Return to Duty Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Legal Page

  Book Description

  Dedication

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

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  About the Author

  RETURN TO DUTY

  ELIZABETH HOLLOWS

  Return to Duty

  ISBN # 978-1-83943-052-7

  ©Copyright Elizabeth Hollow 2020

  Cover Art by Louisa Maggio ©Copyright July 2020

  Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

  Pride Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2020 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

  Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

  If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book”.

  Jay never thought attraction would get him into so much trouble. First an explosion, now a spy agency. This man had better be worth it.

  Jay is a thief with a past he’s trying to forget. He just wants to relax, have fun and flirt with attractive men. He has spent the last few weeks on his favorite moon doing just that with the handsome waiter who works at the local diner. Bryce has shown clear interest in him but has suddenly changed his tune. Jay wants to know why.

  He doesn’t expect that his persistence will find him witnessing a kidnapping and escaping the burning diner before it explodes.

  Fleeing the moon to avoid being killed wasn’t in Jay’s plan. Neither was being caught by a spy agency and thrown in a cell. Things are going from bad to worse and Jay is soon forced to face his past to protect his future.

  And to place the cherry on the cake, he finally finds out why Bryce stopped flirting with him.

  As if he needed any more surprises.

  Dedication

  To the friends and family who are always excited to hear about my latest story. You’ve waited a while for this one, but I hope you like it.

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmark mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Jeep: FCA US LLC

  Chapter One

  Jaybird was an outlaw. His mugshot showed a wink and a smirk, and he was never seen without his beat-up old hat. Jay found his way out of trouble with charm and flirtation. He was a nuisance, not a thug. He lounged lazily at bars and chatted up any pretty person who walked by. Jay stole treasures as often as he stole hearts, and while he’d traveled through much of the galaxy, it was the moons of Asam that he enjoyed the most.

  Asam’s moons were known for many things. They were the last place in the universe where a person could get a good martini, the best place in the galaxy to end up in a brawl and the one place in the quadrant that ignored universal laws. A rich Qui named Hezon Taziv owned the moons. He applied his own rules and it allowed the rocks to be neutral territory. It was the perfect place for Jay to relax after a successful heist.

  He’d been spending his time on the moon Vicente these last few weeks. It had a nice diner that employed a handsome waiter who Jay was attempting to get to know better. The waiter’s name was Bryce, and he was as confusing as he was attractive. He’d flirted with Jay for almost three weeks, leaning against the counter, bantering playfully. Bryce would push them just shy of a kiss but Jay had been waiting for him to give in. Yet, a week ago, he’d stopped all conversation. It had taken a day for Bryce to go from nearly falling into Jay’s lap to ignoring his existence. It made little sense. Jay rarely met someone who puzzled him. People were typically cut-and-dried, with obvious motivations and desires. Bryce wasn’t so simple, and Jay wanted to work the man out. No one had intrigued him like that for a long time.

  Jay normally hopped between planets, indulging in attractive bodies while letting his latest arrest warrant lose its heat. He never stuck around. He never formed attachments. Adventure, lust and curiosity were his main motivators. People weren’t meant to factor into his decisions, yet Bryce had stolen his attention. He’d never said no, and he’d never told Jay to back off. He’d just changed without a word.

  Jay couldn’t leave Vicente without discovering the reason why.

  If they were somewhere else, he might have believed Bryce had learned he was a thief and had been repulsed—but Bryce lived and worked on Vicente. Asam’s moons were overflowing with opportunistic criminals. Bryce would have known what he was the first time Jay had walked into the diner. He’d never hidden it. Jay took pride in his roguish appearance. A lot of people wanted to bed a ‘bad boy’, and Jay was happy to fulfil their desires.

  He’d thought Bryce was the same, given the way he’d flirted. Bryce seemed to want someone to shake him out of the working-class haze, maybe to get him a little dirty. The waiter was always pristine, with no hairs out of place. His uniform was a form-fitting sky blue that matched his eyes, and he wore a white apron that was always belted around his waist. Bryce had soft, almost feminine features that were highlighted by short, wavy black hair falling to just below his ears. He looked deceptively delicate, but Jay suspected that was a lie. Bryce wanted someone to take him on a wild ride that would leave him gasping.

  He’d offered to take Bryce home the first night and give him exactly what he craved. Bryce had grinned and looked interested but had declined with a shake of his head. Jay hadn’t been discouraged. The challenge of the chase kept Jay coming back.

  The second night, Bryce had given back as many innuendos as Jay had offered and flirted with a competitive glint in his eyes. Jay had even invited Bryce back to his ship. The waiter had apologetically said no.

  The pattern had never changed as the weeks had passed.

