Tyrant. Scrapper. Part 5. Damantha Makarova

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СКАЧАТЬ who was always taught and never allowed to be carefree.

      «I am so sorry to intrude, ladies…» Elijah bowed gracefully to the trio. «But I couldn’t help it. Allow me to introduce myself. Elijah Winchester.»

      «Good day to you sir. What brings you to our little table?» Serena twitched her brow, noting the expensive fabric of his clothes and a few tastefully chosen pieces of jewellery that adorned this handsome man.

      «I beg your pardon, miss, for the rude inquiry… But I couldn’t help notice your eye…» Elijah touched his left cheekbone. «Can I ask what happened?»

      «A job related injury.» Serena smirked.

      «If you are looking to fix it, allow me to recommend a medical facility right here on Essara. The doctors there can take care of it within a day, I promise you.»

      «Thank you, but we’re fine.» Kayla answered instead.

      The man glanced at the girl, then looked at the silent, but attentive olive-skinned woman, and returned his eyes to Serena.

      «I’m sorry if I overstepped.» he said.

      «Don’t worry, Mister Winchester. My eye will be fine in just a couple of days. Nothing to worry about.» Serena smirked again and sent a very harsh gaze to Kayla.

      «Please, call me Elijah.» the man bowed again. «I am sorry, if I only knew how to call you…»

      «Serena.»

      «Captain Serena to you!» Kayla said.

      Serena glanced her way again, tilting her head.

      «Captain? Are you, by any chance, a captain of a space ship?» Elijah asked.

      «What of it? I’m on vacation with my crew.» Serena replied, meeting the man’s gaze again.

      «Can I ask what kind of a captain are you? Of a passenger ship?»

      «We’re mercenaries.» Kayla intruded again.

      Laneth grabbed the girl’s wrist and hissed at her. Serena took a very deep breath:

      «I am terribly sorry, Mister Winchester. We are here on vacation.»

      «Please, Serena, I must ask you…» Elijah stepped closer. «Would you be willing to take a contract? Not immediately, by any means, have your vacation and start after you’ve done resting. If you are mercenaries and can afford Essara, then you must be good mercenaries. I am looking for someone trustworthy to take a contract to find someone. I will pay handsomely for this job.»

      Serena slowly stood from her seat, crossing her arms on her chest:

      «I don’t like discussing business on vacation, Mister Winchester.» she said.

      «I assure you, it will be worth your while.» Elijah said with a charming smile. «I own this vacation planet. I can pay handsomely for your time and skills.»

      Serena scoffed:

      «Then as an owner you’ll be able to find where I’m staying on the planet and send me a proper invitation with the time and place where we could meet to discuss business. But for the moment, farewell, Mister Winchester.» she turned to Laneth and Kayla and nodded aside. «We’re leaving, girls.»

      Both stood and hurried after the woman as she headed elsewhere.

      Elijah smiled. Finally, he met someone intriguing and worth his time.

      Perhaps, his vacation won’t be as dull and boring as he thought. Plus, if Serena really was a mercenary – and a good one at that! – he’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone.

      Chapter 4. Business

      When they returned to the rented mansion, Kayla kept quiet, seeing how tense Serena was. Laneth scolded the girl for speaking too much, and they both knew that Serena could reprimand her as well – the woman looked very dissatisfied by the girl’s behaviour. However, she was silent all the way back to the mansion.

      The men were still deep in their poker game – with Cipher, Pher and Taliesin joined in the fun, although playing a simpler kind of poker, being humans and not capable of withstanding punches of Veluthian men and a cyborg. Instead, the three were heavily drunk – as each time they stayed in game they received a hefty shot of alcohol instead of a punch.

      Laneth took Kayla to her room and stayed with her to have a serious talk, while Serena headed to cool off on the beach, sitting on one of the seats there.

      Only an hour passed before one of the helper bots flew up to the woman and reported that there was a visitor at the door asking for her. Serena scowled and went to see who it was, wondering if the setting sun would help make this interaction as brief as possible.

      But when she approached and opened the door, she saw a handsome, tall, muscular and intimidating-looking man with cybernetic eyes aimed at her. She already saw him once before – when Elijah approached them earlier in the Entertainment Centre, he was lingering behind the man. She studied his kind expression and the honey-blond short hair, and then lowered her gaze, noting his well-trained body.

      «Miss Serena, Mister Elijah Winchester is inviting you to a business meeting.» the man stepped aside, half-turning and gesturing to a hover vehicle waiting at the road.

      «Right now?» Serena frowned.

      «If you need to change, you can, but I would advise you not to make Mister Winchester wait.»

      Taking a deep breath, Serena realised that if she were to get rid of the man, she would need to do it face to face. Looking down at her simple trousers and cropped top, she sighed and shook her head:

      «Give me five minutes to change into something more appropriate.»

      «Of course.» the man replied with a polite smile.

      She closed the door and went to her room, where she had a couple of clothing options at the ready, including her usual Captain’s outfit that she kept there just because she was always ready to leave the place at any moment. It took her less than five minutes to get ready.

      But as she was passing her crew, who still played cards, Hunter noticed her attire and stopped her:

      «Is anything wrong?»

      «It’s fine. I have a… business meeting, I guess. A man was inquiring if we could take a job after our vacation.» Serena answered calmly. «It won’t take long, don’t worry.»

      «Do you want any of us to come with you?» Lindon asked, seeing how tense the woman was.

      «Nah, enjoy your evening. I’ll be back soon.»

      She walked off, leaving them a little puzzled to her composure.

      When she walked out of the mansion, she noted the man bowing slightly, his eyes sliding down her body, and gesturing to the vehicle again. They approached the car that opened its doors, welcoming the two passengers. Once airborne, Serena glanced at her companion:

      «So СКАЧАТЬ