Ricochet by Sandra Sookoo Read Free Book Online Page A

Stratton, the personification of mockery.
    Interesting. Would Stratton haul Chaf in right now? And if he did, where did that leave the race? She gnawed at her bottom lip, then shoved her way between them. “Obviously, you two already know each other. Chaf, nice to see you again.”
    “I hope this piece of space trash is treating you well, Willa.” Chaf circled around her and Stratton. “He’ll use everyone around him to get what he wants, and he’ll talk a good game to make you do it.”
    “Oh, and like you don’t?” Stratton shoved forward, coming toe to toe with Chaf, easily standing a few inches taller than his foe. “How about all the charges against you, or better yet, did you forget you conned a certain pit boss on Elba 9? The Planetary Alliance is very interested in your capture, seeing as how you swindled them out of millions of Earth dollars and killed a few of their people on Elba.”
    Willa gasped. Chaf was a murderer? Stratton she could see, but Chaf?
    He laughed, and his broad shoulders shook from the effort. “I think the Alliance would be just as happy if I turned you in, don’t you think? Your record is much longer than mine, decorated by every crime imaginable. Maybe I’ll turn the tables and bring you in first. They’ll pardon me, I think.”
    “You’d have to have help, Chaf.” Stratton snickered. “I know the guys you’d hire and guess what? I pay better. They know it too. Second, I’ll best you, count on it.”
    “And lose the Trike for Willa? Is she still racing for some misguided hope her family might notice her?”
    Willa choked down a horrified protest. How dare he bring up such a private issue?
    When both she and Stratton remained silent, Chaf shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. She’ll be no help to you. No one gets on her good side, and I’ve tried. The woman’s incapable of feeling anything.”
    Stratton bristled again, his jaw working. “Don’t disrespect her.”
    “I’ll do what I want, bounty hunter. I always do.”
    A wash of warmth went through Willa at Stratton’s defense, even as she questioned what he could hope to gain from the act. Chaf snapped his fingers, and a being with six arms came forward. She tried not to stare, yet she couldn’t look away.
    Never before had she glimpsed a member of the Caringa nation, but she’d heard plenty. They usually kept to themselves unless provoked and had never made it as far as Lingoria. At a height of seven feet, the Caringa was an unfortunate mix of humanoid and a few other races put together in a jumble of parts all covered by brown-spotted yellow skin. Coarse, brown hairs covered the harsh head. His bulging yellow eyes followed her every movement. She extended a hand. “Hello, I’m Wi—” Her introduction fell short as Stratton gripped her waist and hauled her in front of him. She twisted around to glare at him. “Are you afraid of him?”
    “In case it’s escaped your notice, he has a gun—in each hand.”
    She focused on the weaponry pointed at her. “Then I’m your living shield? That’s low, Stratton, even for you.” Wrenching away, Willa planted her hands on her hips.
    “What can I say? If someone can take a bullet for me, I’m all for it.” Yet his eyes were hooded, barely concealing the anger within their dark depths. A cold grin slid over his face. “Why don’t you go ahead to our room? I have business with Chaf and his…friend.”
    Where did he get off thinking he owned her? She’d handled her own battles longer than he’d been racing. “You’re not my boss.” She eyed the Caringa again. Although, it really was stupid to stick around and potentially be vaporized.
    He lifted a dark eyebrow as his eyes smoldered with forbidden promise. “I could be.”
    Willa’s panties dampened, despite the urge to throttle him. She stepped closer to Stratton, and in a lowered voice asked, “You’re really going to make trouble now? If Chaf doesn’t kill you, that Caringa will. I’ll bet his kind don’t