  At first, Bryce had been too delectable to leave unravished, but soon, Jay looked forward to each evening. Bryce’s personality was full of fire and his body was obviously gorgeous underneath that uniform. Jay had been certain it was only a matter of time until he would pin the waiter to the sheets.

  But then everything had changed and Jay was still trying to get his bearings.

  He’d been in the diner every night for the last week, but Bryce continued to ignore him. He’d stayed three
hours on this occasion, and it was almost time for the restaurant to close. If Bryce was expecting him to leave along with everyone else, he was mistaken. There was nowhere Jay had to be. He could stay at the diner until morning.

  Sprawled in a booth with his back to the wall, Jay’s ankles were crossed and he rested them on top of the table’s edge. There were a dozen other diners tonight—weary workmen from Asam, a few small-time thieves, the usual. Most of the waiters were chatting and leaning against the bar, but not Bryce. He moved around the diner with purpose and awareness—dropping nothing, cleaning counters and never forgetting an order. He cut an impressive figure as he weaved between the tables. Bryce’s gaze flicked around the room, shining with an intelligence rarely seen in backwater diners. It was one more curious part of him.

  Why does he work here when he could do so much better?

  Jay watched it all from beneath the brim of his hat. He’d clasped his hands loosely and they rested over the buckle of his belt. He was pretending to be asleep and most of the employees believed it, but the sharp looks Bryce had been shooting him for the past hour showed exasperation. Jay had nearly smiled twice and given himself away.

  The diner was slow to clear, but Jay was patient. When it was empty, Bryce would come over to rouse him and he would have the waiter’s full attention. He might be able to get an answer out of the guy.

  Jay was devising the best way to entice Bryce into a conversation. A compliment? A flirtation? An upfront question to ask what the hell had changed his mind?

  A hard whack to his feet jolted Jay from his thoughts and caused his legs to tumble off the table and hit the cushioning of the booth. Jay jerked into a seated position. He pushed his hat back up on his head so he could look at the person who’d hit him. Bryce held a serving tray in his hand and looked unimpressed. The waiter had snuck up on him.

  How did he do that?

  Jay tried to recover his composure and charm.

  “It’s rude to wake the sleeping,” he said.

  “It’s rude to sleep in a diner,” Bryce answered. “And you weren’t sleeping.”

  “Are you sure you know me well enough to tell the difference?” he asked, layering his words with flirtation.

  The man didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he tapped his fingers against the tray.

  “The diner is closed.” Bryce made a gesture toward the door. “Please vacate the premises.”

  “‘Vacate the premises’? I don’t think I’ve been so politely thrown out of an establishment in years.”

  Yet, rather than do as requested, Jay relaxed back against the booth. Bryce narrowed his eyes.

  “You should continue getting ready to close,” Jay said. “I’m sure I won’t bother anyone if I stay a little longer.”

  Jay anticipated an argument and already had a comeback prepared, but Bryce heaved a frustrated breath before turning on his heel. He started clearing dishes from the other tables and Jay watched on with surprise.

  Will he ever act the way I expect him to?

  More amused than suspicious, Jay settled in to watch the tight fit of Bryce’s pants. There was something about Bryce that Jay couldn’t put his finger on, but he wasn’t worried. If his finely tuned survival instincts weren’t concerned about Bryce, then he had nothing to fear. Jay had a gun, a nearby ship and a history of being in far worse scrapes than being ambushed by a waiter in a diner. It wouldn’t even be the first time he’d turned a confrontation into a vigorous sexual marathon. Jay glanced at the counter. He’d had a few fantasies about a quickie in the diner.

  Maybe I’ll get lucky tonight?

  The other waiters and waitresses shot Jay odd looks but they left him alone. Jay made a show of making himself more comfortable. It took ten minutes for the diner staff to leave but Jay barely noticed. He was far more interested in Bryce. The waiter busied himself with tasks until only his car remained in the lot. When he flipped off the lights, it left the diner with nothing but the energy lanterns outside for illumination. It gave the place an eerie, greenish-yellow hue and made the white of Bryce’s apron glow. It was crumpled in one of Bryce’s hands while a set of keys for a hovercraft was in the other.

  Bryce stopped in front of him. Jay raised his eyebrows and let his gaze roam over Bryce’s powerful thighs and thin waist. He was gorgeous. Jay wanted to strip him of every layer and explore what lay beneath.

  “Will you leave now?” Bryce asked, annoyance in his voice.

  Jay missed his former easy humor and flirtation.

  “I could be convinced,” Jay replied, “if I was leaving with you.”

  Bryce’s cheek twitched—yet despite the weeks spent flirting with him, Jay still couldn’t tell if it was a quelled smile or a pained grimace.

