“Oh look, darling, it’s your brother-in-law.”

  Brandt would paddle her ass later on for that amusement in her voice.

  Perry stood in a knot of men at the far end of the room, one of them Giles Stander. Stander had turned to lock his gaze on Sera, who’d begun to laugh and chat with Rina, one of the concubines she’d been out with earlier that day.

  “Quite the coup! I’d wager eight of the women in this room will have a dress just like yours within several days.” Rina smiled at Brandt and Ash. “Welcome to my home. Tifrit is over there somewhere.” She waved in the other direction. “Please, do be at ease. I’m going to spirit away your woman if you don’t mind.”

  “I’d like to hold onto her for a while.” Brandt put an arm around Sera’s waist. “She’s too beautiful to just let her wander off.” He knew he should let her go but he felt oddly possessive of her, protective. In any case, he’d be getting close to Stander and she should be with them.

  “Ah, of course. I can’t blame you. I wish Tifrit looked at me the way you two look at Sela.” Rina winked at Sera. “You come find me when these boys tire of you and we’ll gossip some, all right?”

  Rina wandered off, waving and greeting some others who’d just entered and Brandt steered in the direction of that group in the corner.

  “Brandt, Ash, greetings!” Perry said in a too loud, too drunk voice. He bowed, his hungry eyes roving all over Sera’s body. Brandt paused a moment. Not Sera’s body. Ash’s body. But then his gaze returned to Sera, quite happy to look at her breasts. “And Sela, am I correct? When you get tired of these two, you know where to find me.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” She’d rolled into full Sela mode. Her eyes half-lidded, her voice down an octave. A throaty purr that hardened his cock. Even her movement had changed. She turned to Ash. “Darling, would you like a drink?”

  Ash collared her throat and Brandt, standing to the side, saw her nipples stab through the front of her dress. Leaning in, Ash captured her lips slowly, surely and aggressively. Sera allowed it, reveled in it. Sela used it to spill her sensuality outward, catching Giles Stander in her web.

  “I’d love one. You know what I need.” Ash’s voice was thick with emotion and Brandt had to stifle his desire to push her flat and shove his cock down her throat.

  She turned, a smile at the corner of her lips. “Brandt? You? Can I do anything for you?”

  He grabbed the rope of her hair and pulled her close, taking advantage of her gasp to sweep is tongue inside to taste her. “You have,” he said as he broke the kiss. “You did just half an hour ago. But I’m always happy to have you do anything for me again.”

  She laughed. A real laugh, straight to her eyes. “Oh darling, you make me all gooey in all the right places. I’ll be back with drinks.”

  He turned as one with Ash and they didn’t have to fake being entranced by the movement of her ass as she walked away on those very high heels.

  “Well now! I’d been wondering why any man would share a woman when he had enough money to have his own but now I see the way of it.”

  Brandt turned, proud of himself for not leveling the man with a fist to the temple.

  “Giles Stander. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is Owen Alder, he’s a friend visiting from the Edge.”

  Brandt and Ash shook hands and nodded. The Edge was undefined Universe, where neither Imperialist nor Federation held sway. When in reality it was far more likely the Imperialists were running illegal activity through to destabilize Federation rule. And Owen Alder was a shadowy figure, with ties to criminals and the weapons runners who made the Edge their private playground—especially those who trafficked in explosives. The situation got more interesting by the moment.

  “Lots of credits to be made out my way, gentlemen. Just ask your cousin.” Owen’s beady eyes gleamed as he spoke. “Speaking of money, your woman, she’s quite interesting. I’d be willing to pay quite a nice sum for her.”

  “Easy,” Sera whispered through the link as she approached.

  “Sela isn’t for sale. There are whores, should you desire one.” Ash crossed his arms over his chest and Sera approached.

  “He’s lucky I don’t knock his teeth out for that,” Ash said through the link.

  “Hello darlings, did you miss me?” Sera handed them their drinks.

  Brandt took the drink she’d procured and kissed her fingertips. Ash did the same.

  “Of course we missed you.” Ash moved closer on one side and Brandt did on the other.

