Break Out

chapter Ten

“Security is going to be much lower going in,” Tannis said. “They’re not going to think anyone would risk attacking a heavily armed ship for a few supplies. So we hit before they reach Trakis One.”

The whole crew had gathered to go over the final plan. Skylar rested her back against the wall, arms crossed, as she watched Rico out of the corner of her eye. A shiver ran through her. Twenty-four hours had passed, and she still felt frozen to the bone.

She was certain he’d done it on purpose, despite his protestations of innocence.

What she didn’t understand was why.

She’d given in. She would have let him do anything, but instead of doing the obvious, he’d pressed that stupid button and nearly froze them both to death.

“So, Skylar goes ahead,” Rico continued. “It’s an all-male crew, so she dresses in that skimpy outfit and sends out a distress signal. They’re going to be suspicious but with a bit of luck they should only go to a code-yellow alert. We can work with that.”

“What if they go to a code red?” Skylar asked.

“They go to a code red and we’re f*cked.” He grinned. “Well, actually, at that point it’s just you that’s f*cked, because we’ll be out of there.”

“Great plan so far.”

“But we don’t think they will,” Tannis added quickly. “Once you’re on board, your job is to see that they do not go to red. Stop them anyway you like, just make sure it doesn’t escalate when we come on board, and if possible switch off the yellow. You also need to cut their external shielding so we can board. If you can do that from the control panel—great. If not, Janey’s got something that should help you.”

Janey was sitting a little apart from the group, her perfectly manicured fingertips gliding over a hologram screen in front of her. Engrossed, she seemed unaware that everyone had turned to look at her.

“Janey?”

She glanced up with an irritated frown as Tannis spoke her name. “Yes?”

“That ‘thing’ you have for Skylar. Can you give her a quick rundown?”

Janey’s expression brightened. “You’re going to love this. I’ve been working on it all night.”

She held up a disc, so small Skylar had to move in closer to see. About the size of her smallest fingertip, and paper-thin, it didn’t look particularly impressive. “What is it?”

“A radio wave emitter, and get this—it’s triggered by a medical scanner. Which fits in great with your cover story. You tell them you think you were hurt when your ship was attacked and get them to scan you. If you time it right, it will knock out the shields and the alarms long enough for Rico and Tannis to board.”

“Where does it go?”

“That’s the clever part—I’ll slip it under your skin,” she patted her rib cage just below her left breast, “right here.”

“Lovely,” Skylar muttered, but she was impressed. She was starting to believe they could make this work. “Will we have the ship’s codes?”

“I’m hoping so.” Janey waved at the screen. “I’m working on them now.”

“Good.” Skylar turned back to Rico and Tannis. “So, I keep them contained. You board, we persuade the crew to cooperate, or we put them out of action. We go in to Trakis One on the transport ship, pretend we’re them, drop off the supplies, pick up my little brother, and we’re out of there before they realize anything is going on.” She frowned. “You know, it all sounds a little too easy.”

“Well, the going in is going to be the tricky part,” Tannis said. “Rico has to get us past that black hole. That’s what keeps them safe. Also, my guess is they’ve gotten sloppy. This whole ‘impossible to break out of’ crap has gone to their heads. That should work in our favor. So—any questions?” she asked. “No? Well then, I suggest those of you not on watch get some sleep. It’s a big day tomorrow.”

Rico strolled across to where Skylar lounged against the wall. “Sweetheart, how about you and me go somewhere quiet, have a drink?”

She didn’t move, just examined him, one lip curled in what she hoped was a disdainful sneer.

“Hey, I said it was an accident. My hand slipped.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Come on. Don’t be like that. After all, this time tomorrow, we might all be sucked into a black hole.”

He flattened his palms on the wall on either side of her head; she could smell the musky male scent of him, feel the whisper of his breath against her cheek. “Do you really want to die not knowing how it could be between us?” His voice had sunk to that low, husky drawl that sent prickles racing across her skin. “I thought you always paid your debts, Skylar? You’re still one up on me, remember.”

Yes, she did, and at the memory of his agile fingers working on her body, a fire burst into life inside her, banishing the last of the cold.

He leaned a little closer. “What if I promise no biting—just good, old-fashioned sex?”

His words conjured an image of him on top of her, inside her, and the fire threatened to rage out of control. She swallowed, bit her lower lip, and slowly unfolded her arms from her chest. Reached up to...

“Skylar, are you coming?”

Skylar jumped. The voice came from behind Rico, and she glanced over his shoulder. Daisy stood in the entrance watching them, amusement gleaming in her emerald eyes. “You said you wanted to see the navigation room.”

Skylar’s tongue flicked out to moisten her dry lips. Her gaze lingered on Rico’s hooded eyes for a moment, and then she nodded.

“I do.” The words came out as a squeak, and she cleared her throat. “I do. Yes, I definitely want to see the navigation room.”

She ducked under Rico’s arm, but could feel his eyes on her back as she walked out.

“Skylar?”

She turned back at the doorway. “What?”

“You won’t be able to run forever.”

Once they were a safe distance down the corridor, she released her breath. “Thank you.”

“Hey, a deal’s a deal,” Daisy said. “Besides, you’re paying us, and you looked like you were about to cave.”

“No, I wasn’t.”

Daisy snorted. “Right.” She gave Skylar a sideways look. “You won’t hurt him, will you?”

“Hurt who?”

“Rico.”

Shock stopped Skylar in her tracks. She turned to face Daisy. “How could I possibly hurt Rico?”

“Well, he’s changed since you came on board.”

“How so?”

“He used to be really aloof. He’d talk to the captain, but the rest of us, he’d pretty much ignore. Then the last week, he’s been talking to us, he’s more…human, and we know it’s because of you.”

“You’ve been discussing this?”

“Of course. He obviously likes you, but we reckon you’ll be leaving after the job’s over.” She studied Skylar, head cocked to one side. “Or will you? You could stay. I mean, you obviously like him as well.”

“No, I don’t.”

The response was automatic, and Daisy snorted again. “Of course you don’t. You should think about it though—staying on, I mean. We’d like you to.”

She shoved her hands in her pockets and sauntered off, leaving Skylar staring after her.

They’d like her to stay?

Why should that make her feel all warm and fuzzy?

The feeling didn’t last. Running a hand through her hair, she pressed her fingertips to her scalp, trying to ease the pressure. She’d never allowed herself to consider a different existence; she’d made her choices long ago and always believed that was the way things would be.

Forever.

Now, thoughts of another life teased her mind. What would it be like to turn her back on everything that was safe, to stay on El Cazador, to explore the universe?

For a brief moment, she imagined it was possible. But the notion was fleeting. What about duty and honor? Besides, after tomorrow, they wouldn’t want her to stay.

They’d want her dead.