Page 42 of Throwing Fire

Payton looks alarmed and releases Kez’s hand. I reel Kez into my arms. Tuck her close into my chest and put one hand on the back of her neck so she can feel me all around her. Her arm creeps around my ribs. She takes several jerky breaths.

“Forgive me,” Payton says. “I should not have said that?—”

“Better that we know what we’re up against,” I say to absolve her. She didn’t know this was such a raw nerve.

“Mister Mereia’s resources are not extensive. He was here only yesterday asking for money.” Payton presses her lips together briefly, a crimson slash. “Which I did not give him.”

If this is a trap, I’m going to make sure that crimson slash ends up across her throat. “Did you tell him we’d be here today?”

“No.” Payton meets my eyes, and either she’s the best fucking liar on Kuseros, or she’s telling the truth. “I owe Mister Mereia nothing. I made that clear yesterday. Whatever agreement he had with Father, died with Father.”

“You sure he’s still comin’ back for the sweetener?” I intend to hunt Jaxon down before then, but it’s a nice fall-back to know where he’s gonna be in four days.

“Yes.” Payton takes a breath that strains the tight silk of her dress. “He said Father’s death changed nothing. He made it clear that he would see me at the appointed hour. And that he would expect ... an obligation.”

Why does this fucker think he can rape any woman who crosses his path? I reach out of the tight circle I’ve got Kez locked into and touch Payton’s shoulder. “Fuck that shit. You got no obligation to anyone. You want a security detail here? I’ll arrange it.”

Payton wets her lips. “I would prefer not to be here at all. If such an arrangement could be made.”

“Make whatever arrangement you want. Call—” I almost say Myhre. Fuck, I’m relying on her too much. “Call me on my ship code. SI2662. Tell me what you need. If you want outta here forever, that’s fine. If you just want to be away for a couple of days, that’s fine, too. We gotta tab at theCloud Palace.”

Payton gives me one of her small, real smiles. “Thank you, Mister Snow.”

I almost correct her, almost give her my real name. But the habit’s too ingrained. And for all that I can see she’s trying, I don’t know if we can trust Payton.

CHAPTER 17

Much to Kez’s disgust, I have Payton call a skimmer to take us back to theInfinity.

I say it’s because she nearly fainted, but that ain’t the real reason. We’ve taken too many chances while we’ve been on the Clouds. I want Kez back inside the protections I’ve built. Safe. Where I can defend her.

That means walling her up, away from the freedom she loves, which hurts, and she lets me know it on the ride back.

“I see you sulkin’,” I tell her. She’s sitting next to me on the skimmer’s wide bench, but she’s turned slightly, looking out the window as the blocky warehouses of Tiv zip by. Giving me the cold shoulder.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she says.

“Tell me an’ we can fight about it and then we can fuck to make up.”

That gets me a small laugh.

“I won’t do it,” she says. “You told me to get on with my life. Not to think about the price on my head. What’s the difference if I let them take away my life or if I let you do it?”

“I’m doin’ it outta looove,” I answer, trying to keep it light.

“Snow—” She turns to look at me, fire in her eyes.

There’s a split-second where I realize it’s a reflection. Another where I throw myself across her, even though I know it’s too late. Then there’s noise and pain and the sickening sense of falling.

“He’s alive,”someone says. Sounds like the voice is echoing up from deep underground.

“Helas, what happened?—?”

“C.P. are on the way.”

That jerks me awake. Civil Patrol catch me and I’m back in slam. Where I can’t protect Kez. I shake myself hard and force myself open my eyes.

At first, I don’t see anything. Just a red haze. Then my eyes focus. I’m lying against a plaz barrier fence. It spits and showers sparks that nip at my face, but the blast has knocked out the worst of its bite, which is a lucky break ‘cause it would have fried me otherwise.