I smiled ruefully.“I left her at home with my dad.Didn’t think I would need her while I was working on the asteroid station.”A soft laugh escaped.“I was wrong.”
“I don’t like you much right now,” Burn said, shifting the conversation again.
Ignoring the unexpected hurt her words caused, I nodded.“I know.”Last night had made it perfectly clear.
“Fortunais our ship.Ours!”She thumped a fist to her heart.“We spent years in the space corps, following orders, going where they sent us.Ten years and I—we!—finally had a chance to be our own bosses.Our team.Our crew.Our family.”
“And before we even had a chance, you were here first.On our ship, with Dax.Nothing was like we planned.”
When she looked at me, I just nodded.
She dropped her gaze to the ground.“Then you were nice to me and I told myself it was okay for a short time.You fixed stuff without even being asked.Little things like the squeak in my door.”Her gaze flicked back up and her lips curled in a sad smile.“Thank you for that, by the way.You treatedFortunawell.You treated us well, and I started to like you.Even after I found out you had been on Blazer’s crew.And then I found out it was all a lie.”
She paused.Was this my chance to defend myself?
As the silence grew, I decided to fill it.
“I think my sister’s been kidnapped.”I looked over at Layla’s frozen face.Her smile was crooked from being paused, but I could still see the twinkle in her eyes.“I didn’t know that when the men broke into my apartment.When I broke into your ship.I was only thinking about my safety.”
And now I was thinking about my sister’s.
“I’m sorry I messed up the cargo job on Elegium Station.I’ve been trying to make it up to Dax—to make it up to all of you—ever since.That’s why I recommended the stop on Rigel Naught and our current cargo.”
“But you’re not just helping because you feel bad, are you?”
Her words pricked at my conscience, but I’d been upfront with Dax.“You’re right.Dax said he’d help me find Layla.I said I’d help your team make money.I still think it’s an even trade.”
“Dax wasn’t authorized to make a decision like that.”Burn’s tone was hard.I’d lost her, assuming I’d ever had her support.
Too many captains ruined the business.If they really intended to make all decisions equally, they’d find that out soon enough.
“I’m sorry about your sister.I really hope you find her.But I don’t think it can be on this ship.”
“Thank you for your candor.”How I kept my tone even I’ll never know.I wanted to beg and plead and rage.She obviously had a tight bond with her team—her family!—why couldn’t she understand that all I wanted was to protect mine the same way?
With a long last look at the computer screen, she stood and left the room.The sound of the door closing behind her was like a fist closing around my heart.
I slid off the bed, dropping to my knees on the floor.Tear streamed down my face.
Harrier was off the main shipping corridors.Sure, ships like ours — I shook my head.Ships likeFortunabrought supplies, but they didn’t run on a regular schedule.We were already more than a week behind whatever had happened to Layla.This would set me back longer.Assuming I could find a way off the planet.
I don’t know how long it was until I had cried myself out.My body felt dry.Dehydrated.My nose was runny.Wiping the remnants of tears from my face with the bottom of my shirt, I slowly, reluctantly, stood up.
So they were stranding me on a mining planet, were they?Assholes.I’d find a way off.I’d find my sister.And we’d find theQueen of Starsand I’d rub it in their faces.
That’s a really nice plan, Lacy, but first you have to get off the planet.
Shit.Shit.Shit.
That was the main problem, wasn’t it?
I could call my dad—as a last resort—but that would still take time, depending on where he and his ship were.I’d rather solve this myself.
I mentally cycled through my options.Usually, I’d hang out in the engine room and work on something until an idea came to me.
Yeah, that wasn’t an option this time.
My dad would fight.I hated that option.Sure, I’d take on all three of them if they tried to space me, but short of a threat to my life, I didn’t want to hurt any of them.Didn’t want to hurt Dax.
