The Star Thief (17 page)

He seemed like a good captain. His crew respected him—always a sign of a good leader. But there was something else going on behind those eyes of his. Something secret that had everything to do with their past.

She chose her words carefully. “Finn is a respectable sort of military man. Does his job, runs a good ship. I think he’s trustworthy.”

Aldani arched an eyebrow. “You two don’t get along, I take it?”

She grinned despite herself. “Was it that obvious?”

“Just a little. What I don’t understand is how someone as obviously skilled as the captain and his team could have lost my nephew. It does not bode well for the rest of this mission.” Aldani sighed and, before she could answer, strode into the room, arms wide.

“Good evening, everyone.” Gheewala let out a little shriek and jumped from her chair. Aldani ignored her and made his way to Captain Finn. “I trust you’re all comfortable in your quarters?”

Renna paused to touch Gheewala’s arm. “He didn’t mean to startle you, Sergeant. Were you listening for something in particular?”

Gheewala shook her head, worry lines wrinkling her forehead. “How did you know I was listening?”

“I’ve met other empaths before. I recognize the look.”

Gheewala’s eyes darted around the room, never landing in one place for more than a few seconds. “There’s another voice out there, just out of range. I can’t place it, but it’s been following us since we escaped Hesperia.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“I can’t tell. It’s unlike anything I’ve heard before.”

“Did you tell the captain?”

“I told the lieutenant. I’m sure she thinks I’m imagining things.” Gheewala shrugged. “Perhaps I am.”

“Well, I believe you. Will you tell me if you hear anything else strange?” Renna held the other woman with a steady gaze, hoping it would calm her.

Gheewala’s darting eyes finally stilled, and she nodded. “I’ll keep you posted. And thank you for believing me.” Then she scurried off to stand with the rest of her team, though she kept to the fringe of the group. Separate and apart.

Aldani stood at the head of the table and gestured to everyone. “Why don’t you all take a seat? I’ll have my staff bring in dinner, and we can discuss our next steps.” Captain Finn and Lieutenant Keva took seats on either side of him, like guards. The rest of the officers fanned out on either side.

How very strategic.

Renna sat in the last open seat at the far end of the table. She preferred to stay out of the way and watch without being noticed. She always got more information that way. And it was going to be interesting to see how the rest of the team interacted. Enjoying a civilian dinner was completely different from being on a military ship.

The two special ops guys—she vaguely remembered their names were Doyle and Santos—ignored the rest of the team and talked only to each other. Finn and Aldani chatted easily, but Keva sat stiffly, as if she were still on duty. Bokal and Gheewala sat on the other side of the table, both silent and watchful.

She studied Finn as he and Aldani made small talk. The man made her pulse race, and not entirely in a good way. He’d yelled at her, thrown her in the brig, called her a whore, and yet despite all that, he still fascinated her. Maybe it was the contrast between the Hunter he’d been and the captain he was now. Maybe it was something else. She didn’t really care to find out.

Keep telling yourself that, Renna.

She let out a sigh and took a bite of the seaweed salad in front of her. Interesting that, despite Finn’s lounging pose and the slight smile he wore, something told her he was still perfectly aware of everything going on in the room.

And that included her.

Finn met her gaze down the length of the table as if he knew she’d been watching him. His expression held a hint of challenge.

She smiled slowly. Intimidating her wasn’t going to work. He should know that by now. His answering smile held a thousand threats. A shiver made its way down Renna’s spine, and she glanced away.

She pretended to be absorbed by her food, but her eyes kept drifting Finn’s way. He had such strong hands. Aldani’s fine tungsten utensils looked so delicate when Finn held them. And despite her dislike of the man, she couldn’t keep the thought of those hands drifting over her body from popping into her head.

She took a gulp of wine, then coughed as it burned her throat. Her face reddened, and she looked away, still trying to cough away the sting of the alcohol.

Aldani laughed from the head of the table, noticing her discomfiture. “Terribly sorry, I forgot to mention I’d asked for moonwine from Purgatory. It’s a little stronger than what you might be used to.”

Finn smiled down at his plate. There was a sparkle in his eye that made Renna wonder if he’d guessed what she’d been thinking about.

The wine might be powerful, but by the gods was it good stuff. Even burning in her throat, she could taste the sweet ripeness of the grapes grown especially on the desert planet. The acid in the earth there led to an exceptional vintage.

Aldani’s staff brought out the rest of the food. She sighed lovingly at the thick, juicy steak in front of her. It was a far cry from the takeout or hastily radiated plate of noodles she usually ate.

Renna tried to block out the conversations around her so she could concentrate on the amazing food. It worked until the blasted Lieutenant Keva brought up Myka again. Renna couldn’t stop herself from listening in. The boy’s name seemed like some sort of switch for her. By rescuing him, she’d forged some sort of strange bond with him that she really needed to get over. She wanted nothing more than to steal those prototypes and bolt to the nearest big city. She could disappear for a few months until all this blew over. But she’d promised…

Renna chewed angrily. Damn her stupid code. Damn Myka. Her gaze wandered back to Finn.

And damn him. Yet another reason to get out of here. The man had betrayed her. Betrayed Blur’s gang. And given the chance, he’d lock her away in a prison for her crimes. She had to stop getting involved.

Emotions were just too deadly.

