Born of Fire

She smirked at him and his sarcasm as Vik powered up and yawned.

As they neared one of the smaller bays, she admired the clean lines of the bay and the size of the crew in this one terminal alone. “This location must cost a pretty sola.”

“And worth every penny.”

She gave a low whistle. “How in the universe did you ever afford something like this?”

Syn brought the fighter in for a smooth landing. “After my ex-bitch took everything I had, I borrowed money from Nykyrian to buy a used freighter. I started small, watched my bottom line and, after years of extremely hard work and sound investments, I’ve accumulated what you see.”

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. “And how much of it did you get from accessing the secured data of your competitors?”

He met her gaze evenly. “I only hit them when they come at me first.”

She looked at him doubtfully.

“Honest,” he said, holding up his hand in a Ritadarion symbol of honor. “I’ll gladly admit every crime of which I’m guilty. But I’m not about to admit to something I didn’t do.” His gaze burned into hers. “I’ve lost a lot of business to their filches. Every time I think I have a system hack proof, up comes some little snot with my codes. When I find them, I make them pay for it.”

He set the fighter’s locks and pulled the gear for the cockpit to open. “And I usually send a little bonus bug their way just for shits and giggles while I repair the damage they did to me.”

She couldn’t help but smile. He just looked too adorable. “If you say so, then I’ll believe you.”

Syn climbed out of the fighter while Vik transformed back into a bird. He paused to look back up at her. “You coming or am I too corrupt for you?”

Instead of following his lead, she jumped over the side.

Syn grimaced. “You’ll ruin your joints doing that.”

“Don’t be an old man.” But her head did not appreciate it in the least. In fact, it was all she could do not to whimper from the new pain splitting her skull.

I should have killed them . . .

You shouldn’t have jumped down like that, you idiot.

He gave her a knowing grin. “Bet that head of yours hates your guts right about now.”

“Shut up.” Then she added testily. “Asshole.”

He grinned as he led the way out of the bay and into the station’s corridors. “I live for your endearments.”

Rolling her eyes, she followed him through the hallway, touching the bandage he’d wrapped around her head. He’d done a great job with her injury considering what little he’d had to work with. He must have been impressive as a surgeon.

Shahara looked around at their surroundings. The entire station was clean and white with an antiseptic odor that stung her nose. Twelve freighters of varying sizes and styles were docked along with two small fighters.

Loaders and several mechbots were stowing cargo on one of the ships while fuelers drove a tank over to the freighter.

Everything ran so smoothly that it amazed her. Every time Caillen or Kasen flew, they ran around in circles trying to scrounge up papers, fuel distributors, and cargo. Syn had been gone over a week and still everyone went about their job without hesitation.

“I’m impressed,” she said, catching up to him. “A filch, a doctor, a Sentella member, and a shipper. You’re a man of many talents.”

“Yeah, well, it’s easy to get a lot accomplished when you don’t have any distractions.”

“Such as?”

“Nosy tracers who ask way too many questions.”

As they headed out of the bay, a uniformed worker came forward. “Frion Syn,” she said, opening up a computer ledger. “What do you want me to do to your fighter?”

Syn looked at it over his shoulder. “Have someone refuel her and set her down in the main port of Rook.”

“Yes, sir.” She left them alone.

Shahara was aghast at his orders. “You’re returning it?”

Syn tensed at the doubt in her voice.

Face it, rat. You were born a thief and you will die a thief. No one will ever see you as anything more. He should have come to terms with that years ago. Still, it didn’t stop the ache he felt over her incredulous question. For some unknown reason, he expected better from her. “I have no reason to keep it. It doesn’t belong to me.”

Shahara wondered at the hurt on his voice.

“C’mon, my office is down here.”

Wondering if she’d actually hurt him, she walked down the carpeted hallway. Along her right side were windows that looked out into space. It was a breathtaking view even with the bright fluorescent lights that dimmed it.

As they walked, they passed several workers, but none of them spoke a word to Syn. They merely nodded their heads in acknowledgment while going about their business.

At last Syn stopped and pressed the controls to open a door. Pulsing open, it displayed an office about four times the size of her condo.

Shahara held her breath as the lights came on and she stared at paradise. “Whoa,” she breathed.