Ricochet
Page 3
“You’d be surprised at what your pal Chaf will do.”
What the hell kind of business did he have with Chaf, anyway? The monitor bleeped again. Willa trained her gaze on the grid. “He’s going over the top.”
“Damn it!” Stratton jerked back on the steering mechanism. “The bastard is trying to dust us.”
“How can you possibly know that?” She half rose from her seat in order to better spot Chaf’s ship. “He’s never—”
“It’s what I would do in his situation. If he dusts us, we’ll be drifting dead for a good few hours, depending on how many waves he lets go.” His expression was dark and determined, illuminated by the light array on the back of the Stryker as it dropped into position before them. “Hang on. We’re gonna cheat too.”
Again, he jerked the joystick, and the Anomaly banked hard to the port-side. The triangle on the screen indicated Chaf followed suit, behind them now. Stratton’s fingers tightened on the controls. His lips, just visible beneath the smoky-hued fiberglass visor, were set into a thin, hard line.
“Give me the location of the nearest wormhole. We’re gonna play the poor man’s slingshot.”
Having no idea what the term meant, Willa slid a finger over the windscreen display, and another map flickered into view. Blue dots appeared over the star chart, the nearest point five parsecs away. “Not far. Keep veering to the right and you should see it in a couple of minutes.” Another alarm erupted into the quiet of the cabin. The Anomaly shivered as Chaf bumped the rear. “I’ve never known Chaf to try such tactics before.”
“Yeah, well, when a man’s got a bounty on his head and owes even more to various gang leaders in a few galaxies, he tends to act irrationally.”
Oh no. “You’re a bounty hunter?” The glare she shot him was lost due to the helmets. “That’s why you’re in the Nebulon Trike, isn’t it? You’re tracking Chaf, as ridiculous as that sounds. You have no intention of winning, do you?” She jabbed at the display screen, and the star chart disappeared.
“Oh, I have every intention of winning. I’ll also bag that asshole Chaf. And like I told you before, I always get what—or who—I want.” Moments of intense silence stretched between them. “Start the countdown for the wormhole. I’m going to tax the engines as much as I can without jumping into hyper-light. Don’t want to get lost in the hole or burn through our energy before the checkpoint.”
She did as instructed while her mind raced. She was saddled with a bounty hunter, on his mission no less, tracking a man she thought had a tendency to be a jerk, a fierce competitor. What the hell had Chaf done to warrant a bounty? “Ten seconds to intersection. Nine. Eight…”
“Is he still on our tail?”
“Affirmative.” She nodded, her gaze glued to the grid. “Five seconds to intersection.”
“Great. As soon as our nose passes through, hit the round yellow button.”
Willa’s stomach roiled with unease. “You intend to dump our EM waves on him? That’s a little unfair, don’t you think? What about the Golden Rule?”
“Oh, but when he was gonna do it, that was fine?”
She bit back a retort.
“Besides, there’s no Golden Rule in racing. Just do it. Once we hit the wormhole, we’ll be in prime position. Chaf will be stuck, as will anyone else behind him.” The engines roared and whined as he primed them to the point of strain. “What part of this plan do you not understand?”
Stratton shoved up his helmet’s visor, sparing a few seconds to scowl at her. “Willa, now!” Why wouldn’t the damned woman do what he asked? Travel through the wormhole would prevent them from nabbing Chaf, but they had to escape their present situation. No sense in getting stuck in the same web. There’d be another opportunity to bag his quarry this day.
“If we’re disqualified, I’ll have to shoot you.” She slammed a finger onto the button.
“Again, you can try.”
A tinny, electronic voice came over the comlink and proclaimed, “Electromagnetic waste has been released. Craft contamination imminent. Please clear the area.”
“That’s the plan.” He wrenched the steering mechanism forward. “Computer, full speed. Hold just under hyper-light. Sync with the nav’s coordinates.” Only after he’d issued the orders did he remove his helmet.
