No Mercy (24 page)

Gia crouched down before him. “You are dumber than a box of cosmic dust sometimes.
Because,
Zan, they like having you as a captain.”

He shook his head. “It's Duffy—”

Covering his lips with her fingers, she said, “You inspire loyalty in people and you're a natural leader. Give yourself some credit.”

Unwilling to argue with her, he said, “How did Gen and Rhys get here so quickly?”

“Well, from what Gen said, her friend sent her a direct transmission.”

“Her friend?” Even as he spoke the words he realized what she meant. “My ship?”

Nodding, she rose to her feet. “Yeah. It told her that Xander has its mother, which is why it had to go back to Hosta.”

Zan swore low. “That base in the Northern Territories. I always knew the ship was a hybrid, but the details were kept under wraps.”

Gia nodded. “It's unwilling to do anything against Xander until its mother is safe. Slone and his stinger squadron volunteered to leave for Hosta immediately, but without a wormhole for a shortcut it'll be years before they get there.”

Zan shook his head. “That'll be too late. We need to take Xander out first.”

Gia frowned. “I agree, but how?”

“Did you ever hear that expression, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?”

Gia nodded slowly, though her expression remained unconvinced.

Zan took a deep breath. “We need to get to New New York as soon as possible. I'm gonna meet with the board from Illustra.”

S
pring in New New York. Gia glanced around at the well-dressed women sporting their spring fashions and killer heels and wondered if any of them worked for Illustra. Maybe they knew who she was. Who Zan was and what they intended to do. Her normally comfortable flight suit chafed her skin, or maybe she was just jumpy seeing as how they were about to confront the people who'd dispatched an assassin to kill her.

That kind of thing made a girl touchy.

Zan didn't seem to have any trouble relaxing. He was back to his old irreverent self, ogling the women in slinky dresses like the notorious letch she knew him to be. It became so obvious she elbowed him in the ribs, hard. “Knock it off.”

He grinned down at her, that bone-melting smile that could set her panties on fire. “Looking, not touching.”

“How about I gouge your eyeballs from their sockets with a laser drill?” she asked sweetly. “Problem solved.”

“They've got nothing on my avenging angel.” He brought her hand to his lips and brushed his lips over the knuckles.

To the outside world they were just a random couple walking down Lexington Avenue after taking the sonic train to Grand Central on a random Thursday, out sightseeing with nothing more important on their schedule than a stroll through the park.

The fantasy that they could be normal, could actually live anonymously.

A flash of red caught her eye, and he followed her gaze.

“Mmm, I'd like to see you in that.”

“In your dreams, bucko. That's like a five hundred credit dress. Do you know how many engine parts I could buy for the same amount?”

He leaned down and whispered in here ear, “I'd make it worth your while.”

Despite her nerves, she shivered with pleasure. His game was obvious, keeping things light and relaxed so they could saunter into Illustra like they held all the cards. One thing she'd learned from Zan—attitude was everything.

She stopped and turned to face him. “Thanks.”

“What for?”

“Helping me keep it together when I'm scared out of my mind.”

His expression sobered. “You do the same thing for me, Gia. No one else has ever centered me the way you do. I'm better with you than I ever thought I could be.”

Standing on her toes, she feathered her lips over his. “That's definitely the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Yeah, well, don't let it get out. I've got a reputation as a badass space pirate to maintain.”

They continued on in silence until the steel and glass edifice of the Illustra building came into view.

Zan squeezed her hand. “You ready?”

Gia's mouth went dry. Illustra's board of directors probably already knew they were here. They might only have moments left to live. “I wish I could talk to my mother first. I know that's not possible, but there's just so much . . .”

“You'll get the chance if I have anything to say about it.” A shadow fell over his face. “You're not the only one with regrets.”

“Duffy?”

Zan nodded, his eyes haunted. “I owe him so much. More than I could ever repay. He's been everything I needed for so damn long and I abused his trust.”

She'd seen them together in her dreams, experienced the passion between them, and it wasn't all one-sided like Duffy thought. By all rights Gia should be jealous of the other man. She couldn't begrudge Duffy a small corner of Zan's heart when she owned the rest of it. “I know you'll make it right.”

