Bargain With the Enemy (2 page)

With all the Seven Galaxies poised on the brink of mass war, they had been keen to fight for freedom.

But the arrival of one tiny life three months ago changed everything.

Circumstances had prevented Stephanie from travelling any further than the station. Until the last of the Elite fugitives were captured, travel beyond the planetary sector had been decreed off-limits to all but supply ships. So she'd hunkered down and bided her time until she could leave.

Unfortunately this had taken longer than she'd anticipated. The result — she was rapidly running out of creds. At this rate, she'd never be able to afford the cost of a flight to Darkos.

Her goal — to board the first voyager being prepared for the long journey to Earth.

And now this robot-like gorilla posed a threat greater than any she'd faced since she first left her home as a geologist to terra form a new Earth.

What am I going to do?

‘I note you say nothing in your defence,' El Boeka stated.

Warily, Stephanie met his cool gaze, doubting explanations or appealing to what was obviously a non-existent “soft” side would work. He looked like he'd been hewn from granite.

A convulsive sob tore from her throat. She pushed past him and hurried into the minute rack room. With gentle hands Stephanie scooped the baby into her protective arms.

Her head lowered until she nuzzled the soft, downy dark-brown hair that covered the small head. She drew deep inside her trembling frame the unique scent of clean skin and baby. The simple action grounded her, helped to stem her panic and sense of failure. With soothing strokes she patted the little girl's back. Her pulse ceased to pound like the hooves of a wild beast in her ears. The rush of blood flooding through her veins stabilised.

The baby hiccupped and stopped her wailing. The little face un-scrunched and round crystal blue eyes fringed with dark silky lashes gazed with absolute trust at Stephanie.

So beautiful.

So perfect.

So defenceless.

She vowed, once again, she would do anything and everything to protect all that was left of her best friend's family.

And if she was absolutely honest, defend this second chance for a family of her own.

Even if it was only a family of two.

At the sound of a throat being cleared, she whirled round to find the Darkon leaning with casual ease against the entrance. In the small space, he took up far too much room, crowding her, heightening her feeling of being trapped.

Her gaze flittered up to his sharp eyes then away. That same weird sensation fizzed over her. Troubled, she held the baby closer to her breast and half turned aside.

How long had he been watching her? An implacable ruthlessness was etched into each sharp plane of his facial bones, in the firm line of his jaw, in the beat of the pulse throbbing near his left temple as he continued to examine her every movement with a scrutiny that missed nothing. It would not be easy to fool this Darkon.

But fool him I must.

Her gaze skittered past him to the room beyond where his soldiers stood in military stance blocking the only exit.

‘Do not even think to run.'

Shit! Is he a mind reader?

Her shoulders twitched as if to rid herself of a pesky summer fly. She didn't like that shivery feeling in her knees his presence engendered.

She didn't like him period.

She stole a quick peek through her lashes.

Their gazes met and clashed.

And held.

To her horror, he straightened and stepped towards her. One lone pace was all it took and he was right there, close beside her. So close she could feel his body heat warming her ice-cold skin.

Air squeezed from her lungs as if they were as insubstantial as a pricked balloon. She wanted to evade those eyes full of cold purpose but found her bare feet riveted as if super glued to the floor. The baby emitted an indignant squawk when her clutch tightened.

He turned his attention to the infant. Stephanie gulped air. Clammy sweat trickled down her spine. Not a muscle moved on his merciless face.

How could she give Mia up to this inhuman robot?

Again that mirthless smile stretched his lips.

‘Give her to me.'

Stephanie hesitated then with a hastily suppressed smirk handed over the very wet bundle.

Careful to avoid anything but the barest brush of hands.

He made a wry grimace but she awarded him a wary respect when with complete indifference to her dampness, he gathered the baby with infinite care close to his chest and stared intently into the tiny face.

‘Her name is Mia,' Stephanie offered in a gruff voice. For something to do she shoved her hands into her pants pockets and ran a toe along a crack in the ceramic tiles.

