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Chapter Twelve

Lunar Base

T rue to his word, when Vic summoned Dieter, he left his room, closed his red door, and loped over to her waiting in the passage. “Ready to see the ship and meet the crew?”

She gestured to him to lead the way. “What happened? Why the evac?”

He shrugged. “Not sure. Tiny’s still in the med bay with two of the crew. Sarg is with Captain, no doubt rehashing what happened. I’ll find out soon enough. No one died, so that’s good.”

He was too cavalier about the people he worked with.

From the lack of wrinkles, she would place him in his mid-twenties, yet he acted as if he had been a mechanic for a decade. “How long have you been hauling ice?”

“Years.” He grinned. “On Mula Pesada , only two. I like it so far. Captain’s a fair man, and those are rare in the far reaches. Employees get a decent bonus too.”

He entered a round room, counters wrapped the walls, a circular table dominated the center, and a few walls held plants. The UV lighting drew her, and she paused beside one, running her fingers over the green leaves while absorbing the ‘sunlight.’

Her chest expanded when she drew in a deep breath, as if for the first time in a while she could breathe freely. “Any chance I can have one of these lights installed in my room?” She opened her eyes and met Dieter’s gaze.

“Sure. I’ll do it after dinner.” His ogling implied something a little more intimate.

“Thanks.” Not that she would spread her thighs because Ande recommended Dieter, but she was open to it. She did like the smell of the man.

“This is the mess. We take turns at cooking.”

She jerked back. “What?” The Ring’s canteen was fully staffed. Living on protein bars and hydro-gels was the extent of her pre-arena life. “I don’t know how to cook.”

He cringed. “You’ll learn.”

“Great.” She huffed. “Wait, as in real food? Not just gels and bars?” Themba had been eating chicken.

“Yup, we have a stocked storeroom, animals pens, and hydroponics.”

She gaped. “I’ve never seen a live animal, let alone eaten one.”

He chuckled. “Well, now you will. Sorry to say, cleaning the pens and feeding them will be your responsibility. That is until you earn the crew’s respect.”

Taking two mugs out of a cupboard, he tucked them in a vendor. The aroma of coffee filled the air, and she hummed. When she had won her first match, Ande had treated her to her first cup of coffee. The Mula Pesada crew drank it without a thought to its expense.

Dieter offered her a mug. “Cream? Sugar?”

Gathering her scattered wits, she nodded. Having never had either in her coffee, she wasn’t sure how to respond. He poured a dollop of white liquid, plopped a cube of compacted white powder, then stirred with a steel teaspoon.

Taking a tentative sip, the roasted, bittersweetness coated her tongue. She groaned, casting a smile at him. “I usually drink it black.”

He chuckled. “I can tell.”

She laughed and cupped the mug with her hands. “This is better.”

“I like mine sweeter. Sarg likes his as black as sin.” Dieter whipped his head to the side when stomping along the grated flooring reached them. “Time to meet the crew.”

She downed her coffee, in case she was forced to abandon it, and rose, not liking the vulnerable position of sitting. The first person through the doorway shot bolts of ice down her spine.

“What the farg,” Nikko growled, striding toward her, his shoulders squared, his fingers curling into fists.

“You’ve met?” Dieter sliced glances between them. “This is Vic, our new crewmember.” He shifted, as if he wanted to come to her defense.

With a tiny shake of her head, she held him back.

“Why the farg is the bitch here?” Leah sidled closer to Nikko, pressing her bandaged hand to her chest.

Vic sighed. “There’s still time for me to disembark. It was lovely to meet you, Dieter.”

“Stop.” There Nikko went again, using his authoritative voice to calm her instinctive reactions.

“Captain has explained your presence. The debt has been canceled.” His lips curled in distaste.

“As much as I hate having to deal with you after the stunt you pulled, your contract states a minimum of two years. Should you leave before then, the debt-paid will reverse.”

“What? Two years?” From one prison to another.

Slamming her fist into her palm, she gritted her teeth.

She would fargen kill Ande when next she saw him.

Sure, it kept her ‘safe’ until he won his deca-match, but still, he could have told her, or better, allowed a loophole.

She glared at Dieter. Perhaps if he hadn’t interrupted the captain she might have learned more about her ‘service.’

Leah’s cheeks flushed pink, but her anger couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes. “I ain’t working with this bi—”

“It’s out of my hands, Leah.” Nikko glanced at her over his shoulder.

“She did take us down.” Toothpick-man pushed past Leah to reach the vendor, helping himself to coffee. His gray gaze warmed when he peeked at Vic’s legs. “Cybernetics?”

She clenched her jaw and took a moment to calm her resentment. “Without my permission.”

“Y’know, you do look familiar.” The boy weaved around everyone to pull a hydro-gel from a cooling drawer. In tight black pants and a matching sweater, the only thing large about him were his boots.