Without a word they turned and strode together into the building. The board of directors met on the forty-fifth floor, so they took the elevator all the way to the top. Ignoring the outraged receptionist, Gia stood aside as Zan kicked open the massive oak doors with enough force for them to bounce against the wall.

Inside sat the three wealthiest people on the planet, looking stunned at the broken door. “Security!” the bald man shouted. “Intruders in the conference room.”

“We're not armed,” Gia said. Though Zan had wanted to bring a few energy weapons, Gia knew the security sensors would pick up on their electromagnetic signatures immediately. They never would have made it past the lobby.

“I believe you've been looking for me,” Zan said, and spread his hands wide. “Well, here I am.”

The brunette woman looked from Zan to Gia and back again. “It's not Xander, it's Zan.”

“Zan's his son,” the man with the hawk nose scoffed. “Open your eyes, woman. It must be Xander.”

“Xander's immortal. Didn't he tell you that?” Zan moved slowly forward. “No? I wonder what else he hasn't told you.”

“Immortal?” The rotund man made a derisive noise. “Not possible. Extensive studies have shown that cellular regeneration can't be sustained indefinitely. DNA breaks down over time, according to the natural laws.”

Zan lowered himself into an empty seat and propped his feet on the table. “I see you've done your homework. Rules are made to be broken, you know, and there are things in the universe, ancient things, that take pleasure in defying every natural law.”

“We're here to propose a trade,” Gia said. “You know I could have gone right to the media or to law enforcement and told them about your little side project with the enslaved empaths.” She didn't add that she suspected they had minions in every nook and cranny. A direct confrontation had been the only safe choice.

The hawk-nosed man laughed. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

Though fear clawed at her insides, Gia put her fists on the table and leaned forward. “Deny it all you like, but I'm sure some of your friends in government would squirm at the idea of reestablishing slavery. What would their constituents think? Never mind the emotional manipulation used by the slaves for your own gains. Then there's kidnapping of the Luzon family. You guys have been busy.”

“Don't threaten us, girl. It won't end well for you.” The bald man sneered.

Zan shot to his feet so fast she barely saw him move. “I should kill you where you stand for setting an assassin on my woman. Be grateful I'm feeling generous and I'm gonna let you make it up to me.”

“We're proposing a trade. Call off the assassin and help us get rid of Xander and reclaim the ship, and we'll take you to the Infinity Pool.”

The board members exchanged glances. The way their eyes met and held made it seem to Gia as if they were communicating telepathically. Were the board members of Illustra telepathic? Her heart rate doubled. That little nugget of information would put a serious crimp in their plans.

“Xander is unstable,” the brunette said aloud. “I could feel his loathing for us the last time he was here. What good is a dog if he won't obey?”

“Xander's no one's dog,” Zan said. “He wants to rule and to bend others to his will. If they break, he tosses them aside.”

“How do we know we can trust you?” The hawk-nosed man narrowed his eyes at Zan.

Running feet pounded behind them. Security had arrived. They were out of time. She cast Zan a worried glance, and he tossed her a wink.

Zan stared down the board members as though he didn't have a care in the world. “I've got everything to gain by siding with you, and double-crossing you gets me nothing. I don't deliver on my end, you still wield all the power. We're all business people here. I reckon we can come to a beneficial arrangement. So, do we have a deal?”

 

“I don't like it.” Zan took in the small bedroom in the brothel, the titanium walls and round bed. “There's only one way in or out. What if he incapacitates me?”

Gia surveyed the room as well, disguised as one of the pleasure companions with a golden wig and a color tint to change her pale skin a deep purple hue common to the natives from the Theox System. “We have almost a whole army between stinger pilots and your crew throughout the place. Gen, Rhys, and Slone are monitoring us from the control room. But that's why it'll work. He's got nowhere to run. We took him down before, we can do it again, especially if he isn't expecting it.”

That was the hitch, wasn't it? Zan didn't know if Xander would be expecting the ambush. Though the Illustra board had agreed to his terms, it might have been a ruse to turn him over to Xander. Even the side deal that he made didn't ensure his or Gia's safety.

“Zan.” She stepped forward to embrace him, bare breasts swaying. Even the artificial color didn't detract from her loveliness. Though it nearly killed him he held up his hands.

“Don't. I want to, but he might recognize my scent on you.”

She frowned. “He can do that?”

