Galaxy's Way

by E. R. Paskey

  Heart in her throat, Anna peered around Colin’s shoulder. Someone had dragged a cot mattress from one of the other rooms and arranged it behind the furniture in the corner to create a semi-comfortable hiding place. That someone was a man‌—‌a man who looked like he had been beaten to within an inch of his life.

  He was slumped back against the wall, one arm cradled to his side at an awkward angle. He was dressed in non-descript spacer clothes‌—‌brown trousers, boots, vest, shirt, and a hide jacket‌—‌and hadn’t shaved in a few days. Not that he could have anyway; his face was puffy and bruised, one eye swollen shut completely. He was staring up at Deek and Colin with a kind of desperate defiance.

  Even as his good eye snapped to her, Anna recognized him. “Bear?”

  Chapter 19

  DULL SHOCK COURSED THROUGH ANNA as she gaped at the man whose betrayal had set in motion the events of the last few weeks.

  Colin’s head snapped in her direction, his blue eyes filling with realization and cold fury. “Bear? As in Berenger?”

  Anna could only nod, her hands clenching into fists at her side. White-hot anger spiked inside her; she wanted the satisfaction of driving her fist into Berenger’s face. She settled for giving him a caustic smile. “I’d deck you, but it looks like somebody already beat me to it.”

  “Took the words right out of my mouth,” Colin said.

  The patches of skin on Berenger’s face not bearing bruises blanched. He dropped his gaze to the mattress, but not before Anna glimpsed hopelessness‌—‌and guilt‌—‌etched into his expression. She steeled her heart against it; he didn’t deserve pity. Not after what he’d done.

  Deek glanced from Berenger to her and back. “This is your crewmate who sold you out?”

  “Yes.” Anna had to unclench her jaw to speak. She drilled Berenger with a look so hard and unforgiving that she was sure he could feel it penetrating clear through to his bones. “I could have drowned.”

  He did not look up.

  Anger twisted in her gut. Heedless of Colin and Deek, she shoved one of the armchairs aside to advance on Berenger’s form slumped up against the wall. “We trusted you, Bear. I trusted you, and you sold us out!” Her voice rose with every word.

  Berenger still did not respond. His eyes remained glued to the mattress.

  Something inside Anna shattered. With an incoherent cry of frustration, she lunged for him, her fingers reaching for his collar to shake an answer out of him.

  “Whoa!” Colin caught her around the waist before she could reach Berenger. He hauled her up against his chest, his arm pinning her in place like a steel band. “Easy, lass.”

  “Let me go!”

  Anna bucked against his hold, but Colin did not budge. Holstering his pistol, he wrapped his other arm around her and said calmly in her ear, “He might be armed, and he’s hurt you enough already, lass, don’t you think?”

  The faintest sunbeam of reason penetrated the fog of anger clouding her mind. Anna’s chest heaved with something that could have been a sob, if she unclenched her jaw again. Still glaring at Berenger, she nodded once.

  “That’s my girl,” Colin said softly, approvingly.

  “Get your filthy hands off her,” came a slurred growl from the floor. “She ain’t your anything.”

  Anna, Colin, and Deek all stared at Berenger, who had raised his eyes from the floor to give Colin a look that could have welded a hull breach.

  Fury rose in Anna’s breast again, but she forced herself to tamp it down into something a little more manageable. Pushing away from Colin‌—‌whose arms fell away reluctantly, as though he was half-afraid she’d lunge for her former crewmate’s throat again‌—‌she posted her hands on her hips and glared down at Berenger with all the disgust she could muster. “Oh, so now you speak.”

  “Your brother ain’t going to like this,” Berenger said, but he couldn’t hold her gaze.

  Anna recognized the ploy for what it was‌—‌an attempt to put her on the defensive. Before she could respond, however, Deek interrupted.

  “Hate to break up this reunion, but what is he doin’ here?” He nodded toward Berenger, his pistol still trained on him in case the other man so much as twitched the wrong way. “Thought he flew off with Lobai.”

  He did. Anna froze, the anger burning inside her chest transforming instantaneously into ice.

  “That’s a good point, Deek.” Colin moved up to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Anna again. “Perhaps, more importantly, we should ask who gave him such a lovely beating.”

  A thought sprang to mind, a though so devastating that for several heartbeats Anna was almost afraid her chest actually had frozen. “How did you get here?” she whispered though numb lips.

  Berenger glanced up at her, but he still couldn’t hold her gaze for more than a second.

