"Not now. Orya is keeping her pretty busy at the moment."

"It would help to know where the signal originated from," Sean said, tossing the data pad aside.

"They may have used Zane's private communicator. The records wouldn't show in that database."

The three men all looked at Fallon, who gave them a shy smile. "I've seen him use it a few times. He told me he had it installed in case of pirates."

"Thank you, I'm sorry, your name is?" Kamran asked in a tone of voice he used during touchy negotiations.

Not that Fallon seemed to mind the change in the administrator. Taber couldn't help but watch the interchange with fascination.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm Fallon Reist. I've been...spending time with Taber and Sean since they've been investigating the murders."

"I'm very sorry for your loss, Fallon. But you are in good hands with my people."

Kamran's gaze shifted from her to Taber, and he couldn't help but feel he was being scrutinized. But he'd survived worse than what Kamran could do to him over a vid screen.

"What is the situation there now?" Kamran sat down at his desk. "Do you need me to send additional personnel?"

The idea of throwing more people in the path of this murdering psychopath wasn't appealing. "No. I believe these murders are linked to Fallon. I would prefer to move her from the Damara to Eurus. That way we'll force the murderer to follow, making him easier to apprehend."

Kamran frowned, sitting back in his chair. "I don't like the idea of inviting a serial killer to our home. Do you think this is the best way?"

Fallon cleared her throat and stepped beside Taber. "Look, I don't want to be the cause of any more issues. Plus, I'm not convinced I'm the reason this guy is killing people."

"Yes, Administrator, I feel this is the best way."

101.

"Taber, I'm not going to-"

"Sean, do you agree?" Kamran cut Fallon off, shifting his attention to the other man.

Fallon let out a soft growl and crossed her arms across her chest. "Excuse me-"

"Yes, Administrator," Sean spoke above her. "This man appears to be targeting men who are close to Fallon. And unless Sara and Davin have been able to find any clues as to who this could be, I don't think we have many options. By moving her, it will force him to move from his comfort zone. We will be at the advantage."

"Does anyone care what I think?"

The three men looked at her for a moment before nodding. Fallon would be protected. For the first time since his arrival, Taber felt in control of the situation. Being on Eurus would mean he'd have a better chance at catching the killer and ensuring Fallon's safety.

Kamran sat straight and smiled. "I'll let Captain Zane know we will be inviting Fallon to stay with us. Please arrange for your transport on the next shuttle."

"We'll see you soon." Taber nodded and cut the communication.

"You're all a.s.sholes."

Sean's mouth threatened to twitch into a grin. He was wise enough to get up and leave the room without another word. Taber wasn't as fortunate to have such an option.

"Fallon, please-"

"Don't you dare! I've been on my own for years. I don't need a bunch of overprotective...men to try and save me now."

"This is not just for your protection. If we can lure the murderer off the ship, it will be easier to trap him on Eurus."

Fallon rolled her eyes. "You honestly expect me to buy that load of c.r.a.p?"

"Yes."

"You're snorting boost if you think I'm going to agree to leave my home on the chance that a serial killer is going to follow."

When she started to walk away from him, something inside snapped. Taber grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in tight to his chest. She gasped and her eyes went wide as he stared down at her.

"I think you're forgetting something," he said is a low voice. "Eurus is my home.

My home and my rules. You like it when we play by my rules, don't you?"

She blushed fiercely and bit her lower lip. When she tried to look away, he turned her chin back to face him.

"Don't you, Fallon?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Louder."

"Yes."

102.

He smiled and ran his thumb over the soft skin that covered her jaw. "That's my girl."

Her body was hot and he caught the scent of her arousal in the small room. The animal inside him that wanted to claim her once again reared its head. When she tipped her head back, her eyes half closed, he couldn't stop his impulse to kiss her.

Despite the urge to be rough, Taber slowly lowered his mouth to hers, keeping his eyes closed. The gentle brush of skin on skin sent a shiver through him before he opened his mouth and claimed hers. He tried to show her how much she affected him, how much she was coming to mean to him, all with that one chaste kiss. When he pulled back, Fallon held her position for a second longer, giving him the pleasure of seeing her completely relaxed. Fallon opened her eyes and stared at him, confused.

"I want you to trust me," he said, placing another quick kiss on her lips. "I promise you now that no harm will come to you. Once you are safe, you can return to your ship or I can arrange for your pa.s.sage to Earth."

She blinked several times before giving her head a shake. "Really?"

"I promised. That is something I have never broken."

This time it was Fallon who kissed him. There was nothing gentle or pa.s.sive in her contact-it was needy, demanding and more than a little grateful.

"Thank you." Though she didn't look as convinced as he was hoping she would.

Not wanting to, but needing to complete his task, Taber stepped away from Fallon and walked around the side of the desk to the archive's computer.

