by Kelly Gay
“I’m sorry, I do not possess that information. Map complete, Captain.”
Rion sat back, amazed by the speed at which the AI worked, and studied the star map as it appeared, with systems and planets highlighted as possible destinations for the ship. The idea that she might be looking at the Spirit of Fire’s final home made her release a disbelieving laugh.
“Captain? I really don’t believe you understand the definition of ‘humorous,’ as I stated earlier. Shall I explain it again?”
“No, thank you. I need you to communicate with Doctor Martoli in New Tyne. Tell him I need an appointment. Today.”
“Of course. I’ll inquire now. Also, we should discuss your engineer. . . .”
“Not now,” she said tiredly, staring at the map and feeling like the odds were stacked against her. Maybe they always had been. Following that map required another leap of faith.
Another shot in the dark. Another risk.
Her gaze settled on the wall beyond the screen. On it was a painting Lessa had done during her first long-distance flight as an official crewmember. There were also photographs. Lessa and Niko on Sundown six months ago. A candid one of Cade during the same trip, looking over his shoulder, the sparkling blue water of the resort pool behind him, that wicked grin of his . . .
He always called her lucky. Always with the shake of his head and a smile.
Her heart tightened so hard and quick it left her gasping for air. She tore her gaze from the wall.
Her lucky streak had cost Cade his life.
Now he was gone.
He’d made her think of possibilities, of a different life, a settled one. She could still have that. It wasn’t too late.
Yet those things seemed like a dream now. They were in direct opposition to her livelihood, her ongoing quest to find her father . . . and now her burning need to make Gek ‘Lhar pay.
She wanted to rip those dog tags from the hinge-head’s shoulder and watch the light die in his one good eye.
Losing Cade made her feel reckless and volatile with very little thought to her own preservation. But the opposite was true when it came to her crew. She had to be more cautious now, more aware of her responsibilities to them, more determined to keep them safe.
They were, after all, her family.
The Forerunner artifacts orbiting the dwarf star held a treasure trove of salvage, a site that would feed the Ace of Spades’s crew over several lifetimes. With the money, Lessa and Niko could live out any dream they ever had, purchase a house, go to school—own a school, for that matter. Kip could collect every ship he’d ever studied. Hell, he could buy a whole damn fleet if he wanted. The options were endless.
They could have an amazing life.
And that posed a problem. Because Rion wanted that for them . . . but she also wanted more.
She drummed her fingers on the table, eyeing the images on the wall and the star map in front of her.
The salvage was out there.
Cade’s killer was out there.
Her father and the Spirit of Fire were out there.
She just had to decide where to start. . . .
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
* * *
* * *
My deepest thanks to Ed Schlesinger, Frank O’Connor, Jeremy Patenaude, Tiffany O’Brien, Sparth, and the entire team at 343. Gratitude also goes to my agent, Miriam Kriss; my family: Jonathan, Audrey, and James; my sister, Kameryn Long, for the help; and to Army veteran John Burt for sharing his time and knowledge.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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KELLY GAY is the critically acclaimed author of the Charlie Madigan urban fantasy series. She is a multipublished author with works translated into several languages. She is a two-time RITA nominee, an ARRA nominee, a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, and a SIBA Book Award Long List finalist. Kelly is also a recipient of the North Carolina Arts Council’s Fellowship Grant in Literature. She can be found online at KellyGay.com.
FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR: Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Kelly-Gay
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Cover art by Sparth
ISBN 978-1-5011-4460-8
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