Rebel (33 page)

“I told you to keep your head down and your mouth shut,” Rashe said. “Didn’t I?”

“Yes, but you couldn’t stand the idea of girls in cages, either. So that’s a moot point.” Onca wasn’t surprised when the police report implicated him and Rashe and everyone else involved in the raid at the Den, with the emphasis on prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. “Seems to me that being so nasty about it points suspicion at them.”

The “them” were the two Onca and Jack had fingered as non-Levitians—namely, police chief Ramundo Calista and Brothel Guild director Schumann Temple, both of whom were Terran. They sat on the opposite side of the courtroom and appeared confident that their side would win. Onca longed to slap those smug grins from their faces. Granted, they were only there to provide information pertaining to the brothel licensing system and the poisoning of an inmate, but Anara intended to question them thoroughly.

She had also made sure that Lembic was there, along with several of the girls from the Den. Being too big to fit in the chairs provided, the Darconians were ranged around the room’s perimeter. The Herpatronian Onca had allegedly assaulted fidgeted in his seat, doing his best to appear to be in severe pain—not that Herps ever looked as though they felt
good
.

“Not so bad for you,” Rashe grumbled. “You’re retired. Temple has threatened to revoke my brothel license.”

“Yeah, and I’ll just get thrown back in jail with people who want me dead,” Onca snapped.

Anara had only been given a week to prepare her defense strategy, and granted, this was a preliminary hearing rather than a trial, but the charges against them were piling up. Val had hacked away at the computer files and found a few irregularities, but nothing definitive as yet. He was still working on them, risking contempt charges for missing the hearing. Onca hoped they could get this wrapped up soon, or between the legal fees and the cost of feeding over a hundred hungry mouths, he would be out of money in no time. Going back to work was not an option, whether he could get his brothel license renewed or not.

Kim sat far enough away that he couldn’t pick up her scent. The past week had been nerve racking, but the nights with his mate had been heavenly. She told him repeatedly that he was in the right and that no honest judge could possibly see it any other way. Unfortunately, if Temple and Calista had the judge in their pocket, things could go very wrong very quickly. The plaintiff, he discounted. Somehow he couldn’t imagine that anyone, short of another Herp, would be sympathetic toward such an ugly ape.

Onca had filed attempted rape charges against the Herp, but that was the subject of another hearing—and no one appeared to have arrested
him
.

Anara had insisted that the hearing be open to the public. Thus, the room was crawling with reporters, and most of the people in the gallery were female. Somehow Onca didn’t believe they were there to support the Herp.

Some official or other stood before the court and announced the case. “The Superior Court of Damenk City will now hear the case of
Hunard
v. Onca
, the Honorable Judge Buertha Salaxine presiding.”

Judge Salaxine swept into the courtroom in long gray robes that matched her straight, bobbed hair. Her bearing was imperious, with lips set in a grim line and eyes like black ice. Certainly not a woman susceptible to charm—from a Zetithian or anyone else. Onca had been pleased to discover that the Rhylosian judicial system was more like that found on Earth rather than someplace like, say, Derivia, where they were still doing the battle to the death thing. As a resident of Rhylos, Anara was well-versed in the local court procedures. Still, with a judge like this one…

I’m doomed.

He was momentarily heartened as her unyielding gaze passed over the plaintiff and his compatriots as she took her seat. Unfortunately, he now had to sit quietly while those assholes ripped his character to shreds. Anara had warned him against outbursts protesting his innocence, but it was damn near impossible—especially when Hunard made the comment that Onca had actually
requested
his services prior to the assault.

Anara’s grip on his hand got him past that, but the blatant lies everyone else told only added more fuel to the fire. About the best Onca could say was that, knowing the truth as he did, Temple and Calista couldn’t have demonstrated their guilt any better if they had confessed. When Temple made the point that the girls in the Den were well-paid volunteers who had been deprived of their livelihood because of the raid, Onca nearly exploded with rage.

He heard a low growl behind him—a growl that could only have come from his mate.

Kim. I’ve got to get through this for Kim and our children. Breathe, breathe, breathe…

Finally, it was over.

“Now it’s our turn,” Anara whispered. “We’re gonna knock ’em dead.”

