Born of Fire

Looking over her shoulder, she saw Syn there with his gaze on the floor. The air around him was rife with anger and disgust.

She turned her attention back to Merjack. Why do you need Syn?”

He raked her with a disparaging lip curl. “You’re so naive. Now give me the chip and stand aside, seax, or I’ll kill you both.”

She laughed darkly. “I don’t think you’re that brave. Your son may be president of your tiny little planet, but even he can’t protect you from my brethren should you kill me without a warrant for my death.”

Fear flickered in his eyes a moment before Merjack got control of himself.

Holding to the thought that her threat gave him pause, she considered fighting. But Merjack had them effectively covered. And as she looked past his shoulder, she noted his men kept emerging from the smoke, their blasters aimed straight at them.

No, she couldn’t fight against a number that large. Not even Syn was that good.

For now, she had to stay alive. Alive she could do something for him.

Maybe.

“Are you going to give me the chip, seax, or not?”

Syn held his breath, waiting for her to decide. He couldn’t understand why she was even bothering to talk to Merjack.

Why hadn’t she fought against him before his men had surrounded them?

Shahara took the chip from her pocket and handed it to Merjack.

“No!” Syn shouted, lunging at her as she handed it over. Someone hit him across the back of his head. Pain exploded, dulling his sight, and he fell forward on all fours.

Shahara didn’t so much as flinch.

“Good job,” Merjack congratulated the man who’d struck Syn. He turned to face Shahara. “Now to you, seax. I believe we agreed on a million credits for the delivery of Syn and the chip. Should I just credit your account?”

Syn couldn’t breathe as he heard those words.

No . . . she wouldn’t have done this to him.

She wouldn’t. Not his Shahara. Not after all they’d been through and shared.

But looking up at her, he saw the truth. She wouldn’t even meet his gaze.

Merjack holstered his blaster. “You’ll be happy to know we released your sister this morning, just like I promised. She should be safe and sound at home.”

“She better be.”

Shocked to the core of his being, Syn stared up at Shahara.

It had all been a trick? Everything they’d shared? Every word she’d uttered?

Every gentle touch?

Disbelief tore through him.

She’d sold him out from the very beginning.

No wonder she’d taken him back to her place that first day. She’d never been in any real danger. Merjack had known she’d taken him. Had planned for her to get him to take her to the chip.

And, like a fool, he’d fallen for it. Every bit of it.

Just like he’d fallen for her. I am the most pathetic creature ever born.

And she was worse than Mara. At least his ex-wife hadn’t killed him. She’d only threatened to.

Shahara knew that chip was the only way he could ever barter to save his life. Without it, his testimony was worthless. No one would ever believe a filch.

“You bitch!” he snarled, rushing for her throat.

Another soldier clubbed him across the back.

Shahara came forward and stood above him.

He looked up at her through the blood stinging his eyes from the first blow and saw the callousness of her face.

Just for an instant, something flickered in the depths of her gaze that belied the coldness of her voice. Or maybe he just imagined it, like he’d imagined the fact she had a heart.

“What was it you said, Syn? We all use each other.” She shrugged. “What can I say? I needed the money.”

He glared at her, hating her for everything. So that was the price for his life. One million credits. He supposed he should feel honored. It was a high price for a piece of shit gutter rat.

But it was a bargain for the heart he’d given her—for what he would have given her had she only asked.

One of the guards wrenched his arms behind his back and cuffed them together, then pulled him to his feet. They hauled him out of the room and to the lifts.

Shahara stood, watching them.

Merjack laughed as he entered the lift with Syn and three guards. “I always love dealing with seaxes, don’t you, rat? They’re so loyal to the letter of the law.”

Syn couldn’t speak as he glared at the woman he’d stupidly given his heart to. The one woman he’d deluded himself into believing would stand at his back and protect it.

In the end, she was just like all the others.

When will I learn?

Well, the good news was that he’d never be betrayed again. He wouldn’t live long enough for it.

Shahara watched the doors close, then she sank slowly to her knees. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to end. She’d hoped to convince Merjack that she’d killed Syn and he would content himself with the chip alone.

She’d never counted on him following her back to the hotel and capturing Syn. Damn him!

What was she going to do? Every part of her screamed in rebellion of what she’d done. Syn was innocent and she’d just given him over to his executioner.

So much for her oaths.