Read Online Anja's Star (Outer Settlement Agency) by Lyn Brittan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lyn Brittan
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protected, cared for and yes, sore, Anja thought with a grin.
She sucked in air when Retzi stretched and yawned, but thankfully, he’d gone back to his well deserved sleep. She’d never been with a man who paid so much attention to her desire. And he’d been so commanding, not something she would have thought of the otherwise happy go lucky man.
Not so long ago she’d asked herself if this was worth the risk. Now she had her answer. She’d fight for it – this future of possibilities.
“I worked very hard last night to convince you to stay. Did it work?”
Anja slapped the back of his head, still turned in the opposite direction. “I tried to be very logical about this and I have come to a suitable conclusion.”
He flipped over then, forehead wrinkled and lips pressed together in a tight line. Poor thing. This close to having everything worked out and he looked terrified. “What?”
“This. Your father and piracy will have to wait, I suppose. You think he’ll pay me what I’ve earned?”
Retzi’s clapping cut her off. She kicked him for that, but followed up with an apologetic kiss. “Mmm, forgiven. Now,” he said, rising, “we’ve got to meet up with Crost, hopefully while he’s still recovering from your little date.”
“You’ve got to meet him. I’m not so sure me being there is going to do you any favors. Here.” She pulled out the earpieces from her pack and tossed him one. “I’ll be close if you need backup.”
“No you won’t. You’ll be right here. If I need to make a fast exit, I want this thing humming and running. You might even have to bring it into the city.”
“Well that won’t attract authorities.”
“If it’s that bad that I need to call you in, the authorities are the least of our problems. Promise you’ll stay? I’m not leaving until you do.”
So, she did.
***
S he didn’t.
The moment he disappeared out the hatchway, neck and arms bulging under the weight strapped to him, she went to work cleaning up the ship. When the time came to leave, they’d have to take this ship out and at some point not too far later, abandon it. Anything tracing them to it, had to be accounted for.
Straightening everything hadn’t taken nearly as long as she thought and the only thing left to do was worry. He was there now, she could hear the small talk in her ear as he waited for Crost to see him.
She got the distinct feeling, given the length of time and harried words of the goons that Retzi hadn’t been expected this early, if at all. She couldn’t stop her pacing until Crost’s groggy voice popped in her head over the earpiece. Then she couldn’t find a way to move at all.
He was livid! She’d never known a man to be so upset with a treasure presented at his feet. Retzi mumbled on about honor among thieves, but it didn’t work to calm down Crost or her.
While the man’s ranting ratcheted up in intensity, she packed her weapon and took off running. Refusing to let anything stop her from getting to Retzi.
Except for Retzi.
What?
She came to a skidding stop, causing a minor pedestrian pileup that had swears coming from every direction. Including in her ear. Retzi’s swearing in her ear.
And in front of her.
Anja squinted against the early morning light and her heart dropped.
Yeah, she saw Retzi. Retzi, in another few years. “Captain Ert’zod.”
“Where the hell is my Bastard?”
And she didn’t think he meant his son.
That particular bastard groaned in her ear. Yep, he’d heard it all.
“Well?” It’d come from both Ert’zod...and Ert’zod.
The relief she heard from Crost’s “fine then,” died when the Captain’s shadow overtook hers. He bent until his breath was hot against her nose. “Where is my fucking ship,” he asked again, pausing between each word.
“Repairs.”
His face darkened. Right, she was repairs. “I needed a new driver coil,” she said, coughing. “And uh, protection to get in. It’s radioactive, you see
She sucked in air when Retzi stretched and yawned, but thankfully, he’d gone back to his well deserved sleep. She’d never been with a man who paid so much attention to her desire. And he’d been so commanding, not something she would have thought of the otherwise happy go lucky man.
Not so long ago she’d asked herself if this was worth the risk. Now she had her answer. She’d fight for it – this future of possibilities.
“I worked very hard last night to convince you to stay. Did it work?”
Anja slapped the back of his head, still turned in the opposite direction. “I tried to be very logical about this and I have come to a suitable conclusion.”
He flipped over then, forehead wrinkled and lips pressed together in a tight line. Poor thing. This close to having everything worked out and he looked terrified. “What?”
“This. Your father and piracy will have to wait, I suppose. You think he’ll pay me what I’ve earned?”
Retzi’s clapping cut her off. She kicked him for that, but followed up with an apologetic kiss. “Mmm, forgiven. Now,” he said, rising, “we’ve got to meet up with Crost, hopefully while he’s still recovering from your little date.”
“You’ve got to meet him. I’m not so sure me being there is going to do you any favors. Here.” She pulled out the earpieces from her pack and tossed him one. “I’ll be close if you need backup.”
“No you won’t. You’ll be right here. If I need to make a fast exit, I want this thing humming and running. You might even have to bring it into the city.”
“Well that won’t attract authorities.”
“If it’s that bad that I need to call you in, the authorities are the least of our problems. Promise you’ll stay? I’m not leaving until you do.”
So, she did.
***
S he didn’t.
The moment he disappeared out the hatchway, neck and arms bulging under the weight strapped to him, she went to work cleaning up the ship. When the time came to leave, they’d have to take this ship out and at some point not too far later, abandon it. Anything tracing them to it, had to be accounted for.
Straightening everything hadn’t taken nearly as long as she thought and the only thing left to do was worry. He was there now, she could hear the small talk in her ear as he waited for Crost to see him.
She got the distinct feeling, given the length of time and harried words of the goons that Retzi hadn’t been expected this early, if at all. She couldn’t stop her pacing until Crost’s groggy voice popped in her head over the earpiece. Then she couldn’t find a way to move at all.
He was livid! She’d never known a man to be so upset with a treasure presented at his feet. Retzi mumbled on about honor among thieves, but it didn’t work to calm down Crost or her.
While the man’s ranting ratcheted up in intensity, she packed her weapon and took off running. Refusing to let anything stop her from getting to Retzi.
Except for Retzi.
What?
She came to a skidding stop, causing a minor pedestrian pileup that had swears coming from every direction. Including in her ear. Retzi’s swearing in her ear.
And in front of her.
Anja squinted against the early morning light and her heart dropped.
Yeah, she saw Retzi. Retzi, in another few years. “Captain Ert’zod.”
“Where the hell is my Bastard?”
And she didn’t think he meant his son.
That particular bastard groaned in her ear. Yep, he’d heard it all.
“Well?” It’d come from both Ert’zod...and Ert’zod.
The relief she heard from Crost’s “fine then,” died when the Captain’s shadow overtook hers. He bent until his breath was hot against her nose. “Where is my fucking ship,” he asked again, pausing between each word.
“Repairs.”
His face darkened. Right, she was repairs. “I needed a new driver coil,” she said, coughing. “And uh, protection to get in. It’s radioactive, you see
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