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“It’s the only reason you’re still free.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?” she demanded, her hands on her hips.
“You should have been there when the police raided Blur’s hideout. You were supposed to be back from the Peters job already.” His eyes bored into hers, his top lip curling. “You should have gone to hell with the rest of them for what you did.”
“If you think that should mean something to me, I hate to disappoint you, Cap, but I don’t know what in the stars you’re talking about.” She leaned in close to him, her fingers itching to poke him in his chest. She curled them into tight fists instead and lifted her chin, throwing his own hard stare back at him. “But let me tell you something. Just because you knew me seven years ago doesn’t mean you know one damn thing about me or my life now.”
“I know enough to want you the hell off my ship. I would have been perfectly happy to have never seen you again.” His raspy voice deepened into a growl, and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. “If I wasn’t under orders, I’d leave you on the next planet.”
“If I wasn’t being blackmailed into helping your sorry ass, I’d be more than happy to go!”
“Then do it. I’ll even write your discharge papers. I’ll risk the court-martial; I just want you off my ship, Carrizal. I don’t need a sticky-fingered whore distracting my crew.”
“A whore? Is that the most creative thing you can come up with?” She shook her head and pursed her lips. “I’m so disappointed, Captain. The man I knew was much better with his tongue.”
He grabbed her arms and yanked her to his chest. “The man you knew died seven years ago, along with any respect he might have had for you.”
She leaned into him until she could feel his heart thundering beneath hers, his chest rising and falling in time with her own breathing. “Then why do you keep bringing him up? Why do you watch me like you’re reliving the same memories I am?”
“I’m watching to make sure you don’t steal anything. I know how you operate—everything is fair game to sell to the highest bidder. You never could be trusted.”
Her fingernails bit into her palms. She’d knock the smug look from his face if he said one more word.
Footsteps vibrated on the metal floor of the corridor as Keva darted around the corner. “What the hell do you two think you’re doing shouting at each other? The whole ship’s going to hear you!”
A muscle jumped in Finn’s jaw. He pushed Renna away, stepping back so the width of the corridor separated them.
Renna forced her hands to stay at her side. “Isn’t that too bad?” she drawled, feigning calm despite the hammering in her chest. “Maybe your crew will finally see you for what you are.”
“And what’s that?” he asked dangerously, lowering his voice.
“You’re as mercenary as I am,” she said, matching his low tone.
“Watch yourself, Renna. The truth is a double-edged sword, and last I knew, swordplay wasn’t your strong suit.” The ice in his words could have frozen the deepest lake on Hesperia.
“Things change, Captain. I’ve grown up. I know how to play with lots of new toys.”
Murder flashed in his eyes, and he took a step forward. Renna hastily swallowed her next witty quip.
“Betray me again, and I’ll make sure you serve the rest of your life on a hard work planet.”
This again? Renna’s smile was icy. “Do you really want to talk about betrayal, Cap? Because I have a few choice words regarding your own actions. I’m happy to share if we’re going to play that game.” She leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. Despite her relaxed pose, she held herself tightly in check. One more word from him and she’d attack, prison planet be damned. “And if you ever call me a whore again, I’ll make sure you never have the luxury of enjoying a real one.”
Finn growled and spun on his heels. “Keva, show the thief to her cabin. I’m done here.” He strode away in the opposite direction, anger rolling off him in tangible waves.
Keva’s jaw dropped open, her purple, beak-like lips parted in shock. “I’ve never seen the captain so angry. What did you do?” the lieutenant demanded.
“I have no idea.” Renna shook out her hands and cracked her neck, trying to relax the muscles in her body that were still coiled like springs. She hadn’t felt so out of control in years. Not since the last time she and Hunter…Finn had sparred.
Damn him and damn her past for finally catching up with her.
NINE
That night, Renna fell asleep to the hum of a ship’s engine in her ears for the first time in almost six months. It was the smoothest, steadiest sound she’d ever heard, and she fell a little more in love with the Athena.
Despite the blowup with Finn and the destruction of Veth, she slept like a rock. She always did while traveling, and when the morning bell rang for the crew to switch shifts, she stretched in her bunk and snuggled more deeply under the covers. There was no reason for her to get up. She wasn’t an official member of the team. Finn had made that very clear last night.
An hour or so later, the ship trembled as it came out of FTL, and she jerked awake. They’d reached Krooss. She’d been on the planet once, five years ago, for a job. It was a backwater planet, the space port barely a scrabble of clay buildings and steel warehouses, but it was one of the last stops in the Thassa system to fuel up.
She stretched and glanced around her room. The berth they’d assigned her was small but comfortable, with a bed, a holovid on the wall, and a table and chair in the corner. A low leather couch sat across from the holovid, and another door led to a bathroom. The place was nicer than her first apartment.
And the shower was amazing. The bad thing about space travel was how dirty it always made her feel—the recycled air, the metal coatings, the space particles. But after a quick rinse, she felt almost human again.
Renna peeked in on Myka, but he was still sleeping and she didn’t want to wake him. Gods knew the last time the kid had had a good night’s sleep.
She headed toward the bridge, passing crew members busy at their stations, mechanics on their way to the engine room, even a private wiping space dust off the walls. As she approached the center of the ship, she heard Finn talking with the crew. There was no way she was dealing with him before she’d even had her coffee, so she changed routes and made her way to the flight deck where Kojima was on duty.