“So, those EM waves, will they permanently disable Chaf’s ship?”
Stratton’s laughter was more of a bark. “I wish. The EMs will disable his ship’s system for a couple of hours at best, depending on how new his shuttle is. I’m hoping he’s in the same class we are, which will net us almost three hours. It’s a small delay move, but it’ll make sure to put space between us.”
“What about the other racers behind him?” The helmet muffled her question.
“What about them? Not my problem. I’m only concerned about Chaf.” He shrugged, done talking about the issue. “Look, it’s a rally, not lunch with an intergalactic contingent. They’ll get over it.” Why the hell did she care? Hanging his helmet on the hook above his head, he swiveled to assess Willa and get a feel for her state of mind. First and foremost, he wanted to know exactly how close she and Chaf had been. A lovesick female could be dangerous. “So, you and Chaf, huh?”
“We were partners a few times.” Willa removed her helmet and stowed it on its hook. “No big thing.”
“I get it. Racing partners with benefits, huh?” If she had personal knowledge about his quarry, he’d draw it out and use it against both of them—as long as he got his money.
She cocked an eyebrow but kept her gaze focused on the star chart. “What difference does it make? You’re not willing to give up any of your personal information. Don’t expect me to do the same.”
“Ah.” Stratton leaned back in his seat, resting his boot heels on the console once more. Willa was stubborn, all right, but he’d broken through the prickles of more than one woman before. Flattery would be the order of the day, and women like Willa lapped it up with a spoon. “You know, I think we’ll be in prime position to win this leg of the race. I’ve heard rumors they’re putting the first three teams up in a posh hotel. What do you say to dinner on me once we land? I know for a fact they have a great night life on Aga.”
“You automatically assume I’d be interested in that sort of entertainment, and with you?” She glanced at him then, her light-blue eyes as hard as crystallized ice particles. “Once we land, I intend to get some sleep at the rest stop. If we come in first, we’ll be leaving very early in the morning. There really isn’t time to waste.”
A brick wall had more give. “You just can’t do it, can you?” He clenched a fist before reminding himself to play nice with her.
“Do what?” She reached her arms above her head, stretching, which thrust her full breasts against her form-fitting suit.
“Relax and let some of that rigid control slip.” Stratton traced his goatee with a forefinger. “Sometimes you have to enjoy life and let it take you where it wants, not the other way around. Otherwise, the sweet part gets lost in the translation.”
“Now you’re a philosopher? That’s out of character for you, Stratton.” Willa unbuckled her seat restraint and swiveled to meet his gaze. “I’m your racemate, not your life partner. I owe you nothing, especially after finding out you’re after a bounty. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my own problems.”
“You can call me Sin if you want. Lots of women do.” When her only response was a set chin and narrowed eyes, he sighed, determined to break past her barriers. They had thirty minutes of transport through the wormhole. Might as well try to get on her good side. “Tell me why you want to win the Nebulon Trike.” Maybe the best way to befriend the obstinate woman would be through common ground.
Her lips moved, and for a second, he thought she’d smile. She didn’t. “Respect. I want people to know I’m just as good as any pilot, even though I’m a woman.”
“Who says you aren’t?”
“You, my family, everyone I know.”
“Right, so your attitude that women are objects or possessions just screams your admiration? Using derogatory endearments isn’t the way to a woman’s heart, or into her pants, for that matter.”
He reeled as if he’d been smacked. Never had he been brought to task on his treatment of the fairer sex before. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
“Somehow I doubt it. You’re too cocky to change, and you’ve built your reputation on it. Why would you do anything different now?” The smile disappeared, and she turned back to the star chart. “I can fly circles around my brothers, have piloted close to every kind of craft on Lingoria, but none of that matters. In the laws of my world, because I’m female, my primary function is to further the species.”
