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Marcus laughed. “You’re still my little spitfire. I’d forgotten how much fun you are.”

“I’m not fun, and I don’t want to be on this ship with you.”

“You should be grateful. I’m doing you a favor.”

“How do you figure that out?”

“This is a chance for you to start again. Think about it. What if you go back to the station? Have you got friends who will miss you?”

Ivy hissed air through her teeth. “You know I don’t make friends easily.”

“Are you really so keen on that job of yours that you can’t find something better?”

“The job is fine. I could do better if I wanted.”

“Is it something else? Are you waiting for some hot alien to scoop you off your feet like so many Earth women go on about?”

Ivy crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned against the wall. Marcus’s words were horribly accurate. She had no friends on Prodigy. Everyone she worked with would be glad when they realized she’d gone and wasn’t returning. As for her job, she was doubtful she’d have it in a couple of days, anyway. When Diadora had finished her investigations, she’d know Ivy had messed with the data. She’d fire her. People would forget all about her.

“So, how about it? You and me and the stars. What an adventure that will be.”

“Where are you taking us?” Ivy had no plans to stay with Marcus, but maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to leave Prodigy. A new start somewhere else. Ivy had talent. Anyone would be lucky to hire her. Marcus could actually be helping her for once.

“We’re heading to Starland. That station sounds more fun than Prodigy.”

“If you like gambling, watered down booze, and bar fights.”

Marcus laughed. “We’ll fit right in.” He gestured to the seat next to him.

Ivy eased onto the edge of the seat. “Do you have a base there? Somewhere to stay?”

“I won’t be staying for long.”

“Are you picking up supplies?”

Marcus glanced at her. “Listen, Ivy, don’t take this the wrong way. I’m working on getting my life back on track. To do that, I need money to buy a ship.”

“What’s wrong with the ship we’re in?”

“I borrowed it for a couple of days, just to get us to Starland.”

“And?”

Marcus shot her a guilty glance. “It’s obvious you don’t like me.”

“You can hardly blame me. You cheated on me. You hurt me.”

He shrugged. “I did say sorry. You sure know how to hold a grudge. We can still be useful to each other, even though you don’t want to be my fuck buddy anymore.”

“We were more than fuck buddies.” Ivy leaned forward in her seat. Unease shot through her. Marcus was up to something. “How can I be useful to you? What have you got planned?”

“It turns out some aliens will pay a lot for a human female.”

Ivy forced herself to remain in her seat. “Of course, they do. The only way they get access to human females is through My Single Alien. Any other method involves breaking the law.”

“You’re so naïve. My Single Alien isn’t the only avenue through which aliens acquire females. Some aren’t prepared to wait. Some don’t trust the service you work for. They still need a fertile female to mate with. Who’d have thought there’s a thriving black market for selling females to aliens?”

Ivy choked out a laugh, not sure she believed what she heard. “You’re planning to sell me to an alien, so you can buy yourself a big shiny ship?”