  “Answer me,” she growled. “Did Viktor find you and bring you here?” Had he already come and gone and left Bear here alone?

  “You’d better answer her,” Deek said conversationally, “or you’re goin’ to find yourself with a bullet hole on top of everythin’ else.”

  Colin took a step forward. “Is her brother here?”

  Berenger gave a slow, painful shake of his head.

  “Was he here?” Anna stepped forward too, her hands clenching into fists again. “How did you get here? You’re not even supposed to know about this place!”

  “I did know,” he said in a low, gravelly voice.

  Anna’s chest still felt numb. “How?”

  When Berenger did not immediately answer, Deek fired a shot into the mattress next to his thigh. They all flinched; the sound was too loud in the metal walls of this place.

  That seemed to have decided Berenger; words tumbled out of him in a rush, albeit a slurred rush, due to his damaged face. “Got it out of Hugo a year or two back. Seemed the best place to come after‌—‌after — ” he faltered and broke off.

  “After what?” Anna and Colin demanded in unison.

  “After Lobai had his men do this.” Bitterness filled Berenger’s voice.

  Anna blinked, reeling backward out of pure shock. “Lobai did this to you? Why? You betrayed us for him.”

  “Not for him,” Berenger muttered. His injured arm twitched against his side and he grimaced. “None of it was for him.”

  “Then why?” Anna tasted bile. “Why would you betray us, after everything? And why would you come here?” She snorted bitterly. “You have to know Viktor will beat you to a pulp all over again when he finds out you’re here.”

  “Don’t care. Better ‘n where I was.”

  The thin strand holding the frayed remains of her patience finally snapped. Before Colin or Deek could so much as blink, Anna swooped forward and grabbed Berenger’s collar with her prosthetic hand, bringing their faces level. “You had better start talking before I black your other eye!”

  Berenger’s expression did not change. “You won’t do it. You’ve got too much of a heart, Anna.”

  Something twisted painfully inside her chest. How dare he? “That was before you sold me out to Lobai. I almost drowned.” She punctuated each word with a little shake. “And then you tipped the police off to the Iliana being outside of town and I got stranded on that backwater little planet because you convinced Viktor I was with you!”

  “Drowned? How? That wasn’t part of the plan!” Berenger’s eyes widened in shock before he dropped his gaze, unable to maintain eye contact any longer. “Lobai promised he wouldn’t hurt you.”

  Anna gave him a scathing look, tightening her fingers in his collar. “And you believed him?”

  “Made it part of the deal I cut.” He shook his head, still staring at the mattress. “You were only supposed to be delayed long enough for us to clear out.”

  The anger burning the inside of her chest turned to icy fury. Disentangling her fingers from her former crewmate’s collar, Anna drew back just long enough to haul off and deliver a stinging slap to the side of his face. His face sn
apped to one side, but he did not move. “You’re lying! You are the only person who could have convinced Viktor to leave the planet without me‌—‌and you did. I WANT TO KNOW WHY!”

  Her voice resounded off the walls, leaving behind bruised and battered silence in its wake.

  Slowly, Berenger turned his face back to her. The set of his jaw spoke of guilt and misery and a hint of stubborn defiance that made not a lick of sense, considering the situation. His chest rose and fell in a quick breath, and then he said in a rush, “I’ve got a kid.”

  For a second, his words did not penetrate. Anna heard them, understood the shape and sound of them, but did not comprehend their meaning. When she did, her eyes narrowed in confusion and mistrust. “What?”

  “I’ve got a kid,” Berenger repeated. “Six year-old boy. Only found out a couple months ago.”

  “Well,” Colin drawled from behind Anna, “I can’t say as I saw that coming.”

  Anna ignored him to prop her hands on her hips again and glare down at Berenger. “You’ve been with our crew for four years. You could have brought him with you. Viktor wouldn’t have minded. What does that have to do with the price of sparkle tea on Coralin?”

  “His mother’s dying.”

  When Anna’s immutable expression did not change, Berenger wet his split lips and continued, “Some form of cancer. She’s got a mountain of hospital bills.”

  “So?” Deek cut in. “The hospital can’t keep you from takin’ the kid, if you can prove he’s yours.”

  “Loan shark she owed money can.”

  Anna inhaled sharply, her eyes narrowing further into slits. “So that’s it,” she said flatly. “She was in debt and this guy’s using the kid as leverage to get his money back.”

  “Hardly legal.” Colin’s mouth pulled into a frown, his blue eyes dark and serious.