“Why? Is your planet running low on males? Is there some sort of infant-mortality issue?” Yes, he used women for his own pleasure and often joked about men being superior, but he couldn’t imagine preventing a female he cared about from living her dream.
Willa snorted, shaking her head. “No. By galaxy standards, Lingoria is doing quite well. It’s merely a case of old traditions clashing with changing laws and ways of life. Lingorian females are expected to tend hearth and home, breed future heroes to keep Lingoria in the grand custom of military might.”
“I see. A whole planet full of control freaks.” He shifted in his seat, incredibly aware of the way Willa’s uniform hugged her voluptuous frame.
“Pretty much. Many of the fighter pilots from my planet go on to join the Alliance in peace-keeping missions and details.” When she looked at him, sadness mixed with the anger in her eyes. “I can do no less, or at least try, but until the laws prohibiting women from serving change, it’s a waste of time.”
“Do you enjoy flying?”
“Yes, of course. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Maybe, but you’d still be looking for validation for your own existence from people who really don’t give a damn.”
“That’s not true.”
“I don’t know you well enough to say.” Stratton stroked his goatee again. “If you do enjoy flying, then it’s not wasted time.” For the first time, he seriously regarded her. Long lashes framed her expressive eyes, a dark contrast against her pale skin. A rush of annoyance shot through him to think that such a woman could ever be overlooked. “Maybe Lingoria isn’t the place for you anymore. Think about that.”
“Maybe.” She tucked an escaped tendril of hair into the elastic binding her locks.
He’d give up the prize money right now to touch that silky mane. Instead, he fought the urge with another slow perusal down her body. She’d be more dangerous than the last third of this race because she’d be too distracting. “I’ll make you a promise. If it’s in my power to do so, we’ll finish first in each leg so your face will be in the news broadcasts every night. Sooner or later, your family will have to take notice and be proud.”
“I doubt it.” She wiped her hands on the tops of her thighs. “It doesn’t matter, really. I’ll do this race and go home. Nothing will have changed.”
“That’s not true.” He righted himself and stretched across the aisle to touch her shoulder. Small tremors raced up his arm to his elbow. “Uh, you’ll know you did it, and I’ll bet you’ll end up surprising some of the contestants.”
She responded to the brief contact with a gasp. Had she felt it too? “We’ll see. It’s early yet.”
Stratton remained silent for long moments. When she didn’t offer any more information, he swiveled back to the control console. “How many brothers do you have?”
“Four, all older than me, and all decorated many times over with medals and commendations.” Bitterness seeped from her, hanging thick in the close confines of the cabin. “They brag all the time, always ending the conversation by looking at me with pity in their eyes and saying they’re sure I’ll find something equally useful to do with my life.”
“Bastards.” He stared at the complete blackness they hurtled through. “Don’t listen to them. You obviously don’t need their kind of love.” This was exactly why he thanked whichever deity was popular at the moment that he’d been orphaned at a young age. No one to live up to; no one to be a disappointment to.
“You don’t understand. They’re my family, for good or ill.”
“That’s for you to work out. Respect starts inside.” He glanced at Willa. “Make your peace. No one can do it for you.”
Forget her, Sin. She’s not for you. Remember, you’re here to bag your quarry and take the cash. That’s it. Yeah, and how many times am I going to need that reminder? She’s too damned hot, and I’m not a gentleman.
A warning alarm broke into his thoughts. A tiny sigh of relief escaped him. “Status?” As long as he kept a good distance between them, they could each go their separate ways after he’d captured Chaf, or after the end of the race, whichever came first, no harm done.
Willa worked her keypad. “Just exiting the wormhole now.” She touched the windscreen, and the red map flashed onto the glass. “Three ships ahead of us. All race teams.” Green triangles flashed within the red.
“Is one of them Chaf?” He caught his jaw clenching and forced himself to relax. She still hadn’t talked about her relationship with the man.
She leaned forward, squinting at the display. “Actually, yes. How is it possible that the Stryker got ahead of us?”
