Salvaging Abby (Marks Mercenaries Book 4)

by N. J. Walters

  “We have the superior firepower,” he retorted. “You do not belong with that space pirate.”

  “He’s Gravasian,” she reminded him.

  “I don’t believe him. And even if he is, he’s likely an outcast. It’s well known that those people never leave their planet unless they’re on a warship.”

  “We don’t know much about them,” she reminded him.

  “I checked with my sources in Alliance High Command. The Council member assured me there are no Gravasian vessels in this sector.”

  There was no reasoning with the man. He believed what he wanted to believe. Always had and always would.

  “Are you willing to die for this man, this pirate?” Jasper asked.

  “Yes.” She didn’t even give it a second thought. When Vaden squeezed her, as if to protest, she swiveled her head and stared straight into his dark eyes. “No, we live or die together. I won’t go back with Jasper. No matter what happens, I want to be with you.” Taking a deep breath, she gave voice to what was in her heart. “I love you.” She brushed her fingers over his cheek, brushing the softness of his beard.

  Jasper gave a roar of anger. “Lies. You’re lying to make me jealous.”

  “Can we get rid of him?” she asked Vaden.

  One corner of his mouth twitched. “I am attempting to do so, but he is stubborn.”

  She’d meant to end the communication, but he’d intentionally misinterpreted her request to poke at Jasper. It wasn’t smart, but it did make her smile.

  “You’re dead,” Jasper warned.

  “I am Vaden el Gravaso, son of King Agman el Gravaso, leader of Gravas. If you do not leave immediately, you will have declared war on Gravas. You will be hunted down and killed. All those with you will be hunted and killed.”

  Shocked to her core, Abby knew her jaw had dropped. “Son?” That was all she could manage. He was the son of the king. That meant he was a prince. “I can’t be in a relationship with a prince,” she blurted.

  “Fire all lasers,” Jasper ordered just before communications went dead.

  The blast rocked them. It was quickly followed by another and another, buffeting their small vessel from side to side. Vaden reached around her with his long arms and wrestled the ship back under control. It was a losing battle, one that couldn’t go on indefinitely.

  An alert stared to blare. “The shields are weakening, trying to divert to the damaged area,” the computer informed them. “Engines are now totally inoperable. Power all diverted to shields as per directive to protect woman at all cost.”

  Vaden had ordered the ship to protect her at all cost. She wanted to yell at him and kiss him at the same time.

  “You are in a relationship with a prince,” he reminded her. “You just didn’t know I was one.”

  “Can we discuss this later? What am I saying? There won’t be a later. It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does matter.”

  Another blast sent them listing to the port side. She grabbed his arm to keep from toppling out of the chair.

  “You are mine, Abby. Admit it.” Sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled to maintain control. “Don’t make me die alone.”

  “You don’t play fair.”

  “I told you before, I play to win.”

  It was one of the things she loved about him. He was brash and brave. And for the first time in years, she felt as though she belonged with someone. Even knowing all there was to know about her, he wanted to give her this connection in their final moments together.

  “Fine. I love you. Are you satisfied?”

  “And you will take me as husband and father of your children. I will take you as bride and mother of my children.”

  It was a statement rather than a question. What did it matter that he was a prince? They were about to die anyway. “Okay. Fine. Yes, I take you as husband, even if you are a stinking prince.” What did she know about royalty? She’d come from a poor mining colony and was a space salvager. Give her an engine to fix any day rather than upper crust social functions.

  And she’d truly lost her mind if she was worried about things that would never come to pass. It made her sad that there would never be any small versions of him running around making trouble. Or tiny versions of her turning Gravasian society on its ear.

  Another blast shook them even as Vaden kissed her. She had to tilt her head back but didn’t care. It was worth it.

  “You are mine. Now and forever.”

  “Shields at half and failing.” They took barrage after barrage of heavy fire. The ship spun round and round, but Vaden kept her steady, even as he wrestled for control.

