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She touched his arm. “Hey, thanks for coming to get me. It was my fault I got caught.”
“None of this is your fault. Cleo told us the ship had gone. Not that I’m looking to blame anyone. We know the risks when we go on these missions.”
“You thought the ship was still around, though.”
“Now’s not the time. We’re getting out of this. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’m always here for you.”
A warmth spread through her, and her heart swelled. Why did she always go mushy when Striker said things like that? He didn’t mean them, at least not the way her dumb lonely heart thought he did. This was his job. He was her partner. He was meant to keep her safe.
“Is everything okay?” he said. “You look... unsure about something.”
“No, I mean, yes. Everything’s great. Thanks. And I do want you as my partner. I didn’t mean what I said about finding someone else. You’ve just proven to me that you can be trusted. Not that I didn’t trust you. I mean, I thought you were a bit of an... ass.” Oops! Her foot was officially in her mouth. It must be the stress making her blurt out things.
He slowed, and heat filled his gaze. “I can be your partner in so many ways. I love protecting that sexy butt.”
“Don’t go into jerk mode.” She smacked his arm.
“I’m not a jerk. I’m always here to serve and protect the pretty Humans, slay the enemy, and ride off into the stars with my sack full of riches.” He winked at her.
She shook her head. Behind the joke, there was sincerity, she was almost certain.
“Quick. In here.” Striker punched an access panel and shoved Wren inside the room.
She held her breath as footsteps approached.
“You stay here.” He waited until the footsteps had passed the door before opening it.
Wren inched out after him, just in time to see Striker knock out a Gente with a slicing blow to the back of his head.
The Gente’s colleague was turning as Striker lifted his gun and fired.
Wren stood in the doorway, fighting the urge to swoon, just like he said she would when she saw him in action. She had to get a grip. This was Striker. The good time guy. He was a love them hard and leave them fast kind of guy. She had no vacancies for anyone like that in her heart.
He grinned when he saw her watching him. “Does it make you want to get me into bed?”
That was exactly what she needed to hear, the jackass version of Striker out in full force. “Is that really all you’re interested in?”
“It doesn’t have to be the bed. I don’t mind the floor, the shower, the kitchen. Anywhere that’s not freezing cold does it for me.”
A high-pitched alert had Wren jumping. She looked at the red light on the wall.
“Intruder alert. Prepare for emergency measures,” the ship’s automated system said.
“We’ve been rumbled,” Striker said.
“We have to get to the cockpit before the pilot calls for back-up.”
Striker grabbed Wren’s hand, and they raced to the end of the corridor.
She tried the access panel, but the door was locked.
“Let me.” Striker blasted the panel with his gun.
The door opened to reveal the Gente who’d taken Wren.
He leaped from his seat, grabbed his gun, and fired.
Striker pushed Wren against the wall, his attention on the Gente. “Hey, asshole. We have a score to settle. No one takes something I want and gets away with it.” He ducked around the corner and fired off several shots.
