The Huntress (11 page)

“Murderer? I didn’t see that on his record, Chief.”

Shaking his head, he sagged down into his chair. “Give it up, Mea. I don’t have the recorders on. Why the hell did you do this?”

“Do what? Uncle Mike, would you quit talking in circles and tell me what the hell’s the matter with you?”

Glowering like a raging devil, he sat forward, leaning on the desk. “Fine. You want to play games?” He paused, looking Regan’s way.

She wished she could shrink down to nothing. Anything to get out from under that glare—she didn’t know how Mea could look so composed.

“You two! Sit down.”

Regan promptly moved to comply, tugging Stone along with her. He went, but it took some pulling on her part.

“You changed his genetic trace, Hunter Brin. His real name’s Seth Terrik and he’s late for his execution for eight murders. Before I incarcerate both your asses, I want to know why.”

His eyes glittered darkly and Regan began to tremble.

“Good god, Boss! Where the hell did you get that idea?”

“Well, let’s see.” He sat back, folding his heavy arms across his chest. “My codes, including my top security code, have been used in both the log and purged records at a time when I know I wasn’t in either one. But you were in the list records just before, calling up both Terrik and Stone. Warren has major fading in his memory, and Ema was conveniently out of commission when you ‘fixed’ him. This little girl was on the same ship as Terrik according to its manifest and then shows up on your ship with this man. You provoked Bragan—no, don’t give me that! I heard the audio, but I know you, girl. You provoked him into attacking you so you could get on his ship and update his genetic traces. You gave that man Baynard Stone’s identity. Why?”

Mea relaxed her stance, placing hands on hips and shaking her head. “Uncle Mike, you need to cut back on the stims. They’re pushing your imagination into hyperdrive.”

With a loud boom, he slammed his hands on the desk and surged to his feet. Regan jumped and cringed in her seat, heart thumping madly in her chest.

“Why?” he asked in a low, dangerous voice.

“Bragan was always too easily provoked—he went rogue. Regan got away from Terrik and was rescued by Stone. Warren had a memory glitch, Ema was being an ass, and it sounds to me like you’ve got a security breach with your codes. I suggest changing them.” When he did nothing but snarl at her, she continued in a softer voice, “Don’t you trust me, Uncle Mike?”

It was like watching a deflating balloon. He collapsed in his chair and glowered up at her beneath his bushy brows. “I used to trust your judgment in men until you married that idiot.”

Regan felt Stone tense next to her.

Mea pointed a finger across the desk at her boss. “Don’t give me that. You loved him up until the bitter end.”

“I did not! I never liked that moron.”

She leaned forward with hands planted on the desk and Regan heard humor in her sly tone. “Liar. ‘He’s like the son I never had’ was what you said that time you were so drunk and—”

“All right!” he cut her off with a wave of his hand, shifting in his seat. Darting a look at the two sitting behind Mea, he ran a hand around the back of his neck. Then he sighed and looked up at the woman before him, sinking a little into his chair. “No one knows but me. I could still save your ass. Just tell me why, girl.”

She rounded the desk and, leaning on one corner, placed a hand lightly on his chest. “Poor Uncle Mike. You work too hard. I’ll tell Bella to let up on you.”

He settled a hand over hers and looked at her with such a pleading expression that Regan was amazed. He hardly seemed like the same roaring bear she had cringed from a few moments ago.

“Just give me a good reason, Mea.”

Regan held her breath as the two of them stared at each other. Several heartbeats later, Mea leaned forward and whispered something in his ear.

A variety of emotions chased each other across his rugged face. “What? You—” He slapped a hand to his forehead and groaned. “Oh my god.”

Mea laughed softly and stood, running fingers through his graying hair. “Poor Uncle Mike,” she murmured, laughter twining through her words.

“I can’t believe this. You did all that for—”

She put quick fingers across his mouth. “I don’t know why you think I did those things, but I swear to you, everything will be fine.”

They looked at each other for another long moment until he sighed, expression defeated.

“You always did charge in full bore—and it usually came out in your favor, thank god. All right, fine. Nobody will know. The evidence all points to Bragan going rogue. All my hunters are trained to handle provocation in any form, even your kind of provocation. What he did was unacceptable by any parameter. So for taking him down, I thank you and so will the Coalition. I just hope like hell you know what you’re doing with your man over there.”