  “I love you,” she told him, wanting to say it one final time.

  “You are my kismara.”

  The next blast or two would be the end of them. She rested against Vaden and watched the laser speed toward them.

  Out of nowhere, another vessel slammed itself between their ship and the Simplistics One. It was as big as Jasper’s ship. Maybe larger. As it spun around, she caught the name on the side—Abigail.

  Her brothers had arrived.

  Chapter Ten

  Vaden had never thought he’d welcome the sight of Flynn Marks as much as he did at this moment. While he hated the idea the other man had come to his rescue, he’d deal with his bruised ego if it meant Abby would live.

  “Hold on,” he told her. He knew her brothers well. They would not take the sight of her being fired on well. “Open communications with the Abigail,” he ordered.

  “Opening communications.”

  Flynn appeared on the screen, his face set in hard lines, his one good eye blazing with anger. “I was going to ask if my sister was okay, but I can see that she is. And why is she sitting on your fucking lap instead of strapped into her own fucking seat?”

  Abigail squirmed, which wasn’t good for his composure, but he managed to keep his features even. He’d half expected her to remove herself from his lap and was pleased when she stayed.

  Vaden simply raised an eyebrow over Flynn’s colorful language, knowing it would likely prompt more. He didn’t know the man well, but he’d learned that the angrier or more stressed the man became the more he swore. “Don’t kill them.”

  “Why the fuck not? Hang on a sec.” He turned away from the screen. “Don’t blow them out of the sky yet, Garth.”

  “Why the fuck not?” a deep voice questioned.

  “Why the fuck not?” Flynn asked.

  This time Vaden smiled. The sight of it actually made his friend fall silent. “Because Jasper Freemen threatened and fired on a Gravasian ship, full well knowing he was doing so.”

  Flynn grinned and then began to laugh. “That bastard is fucked and doesn’t even know it yet.”

  Abby turned so she was sitting sideways on her lap. “I don’t get it. I know Jasper will get into trouble, but he has a way of talking himself out of any situation. It’s his gift.”

  Vaden did not like the worry in her voice and sought to reassure her. “He cannot talk his way out of this. He is an outsider who, completely unprovoked, knowingly threatened a Gravasian warrior.” He pressed his hand to her face, loving the way she leaned into it.

  “A prince,” she whispered, so only he could hear.

  He knew that might be a problem for her. Most women would be thrilled and already seeing credit signs in their head. With Abby it was actually a deterrent. For some inexplicable reason, she seemed to believe herself not good enough, when in fact, she was perfect for him.

  “Yes. There is only one outcome. He will stand trial and be executed. If the Alliance tries to stop it, we will declare war on them. And we will win.”

  “You’ve got to work on your self-confidence,” she told him, making him grin.

  He nuzzled her neck before nipping at it. “You’ll pay for that later.”

  “Promises. Promises.”

  “You do know I’m still right here, don’t you?” When she went rigid at Flynn’s question, Vaden knew she had
indeed forgotten. He wanted to roar in triumph before stripping her naked and claiming his prize. Best to wait on that until her brothers weren’t around.

  “Back to business. Can you disable the Simplistics One?”

  “We’re at a standoff at the moment. They’re hailing us.”

  That was interesting. “Can you make it a three-way conversation?” Vaden wanted to know what Freeman had to say for himself.

  “Kal, make it happen,” Flynn ordered.

  Abby’s tension rose, but this time he didn’t think it was because of Freeman. More likely it was because her brothers were so close after all these years.

  “Not much longer,” he told her, keeping his voice low so only she could hear. In reply, she clutched his hand, holding it in her lap. “Do you mind?”

  “Mind what?”

  “Sitting on my lap. I like you in my arms.”

  The screen changed, and both Flynn and Freeman appeared. “What’s the meaning of this?” Freeman demanded. “Who are you and why did you fire on my ship? I’ve already reported the issue to Alliance command.”

