“Clock’s ticking, Captain. I got other captains needing my time. Ones with ships that aren’t one jump away from a debris field.”
The options were stark: certain death by starvation, debt collectors, or probable death trying to smuggle coffee into the lion’s den. Carmen looked at Norvik. His expression was unreadable, but the slight tightening around his eyes spoke volumes. They had no leverage. No alternatives. The weight of the decision settled on her shoulders, crushing.
She closed her eyes for a second, swallowing the bitter taste of defeat. When she opened them, her voice was flat.
“Fine. We’ll take it.”
Maltese’s smile widened, genuinely pleased this time. He tapped the datapad, sliding it across the desk.
“Excellent choice. Sign here.”
He picked up his sandwich again, already dismissing them.
Carmen snatched the datapad, her fingers trembling with suppressed rage. She scrawled her signature – a jagged, angry line – and shoved it back.
“Where are you docked?” Maltese asked.
“Docking Bay Ninety-four,” Norvik answered.
“I’ll have the goods sent over and loaded. Now get out of my office. I’ve got real business to conduct.”
Carmen stood abruptly, the chair scraping harshly. Norvik rose with his usual grace, inclining his head fractionally towards Maltese. They turned towards the door. The heavy moved aside, his expression impassive. She stormed past him, unable to keep her cool any longer.
And plowed straight into a man standing outside the door.
She moved with such force, she bounced off him and nearly fell on her ass. For a moment, the man she collided with looked shocked. Then a predatory grin slid up his too-handsome face.
“Well, well,” he drawled. “If it isn’t the high-and-mighty Carmen Díaz.”
Carmen froze. Every muscle in her body locked tight. Damn it, of all the assholes for her to run into following this humiliating meeting, why in hell did it have to be Nick Corso? He stood with his feet apart and his hands on his hips, flanked by his first mate, Hadley James, and two of his usual bruisers.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and drenched in arrogance, he cut an imposing figure before her. His dark hair was slicked back, his expensive jacket open to reveal a flash of silk shirt underneath. A cruel smirk played on his lips as his eyes raked over her, lingering with deliberate insolence. The years hadn’t softened him; they’d just added a layer of polished menace.
“I saw that wreck of yours parked outside, but I didn’t imagine I’d get the … pleasure of seeing you,” he said, leering at her. “Listen, we’re next door to you in Docking Bay Ninety-three. Try not to get any of your fleas on my baby.Star Shrikeis a thoroughbred, not a cur.”
“Unlike her captain,” Carmen said, as she smoothed her clothes.
The old hatred, cold and sharp, flooded her veins, momentarily eclipsing her despair. She was pleased to see the frown on his face her insult had inspired.
He sauntered closer, his boots echoing on the deck. His crew hung back, watching with amused stillness.
“Heard about your little setback,” he said, stopping just a step too close, forcing her to tilt her head up to meet his gaze. He smelled of expensive cologne and underlying violence. “The COPS boarding? The fines? Rough break.”
His smirk widened.
“Or maybe just proof that some captains just don’t have what it takes to run a tight ship.”
Carmen’s fists clenched at her sides. She could feel the eyes of the entire foul cantina on them, the curious, hungry stares of people scenting blood. The deep beat of the bass in the music hammered her bones as though it, too, were spoiling for a fight.
“So what brings you to see Maltese? Scrap hauling? Waste disposal?” He chuckled. “You’d have to do an awful lot of cleaning up for it to be prostitution.”
The urge to drive her fist into his smug face was almost overwhelming. Maltese laughed behind her.
“I’d be happy to take care of you, if that’s your business,” he added with another leer.
“Please, Corso,” she said, every syllable covered in disgust. “I wouldn’t fuck you with a stolen vaj.”
Corso’s eyes went round at the remark. Then his face purpled as his heavies snickered and the people within earshot roared with laughter. Carmen grinned at the savage snarl that seized his expression.
