“Then it is good that she is no longer on that ship,” Copta said.
Shank gave an exaggerated frown.
“Shank?” Allie asked.
Shaking his head, Shank said, “I’m probably being paranoid.”
“About what?”
“Sometimes people who leave those nonfamily ships decide to go back.” Shank stood and paced the room. While this was a nice-sized cabin and larger than anything Allie had seen since leaving home, it wasn’t large enough for six feet of uptight Shank to pace.
Allie scooted back on the bed so Shank couldn’t hit her knees or trip over her as he paced the narrow space. Copta imitated her.
“The family ships don’t bring in a lot of money,” Shank said, “and people who don’t have children sometimes don’t appreciate that we’re cautious pirates. They really don’t understand the money we invest in educational tech or shielding. The nonfamily ships end up giving out much larger shares.”
“You think this woman has gone back to theMonitor?” Allie asked.
Shank stopped and looked at her. “I have no idea, but if she has, this is exactly the sort of thing my mother would try. My mom is hoping I’ll fail miserably.”
Allie closed her eyes and let herself fall back onto the bed. “Great,” she said to the universe at large.
Chapter Nine
Allie watched as anunfamiliar crew member escorted Copta out of the room and back to Becca and Ben. She felt a little twinge of guilt at making Copta feel unwelcome, but she didn’t know how to interact with asexual people. In her world, holding hands led to more. Copta confused Allie’s vagina.
“I’m really sorry about my mother,” Shank said. He leaned against the wall next to the vid screen and looked miserable.
“She’s not the first mother to hate me,” she said, thinking about Casey’s mother. At the time, she’d blamed her father, but looking back, Allie could see that Casey’s mother hadn’t liked her long before her father had threatened to kill Casey.
Shank grinned at her. “Only because they don’t know you.”
“And you do?” Allie snapped. She quickly closed her mouth. She had no idea where that had come from.
Shank gave her a curious look. “I know what kind of woman you are. You’re the sort to walk off a Command ship and trust me when I promise I have a plan. Not many people are that trusting of pirates.” He sounded so sincere, and Allie hated feeling so off balance.
“I didn’t mean that like it sounded,” she admitted. “Besides, it’s not like I have anything you want to steal.” She scooted back on the bed and crossed her legs. The fact was she’d walked away from all her possessions except the 240 credits she’d pulled before their stunt at the bar.