"Sean and some of our people on Eurus were researching some of the files on your crew. We were supposed to be matching them up to potential stressors that could have triggered a psychotic break." He tapped away, picking up the trail that Sean had left.

"Can you think of anyone who that would describe?"

Fallon perched on the edge of the desk, peeking over the top of the computer to try and read the screen upside down.

"No one and everyone on this ship fit that description. Most people have a reason for taking an a.s.signment like this."

"Like what?"

"Trapped on a ship for years at a time far away from home? Most people are running away from something."

That caught his attention. Looking up, he raised an eyebrow. "And what are you running from?"

The blush that had been fixed on her cheeks suddenly drained as she looked away.

"Nothing."

"You said everyone was running away. Is there something that I need to be aware of?"

103.

She tried to say something, but he could see she was struggling. Whatever it was, clearly she was still fighting against the memories. That was something he could relate to.

"Fallon?"

"I'd rather not talk about it, okay? It isn't relevant to our current situation."

He was going to push-wanting to find out about her secret. He would have too if she hadn't stood and tried to leave the room.

"Look, I'm going to go get some of my things together. I'll wait in my room for you to get me. There's no rush."

"You're not going alone."

"It's okay."

The whoosh of the door opening and closing cut the echo of her footsteps as she ran out of the room. Once again, he was alone.

Only this time, everything was far from being fine.

104.

Chapter Ten.

My G.o.d, she couldn't believe she'd almost told him. Fallon didn't remember seeing anyone as she ran back to her quarters from the archives. She was pretty sure she'd b.u.mped into at least one person, but she wasn't in any frame of mind to notice them, let alone apologize for being rude. She'd almost spilled her heart out to him. Every last detail of her life in one moment, and that would have been it.

The last thing she wanted was for him to know about Jessie. About how stupid she'd been.

Once she was safe inside her quarters, Fallon fell into her chair, wrapped her arms around her body and let out a sob. Even now, she couldn't open it up, the pain still fresh even after four years.

If there was anyone who could understand what she was going through, it was Taber. Deep down, she knew that he could help her deal with the pain of betrayal-the fact Jessie had abandoned her for another woman. He'd resented her drive to own her own business, hated how successful she was working at her uncle's bar. In bed, she'd always had to take the lead to get the satisfaction she'd wanted. Just one more thing he hated.

Blinking away the tears, she set to work packing a few of the things she'd need for her stay on the colony. Only once she had a grasp on her emotions did she call Lance on the vid.

"So how long will you be gone?" he asked, frowning and scratching his neck like he always did when he was worried.

"Taber doesn't seem to think it will take very long. I'm sure I'll be back in a day or two."

"What if it takes them longer than that to catch this guy?"

She hadn't really considered that possibility. "He's offered to get me a ride back to Earth."

Lance seemed to consider that for a long time, to the point where Fallon was getting nervous.

"What?"

"Did he say how much it would cost?"

"No. But I'm not about to do anything stupid. I'll come back to Damara if it's going to be too high a price." Like giving him her heart and soul.

Lance nodded. "Okay, then. I'm sure they won't let you keep in touch with me, so I'll just say be safe."

105.

"I will."

With nothing else to do but wait, Fallon sat on the edge of her chair and tried to keep any unpleasant thoughts at bay. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of father Taber would be. She'd seen the very worst and best of people walk into her bar over the years, each and every one of whom she'd tried to picture as a parent. Sometimes the images would be a quick, fleeting picture of what they would be doing with their child.

Other times they were long, drawn-out stories, scenarios she'd play out in her mind. It had been something she'd done for years, ever since Jessie laughed at her when she'd mentioned the possibility she'd like to have children. Later that night she'd caught him with another woman, someone he'd been f.u.c.king on the side for months. She never wanted to be caught off guard like that again.

With Taber, she knew he'd be firm but loving and fair with any child who was his.

There was more to him than the controlling security chief he let the world see. The way he would touch her, kiss her neck, she felt safe and even loved.

Not that she was under any delusion that Taber was in love with her. His people didn't work that way. From the sound of it, life for a surviving partner of a bond mate wasn't an easy burden to carry. She couldn't imagine the pain he must have gone through.

The computer announced Taber's presence. She waited until the second ring before she forced her body to get up and move, unsure of how long she'd sat there staring into nothingness. Opening the door revealed the man she'd grown so accustomed to over the past week. He'd changed, now wearing the same tunic he'd had on the day of his arrival. His hair was neat, his hands clasped behind his back and his uniform pristine.

Looking him over from head to toe, she remembered the little flip her heart did when she'd first laid eyes on him back at the bar, what seemed like a lifetime ago. She'd thought of him as a walking wall of muscle-now she knew there was so much more to him.

"Hi," she said, making sure to keep her eyes on his.

"h.e.l.lo. Are you ready to go?"