He ignored her question. “What kind of ship is Chaf piloting?”
“How should I know? That’s not my department. Why?”
“Fuck it! Obviously, he’s got a newer shuttle, which means the dumped EMs hardly affected him. Not to mention they must have folded space and jumped, gaining them the lost time.” He’d be damned before he let Chaf best him. Stratton tapped a finger on the dash. “How long until we reach Aga?” He tightened his grip on the steering mechanism. How long would the reactor core hold up if they burned through everything they had now?
“Using full hyper-light, a few hours.” She jerked around in her seat, pinning him with an intense stare. “Can we make it?”
Stratton shrugged. “Don’t know, but I’m willing to go all in if you are.” He shot her the grin that had always won him favor with the ladies. Unfortunately, she didn’t so much as blush. “My promise still stands. I’ll get you to the platform. All I want from you is insider information on Chaf.”
One feathery, arched eyebrow inched toward her hairline. “Why are you so interested in him? What did he do?”
“You’re on a need-to-know basis, kita. Right now, you don’t need to know.”
“I thought you weren’t going to call me that anymore?”
“I never said that.” His grin widened. “Does it bother you?”
“Like you don’t know.” Fire smoldered in her gaze.
“Good. I’ll keep calling you kita until we hit the first-place spot. Better make a decision.” Baiting Willa was fast becoming one of his favorite games. “I’d hate for you to disappoint someone else.”
“Damn you, Sin. I hope you rot in a dark cell.”
Her using his nickname sent hot pulses straight to his dick. Maybe her armor was cracking after all. “Don’t worry. I probably will sooner or later.”
Willa’s fingers worked so quickly over her controls, he could hardly keep up. “Computer, follow new coordinates into open space. Prepare for hyper-light in ten.” She yanked her helmet from its hook, turned to him and said, “Let’s see what this bird can do.”
“You’re on.” He caught the tail end of her grin before she hid her face behind the visor. Those lips would haunt his dreams. “Hang on. This rally is about to go viral.” He slammed his fist down on a circular button. Instantly, the Anomaly hurtled into the top grade of hyper-light speed. Tickles filled his stomach, as much from excitement as from accelerated momentum. “After the winner’s podium, drinks on me.”
Chapter Three
Hours later, Stratton maneuvered the Anomaly smoothly into the designated bay and spent several anxious minutes waiting as the dock monkeys flagged him into a slot. Couplings slammed into place, securing the ship, and hoses were clamped into the underbelly to collect EM waste, as well as biological waste accumulated on the journey.
Stretching cramped muscles, he released the life-support line from his slick suit and stood. Willa had already gone into the hold to prepare the quad rover. They’d take that from the moon base to the first marker of the race and then to the mandatory rest area. “Willa, are we ready?”
She popped up from the rear of the craft as the back door slid soundlessly open. “Yup. The sooner we leave, the better chance we have of getting first digs.” Her eyes sparkled like lake water. “Everything good?”
“As far as I can tell.” Stratton took a few steps toward her, then stopped. He swallowed hard, but his throat remained dry, partly due to interstellar travel and partly from finally seeing Willa fully for the first time. The black suit hugged her curves with the possessive care of a lover, every dip and swell of her body on display for his hungry inspection. She’d even unzipped part of the suit—not enough to show off indecent cleavage, yet far enough that he could fantasize about what it would look like. “Why are you”—he gestured at her, for once at a loss for words to describe that portion of the female anatomy—“almost undressing?”
Willa shrugged, and the slight movement lifted her breasts. Her expression remained somber. “I’m hot.”
That has to be the understatement of the year. The sponsor patches raced a shiny path along her arms and legs, but his focus lodged at the exquisite triangle formed by her thighs and pelvis. He cleared his throat and wrenched his gaze to her face. “Let’s go. We’re wasting time.” No matter how tempting, he had to resist. Getting tangled in her problems was definitely not on the agenda.