Anara called Kim to the witness stand. She told her story with frequent interruptions by Hunard’s lawyer, a sleazy Terran who kept licking his lips like he wanted to eat her alive. Following Rashe’s testimony, they had a brief break for lunch, and the hearing resumed with the statements made by Cassie, Peska, and three of the other girls from the Den. By the time they finished and it was Onca’s turn to speak, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Several of the reporters were openly weeping.

When Anara asked him to give an account of his involvement, Onca did the best he could to explain the motives for his actions. “I couldn’t rest until I found those girls and freed them. And there are others. One of Miss Shrovenach’s friends—a Levitian named Dalmet—is still missing. We have to find her. I can’t do that if I’m in prison.”

Anara nodded her approval, then faced the judge. “Your Honor, the defense rests.”

Onca sat in a daze during the brief recess, knowing he was in the right, but still not quite believing a reprieve was possible. Not with the chief of police testifying against him. They had just called the courtroom to order when Val flew in and handed Anara a large envelope.

Judge Salaxine returned to the bench. “In the case of
Hunard
v. Onca
, the court finds in favor of the defendant.” With a decisive rap of her gavel, she concluded, “Case dismissed.”

Hunard leaped to his feet. “But he bent my dick and twisted my nuts!”

The judge arched a brow. “My dear fellow, when faced with the threat of rape by another male, what would
you
do? Quietly submit?”

And then she smiled.

Onca’s jaw dropped as she tucked a lock of gray hair behind her ear. A gesture he finally recognized—along with
her
.

His last client.

***

With a shout of triumph, Kim launched herself into Onca’s arms, kissing him for all she was worth. “I knew we’d win!”

Onca returned her kiss with equal ardor. “I’m glad
you
were sure. I thought I was dead a dozen times over.”

“Now comes the fun part.” Anara waved a sheaf of papers. “Hold on while I give these to the judge.”

Kim shook her head as Anara handed over the documents to a beaming Judge Salaxine. “Didn’t think that woman could smile.”

“Me, either,” Onca murmured. “Well, not until the end, anyway.”

As Judge Salaxine sifted through the pages, her smile disappeared. “Bailiff! Would you please detain Chief Calista and Mr. Temple? I have just received some very interesting information.”

“What is it?” Kim asked Anara.

“Val finally hacked into the system,” Anara replied. “Seems that ‘offworld owner’ was actually a front for Calista and Temple. The profits from the Den were transferred from that account into their personal accounts on a monthly basis.”

“Follow the money,” Kim whispered.

Anara nodded. “There’s also a mention of proceeds from three other brothels in the district. I believe we’ll find Dalmet in one of them.”

As the bailiffs escorted the two men from the courtroom, the judge made another request. “Will Miss Shrovenach and Mr. Onca please approach the bench?”

Kim frowned. “Are we in trouble again?”

“Go on,” Anara urged. “She’s not a woman to be kept waiting.”

“I have here another interesting document,” Judge Salaxine said. “One that I would very much like to have the honor of acting upon.”

Kim shot a questioning glance at Onca, who merely shrugged in reply.

The judge held up one of the pages. “This marriage license has your names on it—all perfectly legal and just waiting for someone to make it official. I haven’t performed a marriage ceremony in many years, but I believe I still remember how it goes. Shall I?”

The secretive smile Salaxine aimed at Onca spoke volumes, but Kim thought it best to question him about it later.

Onca grinned. “What about it, Kim? I’m game if you are.”

Jack sauntered up. “I volunteer to be a witness.” She slapped Onca on the back so hard he staggered. “Gotta get this rascal hitched before he gets into any more trouble.”

Kim knew the ceremony didn’t matter. They were already mated. Nothing short of death could separate them now. “I can’t think of anything I’d like better. Yes, Onca. I will marry you.”

The crowd cheered as Rashe held up a hand. “Can I be best man?”

Onca scratched his head. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t Kim and I supposed to choose?”

“Well, yeah,” Rashe admitted. “Figured if I didn’t hurry up, Wings would get the gig.”

Kim still didn’t understand where the license had come from. “How did you—?”

Anara smiled. “Like I said, I believe in being prepared.”

