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“Chased the poor girl off, did ya?” Gavin stood by the door, scowling. “You know she’s our best candidate, right?”
“She’s ouronlycandidate.” No point in sugarcoating it.
Ulrek always knew his notoriety would be the biggest obstacle to finding a good technician. His reputation would always precede him, making every step a little harder than need be. It was part of the Stars’ punishment for what he’d done.
The human male shrugged. “Not many working here with the knowledge to run and possibly replant the whole greenroom would want to leave Reka 5 and spend a whole year in a warship. This isn’t exactly a luxury cruiser like theStar Beauty. And let’s face it, you’re no Jankar.”
That was who had snatched up every other available talent on Reka 5: Jankar, the owner of the Wildview Starliner Company. Ulrek got it: he’d rather spend his time on a luxury cruiser, too. But warships were all he had. A small fleet of them, every last one stolen from the Dominion over the years and crewed by defectors and others who felt wronged by those Goddess-loving pricks.
“Do you think she’s going to tell everyone we’re here?” Gavin asked. “That would cause a stink.”
“She’s probably going to go to Ryek or Holden. They’ll tell her to be quiet.”
The colony directors spared no love for Ulrek, but an agreement was an agreement, and they were nothing if not honorable.
“That’s good. Should we put the job posting back up? Maybe expand it to include New Rhea?”
The male didn’t mention Vosthea because they knew there was nobody there who’d fit the bill. They’d already checked there since that was their home base.
“Not worth it.” Ulrek stood. “Wildview already has every qualified person working for them. I think she’s our only chance. It doesn’t matter, anyway. She signed that contract, end of story.”
His engineer and mechanic raised a brow. “We’re all going to have to sleep with one eye open if you force her to work on the ship.”
No. Not the whole crew. Just him.
That was one thing Ulrek didn’t need: crew that would backstab him. Again. Especially if it endangered the rest of his team. “Leveraging the contract is a last resort. We’ll try to convince her to change her mind. You hated me too when we first met, remember?”
“Ha! I wanted to gut you like a fish, and you didn’t like me any better.”
“I wanted to strangle you.”
Gavin beamed like it was a compliment. Perhaps it was. Ulrek had hated Gavin and the rest of the group of humans who’d stolen theStellar Fortunefrom him, thus fucking up his plan to steal it from the Dominion himself.
Ulrek looked toward the door and recalled Delaney’s reaction when he’d stepped near her. For some reason, Ulrek wanted to see Delaney again, and soon. Strange, because he’d given up on females.
Back when he was a venerated Dominion captain, females had flocked to him, hoping to form a partnership of convenience. He’d had offers at every city and outpost. Knowing that these females cared not one bit about the male underneath the medals, he visited their beds strategically, always making sure to stay only briefly.
The Dominion had also gifted him female slaves in appreciation of jobs well done. He’d always accepted them with thanks, as was required by a male of his station, but many of them lacked the fire in their eyes that Ulrek found so delightful in his female companions. The kind of fire that had sparked in Delaney’s eyes when she’d told him she quit.
Ulrek had spent the majority of his life avoiding commitment, despite wanting a family of his own. And now it was too late. Since leaving the Dominion and falling from the Goddess’ graces, Dominion females avoided him as if he was diseased, while those from the outer planets still thought of him as the enemy. Any female wanting to be in his bed now was most likely only after the bounty on his head.
Ulrek unlocked the drawer that held his disguise.
“You going after her?” Gavin asked.
“I want to learn more about our new technician.”
“You’re going to stalk her.” The human male didn’t look impressed.
“No.Weare.”
“Oh no. Uh-uh.” Gavin shook his head and started to retreat. “I’m not a part of this.”
“Do you want her help with the greenroom or not?”
Gavin sighed. “Fine. But if we get kicked off Reka 5, you’re going to explain why to the rest of the crew, not me.”
Ulrek laughed. This was why he liked his mechanic. Ulrek had spent most of his career being bowed down to. No one had dared question his authority, ever.