  Flynn leaned back in his chair, looking more insolent than usual. Vaden knew he had to be enjoying himself. After all these years, he had his enemy in sight.

  “Well?” Freeman prompted. “What do you have to say for yourself.”

  The man was used to getting what he wanted as soon as he wanted it. He had little control. Vaden decided to sit back and enjoy the show.

  “My name is Flynn Marks.” When Jasper paled, Flynn smiled. “Oh yeah, you fucker. I didn’t die. And neither did any of my brothers.”

  “Your name means nothing to me.”

  Vaden had to hand it to the guy. The lie spilled right off his tongue without hesitation.

  “But you will die,” Freeman continued, “if you don’t back off and allow me to finish my business with the space pirate who kidnapped my woman.”

  “Jasper, Jasper, Jasper.” Flynn shook his head as though calling out a child for some misdeed. “You’re already in trouble with the Alliance for attempting to harm Angelina Astoferus.”

  “A slight misunderstanding is all.”

  Flynn crooked his finger and a woman came to stand beside him.

  “No misunderstanding,” she informed him. “Your people attempted to murder my escort and detain me.”

  “I wasn’t there,” Freeman protested. “You cannot hold me responsible for the actions of another.”

  “Is he for real?” Vaden muttered.

  “Oh yeah,” Abby answered. “That’s Angelina Astoferus?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I saw several images of her before the contract.”

  “She’s very beautiful.”

  He hated the wistfulness in her voice. He leaned down until their noses were almost touching, forcing her to look straight at him. “She is pretty in a pale and cold way.” He pushed his fingers through her hair. “I prefer the dark fire that blazes inside you.”

  She bit her bottom lip and averted her gaze.

  He wasn’t having it. “Abby.” He waited until she was looking back at him and then kissed her. Not as he’d wanted to. He never for one second forgot their enemy was still there, but the bastard could see. Vaden couldn’t help driving home that Abby was his.

  “You can stop firing on us.” Flynn’s words snapped Vaden back to attention. “Our shields are as good or better. So is our firepower.”

  “I’ll just leave then.” Vaden noted the quick flash of darkness in Freeman’s eyes.

  “He’s going to try to slip around and fire on us,” Vaden told them.

  Flynn gave an exasperated shake of his head. “You think this is my first fight? I know the fucker is going to try to fire on you. That’s what his kind always does. Backstabbing, cowardly fucker.”

  Flynn flicked his fingers at someone behind him. Vaden wasn’t sure what the gesture meant until he sensed the ship move.

  “Tracking beam,” the computer announced.

  “They’re pulling us onboard their ship, aren’t they?” Abby whispered under her breath.

  “Keep Freeman’s attention. If he or anyone on board notices, he’ll break away and make a try for us,” he told her, barely moving his lips.

  “Why me, Jasper? After all these years, you owe me that much. You told me my brothers died in a mining explosion, when in truth you were the one responsible for almost killing them. You took me and kept me against my will until I escaped. You’ve spent years chasing me.” She slipped off his lap and Vaden let her. She needed this opportunity to face her enemy.

  As much as it went against his warrior spirit to allow his woman to do this, it was also his responsibility to assure her happiness. Abby was his to protect, but she needed to do this. She was independent, had had her decisions taken out of her hands too many times.

  It was his honor to stand behind or beside her, ready to lend aid when or if needed.

  Jasper reached out a hand, almost as if he thought he could touch her. “There is a light in you. I saw it the first time I set eyes on you. You were in that dusty desolate garden on your hands and knees, toiling to eke out an existence. You were only a child, but I could see the potential even then.”

  “Why did you set the explosion? Why didn’t you just wait until I grew up and come courting me?”

  Vaden knew she was only doing as he’d asked, but he hated even the hint of sympathy she was tossing the other man.

  “I knew I’d lose you if you remained. You’d die of disease or overwork.” He shot Flynn a hard glance. “Your family wasn’t taking care of you.”

