Finding Lara (Distant Worlds Book 3) by Kelly Lucille Read Free Book Online Page B

offense.”
    “None taken, mate.”  He
grinned at the cat.  “What do you suppose they’re after?  This close to
Montrouge?”  It was a rhetorical question.  They both knew what they were
after.
    “You had to make a
dramatic statement and bid one thousand platinum.  They’ll be coming out of the
woodwork until we get clear of this quadrant.”
    Barnos shrugged.  What
could he say?  He hated wasting time on the small shite.  At the time, he just
wanted to get the lady with all expediency and go.  He just figured they all
would think he was besotted or crazy, but the deference the Maize paid her
along with his own actions called too much attention to the girl.  She was
beautiful sure, but one thousand platinum would feed a family for a year, if
they weren’t too particular.  A man might pay one thousand platinum for a suit
of nanite Faustian armor but for a mere slave girl?  Not bloody likely.  Even
he would never have bid that much if it had been his own money.  Now, her father’s
Alliance money, that he had no problem spending.
    When she returned from cleaning
up, with her shiny hair brushed and braided down her back, he wondered if she
really was an angel.  Even in a standard blue tunic and black ship slacks, she
would stand out in any crowd.  And in those tight ship pants and knee boots her
legs looked like they went on forever.  If she lived up to all that sultry
promise he had to admit he might pay that much, maybe.
    If they had not been attacked
he still would have been wallowing in a particularly risqué fantasy involving
all that hair flowing free, and those long damn legs wrapped around his face. 
Instead, she was sitting quietly in her jump chair watching them with big
trusting eyes that expressed the rock solid belief that they would win the
day.  With four different pirate clunkers blasting away at them he had to admit
his own arse was puckered significantly.  The Lady, however, was giving off
soothing serene vibes.  He doubted his boner was the result she was going for,
but there it was.
    The computer blared a
warning and Tolan Lark cursed a blue streak with a voice that was considerably
more animal than man. Then the lights on board buzzed off and on and Barnos was
thinking the mercenary’s incredible luck might have just met its match.  Then
the crazy bastard did something at the computer with a growl and Barnos could
feel a difference in the ship.  They were adrift. 
    “What the hell?!” This
time he was the one growling.  They floated sideways in an uncontrolled drift,
into the flight of one of the pirate ships.  The pirates barely evaded, and
then something happened that Barnos did not anticipate.  The pirates turned on
each other.  While The Fire drifted into dead space, ignored for the
moment by the pirated war birds, Barnos looked from the view screen to Tolan
Lark who was casually flicking buttons as if he had all day.  Then, moving to
the computer to give the reboot command, he oh so casually started up his
drifting ship and sailed away.  With enough space between them and the others,
he initiated light speed and they were gone.
    Barnos was still blinking
in disbelief at the incredibly suicidal move.  “You did that on purpose?”
    “Yes.”
    “Without shields one hit
would have destroyed us.”
    “Yes, but I was counting
on them not wanting to lose their prey.  I figured once they thought we were
out of commission they would turn on each other.”  He shrugged casually.  “They
did.”
    Barnos closed his gaping
mouth, shaking his head in disbelief; as soon as he got over the adrenaline
rush from that one, he was sure he would find it hilarious.  In the meantime,
he was just glad to be alive.  “Jaysus.”
    The computer started that
warning drone again, and Tolan growled.  “We took damage.  We’re leaking power
and there was a hit on the starboard side that could turn into a major hull
breach if we don’t take care of it.”
    Barnos grumbled