  “I’m not leaving with you,” Bryce stated.

  “I’m good at changing people’s intentions,” Jay answered, undeterred. He added a smile full of promise and persuasion. “I can promise it would be worth your while.”

  Bryce rolled his eyes, but Jay glimpsed a spark of amusement.

  “I have somewhere to be and someone to meet,” Bryce said. He pointed at the door. “You need to leave.”

  Jay didn’t move. He watched Bryce closely. “If you have somewhere to be, why are you still here with me?”

  “The diner must be empty of all customers before employees can leave,” Bryce said, stressing the ‘all’.

  Jay started to reply but stopped when he heard the unmistakable sound of a hovercraft approaching. Jay twisted and looked over his shoulder, widening his eyes. The craft was sleek and silver. It was an expensive ship that glinted in the light, making Jay’s light-fingered hands twitch. Jay didn’t know what it was doing on this side of the moon but he would be happy to relocate it. When the craft landed and the door opened, all thoughts of thievery fled from Jay’s mind. There were only a handful of Quis on the moons of Asam and most of them were related to Hezon Taziv. Quis were notorious for their red hair, sharp teeth and dark skin. Jay wasn’t stupid enough to frequent the moons of Asam without learning the faces of influential people who he should never rob. The youngest son of Hezon Taziv was one of those people.

  What the hell is he doing on a working-class moon?

  Bryce’s sigh made Jay glance back at him. He looked frustrated—worried, even—and his gaze darted to the clock in the diner. It wasn’t hard for Jay to put everything together and realize what was happening.

  “He’s the one you’re meeting.”

  It explained a lot about Bryce’s sudden change of behavior. Jay was many things, but he was not rich and powerful like Zanik Taziv. Jay was impressed by Bryce’s ambition, even if he was disappointed.

  Bryce’s attention flicked back to Jay. “I did mention having plans that didn’t involve you.”

  Jay glanced at the Qui, weighing his options and how attractive the man was before suggesting, “Maybe a third person could make your plans even more enjoyable?”

  Bryce shot him a cold and unimpressed glare, but the sound of a second hovercraft stopped Bryce from retorting. When Jay looked back this time, it was a black vehicle that approached. The Qui’s body language was wary and uncomfortable. Whoever the new arrivals were, they weren’t the rich man’s friends.

  Instinctively, Jay slid out of the booth, keeping wary eyes on the parking lot. His instincts were screaming warnings at him.

  “Did you invite anyone else to your meeting?” he asked.

  “No,” Bryce answered, not looking away from what was happening.

  The second vehicle hadn’t quite landed when the passenger door opened and someone leaned out. They pointed an energy gun at the Qui and fired. The Qui collapsed and Jay placed a hand on Bryce’s arm to keep him from moving or panicking.

  “It was a stunner,” Jay said. “He’s still alive.”

  Jay didn’t glance at the waiter. He kept his eyes on the unfolding scene. The craft had landed and the person who had shot the Qui exited. He walked over to the fallen man and stared down at hi
m. The shooter held his weapon with an ease that spoke of familiarity. He was dressed all in black and had a mask over his face to further hide his identity. His only distinguishing feature was a ponytail of silver hair. Two other people joined him. They picked up the Qui effortlessly and carried him to the hovercraft. The shooter scanned the parking lot before his inspection caught on Bryce’s hovercraft. He looked at the diner and Jay tensed. The man tapped his temple and something shimmered and shifted over his eyes. Jay recognized it and swore. Command goggles. They were the kind issued by the military and frequently stolen by criminals—and they had thermal sensing.

  The man shouted an order to the driver of the vehicle, but Jay was already grabbing Bryce and yanking him backward in a mad dash and scramble over the diner’s counter. Behind it was a wall with a servery that Bryce and Jay leaped through with a tumble and roll. They were both up in an instant. Jay located the garbage chute and started running. Bryce had the same idea, and they ran with desperation. They threw themselves inside—Bryce first, Jay second.

  They tumbled down the chute before landing in the large steel bin below. It was made of tough metal, and Jay yanked down the lid. There wasn’t a moment to spare as an explosion rocked the container and sent it hurtling away from the building and the inferno that had engulfed the diner. The pressure wave from the blast meant that they were slammed against the sides of the bin as it shifted and swerved. Their limbs collided with the walls as bags of garbage were tossed over and around them, splitting and covering them with filth. When the container finally came to a stop, Jay shoved the garbage away from his face and spat out something unpleasant.

  Standing, Jay carefully lifted the lid, relieved that it hadn’t buckled. He poked his head over the rim. They were a good few meters from the blazing diner, but Jay could still feel the heat from the fire. He was also far too close to people who wanted him dead. They needed to disappear.