No Quarter (Bounty, Book One) (19 page)

“How long do you have?”

“That’s what I like about you, Stitt. You cut to the chase and ask what’s on your mind.”

Fingers tightened in Faolan’s hair, tugging his head back until he had no choice but to look into Gar’s light blue eyes. “How long?”

“If I can find more meds, maybe a year. Less if I can’t. I was going to use the money from the stone to buy up what I could and give the remainder to the crew.”

“Do they know?” Gar moved his hand down to rest it on the back of Faolan’s neck. The possessiveness of his touch had Faolan shivering. “Is this why you were so tired on my ship?”

“No and yes. I usually have a good period after I’ve taken the serum, but it’s been getting shorter and shorter.”

The gentle rubbing of Gar’s thumb on his skin eased the tension of his muscles. The weight of his secret, while not completely gone, lifted enough that he was able to breathe. Gar knew and he hadn’t freaked out or run away. It had to count for something.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Gar bent over and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I can take the
Geilt
out and see if I can find more of the drugs you need. Or track down a buyer for the stone, if that would help.”

Lifting his head, Faolan enjoyed the brush of skin on skin as he rubbed his nose against Gar’s stubbled cheek. It figured his life was at an end just as he found someone he could live for. “I’m fine.”

“Stubborn ass, you’re not. A slow death by poisoning is not
fine
. You need help. Let me be the one. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll find a way to make this right. But you’re going to have to trust me.”

Gar dropped to his knees and wrapped Faolan in a hug. He fought the embrace for a moment until he realized the younger man wasn’t about to let go. It was okay to give in to the comfort being offered. Faolan could take refuge with a man who barely knew him and it would be okay. He didn’t have to be strong all the time. For some strange reason, the universe crossed their paths when Faolan needed it the most—giving him something to hold on to as the darkness encroached. Turning his face into Gar’s neck he let out a soft sigh.

“Thank you,” Faolan whispered.

“I know neither one of us do whatever the hell
this
is, but I’ve never been one to walk away from a friend.”

Faolan chuckled, squeezing Gar tighter. “I’m a friend, am I? We’ve known each other a week.”

“You’re forgetting something.” Gar pulled back but didn’t release Faolan. “I’m trained to size a person up in a matter of minutes. I can tell if someone is lying or is the genuine deal. I’ve spent more time with you in the last few days than I have with anyone outside of my family in my life.”

“That’s not saying much for your social status, Stitt.”

Gar smiled, sitting back on his feet. “No, it’s not.”

Faolan studied his new lover and tried to imagine the life he’d been forced to lead since the death of his father. Believing his sister was dead, knowing his innocent actions resulted in such heartache, Faolan was surprised the man wasn’t more damaged than he was.

Still, here sat a man who, despite the shit storm of his life, wasn’t afraid to take a chance on him. Gar was willing to risk everything in a futile attempt to find a cure which in all likelihood didn’t exist. Faolan knew he didn’t deserve a man like that in his life, but he was selfish enough not to turn him away.

“You’re something else, Gar.” Faolan watched as a shudder passed through Gar. “What?”

“I don’t know why you…I’ve never felt like this about anyone. I can’t believe I’ve only known you for such a short time.” Frowning, Gar smoothed down his tie. “Do you believe in an instant connection between people?”

“Yes.” He didn’t need further explanation to know what Gar was trying to ask. “Yes I do.”

“How can you be sure it’s real? How do you know you’re not imagining something that isn’t there just to ease…just so you’re not so…”

“Alone?”

Gar nodded.

“I mentioned my late wife, yes?”

Gar nodded again. “How long has she been gone?”

“Ten years.” The pain may have been over a decade old, but Faolan knew the ache in his heart would never completely go away. “It was a few months after we pulled Mace off Zeten.”

Gar’s lips twitched. Faolan wasn’t sure if he was fighting a smile or a grimace. “I never did have a chance to thank you for saving my sister.”

Faolan waved the praise aside. “Anyone would have done the same thing given the situation. It’s not like your home rock is the nicest place in the universe to live.”

“Still, thanks.” Gar rose to his feet and made his way over to the bed. “Your wife?”

Faolan leaned back in his seat and let Kayla’s memory wash over him. “When I first laid eyes on her I knew she was meant to be with me. All she did was walk into the room and I knew I’d never love another woman. We weren’t apart until the day she died. She was amazing. Kayla could strip any security system on a ship or base before the owner even knew she was there. Gods, she was beautiful, but had a mean streak in her when she thought someone was being an ass. It was what got her killed in the end.”

Gar didn’t say anything, only sat there with his hands folded in his lap and waited. It had been such a long time since anyone was there for him, Faolan had forgotten what it felt like, the rush of emotions as they poured from the secret place he kept buried. It burned and liberated all at once.

“We heard about a man on one of the new outland colonies who was stealing organs from the unfortunate and selling them to the highest bidder back in the Loyalist colonies. I didn’t want to touch it, but Kayla was on fire, wanted to make the bastard pay. The Loyalists blew up her ship before they got close to the planet. Killed Kayla and her crew.”

“I’m sorry.”

The old guilt reared up and bit at his conscience. “I should have gone with her. Maybe I would have noticed they’d been picked up by sensors and been able to save them all.”

“Or maybe you would have died with her. You can’t second-guess your actions, Faolan.”

“Like you are?”

He knew he made a direct hit when Gar flinched. “That’s different.”

“How old were you again?”

“That’s not the—”

“How old?”

“Fourteen.”

“So you’re saying I’m not responsible for my actions as a twenty-two-year-old man, but you are when you were nothing more than a child?”

“It’s not the same.”

“Of course it’s the same. We’re too much alike, Stitt.”

