Atonement (Earth Evolution Series Book 3) Read online

  He asked instead, “Have any of the medikos been cleared of explosives?”

  Liam answered him. “So far only the 5th level med facility has. That’s where the injured from the tunnels were being transferred to.”

  “Quinn, you do not take your eyes off Lily. Go there and straight back.”

  Lily knelt next to him and kissed him quickly on the lips before following Quinn out of the training facility.

  She had to walk briskly to keep up with Quinn. They took the lift to the fifth level and exited heading toward the med facility. She could hear yelling from down the hallway.

  “What’s going on?”

  Quinn began to run. “I don’t know.”

  *****

  “Put that—thing down or I’m going to clobber your alien ass!” A woman’s voice yelled.

  Lily ran through the door and almost hit the back of Quinn as he suddenly froze in place. She peered around him and found the woman yelling, or one of them, was the tribe leader Heather Bates. She was yelling at Mediko Lazar who was trying to get past Heather to reach the blonde girl.

  “I thought they restrained Tinley.” She whispered to Quinn.

  “No, they just had her under watch.” He pointed to the guards standing close by. “You get the laser knife, I’ll handle this.”

  Lily went to a nearby workstation and started to grab items that she thought Jared would need along with some pillows and blankets. She stuffed everything into a sack and turned to leave, but hesitated.

  “Lazar, you’ve been relieved of duty. Why are you here?”

  “I’m a mediko, I’m doing my job and I don’t have to answer to you.”

  Heather stepped forward, questioning Quinn. “Are you in charge?”

  “At the moment, yes.”

  “Good, I want this woman out of here. She called Little Squirrel names and slapped her injured leg.”

  Tinley straightened her shoulders. “I did no such thing.”

  “Are you calling me a liar?” Heather got right up in her face.

  “Quinn, this—alien is getting in the way of my treating the patient. I want her removed.”

  Quinn shook his head. “The only one leaving is you Lazar, you’re banned from anywhere but your quarters.”

  Tinley glared at him. “You can’t do that!”

  “I just did.” He turned to another warrior. “Take Lazar back to her quarters and hold her there until further notice.”

  The warrior made to grab Tinley’s arm, but she pulled away. “You can’t touch me, you’re not man enough to make me do anything!”

  Heather walked up to the woman and tapped her on the shoulder. When Lazar turned, she got out one word, “What?”

  Heather pulled back her fist and socked her right in the face knocking her out cold. “Take that you bitch!”

  “Enough!” Commander Devlon yelled from the doorway. “Get this situation under control, Quinn. Take Lazar to detainment.” He looked at Heather, their eyes locking onto one another as some kind of silent challenge was issued.

  “Come on Quinn, we’ve got to get these supplies to Jared.” Lily pulled on his arm.

  Quinn picked up the sack and ran out with her toward the lift. When they entered the training facility she heard Maggie scream. She looked for Thomas, but thankfully she didn’t see him so she got back to Maggie’s side.

  “It’s almost over baby, you’re doing a great job.” Liam reassured her.

  “Shut up! It’s your fault I’m in this position!” Maggie was breathing hard and pain was etched on her face.

  Liam looked up at Lily confused. She handed him the pillow she brought with her. “Don’t worry, she doesn’t really mean it. She’s in a lot of pain right now but it will be worth it. I promise. Where’s Thomas?”

  “Mrs. Gordon took him to an office in the back with a security guard so that he wouldn’t hear or see what was happening.” Rachel told her wincing when Maggie squeezed her hand really hard with the next contraction.

  Lily handed Jared the laser knife and he gave her a small smile. “Thanks honey. Did you have any problems?”

  “None that a good ass kicking won’t solve.” At his frown she motioned for him to keep working. “I’ll explain it to you later. What do you need from me?”

  “We’re giving her anesthesia so she won’t feel the cut. Mediko Tanner will be doing the incision and I’ll be pulling the baby free. Maybe you could hold one of these sheets up so she doesn’t see everything.”

  She took a sheet and handed Rachel one end while she took the other. The sheet blocked everything that was happening from her chest down.

  Maggie squeezed her hand. “What’s going on? Is the baby okay? I don’t feel anything.”

  “It’s okay, they have to do a C-Section because the baby is early. It hasn’t had time to turn in the right position.”

  “What’s that mean?” Liam asked trying to lean up so he could see.

  “It’s just a small incision on the lower abdomen. They gave her something so she wouldn’t feel the pain. They will then remove the baby and—”

  At that moment a loud cry interrupted her. She looked over and smiled. “Congratulations! It’s a girl!”

  While Mediko Tanner was working on the stitches, Jared took the blanket from her and handed a tiny little baby wrapped in the other blanket to her so she could give her to her parents. They locked eyes and there was warmth and love passing between them. They had helped bring a new life into the world. Lily could have this with Jared one day.

  “Look at how beautiful she is.” Tears streamed down Lily’s face as she gently placed the baby in her mother’s arms.

  “Look Liam, isn’t she beautiful.” Maggie was crying as she gently stroked her daughter’s cheek.

  “She’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” Liam choked up as he kissed her little head gently, then he kissed Maggie’s forehead.

  “What name did you decide on?” Rachel asked admiring her niece.

  “Melissa Rosha Estro, after our mom and Liam’s mother.”

  Lily looked over at Jared who had tears in his eyes. He and the other mediko quickly disposed of the afterbirth.

  “Let’s get that floating bed down here and move them to the Mediko.” Jared ordered.

  Lily went to check on Thomas and Mrs. Gordon. Thomas had fallen asleep on the floor with his head on Mrs. Gordon’s lap.