Was it her hectic imagination or did these two very different people forge a bond with a simple exchange of glances?

What did it matter, anyway?
She had experienced first-hand the fanatical and rigid beliefs of a Traditionalist. There was no way she'd hand Mia over to a similar monster.

She'd die first.

Mia blew a bubble and cooed.

And the Darkon did something that stopped Stephanie's heart in its tracks and felt as if it cart-wheeled through her rib cage.

He smiled.

Not the terrifying impression he had treated her to moments earlier, the one likened to that of a hungry wolf.

No this time, an actual smile.

A real smile.

One that crinkled laughter lines around his eyes that she would never have imagined existed. A smile that warmed their icy expanse and gave their colour a comforting glow and made her think of cold rainy nights snuggled safe before a crackling fire.

Bewildered, she shook her head so quickly her brown ponytail flicked the side of her face.
Where had that insane thought come from?

He transferred his gaze to Stephanie.

No smile on his face now. The illusion he was someone quite different evaporated. Mockery twisted those well cut lips.

Her toes curled at the impact of that razor-sharp stare.

She braced herself, sensing the predator in him was about to attack.
He's going to find I'm no pushover.
She straightened and added, her voice louder and radiating defiance, ‘I'm her mother and you have no right under Darkon law to take her from me.'

‘That is where you are mistaken. Should the youngling's kin have reason to suspect danger, guardianship is transferred.'

Stephanie goggled at him. ‘What? How?'

Again that cynical curl to his mouth. ‘Being not of this world, I doubt you have sufficient knowledge of our laws to argue the point and I have no time to waste in useless explanations.'

He cast a disparaging glance about the compartment. ‘This is not the ideal setting for any youngling, especially one that belongs to a family such as mine. All that protects this one from the dangers on the station is one hatch. Anyone of reasonable physical strength could easily break inside.'

Talk about stating the obvious. As if I don't already know this, but in here is safer than out there.

‘We won't be staying here forever. As soon as the travel embargoes are lifted, we are out of here.'

‘I think not.' His voice was clipped. ‘You may go wherever you please. But the offspring of a Boeka will remain where it belongs.'

‘She's not a thing, you know. She's a real person,' Stephanie all but spat at him, feeling her fury steaming out of her ears.

His impassive gaze swept her heated cheeks, making them flame even hotter.

‘Your memory bank is limited. I have already spoken that this creature is no longer your concern.'

Creature!

‘I've forgotten nothing!' Memories crowded her mind, a kaleidoscope of bittersweet images of all that she had lost: her husband, her home, her friends. But now there was a glimmer of hope, the promise of a return to Earth.

A new life as a mother.

And this insufferable moron was not going to stand in her way.

Stephanie buried her pain. Harnessed her anger.

Her chin rose.

His eyes narrowed.

Mia chose that moment to wriggle one tiny fist out of the cocoon of rainbow-coloured blanket and wave it in the air. Her little face crumpled and she bellowed.

The warrior holding her looked down at the now beet red face in consternation.

Stephanie held out her hands and said, ‘She's wet. She needs to be changed.'

He thrust the bundle at her as if he was holding a stick of dynamite with a very short and live fuse.

Men were the same the universe over, no matter what race they were, she thought with a wistful sigh. Neo, as much as he had adored his daughter, had quite happily left these awkward chores in Janeen's capable hands. Recently, when Jan had became so ill, Stephanie had taken over looking after her friends' daughter. With gentle hands she laid the squalling infant onto the bunk. Efficiently she set about making the little girl comfortable.

He leaned closer, bending over Stephanie's shoulder. His warm breath feathered across the bare skin at the nape of her neck, near where her translation collar encircled her throat. Startled she dropped the tube of powder she'd ground up from the roots of an uta plant and it showered a fine softly-scented white dust over the floor.

And over those immaculate, black knee-high boots of his.

