What About Your Kid, Combs?
Citizens of the Galaxy! Help this Bad Dad.
Aria’s face heated. “My father knows trade is a public matter, while family is to be held dearly private,” she said with false pride. “It’s obvious that these scandal rags and misanthropic commentators have no idea how an aristocratic family works. These lurid images show nothing but the ignorance of the mob.
“I would like to return to my chamber now, please,” she said quietly.
Jack regarded her silently for a moment. “Quinn, please show the lady to her quarters.”
“Aye, Captain. If it would please you,milady?” Quinn stepped gracefully down from the command dais and indicated Aria should follow.
Aria ignored the heavy sarcasm in Quinn’s voice and nodded graciously.
The corridors were a blur as Aria used all of her self-control to keep herself together.I’m not even going to think about this until I’m alone.Keep walking. Just keep walking.Quinn, for her part, showed no indication of wishing to provoke her further.
Finally reaching her quarters, Quinn opened the door and indicated Aria should enter.
“Hit the intercom if you want anything,” said Quinn, and sealed the door.
Finally alone, Aria flung herself on the bed and let the tears fall freely. “Oh, Father, howcouldyou?” He hadn’t even said her name. It was all so horribly, terribly humiliating.
She hunted for a handkerchief and found some in a drawer then returned to the bed, hugging her knees close to her body. In her heart of hearts, Aria had been aware of her place within the Gryffin family hierarchy. Not a son, so that was a mark against her. Not firstborn—another mark. She was the second daughter of a house that, because of itsnouveau richestatus, did not have deep connections with other families anyway. In a noble society obsessed with hierarchies, she had spent a certain amount of willful effort turning a blind eye to the realities of her social position.
Not anymore. Her father, in his pompous and tone deaf demand that the galaxy give him his cargo back—and his daughter, as an afterthought—had laid bare exactly how minimal Aria’s social place really was. Aria could not have been more humiliated if naked pictures of her had been broadcast across the galaxy. Then, at least, some people might have been jealous. Now, people would either mock her or worse,pityher.
Aria sniffed.So what do you do now?
Her father may not be shaking heaven and Palamar to findher, but he certainly was doing so to find his precious mandalum. So, if Aria wanted to be found, then she needed to make sure she stayed hip-close to the cargo. Being rescued as an afterthought still meant being rescued.
The door opened, and Jack stood in the doorway.
“Polite people usually knock,” she snapped, ignoring her rush of excitement at seeing him.
He shrugged in an infuriating way and stepped in anyway. “Pirate,” he said easily, his catch-all justification.
“What do you want?” she asked, in as icy a tone as she could muster. Still, she couldn’t help admiring him as he stood there with an easy grace that demonstrated his total control of his athletic physique.
“I just thought you deserved an answer.”
Aria could not contain her curiosity. “About what?”
“You demanded to know why I had you kidnapped. You assumed it was for ransom. I think we both know that was not the case.”
“I think you demonstrated that quite thoroughly, thank you,” Aria retorted.
“So, don’t you want to know the real reason?”
“Why on Palamar would I assume that you would ever tell me the truth?” she demanded.
Once again, Jack gave an easy shrug. “I have no reason to lie. I took you because I wanted you. It’s that simple.”
Despite herself, a part of Aria thrilled at those words. Still, she was not going to let him know that.
“Of course. How like a pirate, to see what he wants and take it, without regard for anyone else’s feelings,” she sneered.
“What are your feelings?”
“What do you mean?” she shot back.