  “By the way, Ash, I think I’m wasted on Perry. It’s you he seems to be salivating over. Not that I blame him.” Sera’s mouth curved up.

  “Ah but he’s taken, isn’t he, sweet?” Brandt teased back, winking at Ash.

  “I see Delia and Rina just over there, I’m going to go say hello so you can keep up the man talk, shall I?” Sera cocked her head and leaned into Ash a moment.

  “Oh no, please stay. You liven our lowly circle.” Owen beamed at her in what was supposed to be a paternal manner but it made Brandt’s skin crawl.

  “Oh now, you!” Sela waved at him and laughed. “What were you all discussing then? Did you see this lovely bracelet my boys gave to me earlier today? It’s the little, very shiny things that make a girl happy.” She slid back her sleeve, slowly. The movement was seemingly innocent but filled with an inherent sensuality.

  “The Walkers have been doing very well lately.” Perry puffed out his chest and Sera touched his arm with a smile.

  “How you all manage to be such smart men with all these ‘Verses to deal with and the Imperialists just a few slips away is so very impressive! I can’t believe you aren’t worried!” She’d widened her eyes at that point and Brandt noticed the way the others scrambled around to appear more impressive to her. Her artful question designed to pull information from Perry impressed Brandt.

  “Nothing to be afraid of. The Imperialists want to make credits just like we do. Politics is a silly waste of time you know.” Stander insinuated himself closer to her, his eyes directly on her breasts.

  “Do you really think it’s that simple?” she asked, voice breathy, her eyes wide with sincerity. Brandt wanted to laugh but the act clearly worked on the men in their group.

  “If the Federation simply let us make our profits without interfering, the Known Universes would be far safer. Especially for our credits.” Stander laughed suggestively and moved a bit closer to Sera.

  “Ugh. How can she stand to let this pig touch her? Delia must use some kind of mind-altering substance.”

  Brandt smiled and reached out to touch her hair. Stander caught the movement and stood back a bit.

  “I can’t complain about the lovely baubles coming my way.” She laughed, deep and throaty and Brandt shivered. Ash caught his eye and Brandt knew his friend was as affected by her as he was.

  But they had a job to do.

  “Sela, sweet, I’d love a bite of something.” Brandt ran his fingers down her jaw.

  “Of course, darling. I’ll get you a plate right now.” She turned to Ash, who played with the end of her braid. “Are you hungry?”

  “Yes.” He paused and Brandt’s cock hardened at the sexual tension between Ash and Sera. “And I’d be grateful if you’d prepare me something to eat as well.”

  She kissed him quickly. “You’re a very naughty boy. One of my very favorite qualities. You two behave yourselves.” She winked at the other men. “And you too. Stay out of trouble.”

  It got quiet as she sauntered away toward where the banquet tables lay at the other end of the room.

  “She’s quite something. I suppose the rest of us will simply wait impatiently until you tire of her.” Stander sent them an oily smile and Ash wanted to shoot him.

  “She is. And we won’t. Tire of her that is. And in truth? I think she might be a bit more than most men could handle. It’s why she needs two of us.”

  Brandt laughed and changed the subject. “But as far as sharing business with you? Well that’s another matter entirely.”

  Stander’s eyes lit. “Ah yes. Perry can talk with you on that as well. We have friends in all sorts of places who like to hear things, things you might come across here and there.”

  Ash’s stomach clenched a moment but he kept his expression bland.

  “Although perhaps we should move into this back hallway.” Tifrit, the Nondalese who owned the house and the party’s host indicated with his chin.

  “Probably a space with less surveillance. Sera, hold off for a while. Speak with the women and see what you can find that way.” Once Ash had sent that to Sera, they took their drinks and followed the others.

  “So do share this new Walker economic plan, Perry.” Ash leaned against a wall and watched his cousin.

  “Your woman is wearing the benefits, Ash so don’t take that tone with me.” Perry was a sloppy drunk. Weak. Perfect for Kira he supposed.

  “No tone, Perry. But as my credits are involved here, I admit to having concerns and being curious.” Ash shrugged.

