Primal Bond (Warlords of Vasz #4)

6. Chapter 6

Chapter six

T he door closed with a soft hiss. Finn found himself alone with the imposing Borraq.

It had been his one trump card, his one piece of intel to bargain for what he wanted.

Now he just had to see if Zanik would bargain with him for it — or if he was just another Borraq who would take what he wanted and then throw Finn away.

Zanik’s icy stare bore into him, unrelenting and intense. “Start talking,” Zanik ordered, his voice a low growl. “Where did Rivek take you from?”

Finn swallowed hard, his throat dry. He twisted the hem of his too-large borrowed Borraq shirt. Memories he tried to bury surged forward. “Chi Tau 32. A small outpost near the human frontline. They hit us hard. Rivek’s men… they slaughtered everyone who resisted.”

Zanik’s expression remained impassive, but Finn could sense the weight behind his scrutiny. “And after that?”

“They took us to a holding ship,” Finn continued, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands. “I heard them call it the Final Strike. We were... sorted. The strong ones, they were sold for labor. The others...” He hesitated, bile rising in his throat.

“Keep going,” Zanik pressed, his tone brooking no argument.

Finn clenched his fists, nails biting into his palms. “The others were sold as pleasure slaves. Like me.” His voice cracked on the last word, the humiliation and fear from those days washing over him.

Zanik’s eyes narrowed, but his gaze didn't waver. “Rivek’s smuggling operations. Where does he run them from?”

“He has several hideouts. One’s near the outskirts of this sector. Another... we were held near the mining colonies in Twelve Prime. He moves constantly, never staying in one place for long.”

"How could you possibly know that?"

Finn dropped his gaze. "Rivek and his men… they didn't bother to stay quiet around us."

"And they did all this talking inside the slave hold?"

Finn grit his teeth. Didn't Zanik get it? "They pulled us out of there when they wanted us. Dragged us to their quarters… the mess… the bridge."

The memories of being hauled from one place to another, the cold metal of shackles biting into his skin, threatened to overwhelm him. Finn’s heart pounded in his chest, his breaths coming faster.

Zanik’s stare softened, almost imperceptibly. “That’s enough for now."

Finn blinked, surprised. He expected more questions, more demands. But Zanik’s retreat gave him a moment to breathe, to gather himself.

"There's one more thing I need," Zanik said, his voice low and controlled. "The name of Rivek's agents. He won't be peddling humans himself one by one like some sort of merchant. Who's handling his supply chain?"

Finn's mind whirled. He knew this! He'd seen the man visit Rivek's ship enough times. This was it — the golden ticket, the key to his revenge.

"I know who it is," Finn replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "But there's one thing that I need, too."

He took a deep breath. This was his chance. "I want to take down Rivek. Not just as your informant, but myself. I want to see him fall with my own eyes."

Zanik's laugh was sharp and humorless. "You? A human slave, taking down one of the most dangerous smugglers in the sector? Don't be ridiculous. Tell me, and then tell me where you want to be taken to. I will transport you to any location you request. You may have your freedom."

Anger flared in Finn's chest. Freedom, huh? Like Zanik could just drop him off at a station, and he could just pick his old life back up from exactly where he'd left it.

The idea was ridiculous. As long as Rivek was out there, hurting other humans the way he'd hurt Finn, Finn would never feel free. "I know Rivek. I've seen how he operates, how he thinks. You need me."

"I need the information you have," Zanik countered, stepping closer. "Not you."

Shit, Zanik was big. Goddamn Borraq. Finn stood his ground, even as Zanik's proximity sent a shiver down his spine. "Then you're not getting it. I won't be used and tossed aside again."

They were inches apart now, the tension between them electric. Finn could feel the heat radiating from Zanik's body, could see the subtle flecks of gold in his icy eyes. His heart pounded.

"You're playing a dangerous game, human," Zanik growled.

"I'm not playing," Finn shot back. "This is my life, my chance at justice. I won't let you take that from me."

Zanik’s eyes narrowed. His voice dropped to a menacing growl. “I could torture the information out of you.”

Finn’s heart raced, but he met Zanik’s gaze head-on. “You could,” he replied, his voice steady. “But I don’t think you will. You’re smarter than that.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

Finn’s jaw clenched, his thoughts flitting back to the countless nights he lay awake, plotting his revenge. “I know exactly what I’m asking for,” he said bitterly. “I picture it every night before I sleep.”

Zanik’s eyes bore into his, searching for any sign of weakness. But Finn stood firm, his heart pounding.

“You’re a fool.” Zanik’s icy stare didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of something else — respect, perhaps, or reluctant admiration. Finn couldn’t be sure, and he wasn’t about to dwell on it. He had one goal, and he wouldn’t let anything, not even his confusing feelings towards Zanik, derail him.

“Fine,” Zanik said finally, his voice begrudging. “We’ll do it your way. But if you get in my way or endanger the mission, I won’t hesitate to remove you from it.”

Finn’s heart leaped, a mix of triumph and dread. “I won’t let you down.”

For the first time in months, he felt a glimmer of hope. The path to his revenge was set.

All he had to do was claim it.