The cargo hold was silent for a moment as we all thought about Finn.
“So, your girl, she handles the cargo?”Orion asked.
I ignored the “my girl” part, although I wished it were true.“Lacy has been teaching us as much as she can since we left Harrier, but there’s a lot to learn.So, yes, she’s in charge of the cargo for now.”
“Until we drop her off somewhere.”Mercer again.
My breath hitched.“Yes,” I said though I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach.
“And what is it you do?”Mercer asked her, slipping into his snooty, high-society voice.
“I’m a mechanic,” Lacy answered calmly.
“And you let her near our ship?”
“Look,” Lacy said, cutting me off before I could defend her.“This shit is getting old.I’ve already done this whole song and dance with Finn.”She stepped forward next to Burn and addressed Mercer and Orion from the platform on the stairs.
“You don’t like me?Fine.You want me off the ship?Great.You can have that—after you help me rescue my sister.Burn and Dax gave me their word.They promised you would help too.If not, why don’t you get back on your little red ship and get the hell out of here.I don’t need your shit endangering my sister.”
She took a deep breath and continued.“Tonight we’ll get the cargo.Tomorrow we’ll head to Kottke.Hopefully we’ll have Layla free within twenty-four hours.After that, as soon as you find an acceptable planet, we’ll be off your ship.A week max.That’s all you have to suffer my presence for.”
She glared at Burn and me.“Take care of the cargo when it gets here.”Then she whirled around and stomped through the door to the rest of the ship.The door slammed behind her.
Thattagirl.
“Yep, I like her,” Orion said.
My eyes widened as my gaze whipped toward him.
“Yeah, me too,” Burn said.“You were kind of rude to her, Mercer.”
What was even happening here?I choked back a laugh when Mercer’s jaw dropped.
“What the hell, Burn?Finn said you didn’t like her either.”Mercer sounded as confused as I felt.
“I didn’t, and then I did.And wait ’til you hear about the treasure!”With that, Burn followed Lacy through the door.
“Treasure?”Mercer asked incredulously.
I rubbed my forehead.“It’s a long story.”
“But treasure?Finn didn’t mention anything about treasure.”
I was as tired of the questions as Lacy was.I studied the members of my squad.My best friends.Men I considered family.“Look, Lacy had the right of it.Are you in or out?Anything else threatens the mission.”
Mercer studied me.I let him.The man had saved my life more than once.I considered him a brother.“You’ve got it bad, don’t you, Dax?”
I started.“What?”That was not the diagnosis I’d expected.
Behind him Orion nodded.“He’s right.I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“It’s not—” I started to deny it, but he was right.And I was tired of hiding.“Yeah, maybe I do.So what?”
“Are you sure you’re thinking clearly?”
I gritted my teeth.I understood why he was asking and maybe someday I’d appreciate his concern.And I would for sure remember this when he finally brought a woman around, but I still hated having to justify my feelings.
“Yes, I’m sure.She’s been upfront with us about everything.”Except maybe that last secret I thought she was keeping.“She’s made connections for us and earned us more money than I’d hoped for right out of the gate.We got off to a rocky start, but things have smoothed out.”