“I know Stone’s record isn’t spotless, but everyone deserves a second chance.”

“Oh, for god’s sake, girl, I folded already! Quit with the song and dance. But he’s your responsibility and I expect you to keep him on a tight leash, you hear?” He turned and his eyes focused directly on Regan.

She froze, feeling her skin tighten with dread.

“Now we deal with your little passenger.” He tapped the intercom. “Bella? Did you send the stooges away?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get ‘em back, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

He sat back and watched Regan through narrowed eyes. “I’ve sent a communication to your aunt and uncle on Bespa. It’ll take a few hours for them to reply. That colony is out pretty far.” His face softened. “Come over here, squirt. Let me take a look at you.”

The familiar nickname loosened Regan’s muscles enough for her to get up slowly and step forward. Unable to look him in the eye, she ducked her head while Mea came around the desk, standing close. Regan snuck a hand into Mea’s and received a warm, reassuring squeeze in return.

“Until your family comes through for us, you’re going to need a place to stay, young lady. I know you’ve been through a lot, and we’ll try to make this time as painless as possible for you. I've sent for—”

The door opened, interrupting him. Regan darted a look that way only to feel a sick drop in her stomach to see the bitter official from the spaceport.

“Ah, here we are. This man will take you to Child Security, and they’ll give you anything you need until your aunt and uncle can get back with us.”

A black despair dropped over her like a suffocating blanket as all her hopes disappeared. The man stepped toward her and she couldn’t hold in a frantic wail. “No!”

The effect of her cry was instantaneous. Suddenly she was bracketed by her two heroes, Mea in front facing her boss and Stone behind facing the official. With a sob of relief, Regan dropped her forehead against Mea’s back.

“She doesn’t want to go.”

“Mea—” the big man growled.

“Come on, what’s the harm in her staying with me until we know she has a family to go to? You did say as painless as possible.”

There was a short silence and Regan held her breath, trembling violently.

“Please, Uncle Mike.”

“All right. I did say painless,” he said with a gusty sigh.

Regan could barely stand, knees going watery with relief. Mea turned to hug her, and Regan hung on for dear life, pressing her face into the woman’s solid warmth as if she could bury herself in the safety of her embrace.

“All right, you three. Get the hell out of here. I’ve got real work to do.”

Regan hung back until she was sure the bitter official was gone, before moving with her two companions toward the door impatiently. She couldn’t wait to get back to the safety of Mea’s ship.

“Hold up, Stone.”

Regan winced and turned reluctantly with the others at the big man’s forbidding voice.

“I’ll be watching you, convict. You take one wrong turn, and I’ll hunt you down. You hurt Mea and I won’t wait for the execution—I’ll kill you myself. Got that?”

Without a word, Stone turned away.

Mea didn’t. “By the way, Mike, don’t ever lie to me about the recorders again.”

She propelled Regan out the door, but the girl had seen the shock on the older man’s face and looked up at Mea. “He had recorders on?”

“Um-hmm. Hey, Bella, he’s going to need a stiff drink.”

The older woman rolled her eyes again but didn’t comment, pointing with a lifted eyebrow to a man seated on their right. Regan watched with mouth open as the most handsome man she’d ever seen rose to his feet. His hair was a dusty gold, eyes sky blue, and face chiseled like a model.

He smiled with masculine confidence as he approached them. “Mea, welcome home. Giving the old man trouble again?”

“Job.”

Regan heard a sour note in the woman’s voice and tore her eyes away from this vision of male beauty to see a crinkle in Mea’s upper lip like she’d smelled something bad. Regan blinked in surprise then jumped a little when Stone stepped forward at the other man’s approach.

The blond glanced at him, smile fading and eyebrows arched. “Who’s this?”

“This is my new partner, Bay Stone, and the short stuff here is Regan Freya.”

A quick frown passed over that handsome face, before he smiled like an archangel and held out a hand to Stone. He ignored Regan completely. Any burgeoning crush she might have had died a swift death.

“Good to meet you. I’m Mea’s husband, Job Hammond.”

“You’re my ex-husband and ex-partner, Job.”