“That’s Grunt. I’m Trent. Welcome to the Mula Pesada .” Toothpick-man raised his mug in a salute before sipping from it. His black hair flopped over one brow.

“Grunt, get me the surveillance of that alley, and strip it from all databanks.” Nikko’s barked order silenced the mess.

“On it.” The boy grabbed something out of the cupboard and left.

Nikko stared after Grunt until his footsteps faded. “Now, I see you both admiring our newest crewmember’s remarkable assets. You know the rules.”

Trent’s shoulders slumped. “No fucking our crew.”

“Good. If you think you can sneak into Vic’s quarters without me noticing, Dieter, you don’t know me as well as I thought you did.

” Nikko’s words wiped off Dieter’s smirk.

“Victoria Barnes is here to stay.” Nikko flicked his fingers, and as one, the crew abandoned him, leaving him alone with her. “Sit.”

She pursed her lips, pinning her shoulders back as tension coiled in the pit of her stomach. “I prefer to stand.”

“I won’t attack you, Vic.” He drew in a calm breath and slid onto the bench, resting his elbows on the table. “What you did in that alley, though impressive, was without provocation.”

“Was it?” She arched a brow. “Look at you, all muscle, towering over a weasel of a man.” She sat, mirrored his stance, and met his gaze, challenging him.

He didn’t back down, didn’t glance away. “I wasn’t hurting him.”

“I don’t tolerate bullies, and if you know who I was, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”

He grimaced. “No, I don’t know your history. I do know the debt owed.”

Well, he knew more than she did. What did Themba owe Ande that was worth this much?

“Since we’re laying the cards on the table, I’m a fugitive.

” She raised her fingers to study the fine lines marking the healing process post-implantation.

“I ask nothing from you other than a haven. You’ve seen what I can do, so earning your respect isn’t something I give a farg about. I do need one thing.”

Nikko’s scowl softened when he ran an appraising gaze over her cleavage. She doubted he was aware he was checking her out.

“I’m a virgin. For years, I fought to keep my innocence, in defiance, but I need…

physical contact.” She winced, not appreciating having to divulge this to a relative stranger.

But, she had to have his permission to disembark, if he’d allow it.

Then again, what did the state of her untried nethers mean to him?

Nothing. She folded her arms across her chest. Keeping her mouth shut and solving this on her own might have been the better approach.

It’s just that…after that kiss with Drafe, her body hummed with an addictive energy she was too intrigued about to ignore.

Nikko’s breath hitched as he jerked back.

“I’d like the opportunity to find someone dockside to relieve me of said innocence.

Dieter was suggested, but since Captain mentioned the rule, I have no other options.

” She frowned. Why didn’t Ande know about that rule?

Not that she could reach out to him, take him to task for the bullshit he’d landed her in.

Carne monitored all correspondence. They’d find her within days.

Nikko’s cheeks darkened. “Just like that? Can’t Tiny…um, remove it?”

Vic grimaced. “I don’t have my hymen anymore.” The rigorous exercise she was put through had robbed her of that. “I should at least experience fucking before I die hauling ice.”

He stared at her for a minute. “I can delay departure for a few hours.”

She chuckled, splaying her hands on the table. “I didn’t expect you to agree to help me.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re part of my crew, my responsibility, and that includes your wellbeing.”

“I appreciate what having me on board is costing you.” She smiled. “If I’m delayed for whatever reason, the Mula Pesada can depart without me. I’ll hire a skiff or a hopper and find you.”

“Right.” He didn’t believe her.

“I’m a fugitive, Nikko, but not without means.” She pushed herself to her feet. “Now, all I need to do is find a specific man. Can anyone on board help with that?”

“Grunt’s our tech guru.” Nikko raised his face to the ceiling, summoning another smile from Vic. She had thought she was the only idiot to do that. “Computer, patch me through to Grunt.”

“Patch complete,” the computer intoned.

“Grunt, Vic needs your help.” Nikko jumped up to order a coffee.

“Shoot.” The boy chewed on something as he spoke.

Instead of staring at the ceiling, she watched Nikko while he sipped his black coffee. “Grunt, can you locate a man dockside, goes by Drafe?”

“Is that all you have?” Tapping of keys followed.

For a moment, she closed her eyes to better envision Drafe striding across the Moonstar’s dance floor to reach her. “He’s dark-skinned, wears nanotech armor, has yellow eyes.”

Nikko mouthed ‘yellow.’ She ignored him.

A shiver rippled along her skin, sparking an intense heat to settle in her core.

If Drafe was still on the station, she might be able to find him and suggest a few hours of pleasure.

Dieter would have sufficed, Trent at a push, but who she wanted was Drafe in all his masculine glory.

Used to seeing men fit, strong, and virile meant she needed more than that.

There was something dark, seductive, and exotic about Drafe.

Something that sent a frisson of excitement along her nerves and raised the hairs at the nape of her neck. Finding him was her last chance to experience intimacy before heading into outer space for who knew how long.