by Cyna Kade
contained three other shuttles. Gage had forbidden any of the crew to make landfall. He wanted to make a quick trip in and out. He didn’t want crewmen scattered across the planet. He’d known he’d have to move fast but he hadn’t thought the time pressure would be this bad. He had four days to wrap up everything.
David was in the hangar bay to meet him. “Well?”
“Let’s go to the briefing room,” Gage said. The corridor lights were used to give the crew a feel for night and day. They were dimmed now, because it was “night” aboard the ship. He and David walked through the quiet halls. Gage ran his hand through his hair and reviewed his plan one more time. He saw lots of potential for failure but he dismissed that possibility. He wouldn’t fail. He wanted Tamara and he would have her.
He wanted to nail Fells and Simon for their treatment of Tamara and he would do that too.
He entered the briefing room. David followed. Gage moved to the bar and poured a
generous helping of chot, a fiery alcohol. He downed it in one gulp. Then he threw the glass across the room. It smashed into hundreds of glittering particles.
“Was it that bad?”
“Yes. According to Mark, I have no hard evidence, only the word of a criminal. Fells is considered an average, midlevel officer. Command didn’t think he was smart enough to pull off this kind of long-range planning. Luckily I could argue enough circumstantial evidence that they’re willing to let me run with it. They can’t explain how the needle ships got out of salvage. The signature on the release was blurred and the vids from the night they left were unclear and of no use whatever. Even they admit that it is very suspicious that we were attacked by ships supposedly locked down tight at Space Command and that the ships knew our route—a route only known by Space Command. They agree there must be a mole even if they doubt it is Fells. However,
they did approve the plan with a few modifications. We have a very short window of
time to find the mole and pull in Simon. They refused to fund any more stings. They want me to use the money from the luxury cruiser, thus the short window before the holovas and the credits are returned.”
“What about the lassie?”
“That’s a little more complicated. I got what I wanted but I’m not sure she’ll be
happy with the deal.”
David cocked an eyebrow.
Gage smiled. “Later. Let me go break the news to her. It’s time that I finally tell her my real job.”
*
Tamara tackled Gage as he walked into his cabin. “You lied to me! You lied to me!
How could you do that if you really cared about me?” She threw a vase at him.
Gage frowned and ducked another projectile. He’d never seen Tamara so hopping
mad. Fakzi what happened? I left her in the cage. How did she get out?
She is very resourceful. She got out and accessed your computer. She found out you are a cop.
Gage groaned. This wasn’t the way he wanted to break his cover to her. Tamara
threw another object. “That’s enough!” he shouted and sped across the room to grab
her. “Let me explain.”
“Just like you let me explain? You lied to me. You’re a cop! How could you betray
me like this?”
Gage wrapped his arms around her as she fought and tried to escape his hold.
“Darling you’re supposed to be safely locked up. If you went looking for dirt it is no wonder that you found it.”
“I’m tired of you locking me up. Or was that just practice for when you turn me in
to Space Command and I get locked up for real. Let me go, you bastard!”
“You’re not going anywhere Tamara. You belong with me.”
“So you plan on using me just like everyone else and you had the nerve to be angry
about their treatment of me? Let me go!” Tamara squirmed but she couldn’t get any
leverage and Gage easily held her tightly against his chest.
“I’ll let you go when you calm down and promise to listen to me.” Tamara’s anger
was palpable. She was so beautiful, such a little spitfire. Her rage fueled his desire and for a moment he wanted to throw her to the floor and fuck her. If she continued her furious tirade, he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
“There’s nothing I want to hear from you except that you grant me my freedom.”
“And what would you do with that freedom? Go back to scrounging in the muck?
Trying to find a mark? Always wondering where your next score is coming from? I can offer you something much better.”
“Yes, jail, where I’ll always know where my next meal is coming from. Sorry, not
interested. Let me go!”
“If you don’t calm down I’ll toss you on the bed and chain you so you have to
listen.”
Tamara stilled. She knew she wouldn’t get anywhere fighting him. He was too
strong. She visibly controlled her anger, took a deep breath and said, “I’m listening.
Explain yourself.”
Gage loosened his hold on Tamara. She immediately squirmed out of his grip. He
let her go. She needed to have some control in her life right now. As long as she didn’t fling any more projectiles, she’d stay free. He ran his hand through his hair and started pacing.
“Yes I’m a member of the Space Police.” Gage saw Tamara stiffen. “Just hear me
out. I’ve been working undercover for many years. My crew is all military. My job is to ferret out thieves and pirates.”
“Like me?”
“There is no one like you. When I first met you, I was on a job. I wanted to recruit you for the very reasons I told you. I needed a female. I needed a con artist, someone who could think on her feet and was fearless. That was you. I didn’t expect to fall in love with you.”
