"Eric Ritage. You are charged with the murder of Hillary Quinn. Without just cause, you shot her in the back when she was delivering a gift to Cassandra Blackwood from my wife and her father."
"I wasn't the one that shot her, and even if I was, she had no business even being there. The people in the Blackwood house were under Earth Security protection. Quinn didn't have the proper clearance to go near them or the house for any reason." Ritage states glaring at Logan and Cassie.
"And you're a liar Mr. Ritage." Cassie says glaring back at him. "I saw you pull the trigger, and I saw the look on your face as she collapsed in my arms." she says remembering the shock of what had happened right in front of her and barely able to keep her tears at bay.
"What are you complaining about? I got rid of Knightrunner's whore for you. You should be thanking me." Ritage sneers at her, not even realizing that he had just admitted to the crime.
"Why should I thank you for murdering an innocent woman, who did what she could to help me and my family? I didn't begrudge her the night she had with Logan. I'm glad that he could give her such a wonderful experience before you murdered her."
"Enough of this!" Logan snarls taking a step towards Ritage. "He's just admitted to killing her. On her behalf, I claim the blood-rite."
Thayer looks around to the others who all nod their agreement that Logan has the right, because of both his physical and mental ties to the dead woman. "You have the right to avenge Hillary Quinn." Thayer tells him, but then holds up his hand when Logan steps forward. "I think that the woman and children should not be present for the retribution that you will take out on him." he looks to his mate. "Leyla, would you take them to the ship and show them more of the holograms of Calidon and Manchon?"
Nodding her agreement, Leyla and the older women lead everyone to the ship. Once the door closes behind them, the men close the circle around Ritage.
"How will you take your revenge?"
"By sonic knife." Logan pulls his blade from his belt.
"You have to allow me to protect myself!" Ritage shouts backing up only to be pushed forward again by the men behind him.
"Why? You didn't allow Hillary the chance to protect herself." Logan growls back at him and then lunges forward cutting through Ritage's upper right arm. "She didn't even see it coming, didn't know it was coming until it was too late." He lunges again and this time gets Ritage across the chest, causing him to cry out.
"It was an accident! I thought my gun was on stun!" Ritage pleads holding his chest.
"Don't try to lie to me Ritage. I know you too well." Logan laughs viciously as his blade cuts the other man across his rib cage. "You planned on killing someone that morning. Who was it you really planned to kill Ritage? Me perhaps?" Logan jumps forward and Ritage turns away and receives a cut down his back.
"YES! YES!" Ritage screams as he falls to his knees. "but you sent your whore instead." he says knowing that if he says the right things, Knightrunner would end the torment, the pain, and just finish him off. He couldn't stand the pain any longer. When a sonic blade cuts through the skin it leaves a resounding in the nerves that can take hours to die away. "If they hadn't disappeared I would have killed the Blackwood bitch too. After me and my men had some fun with her first." he pants in pain.
Logan lets out a primal growl and plunges his blade deep into Ritage's back, twisting it several times before pulling it out. Ritage falls forward with one final scream, but is dead before his body even hits the ground.
Logan drops his knife and looks up into the sky, letting out another primal scream of pain and anguish so loud that it can be heard even deep within the Calidonian ships. When he looks down again, Cassie is standing in front of him. He falls to his knees in front of her and wraps his arms around her waist, burying his face in her stomach.
Cassie hugs his head to her and gently strokes his hair. 'Let it go now love. There's no need to hang on to the anger any more. You did what you needed to do. Her murder has been avenged. She'll rest peacefully now. She wouldn't want you to suffer any more then you have.'