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Authors: Elysa Hendricks
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observing without comment. Bear was down in the shuttle bay getting the ship Liberty prepped, while Eldin prepared the med bay—even though the ship that had fired on them was smal , capable of holding only a few slaves, they were headed for a slave auction on Verus. No tel ing how many slaves they’d end up bringing back.
After a quick look at her account, she hoped there were only a few up for sale.
The rest of the crew had offered to contribute, but she’d rather not take their money if she could help it. Despite their constant comments, this was her cause, not theirs. They shouldn’t have to pay.
There were other ways to gain custody of slaves besides paying, but Shy and Bear usual y posed as an acquiring madam and her enforcer and took the easiest and least dangerous method of outright purchase. Sometimes a grateful family paid a reward for the return of a loved one, but those situations were few and far between; if a family had money, slavers usual y took a ransom. Most of the slaves Shy rescued came from devastated colonies, and slaves auctioned on Verus were usual y the poorest of the poor.
“Damon just checked in, babe,” Able said.
“He’s early.” She bit her tongue to stop herself from grousing about his endearment. Nothing she did stopped him from using the nickname he’d given her as a child.
At her expression, Terle snickered. What she tolerated from Able didn’t extend to him. “You have something to say, Terle?” she asked.
“No, Captain.” He gave her a mock salute and fel silent.
Managing this crew was like herding cats. Shy sighed and turned back to Able.
“I hope his delivery came off without a hitch. I think I’m going to need the credits.” Light glinted off Able’s smooth bald head as he swiveled in his chair to face her. His broad smile revealed a gold-capped tooth. “Damon never comes home empty-handed.”
“Yes, but it’s what’s in his hands when he gets here that worries me,” she said.
Terle grunted and hunched farther over his console.
Aside from herself, Damon, at thirty, was the youngest in her crew. His devastating good looks, charm and easy smile hid an inner darkness Shy had never been able to penetrate. She’d been eight when her father first brought him home, a handsome but quiet boy of ten. At the time she knew nothing of the evil that pervaded the universe; she’d just been thril ed to have a playmate. For the next few years they’d been almost constant companions, until at last he joined her father’s business. She loved him like a brother. She knew little more about his background now than she had as a child. Whatever his scars, he hid them deep inside.
“Hope he hasn’t picked up any more strays.” Terle rubbed his thumb over the scar on his lower lip. “Last one he brought home bit me.” Able threw back his head and laughed. The hearty sound boomed around the bridge. “If you hadn’t tried to kiss her, there wouldn’t have been a problem. Poor little gal was terrified.”
“She didn’t have no problem cozying up to Damon,” Terle grumbled.
“Yeah, he does have a way with the ladies. Must be his face.”
“I’m good looking,” Terle protested.
“Who can tel under al those pretty pictures you’ve got al over you?” Able teased.
“Look who’s talking,” Terle shot back.
The older man’s tanklike body sported as many tattoos as Terle’s, if not more.
Only Able’s face and hairless head seemed to be off-limits. The bickering between the two men was good-natured and harmless, a way to blow off steam and bond.
But at times Shy found the testosterone-charged air annoying.
She glanced over to where Greyson sat quietly, a smal smile on his lips. He hadn’t said a word since she’d informed the crew—aside from Damon, who’d yet to arrive—her recommendation was to help Greyson track down Dempster. No one had argued. As much as they disliked ASP and ELF, none of them wanted to see the outer worlds obliterated. Even
After a quick look at her account, she hoped there were only a few up for sale.
The rest of the crew had offered to contribute, but she’d rather not take their money if she could help it. Despite their constant comments, this was her cause, not theirs. They shouldn’t have to pay.
There were other ways to gain custody of slaves besides paying, but Shy and Bear usual y posed as an acquiring madam and her enforcer and took the easiest and least dangerous method of outright purchase. Sometimes a grateful family paid a reward for the return of a loved one, but those situations were few and far between; if a family had money, slavers usual y took a ransom. Most of the slaves Shy rescued came from devastated colonies, and slaves auctioned on Verus were usual y the poorest of the poor.
“Damon just checked in, babe,” Able said.
“He’s early.” She bit her tongue to stop herself from grousing about his endearment. Nothing she did stopped him from using the nickname he’d given her as a child.
At her expression, Terle snickered. What she tolerated from Able didn’t extend to him. “You have something to say, Terle?” she asked.
“No, Captain.” He gave her a mock salute and fel silent.
Managing this crew was like herding cats. Shy sighed and turned back to Able.
“I hope his delivery came off without a hitch. I think I’m going to need the credits.” Light glinted off Able’s smooth bald head as he swiveled in his chair to face her. His broad smile revealed a gold-capped tooth. “Damon never comes home empty-handed.”
“Yes, but it’s what’s in his hands when he gets here that worries me,” she said.
Terle grunted and hunched farther over his console.
Aside from herself, Damon, at thirty, was the youngest in her crew. His devastating good looks, charm and easy smile hid an inner darkness Shy had never been able to penetrate. She’d been eight when her father first brought him home, a handsome but quiet boy of ten. At the time she knew nothing of the evil that pervaded the universe; she’d just been thril ed to have a playmate. For the next few years they’d been almost constant companions, until at last he joined her father’s business. She loved him like a brother. She knew little more about his background now than she had as a child. Whatever his scars, he hid them deep inside.
“Hope he hasn’t picked up any more strays.” Terle rubbed his thumb over the scar on his lower lip. “Last one he brought home bit me.” Able threw back his head and laughed. The hearty sound boomed around the bridge. “If you hadn’t tried to kiss her, there wouldn’t have been a problem. Poor little gal was terrified.”
“She didn’t have no problem cozying up to Damon,” Terle grumbled.
“Yeah, he does have a way with the ladies. Must be his face.”
“I’m good looking,” Terle protested.
“Who can tel under al those pretty pictures you’ve got al over you?” Able teased.
“Look who’s talking,” Terle shot back.
The older man’s tanklike body sported as many tattoos as Terle’s, if not more.
Only Able’s face and hairless head seemed to be off-limits. The bickering between the two men was good-natured and harmless, a way to blow off steam and bond.
But at times Shy found the testosterone-charged air annoying.
She glanced over to where Greyson sat quietly, a smal smile on his lips. He hadn’t said a word since she’d informed the crew—aside from Damon, who’d yet to arrive—her recommendation was to help Greyson track down Dempster. No one had argued. As much as they disliked ASP and ELF, none of them wanted to see the outer worlds obliterated. Even
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