Tamara’s eyes widened. Gage had made it clear that he wanted her but this was the
first time he’d told her that he loved her. She remained silent. Gage continued.
“You were amazing. You followed my plans. I didn’t have to explain twice. You
never complained about the risks we took. You were—are—perfect. No, I didn’t tell you my end goal. Would you have helped me if I had?”
“Probably not.”
“That’s how I read the situation. So I kept quiet and didn’t tell you everything. That was my mistake. If you’d known I was a cop, you might not have run out on me in fear when Fells showed up. We might have captured him three years ago.
“You were using me,” Tamara stated, her voice flat.
“That’s my job, darling.”
“Don’t ‘darling’ me. You bastard!”
“Don’t you want to nail Fells?”
Tamara whirled and stared at Gage. “What do you mean?”
“Help me and we’ll nail him. I never considered the possibility that there was a
mole at Space Command. Your claims led me to investigate Fells and I’m certain now
that he’s betrayed his oath. He’s not only a mole but he’s Bloody Simon’s mole.” Gage continued, “I believe Randall and Simon are working together and you’re the key to proving that,” Gage said. “You’re the lure. I want to nail both of the bastards, and with your help, we can do it. Don’t you want revenge?” Gage tipped his head and cocked an eyebrow waiting for her answer.
“Why should I believe you? What’s in it for me?”
“Your record will be cleared if you help us.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know how to trust you now,” she paused then she
tilted her chin and asked, “Will you answer my questions?”
“Ask me anything.”
“Why did you rob the luxury cruiser?”
“Two reasons. The most important reason was because I wanted you back.”
“And the other reason?”
“We knew the pirate who’d been killing his victims has a collec
tion of holovas. We
thought it would be the perfect way to lure him into a trap. He’s escaped us for years.
We want him stopped. The holovas and all the stolen accounts will eventually be
returned but not until we’ve used them for this sting.”
Tamara shook her head. “It’s a dangerous game Gage. I don’t want to help you. I’m
tired of being used by men. I’m tired of the fact that all of you seem to think I’m a game piece to be moved at your will. When have any of you ever cared about me?”
“Tamara you belong with me. You’re not going to escape me again, not even by
going to prison.”
“Well prison would certainly not be my first choice as a way to escape.”
“I want to keep you but I’m a cop. I can’t keep you if you’re a criminal. So, I’ve
made sure your name will be cleared.”
“What do you mean?”
“Command has agreed. If you help me capture Randall and Simon you’ll be
pardoned.” That was only part of what Command had said but Tamara didn’t need to
know the rest right now.
“Pardoned? A full pardon for anything and everything?”
“That’s right. Sorry but in the overall scheme of things your crimes don’t weigh
anywhere near as heavy as theirs. Help me catch them and you’re pardoned.”
“How can I trust you?”
“I’ve never lied to you.”
“How dare you say that? You just forgot to tell me you’re a cop and you want to
use me—just like my father did, just like Randall did and just like Simon did.”
“You never asked me if I was a cop. So technically I didn’t lie to you. I may have
omitted some information but I didn’t lie to you.”
“And if I say no?”
“I’ll have to turn you over to command. Neither of us wants me to do that.”
“It might be better than being used again.”
“Are you sure about that? What happens if there’s another bad cop?”
“Well that would be you, wouldn’t it?”
“Do you really think I’m like the other men you’ve known?”
“Aren’t you?”
“If I were, you’d be permanently chained to my bed and I wouldn’t worry about
your satisfaction. I’d be fucking you senseless without any regard for your feelings,”
Gage retorted. “And you know that.”
Tamara stared at the viewport.
“Tamara, I can’t do this without you. It’s your chance to clean your record. Will you help me?”
Tamara frowned. “I’m afraid of Randall and Simon. I don’t want to be captured by
either of them again. How can I trust you to keep me safe?”
“It won’t go that far. You’re the lure, not the prize.”
“Things go wrong despite the best planning. You know that.”
Gage sighed. “Tamara, take a chance on me. I won’t let you down.” He ran a hand
through his hair. “Look, I know this has been a shock for you. Take the night to think about my proposal. I don’t have time to find all the tools I’m sure you’ve hidden in the prison room and elsewhere since you obviously have figured out how to escape. You’re free to move around here. Fakzi, do not let Tamara leave my cabin. Do you understand?
Fakzi stared at Gage. Are you sure you want to do this?
Yes I am sure, Fakzi. If she escapes this ship, she will not be safe. Too many powerful men are seeking her.
The liock nodded. Tamara will stay here.
Gage nodded and left the room.
Chapter Eleven
The vid connection between them was fuzzy and indistinct but that didn’t matter.
All that mattered was the information Randall had for Simon. It was a risk calling the pirate from a Space Command connection but that couldn’t be helped either. He’d just gotten vital information and there wasn’t time to find a more secure connection.