  Vaden surreptitiously glanced at the control panel, gauging the distance between his ship and the Abigail. Close but not there yet.

  “Sir.” One of Freeman’s men tried to catch his attention. Vaden knew they’d caught the movement of his ship and understood what was happening.

  “I am speaking,” Freeman’s voice thundered.

  Just a little more time. They were so close. Vaden kept one eye on the panel, watching the distance shrinking.

  “Sir, they’re taking the ship aboard the Abigail.”

  Time was up. Vaden swore, reached out and snagged Abby, yanking her back onto his lap. “Go,” he ordered. The time for stealth was past.

  “Stop them,” Freeman ordered.

  “Fire,” Flynn commanded.

  “Hold on,” Vaden ordered as he secured her in his arms. He would not let her go. If this was the end, they would be together.

  ****

  They’d been so close to making it to safety. Their vessel was moving quickly, but it wouldn’t be fast enough.

  It didn’t feel wrong to lean on him. That still surprised her. She’d stood on her own for so long, had decided never to give up her independence, least of all to a man. Except it didn’t feel like surrendering to Vaden. It was more of a doubling of her inner strength. There was power in knowing someone would stand beside you no matter what.

  He’d given her that gift.

  “I love you,” she told him again.

  “We are not dead yet, my kismara.”

  Jasper’s ship came around the side of the Abigail. Laser blasts lit up the heavens, exploding off shields. They were the weak spot in her brother’s shields, just as she’d been for Vaden’s ship.

  She was the weak link and always had been.

  “Release us,” she yelled at Flynn. “He’ll try to destroy you when you drop your shields to bring us in. I can’t be the instrument of your death. I can’t.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I love you all. It means everything to me that you never stopped looking. It’s enough. Let us go. It’s bad enough I’m the cause of Vaden’s death. Don’t make me be the cause of yours.”

  Vaden simply held on to her, offering his silent support and physical strength.

  Flynn glared at her. “Fuck that.”

  Jasper actually laughed. “Give me Abigail, and I’ll give you a quick death. At least you’ll know she’s alive.”

  “You bastard,�
�� she yelled. “I’d rather be dead.” The viewing screen went blank, Jasper’s image winking out.

  “Amos. Now,” Flynn roared before all communications ended.

  Their ship snapped forward as though they’d hit boosters, which was impossible since the engine was dead. “What’s happening?” She would have been thrown to the floor if not for Vaden. If she survived this, she was staying strapped into her own chair from now on.

  It all happened simultaneously. The viewing screen showed the Abigail coming at them fast. Way too fast. Not only where they using a tracking beam to pull them, but the Abigail was moving toward them at the same time.

  “Hang on,” Vaden roared. The cargo hold door was open, and they were heading right for it.

  “We’re not going to fit.” They were all going to die in a fiery crash.

  “We’ll fit.” Vaden reached around her, grabbing the controls. They weren’t especially responsive, but he wrestled with them, turning the ship slightly to correct for the speed.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist, but couldn’t make herself look away from the screen.

  Simplistics One came charging at them, lasers blasting. One by one, the beams were intercepted by a returning one. One midair explosion after another shook them.

  The cargo door was coming at them fast. Vaden’s arms shook with the effort it took to control their trajectory. “Brace for impact,” he yelled.

  The tracking beam released them as they slammed through into the cargo bay. Metal screeched as they bounced along the floor. The wall was coming up quickly.

  Vaden sat back, yanking on the controls. “Full stop,” he ordered.

  They were going to crash into the wall. They’d either go through it or explode.

  “Remaining life support to engine,” she commanded, hoping the computer would listen. It didn’t matter if they ran out of air, not if they were about to be smashed into tiny pieces. It might not be enough to stop them, but every tiny bit of power might make a difference.

  The lights went out, except for those on the control panel. Sweat rolled down Vaden’s face. His mouth was set in a hard grimace. Every muscle in his body strained. She gripped his wrists and pulled back, adding her own strength to help him.