Judge Salaxine began the ceremony, one that Kim had never heard before. She gave the correct responses when prompted, and in a few short minutes, she was in Onca’s arms for the best kiss of all.

The kiss that meant they would be together forever.

“Congratulations to you both,” Salaxine said before sifting through more of the pages. “Ah, yes, and we have another one here…requesting that the surname Shrovenach be added to Onca’s legal name. I can approve that one, as well.”

“Okay. This is
really
freaking me out now,” Kim murmured to her new husband. “How the hell would anyone know we talked about that?” She glanced at Anara. “Is she a witch?”

“No,” Anara said—although her fiendish expression seemed to contradict that assertion. “But I
am
observant. I caught him practicing his signature a few days ago.”

Onca threw up his hands in protest. “I was just trying it out. You know, to see what it would be like to have two names.”

Kim grinned. “How did it feel?”

“Fabulous.”

***

Kim gave Onca a kiss that melted his bones, closely followed by a hug that stole what was left of his breath.

“So, what do we do now?” she asked.

Onca shrugged. “You got me by the short hairs—for real, now that I think of it. I dunno, live happily ever after?”

“I doubt we’ll always be happy,” Kim said. “Shit happens, you know.”

Onca certainly couldn’t argue with that. “Yeah, like rescuing damsels in distress and getting shot at by Racks.” Then again, perhaps they had already faced the worst that life intended to throw at them. “I’m hoping for smooth sailing from here on out.”

“I wish we knew where Dalmet was,” Kim said. “This won’t be over until we find her.”

“I know where she is,” Val said. “At least, I know where those other brothels are. I’ll fly over and get her.”

Onca snorted a laugh. “Yeah, right, Wings. Like she’s gonna trust
you
. Those eyes of yours will probably freak her out.”

“Maybe I should go with you,” Kim suggested. “We need to get all those girls to the Palace as soon as possible.”

“Good idea,” Jatki said. “How about if I go with Val?” She winked at Kim. “I’m sure you’d rather stay here with Onca.”

“I know what
I’m
gonna do,” Jack declared. “I’m going back to that Markelian deli—you know, the one next to where we ditched the ambulance? Never ate any Markelian food before, but I want to try it.”

Onca never had, either. “Sounds good.”

“Maybe we should invite the judge,” Roncas said. “She’s probably hungry after such a long day.”

He glanced at Salaxine, who was still sorting through the pages Anara had given her. “Nah, she’s busy. I’ll, um, send her a thank you note when we get home.”

Roncas blinked, her blue eyes blending nicely with her Val-enhanced purple skin. “You know…she seems kinda familiar.”

Onca shrugged. “Seen one judge, you’ve seen them all.” He arched a brow. “Spent much time in courtrooms, Roncas?”

“No,” the Zuteran replied. “Maybe I’ve seen her at the market or something.”

“Do judges
really
do their own shopping?” Kim asked. “Seems like she’d have a droid or someone to do it for her.”

“Maybe,” Onca said. “But there are some things you have to do for yourself.”

“That’s it!” Roncas exclaimed. “I’ve seen her at the—”

“Doesn’t matter now, does it?” Taking Kim by the hand, Onca headed toward the exit. “I hear the Markelians make a great sandwich. Slow-roasted meat, aged cheese, fresh bread—that sort of thing—and they have this secret sauce that makes your hair grow really fast.”

Kim ran a hand through her short curls. “Cool. My hair needs all the help it can get to catch up with yours.”

“No worries.” He pulled her into his arms for a kiss that left behind a lingering sweetness, a flavor he knew he would never grow tired of. “You’ve got the rest of your life for that.” If he was lucky, he would be there for all of it—every single joyous moment.

She tapped his nose with a gentle fingertip. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

Onca’s vision altered slightly, revealing an older version of Kim surrounded by laughing children—her own along with dozens of others of every species imaginable. Clearly the gods had a happy life in store for her—and him.

“Lead on.”

***

By the time they had all finished dinner, word came that the police, led by Officer Lembic, had raided the three brothels implicated in the records Val had discovered. True to his word, Val brought Dalmet and Jatki back, although he had to make two trips.