Kirez was still smiling, waiting to see what he would do. There was no way out of this. The Vashtar closed in, roaring at him. “Do it. Do it.” If he didn’t punish Charley, one of them would. What the hell was she doing here? He had warned her never to challenge them. Even with his tech enhancements, he couldn’t hope to protect her from all of them. Out of the corner of his eye, Pete could see the lieutenant’s hand closing into a fist. He rounded on Charley, looking pleadingly at her. Charley’s face drained of color. She nodded her head and closed her eyes. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t hit her. But if he didn’t, one of the Vashtar might kill her. “Human, we are waiting.” Pete felt a sudden pain in his chest where his heart should have been. Now there was a gaping, ugly sea of bitterness. Charley’s eyelashes fluttered open again. Her gray eyes stared steadily at him. She trusted him, but if he hit her, he would hurt her. Nothing else would satisfy them. Pete drew back his arm, his mouth forming a silent apology.