Mea sounded disgusted, but Regan was watching Stone not shake the other man’s hand. The two of them faced each other and tension grew between them like a thick cloud. Regan started to worry about a possible fight.

Then Mea snapped, “What did you want, Hunter?”

The blond turned smoothly away from Stone as though nothing had happened, though he was no longer smiling. “I need to speak with you.”

“Later.” Without another word, Mea pivoted and headed for the corridor.

Regan waited for Stone before following, relieved when he brushed by the other man without further aggression.

“Mea—”

“I said later, Job,” Mea said without turning, setting a fast stride for her companions.

Stone paced her easily, but Regan trotted behind them, straining to keep up. She saw Mea dart a quick look at Stone. “Thanks for not giving him what he deserves.” Then she seemed to realize that Regan was falling behind and slowed. “Sorry, squirt.”

“No problem,” she chirped, edging between them to take both of their hands with a surge of happiness that was painfully sweet. Despair was still possible, but so was hope.

The transport was waiting without any officials in sight. Gratefully, Regan sunk onto a plush cushion, this time next to Stone. Sliding over, she leaned against him heavily. It was still morning, but it felt like days had passed since they’d left the ship. Closing her eyes, she missed the scenery again on their return trip.

Chapter 10

Mea watched the child rest with such trust against Stone and felt a bittersweet pressure in her chest. How much longer did she have with her? How much longer did she have with either one of them? Her gaze moved to Stone.
Not much longer now,
she thought with an ache in her throat.

He stared out the window as if he didn’t notice the weight against his shoulder. When Regan had first leaned on him, he’d looked at the girl with eyebrows raised then shook his head. But he hadn’t moved away.

Breathing deeply to loosen the bands of constriction around her chest, Mea turned her head to watch the transport land before the
Starfire.
“Regan, we’re here,” she called softly and watched with a tender curl of her lips as the girl yawned and stretched. She was going to miss the child more than she’d thought possible.

After thanking the pilot, she exited the transport, the other two behind her. When they started up the ramp, though, Stone stopped following. Pausing, Mea turned with Regan at her side to study him. He stood motionless at the bottom of the ramp, watching them with his usual inscrutable expression. He was free now to just walk away. Mike had said that no one would know he was not who he seemed.

Mea waited for him with a pounding heart. Mike had told her to be his leash, but she wouldn’t force him again. She’d given him her word.

“Stone?”

Regan’s voice was plaintive and after another long, painful moment, he frowned and slowly moved up the ramp.

For the child,
Mea thought, both elated and disappointed.
He’s staying for Regan
. They passed through the hatch together.

Then Mea felt his hand clamp onto her elbow with bruising force. “We need to talk,” he rumbled like an impending storm in her ear, and she felt her elation evaporate.

She slowed to allow Regan to move ahead of them. “Are you hungry, sugar? Warren’s probably whipping us up something in the mess right now.”

“I hope so—I’m starving!” Regan flashed a grin over her shoulder, but it faded when she saw Stone’s grip on her arm.

“We’ll be along shortly.”

Regan eyed them for another second before shrugging and moving down the corridor. “Okay, but don’t be too long or I’ll eat it all.”

She disappeared into the mess hall, and Stone propelled Mea past that door to the cargo bay. Once there, he let her go at the sight of two technicians installing new cryotubes.

They looked up curiously, and Mea gestured toward the door. “Could you leave us, please? You can come back later and finish.”

They looked at each other and shrugged, leaving without a word while Mea eyed Stone thoughtfully. He looked relaxed and in control, but the bruises on her elbow said otherwise.

“I want the truth,” he said, his gravelly voice conversational. But as he continued, his tone grew more furious with every word. “I want to know why you changed my identity. You killed one of your own, messed with your android’s head, put your job and your own goddamned life on the line. For what? You’ve got some twisted plan and I want to know what it is. Goddamn it, woman, tell me!”

God, he was magnificent when he was angry! She really had to get him to speak more often—his deep, rough voice worked on her like an aphrodisiac, and she bit her lip to keep a wicked smile off her face. The pure, aggressive energy radiating from his powerful body made her skin tingle and muscles tighten with anticipation. If he kept this up, she might just break her promise never to force him again.