“Maybe. My senses are keener than they were a decade ago, almost double what I was born with. No sense taking the risk. Did you apply the pheromone solution after you showered? It should be enough to mask your scent.”

She offered him a small smile. “I guess we're going to find out.”

He ached to go to her, to hold her. It seemed like eons since he'd had her naked beneath him. “I won't let him hurt you, Gia.”

After stepping into the secret room behind the closet he turned back to face her. “If anything happens to me, be sure to turn my body over to Illustra.”

She blinked and stepped back. “What? Why?”

“I made another trade. They can study me in exchange for pardoning you, Gen, and Rhys. The contracts should be waiting back on Earth.” He smiled at her stunned expression. “You can go home, Gia, be a free woman.”

Green eyes filled with emotion, and it warmed even the coldest depths of his heart. “Zan, I don't know what to say.”

He winked. “Say thank you.”

“Thank you, Zan. I'd rather have you, though, so no dying. Got it?”

“Yes, ma'am.” The comm link in his hand buzzed.

“The ship just landed, Cap'n,” Duffy said.

Nodding to Gia, he said, “Good work, Duff. Stay out of sight in case he recognizes you. I'm going dark here.”

“Good luck, Cap'n.”

Zan swallowed around the lump in his throat. “You too.” Shutting off his communicator he blew a kiss to Gia. “Shout out the second his weapons are removed. Sooner if he tries to hurt you.”

“I'll see you in a few.” Gia arranged herself on the bed. And pasted a seductive smile on her face.

Stepping back into the hermetically sealed chamber Zan waited. Though fear scrambled for a hold in his mind he refused to let the worst-case scenarios flying through his head gain purchase. He needed to be cool, calm, and ready.

The small screen in his hidey-hole displayed Gia on the bed, poised and ready for action, just not the kind typically found in a whorehouse. The moments stretched out and he studied her, hoping that Xander wouldn't shoot her the second he walked through the door.

Voices sounded from the outer hallway. He made out a few words, like
reward
and
enjoy,
but he couldn't tell if the Illustra representative was telling the prearranged story or quickly bringing Xander up to speed on the trap.

The door to Gia's suite opened, and she smiled seductively. God, she was so brave. He knew how much his father terrified her, and to trust Zan to rescue her from a fate worse than death at his hands was another example of her unflappable courage.

Xander examined every inch of her body, and Zan itched to kill him for whatever sick thoughts he was having about the woman Zan loved.
Calm, cool and ready

“What a lovely surprise you are, my dear,” Xander said as he sealed the door behind him. Despite the plan, Zan wanted to attack now but needed him disarmed so Gia didn't get hurt in the process. Every second that ticked by, he waited in agony.

Xander leaned in close to Gia. “You smell divine. Where are you from?”

Gia smiled and shifted onto her back, closer to the monster. “Theox,” she whispered low, rolling the word in her mouth like she savored the taste. Reaching for Xander's weapon's belt she looked at him through heavy-lidded eyes. “We have a custom on my home world I'm eager to share with you, but you're wearing too many clothes.”

Xander snatched her hands, and she gasped in either surprise or pain. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“I don't—”

“Where is he? I can smell him on you.” Removing a knife from his belt, Xander dragged Gia off the bed, holding the sharp blade to her throat. “Come on out and play, son.”

Fuck.
Slamming the release, Zan charged toward his father. His guts were tied in knots, but somehow he managed to keep an indifferent expression on his face as he drew his energy pistol and aimed it at his father's head.

“Did you really think that you and this whore could deceive me?” Xander made a
tsk
sound. He tightened his grip on her head, exposing more of her vulnerable neck. “I'm not the one who thinks with his shaft.”

With one hand gripping her hair and the other holding the knife, Xander held Gia completely immobile. One flick of his wrist and he'd pierce her jugular vein. With her so close to his target Gia acted as a human shield, covering Xander's vital organs.

“It's me you want. Let the girl go,” Zan said slowly.

“Why should I? The second I release her, you'll charge me. No, I think I'll wait for my crew to back me up. Then I'll have fun with her while you watch and jettison her out into the black while you listen to her screams. Helpless, as usual. What do you say, Gia?”

Zan met her eyes, saw the fear there. It was like Isabella all over again, him powerless to save her from rape and torture. She closed her eyes, and he wanted to howl with frustration.
Must save her! Can't let her die!