  “Calm down, Perry. No one is picking a fight but you.” Stander turned to Ash. “There’s more to the Known Universes than our part of it. Credits to be made, information exchanges to be had. Profit changes hands much more easily when politics isn’t in the way,” Stander interjected.

  “Information? Like what?” Ash sipped his drink.

  “There’s information and then information. Our friends need a helping hand to get a toe-hold on this side of the Edge.” Stander smirked and Ash wanted to know what Owen Alder had to say about the whole thing. Stander was a pompous braggart but it was fairly clear Alder had more power in this little group.

  “Forgive my saying so, Giles, but what is your expertise here?” Brandt asked.

  “I know how to spend credits. I know many other people who do as well. And I know the people who help me spend them.” Giles looked smug but Ash had no idea what the blasted man meant.

  “Yes, Giles, your expertise is racking up great deals of debt and having people hold it over you so you get leveraged into a corner. Don’t forget to mention the people you owe the credits to.” Perry sneered and Ash thought there was more to the spat than simple intoxication. Perry sounded jealous.

  “Gentlemen, gentlemen!” Owen stepped in between the men and Ash realized his good-natured façade had fallen away. Owen wasn’t the fool he tried to portray himself as.

  “You’re just jealous, Perry. I’ve got the women and I’ve got the deals. Without my connections, you’d have nothing.” Giles pushed Perry’s shoulder. Brandt and Ash took a step back. Ash wouldn’t lift a finger to protect either drunken fool.

  “If you call those men who hound your every step and threaten to kill you if you don’t pay your chits from the tables, connections I suppose you’re right. Face it, Giles, you’re only part of this because they can use you.” Perry shoved him back.

  Owen’s mouth flattened into a tight line. “That’s enough.”

  “I agree. This is my home and there’s no call for this sort of behavior among civilized people.” Tifrit sniffed indignantly as if working with the enemy was civilized.

  “No one uses me! I have useful information. And some people want more than they’ll ever have.” Stander glared at Perry and Ash knew where the jealousy lay. He’d seen desire on the face of many people, but Perry didn’t just want power, he wanted Giles.

  But Stander said nothing else as Owen and Tifrit grabbed him and harshly told him to be quiet.

  People had turned to look and Owen shook his head at the others. “You’ve attracted attention, Giles. That’s not healthy.”

  “If you’ll excuse us, we’re off in search of Sela and a bite to eat. If and when a serious discussion about business happens, please contact me.” Ash drained his glass and placed it on a nearby table before walking away with Brandt. He knew they’d come to the end of any useful discussion at that point. But in the short time they’d been at the party, they’d discovered quite a bit of information and it most certainly looked like Stander and Owen Alder were very strong suspects. Unfortunately, Perry looked guilty as well.

  Sera was relieved not to have to deal with Giles Stander or his friends. Even the company of Delia and Rina was preferable.

  “Hello there!” Rina waved at her as she approached. “Boy talk get boring?”

  “Did Giles get tired of looking at your breasts?” Delia asked with a smile. “He’s rather tedious that way. One track mind. Three pump fucking. It’s a good thing he’s got money.”

  “I’m sure he must have some redeeming qualities.” Sera nibbled on a tasty bit of cheese but doubted it.

  “He’s unhealthy so he’ll probably die young. He can only get hard with enhancers so the other concubines are bored. He’ll most likely wean down to me and one mistress. That’s redeeming.” Delia rolled her eyes. “For a while it looked like none of us would be around for very long. He not only has a problem resisting the tables, he loses at them and attracts the attention of the wrong sort.”

  “Wrong sort? That sounds frightening. Oh what’s that little dainty there?” Sera pretended to be interested in a tiny cake and not in working Delia for intel on her lover.

  “I’ve eaten twelve of them already and my legs will show it if I’m not careful. Yes, it was just me, the mistress and his idiot of a wife and suddenly he’s rolling in money. Perry and the she-demon are part of his circle and now he’s got more women than he can satisfy. But I don’t care because my wardrobe is far nicer than before he started going on his little trips out here and to the Edge.” Delia’s smooth exterior had rubbed off a bit. A calculating woman lived inside and Sera needed to tread carefully.

