“Excellent idea.” A tiny smile quirked his lips. “I’ll have BEll pull what she can find, but I’m guessing it won’t be much.”
“We’ll need a distraction. Something to keep them busy while we’re sneaking in.”
Now he smiled, full and true. “The Phoenix brothers are experts at distraction.”
Ria was blinded by his smile. Wasn’t that the truth.
CHAPTER FIVE
“There it is.”
Zayn called out to the others, watching the wide asteroid cloud coming into view. His hands flew over the control panel. He was most at home in his well-worn pilot’s seat with the controls at his fingertips. It was the first time he’d felt steady in the last twenty-four hours. Since he’d first seen Ria’s face.
“Where’s the Tekton base?”
Her voice was in his right ear as she leaned over his shoulder. So close he felt the warmth of her breath on his skin. His entire body tensed. Jesus, he had no idea if he was attracted to her for her own sake, or because she reminded him of Vik.
“Still a ways off yet. It’s on the other side of the cloud.” He glanced at his timepiece. “I hope Nik’s contact comes through with the map of the Tekton base soon.”
“They will,” Nik said from the chair beside Zayn.
“How are Dath and Eos doing with organizing the distraction?” Ria asked.
Zayn adjusted the engine controls. “They’re almost ready.” Suddenly, he felt Ria stiffen. He turned his head. “What’s wrong?”
She was scanning the main cockpit area. “I’m not sure…I—” she tensed even more “—someone’s here.”
Zayn looked at the empty space. “There’s no one here but us.”
Ria launched forward, striking out with her arm. It looked like she hit empty space, but Zayn was shocked when the air shimmered and a black-clad figure materialized.
Son of a bitch. He surged out of the chair and Niklas did the same. There was no way anyone could get aboard a ship moving at interstellar speed undetected. And no way Zayn or BEll could have missed it.
Ria kicked out at the infiltrator, her moves fluid and power-packed. But the tall, black figure covered in light body armor moved with their own deadly moves.
The pair grappled with each other, spinning around, before Ria managed to tackle the intruder. They rolled across the floor.
Dammit, Ria was going to get hurt. Zayn moved closer and when he got the chance, he grabbed Ria from behind and yanked her up. Nik grabbed the intruder, his arms wrapped tight around a slim torso.
“What the hell are you doing?” Ria struggled against Zayn.
Now was not the time, but his mind recorded every brush of her body against his. “Saving you from a nasty injury.”
“What?” She finally went still but her gaze was on the figure in black.
Nik was still holding their visitor. One hand was resting lightly around the person’s throat. “Don’t move.”
“Or what?” The voice was an eerie electronic sound through the armor helmet.
Nik touched a button on the side of the helmet, and it retracted. “No games, Nera.”
Ria blinked. “Nera? Nera Darc?”
“In the flesh, unfortunately.” Zayn still couldn’t believe such a black-hearted and sneaky treasure hunter could be soincredibly beautiful. A flawless face was dominated by eyes the color of a multi-hued nebula. Her hair was short and platinum blonde. “How the hell did you get on the ship?”
The tiniest smile tugged at full lips.
Zayn scowled. “BEll, any record of her entry?”