FIFTEEN

After Aldani’s staff took away the dessert plates, Renna wiped her lips with the soft-spun napkins. Nothing quite like classic chocolate cake to end a meal. At the end of the table, she watched Keva lean forward, smiling at Captain Finn and the doctor. The alien’s silky hair hung loose around her shoulders instead of scraped into a bun, and the silvery tresses shimmered softly in the helolights. Renna also noticed dark kohl highlighting Keva’s slanted eyes and a berry stain on her lips.

Renna sat back a little in her chair, watching the three. She’d bet the sapphire around her neck that Keva had on slinky underwear beneath her dress uniform.

“Captain, Dr. Aldani, we need to talk about our plans for the mission,” Keva said after a sip of wine.

“Our mission is rescuing Myka.” Aldani’s voice went cold, his jovial expression gone. “I thought you understood that.”

Finn shook his head, lips pressed together in a thin line before he spoke. “But sir, earlier we agreed that getting into the warehouse was our priority.”

Aldani crossed his arms. “I changed my mind. Your mission is not mine. Myka is the only thing I care about.”

Renna played with the stem of her wineglass, rolling it between her fingertips. Aldani had changed his tune faster than she’d expected. What had happened between their earlier meeting and now?

Keva shook her head. “The captain’s right, Doctor. Rescuing the boy right now doesn’t make sense. With radio silence coming from MYTH headquarters, we can’t afford to split our team. And if the kidnappers come after him again, we don’t have any additional support to protect. Even Renna’s…special…skills won’t work this time.” Disdainful derision dripped from Keva’s words.

Renna forced herself to loosen her grip on the wineglass before it shattered. Bitch. What was it with these people? She was proud of her skills; she’d worked hard to become good at her job, even though she wanted nothing more than to get out. But they wouldn’t see her as anything but a greedy mercenary.

Aldani glanced over at Renna, then arched a mocking brow at Keva. “I suppose competency is one of those ‘special’ skills, seeing as how Renna’s the only person in this room who’s actually done her job.”

Keva’s pale violet skin flushed pink, and she dropped her gaze.

“Excuse me, sir?” Corporal Bokal’s voice rumbled pleasantly through the room, breaking the sudden tension. “I understand you’ve been working on tech to get us inside the facility. How close are you to finishing it?”

The doctor studied each of the crew in turn, as if he were gauging his response. Finally he answered, “It should be finished tomorrow. I have one last test to complete.”

“What is this thing, and what exactly does it do?” Renna asked. She knew it had something to do with the gamma particle destabilize she’d retrieved, but ever since she’d stepped inside the MYTH headquarters, everyone had been specifically vague about it. Did anyone actually know the answer?

“That’s on a need-to-know basis,” Keva snapped, casting an angry glance in Renna’s direction.

“Really?” Renna raised an eyebrow. “I’d say I’d need to know. You know, using it to break into a facility no one else can figure out…”

Captain Finn nodded. “Renna is right. She needs to know the details before we can plan our attack.”

Renna smirked. Agreement from Finn was the last thing she’d expected, but it was worth it just to see Keva’s shocked expression.

Aldani picked up a fork and drew hash lines in the tablecloth as he spoke. “The device uses the gamma particle destabilizer that Renna retrieved from the Cordozas to rearrange the dark matter between molecules, making them pliable. Once I configure it into my technology, it should get you inside the otherwise impenetrable facility.”

Finn continued. “After that, it’s Renna’s show. We’ll have to rely on her to guide us.” He turned his head to catch the doctor’s gaze. “If Dr. Aldani agrees, of course, that this is the next logical course of action.”

The doctor seemed to deflate, the wrinkles around his eyes standing out as he frowned down at the tablecloth. “You don’t understand. Myka is all I have left of my brother. He’s special. We
must
get him back.”

Renna leaned forward. “And we will. I promise.” She froze in her chair. Dammit. Why the hell did she keep using that frakking word?

“But only if I allow you to investigate the facility first.” Aldani’s shoulders slumped. “I know I am being a sentimental old man, but the fate of the universe doesn’t seem very important when your only family is missing.” He rubbed his eyes. “Very well. Continue with your mission. I will have my staff finish work on the destabilizer device. But please, please find Myka as soon as you can.”

“We will,” Renna said.

Aldani inclined his head. “Thank you, Miss Carrizal.” He rose to his feet, setting his napkin on his plate. “If you’ll come with me, I have something else I’d like to give you that may help you once you’re inside the facility. Everyone else, please feel free to stay and enjoy your wine.”

Across the table, Finn stiffened, like he was going to get to his feet and follow. Aldani waved him down. “Stay with your crew, Captain. Renna will be perfectly safe with me.”

“It’s not her I’m worried about,” he said dryly.

Aldani chuckled, and Renna smiled tightly at Finn. If looks could kill, he’d be in a heap on the floor.

With a sigh, she trailed Aldani from the room, leaving Finn to stare after her.

“Have a seat on the table,” Aldani said as he shut the door behind them. They’d come to one of the labs on the lower level, and the doctor had quickly led her to a private room and pulled out a tray of sterile tools from the cabinet on the wall.

Her heart jumped at the variety of scalpels laid out across the tray. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice a touch too high as she eyed the shiny metal instruments.

“Upgrading your implant.”

“I don’t have—”

“I saw the incision site on your neck earlier. Am I right in guessing it’s not currently working?” He pinned her with his gaze, and Renna found herself nodding.