Born of Fire

She’s already looked at you like you were shit.

Yeah, but she also let him kiss her. Usually when a woman learned the truth about his past, she ran.

Don’t. You’re nothing to her and that’s all you’ll ever be.

With that thought in mind, he took the captain’s chair and prepared their launch.

Just as he was about to press the launch code, Shahara reached out and touched his arm. “Look.” She inclined her head toward the side window.

Looking over, Syn saw the Rits coming in to question the flight staff. “Stay calm. They won’t mark this ship. And we’ve already been cleared for the launch.”

“Are you sure they can’t make us?”

“The ship is registered under the name of Darling Cruel. They wouldn’t dare push that button.”

Shahara took a deep breath. He was right. The Cruels were renowned for their political power and wealth. No one messed with them unless they had a death wish.

Still, her heart didn’t stop pounding until he put the throttle down and launched them.

“If you own this ship, why is it registered to Darling?”

He gave her a droll stare. “I couldn’t very well run the business under my own name now, could I? Every half-wit moron in the galaxy would be after me.”

“Aren’t you afraid the Cruels will find out and get angry?”

His look was snotty and offensive. “Ryn and Darling are friends of mine and have been for a long time. It was actually Darling’s idea that I register my business assets under his name.”

“Why would he take such a risk?”

“What risk? Who in the universe would take his family on? For all they know, it is his business.”

She had to give him that. No one in their right mind would dare question one of the Cruels. “So how do you know him?”

He sighed irritably. “I knocked on his door one day and said ‘Hi, I’m here to rob you. Hope you don’t mind. Oh and by the way, will you be my friend?’ ”

“You don’t have to be so sarcastic.”

He gave her a lethal glare. “I’m getting tired of answering your questions. I swear you must have been trained as an interrogator.”

“Well, excuse me for being curious. I don’t have the benefit of knowing all about your family or friends. Caillen never mentioned you.”

“If you were trying to cut me with that remark, you missed. I made Caillen swear a long time ago that he’d never tell anyone he knew me. If anyone ever found out he was a friend of mine, his life wouldn’t be worth any more than that plastic ring on your hand.”

Shahara clenched her right hand into a fist. In spite of the hard shell she kept on her emotions, tears welled up in her eyes. Gritting her teeth, she blinked them away, angered that he’d been able to stab her there. She knew her mother’s wedding ring had no monetary value, but her mother had cherished it and to her it was priceless.

How dare he insult it so.

Syn saw the sadness that darkened her eyes and he was instantly contrite. “I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”

In an effort to distract her from the pain his thoughtless words had caused, he quickly asked. “So tell me, how did you find my apartment? It’s not registered under my name either.”

With a shake of her head, her eyes cleared. “I researched purchase orders.” She cleared her throat, then spoke louder, “I knew you flew a black Pritan fighter that was only a year or two old.”

He sucked his breath in as he cursed himself for that oversight. “I purchased it under my name.”

She nodded. “I cross-referenced the fighter’s serial numbers with a list of landing bays until I found the one where it was registered. Once I knew the location, it was merely a matter of asking people in the area if they knew anyone who answered to your description.”

Oh, I am an idiot . . .

But he had to give her credit. No one else had thought of that.

“Clever.”

“Some days more so than others.” She glanced back at the coordinates. “I take it your fighter is also registered to Darling?”

“To another friend . . . as is everything I own.”

She cocked her head. “Aren’t you afraid one of them will betray you? Take it all away?”

Syn shrugged. “I’m sure one will eventually, but that’s the least of what keeps me up at night. Trust me, there are a lot worse things in life than losing a few credits.”

“Such as?”

“Strangling the older sister of one of your best friends because she can’t shut her mouth.”

Suddenly a warning light went off.

Shahara jerked toward her panel, afraid they were being attacked.

“You need to okay the course I just entered. Hit the approval sequence. The code is listed to your right.”

As she reached to comply, her gaze fell to their heading. All of a sudden she felt ill.

Very, very ill.

“We’re going to Rook?”

“Yeah, something about that bother you?”

She was aghast at his nonchalance. “Yes, it does. That is the most dangerous place in the universe. Are you out of your ever-lovin’ mind? We go there and we’ll be dead in three minutes.”





CHAPTER 7