses a nanotechnology. After thirty minutes it basically detonates all at once. If not caught in time, the antidote will not work as the poison has spread too far. You came very close to not making it,” Manota explained grimly.

“
What happened after I passed out?” She asked quietly.

Manota pulled her head back against his chest. He needed to feel her warmth against him. Running his hands over her arms and back in soothing strokes, he rested his chin on the top of her head.

“Kev was able to get the weapons back online,” he explained. “Soon after we had the engines back as well. K’tar was able to take out two of the three pirate ships. The crew were able to blow all the hatches with the transports except one. Ten pirates were able to escape. All the rest were killed,” he said.

“
Why would pirates attack a Kassisan warship?” Jo asked, relaxing back against his warmth. “Surely they realized that it would be a suicide mission?”

Manota brushed his lips against her hair.
“Tai Tek sent them. He told them we had a large shipment of crystals worth a lot of credits.”

Jo jerked up to look into his eyes in anger.
“I am really getting tired of that bastard,” she growled out in a low voice. “He has almost killed all three of us girls and I’m sick and tired of it.”

Manota couldn
’t contain the chuckle at her fierce scowl even as a shiver coursed through his body at the truth in her words. He was also finished with Tai Tek. The bastard had nowhere else to go now. He had spent every free minute over the last three days going over the star maps and other information he and his men had discovered and had shut down every possible hiding place the bastard could go. On top of that, Tai Tek had made another dangerous enemy - Ristéard Roald, the Grand Ruler of Elpidios. That was one man that not even Manota wanted to go up against. He had heard Roald was a cold hearted bastard on a good day. Tai Tek had approached the ruler with promises that were not his to keep and lies that threatened to bring war between their worlds. While Kassis might be superior in technology, the Elpidios’ leader was known to fight with the cold-blooded ferociousness that had chilled the blood of any who had challenged him. Little was known about the Elpidios except they were a fierce warrior race, both the men and the women who were crafty, intelligent foes. Fortunately, his father and brothers were able to meet with Roald and had made a pact with the ruler.

“
Tai Tek’s time is running out,” Manota promised softly. “He has no more hidden reserves of credits, no place to hide, and no funds to hire men to protect him. He has also made an additional enemy who will not stop until he is dead.”

Jo wrapped her arms around his waist and held on to him as if she was afraid to let him go. In some ways, she was. She had been so scared when they were being attacked that something might happen to him. She buried her face in his chest and breathed deeply to calm her racing heart.

“A trapped animal is the most dangerous,” she murmured.

“
Only if he can escape from the trap that was set for him,” Manota responded quietly. “I am preparing a trap that he will not be able to resist walking into.”

“
How do you know?” She asked. “How do you know he won’t be able to resist it?”

Manota
’s stomach tightened but he realized he had no choice but to believe what his father had said to him, to all of them, that these three females were the prophesied warriors who would save the Houses of Kassis. He knew his brothers would rebel against what he planned but he knew it was the only way to finally end Tai Tek’s attacks on them.

“
He will not be able to resist the Ceremony of Zephren, The God of War, for my people this year. During the ceremony, the three prophesied warriors from another world will be introduced,” he answered her in a toneless voice.

Jo froze as she realized what he meant.
“You are going to use us as bait,” she said leaning back to stare up at him in shock.

Manota hid the shudder of distaste and gave her a jerky nod.
“Yes,” he responded tersely. “It is the only way I could think of that would draw him out.”

Jo snapped her mouth close and chuckled.
“I love it! I know you guys will protect us and there are enough pissed off people to catch the slimy little bastard once and for all! The crew is great at setting up a stage. Marcus can do that captured in a glass without the glass,” Jo said as she began to run through all the things they could do. “Mattie’s dogs are the best there are at sniffing out explosives. Stan can monitor all the communications and video feeds along with K’tar.”

“
Wait a minute,” Manota said shocked. “You are not mad at me for wanting to use you as bait? My brothers are going to want to kill me.”

Jo grinned and shook her head.
“Hell no! This is a great idea. The crew is great at creating distractions and monitoring things. They can help your men! Oh my God! We are so going to nail that bastard’s ass to the wall!” She said excitedly. “I’ve got to talk to Ricki and Walter. Mom and Dad can help too. They can do all the high wire stuff.”

Manota listened as Jo talked about all the different things they could do to set the most perfect trap in the entire star systems to catch the nasty-ass roach as she began calling Tai Tek. He actually began to feel excited as he listened too many of her suggestions. He found himself asking questions and his mind swirled with plans.

Shavic came into the room and shook his head as he saw his patient, who hours before had been close to death, talking and laughing excitedly with her mate. He stood in the doorway and watched, envy burning a hole through his soul as he wondered if there would ever be someone as special as the human females he had met so far for him. He turned to give them privacy as he went in search of Kev and K’tar who were still trying to catch the two females they had claimed. He paused long enough to stop by his living quarters to pick up the bottle of aged scotch that Bombing Bill had given him when he showed him some of their weapons systems. He had a feeling it wasn’t going to be enough to ease the ache the three of them were feeling but it would be a start.