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“I don’t think so. You tried to steal my escape pod, and then my shuttle. You incapacitated me.”

Dakota took a few deep breaths, trying hard to ignore the cuff. So far, Dare Phoenix hadn’t hurt her. She’d spent a lifetime reading people and gauging their capacity to do her damage. Was this man capable of violence? Absolutely. Was he controlling and bossy? Definitely. Would he hurt a woman? Maybe he’d break a woman’s heart into tiny little pieces—if she was stupid enough to let herself fall for him—but physically, she didn’t think so.

“And let’s not mention the fact that you dinged my brother’s cuttership. He isn’t happy.”

Dakota got the impression Rynan was unhappy a lot. “So what now?”

“Why is Golden Nova after you?”

She closed her eyes. She visualized the cuff gone, being free, finding the Atocha Treasure. She’d done this since she was a kid—when everything got too hard, she’d just focus on what she wanted, and will her problems to dissolve away.

Fingers gripped her chin and her eyes snapped open. His face was inches from hers.

“Dakota, it’s time you tell me why Golden Nova has a contract out on your life.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She’d figured there was a kill contract, but she still didn’t like knowing that every scumbag in the quadrant knew about it, too.

“My business, Phoenix. Take me to Sierra⁠—”

“No. Not without knowing who else might turn up on my ship to get to you.”

“Then drop me at the next habitable world.”

He snorted. “I give the orders around here. We’re in uncharted space now. Not a lot of starship traffic around here. If I drop you at the next habitable world, you’re likely to be stuck there for months, or a sitting duck for the next assassin. Tell me why they are after you.”

She ran through her options. She couldn’t reveal the treasure—it was hers. He might not hurt her, but she could see him claiming her treasure.

She yanked on the cuff again, fighting back the taste of bile. She wanted it off.

The only option she had left was to do what she did best.

“I dabble in antiquities sales. I purchased an…artifact. I didn’t know what it was and I didn’t know that it was stolen from Golden Nova. The dealer was reputable. I had no clue he was selling stolen goods.”

Dare’s silver eyes narrowed. He made a sound, and she couldn’t read him. Was he buying it?

She bit her lip. “After I purchased the artifact, the first assassin came after me. Then another. I was afraid, so I ran.”

“Mm-hmm.”

That didn’t sound convincing.

“What is this artifact?” he asked.

Dakota took a risk. Sometimes just a little bit of truth in a lie made it believable. She grabbed the orb and held it up.

He frowned. “What is it?”

She knew this holo-orb looked like no holo-crystal ever made, so she wasn’t surprised he didn’t recognize it. “It’s some kind of jewel.” She gave him her best innocent look.

“And you have no idea why it’s so valuable to Golden Nova?”

She shook her head.

“They’ll keep coming.”

She nodded. Golden Nova never gave up. Their one agenda was anarchy, and they weren’t kind to anyone who got in their way. Maxir Sander, their leader, was not only scary, but smart. A dangerous combination. He was different from the rest of the crazy members. And Korrdo Drach, Maxir’s right-hand man…she shivered. The time she’d spent with Korrdo had creeped her out. The man had the soulless eyes of a reptile.

“Is this jewel worth it?” Dare asked.