“I know where they’re going next. You need to get there first,” Randall said.
“I think I’ll take a pass on this one. It’s already gotten out of hand. I can’t afford another screwup. There are other holovas.”
“If you ever want my help again, you’ll do what I tell you now.”
*
Tamara stared at the closed door. She knew she could defeat it but what was the
point? She could already feel the thrum of the engines ramping up for an exit from the planet’s orbit. If she left now only cold space would await her. She paced. What should she do?
She felt a sharp pain in her heart. Gage had shown her that sex didn’t have to hurt.
Sex could be a glorious exploration of sensation that overwhelmed all rational thought.
What did she owe him for that knowledge? He’d swamped her demons in pleasure
until she now slept with no nightmares. He’d given her freedom in a way she’d never considered before.
Tamara stilled. Did she love him? She couldn’t tell. She had no measure to define
love. Even if she wasn’t sure about love, she was sure about one thing. Gage turned her on. No other man had aroused her the way he did. Even now, as angry as she was, she could feel his magic hands and his hard body. Was that love? Who cared?
She wanted to have sex with him whether or not she loved him. No wonder men
had so many problems. She now understood why they led with their cocks and did
illogical things. She yanked her awareness back to her current dilemma. Should she
give in to him and let him use her. Would she gain her freedom at the end? Despite
every thought that shrieked at her, she did trust him. He would keep his word and if he didn’t, she’d still gain sex with him. How pathetic. Hadn’t she learned that she could only trust herself? All men lied. Why did she think that Gage was the exception?
“Too many misunderstandings between you two.”
“Not now, Fakzi.”
He stared at her for a long moment before turning and padding into the prison
room. She shook her head. She didn’t understand anyone who would chose to spend
time there but it seemed to be one of Fakzi’s favorite spots. She dismissed thoughts of Fakzi and turned her attention to her problem. What was she going to do?
*
“Did she agree?”
Gage threw David a stormy glance.
“Guess not. Guess she didn’t like the fact that you used her before and that you
omitted information.”
“She managed to escape the cage and the prison room. She also managed to access
the ship’s computer system and find out quite a bit of information. Where were you
when she was doing all that?”
David laughed. “Quite the resourceful lassie, isn’t she? And I was doing as you
ordered—keeping an eye on the planet comm systems. Where was Fakzi? I thought you
set the liock to watch her?”
I did watch her, came the thought from the liock. I watched her break out of her cage and the room and access the system. She is very good. She needed to do this and she is right, you should have told her your purpose long ago.
“Fakzi seems to have adopted Tamara. He’s defending her.”
“Should I do the same?” David asked.
“Keep your opinions to yourself,” Gage growled.
“We can’t do this without her.”
“Is it right to use her? She accused me of using her as every other man in her life has done. David, we may have to do this without her.”
David had never seen Gage look so defeated. He’d been right when he’d said
Tamara was his one weakness.
“Let me talk to her.”
“Do you really think you’ll get further than I did?”
“Do we have any other options?”
&
nbsp; Gage shrugged and waved a hand. “Go ahead and watch out for flying objects.”
David chuckled as he walked the corridor to Gage’s cabin. Tamara certainly made
life interesting.
Tamara was still debating her next move when David walked into Gage’s cabin.
“Och, lassie, what are you doing? Gage has gotten Space Command to agree to a
pardon if you only help us. What Gage probably didn’t tell you is that he staked his career on his belief in you.”
Tamara glared at David.
He sat down and said, “We’ve been here before. You can trust him.”
“So you and Fakzi tell me.”
David cast a sideways glance at the liock. Fakzi ignored him and continued
grooming himself. Their relationship had always been a little testy. They were both protective of Gage. Both grew concerned when Gage was wild or had risky plans.
“Oh,” Tamara said, a shocked look crossing her face. “That means you’re a cop too.
I hadn’t considered that.”
“Every man and woman on this ship is a military cop. We all agreed to take on this
mission to capture pirates. And we’re all fiercely loyal to Gage. You won’t find anyone who will help you go against Gage’s wishes. Ah, lassie, you know what he’s like. You know he’s honorable and loyal. He—we—need your help. For some reason, the pirate wants you back. The deal won’t work without your help. Don’t you want to nail this
bastard?”
“Much as I’d like that, I don’t want to nail him if I also nail myself.”
“Gage explained, didn’t he? You’ll be pardoned if you help us.”
Tamara looked at David with a sad expression on her face. “Then what will I do?
The only thing I know is how to scam marks. I can’t support myself. So I’d be free to starve? That’s not much of an incentive.”
David stood. “Better than being hunted, isn’t it? Besides I don’t think Gage is going to let you starve.”
Tamara shrugged.
“Think hard, lassie. We need you. Gage needs you. You are being offered a very