Neither spoke as they both stared down at the damage. To her surprise the warrior made no comment. No exclamation of disgust.

Her stomach cramped with nervous tension and her fingers, usually so neat and quick, turned clumsy and slow. He watched her every move, she could feel his stare like the touch of a ghostly finger.

Learning, assessing, judging.

No doubt taking notes over her ineptitude as a suitable mother, she decided with savage misery. She tossed aside the soggy make-shift nappy and wrapped a fresh, thick square neatly over the baby's bottom and re-dressed her in an all-in-one pale-pink romper suit.

Mia gurgled and kicked her legs. Her star like hands closed with a strong grip over Stephanie's finger. It took an immense effort but she somehow swallowed the urge to burst into useless tears.

‘Finished?' That hateful mocking voice so near almost shattered the fragile hold she had over her churning emotions.

She would not plea.

She would not bargain.

Her thoughts scattered like leaves in a willy-willy when he placed his fingers over hers. She looked down at the large hands now enclosing hers. His arms encircled her tense body.

The sickening sensation of being trapped caused a whimper of distress to emerge from her hoarse throat.

It brought back the memory of being strapped down inside a tube, unable to move, unable to free herself.

Faint though the sound had been she knew his sharp ears had captured that brief admission of weakness.

For one second his hands tightened over hers then he stepped backwards.

She could breathe again.

Stephanie lifted Mia and cuddled her to her breast. Drawing on her hard won courage, she turned and faced him.

His thick brows were drawn together into one line. The expression on his face was stern and remote.

She rushed into agitated speech. ‘I would have thought they would have locked you up. Aren't you a Traditionalist? A follower of that lunatic, Marn?'

Oh, well done, Steph, prod the hungry tiger why don't you?
She did an imaginary head slap, aware that her control teetered on the brink of evaporating like fairy dust.

He ignored her.

He was good at this, she acknowledged with grim certainty. Neo had spoken in awe of his brother's battle-strategy tactics and his “take no prisoners” attitude as commander of a Darkon battle-cruiser.

Her nerves were in shreds. The muscles in her thighs trembled with the effort to keep still and not bolt out the door seeking sanctuary. But where could she go? Where could she hide?

She hesitated while she debated her next move. Then with mock courtesy Ivo stepped aside and with a sweep of his hand indicated she was to proceed past him.

Holding her head as high as a queen's she swept past him, baby held securely against her shoulder. She wasn't sure but she thought he emitted an amused snort.

No sooner had she taken three paces, then his goons, their hands clasping their plitza butts, spread out in front of the hatch, an ominous reminder of what might happen should she take it into her head to make a run for it.

One of them stepped forward, a pouch nestling in the palm of his outstretched hand. Ivo strode past her and the other warrior handed it over.

The clinking sound alerted Steph.

Creds.

Shit. He's going to try and buy me off.

Stephanie hugged Mia tighter and thought furiously while her opponent shook the pouch in front of him as if he was dangling a bone to a starving dog.

I do need more money. If there's enough in that bag I may be able to bribe a smuggler to risk the curfew and make a run for Darkos now. But I can't and won't leave without Mia.

Maybe…

‘You cannot prevail against me.' Ivo's voice deepened and Steph found herself listening to its cadence. Against her will those quiet tones with its faint accent soothed her turbulent thoughts like the lapping of waves against the side of a boat.

‘No Darkon law, Traditionalist or otherwise, will risk danger to a new generation. Even a mixed breed such as this one.' He nodded his head towards where Mia sucked her thumb and dribbled over Stephanie's shoulder.

When she made no response he grated out, ‘The charge of desertion on your head carries a heavy penalty. You will not be considered a fit person for guardianship. Personally, I find your decision to desert your mate at the moment of his greatest need, a reflection of your true character.'

His mouth twisted. The fire of retribution blazed in his eyes. ‘I will enjoy seeing you receive your just punishment.'