  “Trips are nice. Shops in other ‘Verses. New things. Shiny things.” Sera laughed and showed off her new bracelet.

  “Most of the time he doesn’t take any of us but he does toss credits my way when he returns.”

  “I’ve never been to the Edge. It seems awfully lawless and scary out there. Whatever could any man be up to?” Sera really did enjoy the savory bit she snacked on, even if her stomach hadn’t dropped at the news that Giles traveled to the Edge.

  “It is lawless, Sela. Silly, why else would he go out there? No prying Federation eyes.” Delia shrugged. “It’s him and…” her sentence trailed off as the shouting from the hallway echoed out to where they stood. “Perry has been drinking again. Fool. And Giles is bragging no doubt. Since the two of them are joined at the hip I imagine I’ll end up sucking Perry’s cock while he pretends I’m Giles. And Giles will pretend he doesn’t know what Perry is thinking.” Muttering, Delia headed toward the noise and Rina snickered.

  “Well now, that was unexpected,” Sera said dryly as she watched Delia leave.

  “Perry’s interest in men is pretty well known with our set.” Rina shrugged and leaned in close. “He’s in over his head. They all are. No one can deal past the Edge and end up alive. If you were a smart woman, and I think you are, you’d get your men away from this crowd.”

  “What do you mean?” Alarm raced through her at the thought of losing either one of them. And at the risk Rina had just taken by admitting they’d been dealing with the enemy.

  “I can’t say more.” Rina closed off and began to chatter about her new furniture and Sera wanted to sing for joy when she caught sight of Ash and Brandt moving toward her.

  “If you’ll excuse me, Rina. Thank you for your words of caution and for your lovely hospitality. I’ll be off with my boys. Hopefully to be ravaged well and truly.”

  Rina kissed both her cheeks, blew kisses at Brandt and Ash and her men each held out an arm for her to take.

  “I do believe I told you two to behave yourselves,” Sera said in a purr as they moved toward the door.

  “This time it wasn’t my fault, Freka. Some men need to watch their liquor.” Ash said without humor but he did lace the words with condescension.

  Owen caught up with them before they reached the doorway. “Ash, Brandt, I do apologize for that regrettable exchange back there. I wanted to invite you to brunch tomorrow. The Nondalese have a lovely gaming hub just south of here. It’s an annex to Nondal Major. Perhaps you’d join us for the afternoon? We could speak of business without shouting and your lovely lady here could do some shopping with the others?”

  “In other words, keep her back here because the wives are on this trip.” Sera thought if she could grind her teeth mentally, she would.

  “Of course. That would be amenable,” Ash said smoothly. Like he shunted her off to the side to hang out with more suitable companions on a regular basis. It was one thing to know they needed to get next to these traitors to discover what was going on, but it was another to experience it. Kira would be there basking in the attention while Sera stayed back with the other women—women they fucked but never took to places official women were invited. It was a stupid system.

  “We’ll send someone for you both tomorrow then. It was a delight to meet you, Sela.” He took her hand and bowed over it, kissing it with his papery lips.

  “And you as well, Owen. I hope we’ll have a chance to visit again before we leave Nondal.” She smiled even though she wanted to wipe her hand on Ash’s shirt.

  One of the younger men who’d flirted with her and tested her availability saw she was leaving and rushed over. “Are you leaving then, Sela? The evening would be so much sweeter for your presence.” He looked to Brandt and Ash briefly. “Why do you take this beauty from our presence?” She wanted to laugh at how silly he was in comparison to her men.

  “Ash Walker, Brandt Pela, this is Decker Wilhelm.”

  “We’re taking this beauty home to bed. You wouldn’t know what to do with her, pup.” Brandt nearly growled. He was jealous. Interesting.

  Ash just sized the other man up without a word and they moved her outside. “Good evening, Decker!” she called over her shoulder as they continued to walk her away from the house and into the cool evening air.

  Brandt wanted to hit something. He’d had quite enough for one day. Traitors, assholes, double dealing, and men slavering over his woman right and left. Jealousy coursed through him and it wasn’t a pleasant sensation. Nor one he was accustomed to.