  “How’s the baby?” Mrs. Gordon asked.

  “Beautiful and healthy. I’m going to go with Maggie to the Mediko. Could you bring Thomas there when he wakes up?”

  “Yes of course. I can’t wait to see that precious child.”

  An hour later in Mediko

  “Momma!” Thomas came running into the med facility but slowed when he saw the baby. “Wow she’s really tiny.”

  She ruffled his hair. “So were you once. She’s your new cousin so you have to help protect her okay.”

  He leaned down and looked closer at the baby. “I think she smiled at me.”

  Maggie laughed. “Either that or she has gas.”

  Everyone erupted into laughter. The baby fussed wanting something to eat so t everyone but the happy couple and their baby left mediko to wait in a secure conference room.

  *****

  A few hours later Commander Estro gave out the all clear for them to return to their suites. Eight explosives had been located, five Drastan warriors and Mediko Lazar have been taken into custody. Jared carried a sleeping Thomas back to Lily’s quarters, and Mrs. Gordon said goodnight while they put Thomas in his bed. Then Lily and Jared walked hand in hand to her bedroom.

  As soon as the door was shut and locked, they were ripping each other’s clothes off. She didn’t care if he was a little rough. She needed that to help remind her that she was alive and that either of them could have ended up dead today.

  He pushed her onto the bed and she scooted back to make room for him. When he came down on top of her and planted himself firmly inside of her he paused to look do
wn into her eyes. “I love you more than life itself. I couldn’t bare it if anything ever happened to you.”

  “I love you Jared, only you.”

  He made love to her with an intensity that she had never felt before. It brought tears to her eyes with how beautiful it was.

  Afterwards he kept them connected and rolled so that they were on their sides. He stroked her back. “Will you marry me Lily?”

  She didn’t hesitate. “Yes, one hundred times yes!”

  Epilogue

  Quinn smiled at his cousin’s new baby. “She’s beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” Maggie yawned. “Sorry, I am running on adrenaline here.

  “I’ll leave you to get some rest.” He was about to leave the med facility when he caught sight of the little blond haired woman they’d brought up from the tunnels. He walked over to the mediko staffing. “How’s the girl?”

  “She’s healing but she hasn’t said anything. I asked the tribe leader Bates who she was but they said she was a loner that only came by once in a while. They call her Little Squirrel. I guess she had bad timing.”

  “She’s so small, she has to be barely alive. I can’t imagine someone leaving a child to fend for themselves.”

  “Physically, she’s not a child. She’s actually about twenty years old.”

  That shocked Quinn; there was no way the slim figure could be a 20-year-old woman. “Are you sure? She’s tiny.”

  “The readings are accurate, but she is extremely malnourished and she has radiation sickness. We have to begin extensive treatments that will take months.”

  “Keep me updated on her progress.” Quinn walked to the door but stopped to look back at the young girl—woman. She was watching him with big brown eyes. He didn’t understand the protective feelings she brought out in him. It was disconcerting. He had to focus on his job. They’d caught only a few of the resistance rebels, and the leader was still out there. There may even be more Drastans helping them. He knew they hadn’t seen the last of the resistance rebels and next time, he wanted to be ready for them.

  *****

  Frazier threw the last box of Drastan weapons at the wall. His supplier refused to send anything else for fear that they will be caught. “Cowards!”

  “What does this mean? Should we call a halt to our plans?” One of his men asked.

  Frazier shook his head. “Not a halt, but slow things down. We’ll lay low for a while and then strike when they least expect it.”

  About the Author

  Best Selling Author KDJones

  Science Fiction and Paranormal Romance

  BIO: KD Jones has been a huge fan of both romance novels and science fiction novels since she was 16 years old. Her favorite television shows growing up were Star Trek and Doctor Who. When not writing, she can usually be found curled up on the couch with a good book, working on her hobby of photography, or spending time with her family. As a single working Mom she wants to show her son that a person can follow their dreams no matter how old they are and where they are in life. Dreams can come true if you work hard and keep believing.

  CONTACT Information:

  Website: www.authorkdjones.net

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  KD Jones Book Series, Book List

  Katieran Prime Series

  Katieran Prime (Book1)

  Prime Commander (Book 2)

  Prime Medic (Book 3)

  Kiljorn Prime (Book 4)

  Prime Deliverance (Book 5)

  Prime Salvation (Book 6)

  Colonial Prime (Book 7)

  Katieran Prime Celebration (Book 7.5)

  Kiljorn Commander (Book 8)

  Katieran Prime Miracle (Book 9)

  Colonial Commander (Book 10)

  Galactic Cage Fighter Series

  Rage (Book 1)

  Talon (Book 2)

  Taurus (Book 3)

  Zara (Book 4)

  Hammer (Book 5)

  Zen (Book 6)

  Torch (Book 7)

  Maxim (Book 8)

  Ronin (Book 9)

  Earth Evolution Series

  Desolation (Book 1)

  Resistance (Book 2)

  Atonement (Book 3)

  Strange Lake Falls Series

  Strange Lake Falls Vampire (Book 1)

  Strange Lake Falls Werewolf (Book 2)

  Strange Lake Falls Vampire Mistress (Book 3)

  Strange Lake Falls Panther (Book 4)

  Strange Lake Falls Gypsy Wolf (Book 5)

  Inter-Galactic Bounty Hunter Series

  Inter-Galactic Bounty Hunter (Book 1)

  Tempting Bounty (Book 2)

  Polar Bear Express Series

  Her Big Bad Polar Bear (Book 2)