Faolan saw the flash of realization wash over Gar. The turmoil of emotions swirled in his too bright gaze as old emotions surfaced and were dealt with by the bounty hunter.

“You said the good periods are getting shorter for you,” Gar rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you have any more of the meds to take?”

“I have a few doses left. They’re pretty weak though, old stock. Potency isn’t what it should be.” He winked at Gar and threw him his best leer. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be good to you for a month or so yet.”

“You are unbelievable.” Gar fell back on the bed and pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. “You’ve just told me you’re dying and you honestly think I care about whether or not I can still have sex with you?”

Faolan stood and walked over to the small washing room off the sleeping quarters. Only a fraction of the size of the one on the
Geilt
, it still had room for everything Faolan needed. He knew Gar was watching him, but did nothing to conceal his actions. The med spray sat on the side shelf, hiding in plain sight.

“When I bought these meds a few months back, the medic told me they weren’t the right ones. It would help with the symptoms only, push off the worst of what the poison had damaged.” He pressed the needle to his neck and waited for the rush as the meds hit his bloodstream. “Apparently there are better options, but as I said, nothing a pirate like me would have access to. Loyalist poison, Loyalist cure.”

“What do you plan to do?”

There were so many answers Faolan could give him. Distractions and pretty evasions were easy enough for a mind like his to manufacture. The truth was a much different matter. With Gar, Faolan found himself needing to open up. As much as he wanted to break through the other man’s protective shell, the desire to show him how much alike they really were was greater.

“I’m going to enjoy what time I have left and find happiness where I can.”

Gar stood, hesitated for a moment and approached Faolan. He didn’t move, waiting to see what Gar would do. Their eyes met in the mirror, neither man looking away. It was amazing how Faolan’s opinion of Gar had changed as he’d gotten to know the younger man. He knew he wasn’t the cold tightass apparent on first impression. Gar’s passions ran deep, held in check by his need to protect what remained of his heart. Faolan understood that need—he’d sunk so low after Kayla, he’d never imagined he could love anyone else again.

Not until now.

“We’re on your ship, Wolf. Do the others need you?”

Gar didn’t wait for an answer, but undid the buttons of his jacket and vest, slipped them off and hung them from the clothing hook.

“I think I can claim captain’s prerogative and hide out for an hour or so.”

Gar took his vest off next. “If you need to give them directives, I suggest you do it now.”

“Oh?”

“You’re about to become indisposed for the next little while, Wolf.”

“Bossy.” Faolan grinned. “I like that.”

“You’ll like it even more once you know what I have planned.”

Faolan’s grin widened. “Sounds good.” As he reached for the com control, a loud alarm filled the room. “Shit. That’s the defense perimeter alarm. We’re under attack.”

He didn’t wait to see if Gar followed, but pushed past him, running for the door. The crew were rushing to their stations, shoving past anyone who slowed them down. For the first time in days, Faolan felt his head even and clear as he jogged to the bridge. The meds may not be completely potent, but they did the trick.

“Status report,” he barked at Mace, who sat in his chair.

“What’s he doing here?” She pointed at Gar who strode in a half second behind him, clothing as proper as they’d been before he’d entered Faolan’s quarters.

“I’m here to help, Macie,” Gar spoke softly, but his voice carried clearly over the noise.

“I trust him as much as I do any of you.” Faolan pointedly looked around the room, finally letting his gaze land on Mace. “He deserves the same chance I give everyone who joins my crew. Considering your varied backgrounds, I would think everyone here would agree.”

No one said anything. Even Mace looked suitably chastised, which in itself was a small miracle. Striding across the room, he waited for Mace to move before falling into his chair.

“Now last time I checked I was still the captain of this bucket. Someone give me a status!”

“Captain,” Mace said, her eyes locked on Gar the entire time. “Three Loyalist raiders just jumped through the gate and are on an intercept course for us. I’ve set our trajectory for the gas giant.”

“Good thinking, Mace.” Faolan checked the readings being fed to his console. “We identify these boys yet?”

“Transponders are the same as the convoy we hit six months ago. We stripped them of the
euridian
ore,” Dragan spoke up from weapons control.

“Time to intercept?” With their recent use of the dimension jump drive, they didn’t have a quick escape option available to them.

“Not long.” Mace shifted and took her seat at navigation. “Ten minutes max.”

“Time to the gas giant?”

Mace grimaced. “At least fifteen.”

Dammit.
“Okay, people, let’s be sharp. Weapons on full, shields up. They are going to hit us hard.”

“What can I do?”

Faolan looked at Gar, suddenly at a loss for how the younger man could help. “We don’t have an open station. Just hold on and let me know if you see anything odd.”

Gar shook his head. “Let me take the
Geilt
out. Two targets are harder than one. I can draw their fire and slow them down.”

Ricoh spun in his seat. “Bad idea. For all we know he’s working with them.”

Before Faolan could respond, Mace threw a datapad at Ricoh. “Shut it, Terrin. My brother’s no Loyalist.”

Every head in the room snapped around to stare. Mouth gaping, Ricoh tried to stutter out an answer.

“Enough!” Faolan sat straight in his chair. “We don’t have time for the family dramatics with three Loyalist cruisers breathing down our necks.” Taking a deep breath, he faced Gar. “You sure the
Geilt
can handle ships that large?”

Gar snorted. “Please. They’d have to catch me first.”

Somewhere deep in his gut, Faolan didn’t want to let the other man go. Here on the
Belle Kurve
, Gar was as safe as he could make him. Faolan could control the situation and offer more protection than the personal cruiser ever could. Still, two targets would buy them the time they needed to take out the superior foe. It was the right call, but it didn’t mean he had to like it.