  Berenger snorted contemptuously. “‘Legal’ ain’t got nothing do with it.”

  “You sure he’s yours?” It might have been a callous question, but he’d betrayed her and the rest of their crew for this child. If he’s telling the truth, Anna reminded herself.

  “I’m sure.” Berenger tried to smile, but couldn’t quite manage it. “Had a paternity test done after Zora tracked me down. We didn’t part on good terms; hadn’t seen her in years.” His eyes found Anna again and his expression turned grim. “But I knew he was mine the second I laid eyes on him.”

  Anna folded her arms across her chest. “Let’s say for a minute that I actually believe you. Why didn’t you talk to Viktor? We could have figured something out.”

  “Especially since you had a few months to think everything over,” Colin added, in a tone just this side of sarcastic.

  Berenger shook his head. “No way I could have earned the money I needed. Not in time.” His mouth twisted. “And not after the loan shark found out I was working on a pirate ship.”

  “Oh, good Lord.” Anna rolled her eyes heavenward at that. “Are you serious? A loan shark has scruples about dealing with a supposed pirate?”

  “He upped her debt,” Berenger said sharply, coming off the wall to sit upright, despite the obvious pain the movement gave him. “Added a bunch of stupid fees.”

  Anna’s glare sharpened as well. “So you screwed your crew of four years‌—‌FOUR YEARS!‌—‌over for a little boy you’ve only known a couple of months.”

  “He’s my son,” Berenger said raggedly. “Don’t have any other family, and I couldn’t let that bastard keep him.” His face twisted. “And then Lobai refused to pay me. Had his men work me over and then they‌—‌they left me for dead.”

  Just like you left me. The backs of Anna’s eyes burned. “I suppose I should be grateful you did it for a kid instead of drugs or a ship of your own, or any of the other reasons chasing themselves around my head.” She swallowed thickly. “But the fact is, the only reason I’m even standing here is because he — ” she jerked her head toward Colin, “ — is an honorable man.”

  Deek glanced sideways at Colin, but the captain did not move.

  Anna advanced on Berenger again. “Did you know there are underground lakes in those caves?” she asked silkily. When Berenger’s good eye widened, she favored him with a nasty smile. “Lobai did. His men threw me into one after they tied me up.” She darted a glance at Colin‌—‌whose blue eyes were still serious‌—‌before turning back to Berenger. “I probably would have eventually found the little bit of land down there, but there’s no way I could have gotten out by myself.”

  Her throat tightened; she had to force her next words out. “If Lobai hadn’t betrayed Colin too, I’d be dead.”

  It wasn’t a realization she liked to dwell on.

  “Don’t forget, lass,” Colin said mildly. “You untied me. I’d be in dire straights myself if Lobai hadn’t tossed you down there.”

  Berenger looked like she had just backhanded him with a pistol butt. “That‌—‌that wasn’t part of the plan.” He shut his eyes and tipped his head back against the wall, exposing dark finger-shaped bruises on his throat. “But then, none of it turned out the way it should have.”

  “Clearly,” Anna said, in a voice dripping acid. “Or you wouldn’t be here.”

  Berenger’s eyes flew open, as though two wires had finally sparked a connection inside his no-doubt concussed brain, and he stared at Colin. “Lobai betrayed you too? Why?”

  “Why not?” Colin shrugged a shoulder. “Seems to be his new business method.”

  Anna uncrossed her arms long enough to snap her fingers and draw Berenger’s attention. “We’re not done. You haven’t told me why you have the nerve to come here after what you pulled and expect us not to jettison you out an airlock.”

  Berenger’s good eye glittered with malice‌—‌but it was not directed at Anna or her two companions. “Because I know where Lobai’s going.”

  Chapter 20

  THE SOUND OF COLIN’S LAUGHTER curled through the air, rich with genuine amusement. “Of course you do.” He came up to stand beside Anna, still chuckling. “You’ve taken one too many blows to the head if you expect her to buy that line, mate.”

  “It’s true,” Berenger insisted, before dawning suspicion filled his face. “For that matter, who are you?” His suddenly accusing gaze swung to Anna. “Why would you bring strangers here?”

  Anna glanced sideways at Colin and arched an eyebrow in a clear invitation. Do you want to tell him, or shall I?

  A devil-may-care grin split Colin’s bearded face and brought a devilish twinkle to his eyes. Draping an arm around Anna’s shoulders, he said casually, “She brought me here because I’m her husband.”

  The horrified shock on Berenger’s black-and-blue face before he promptly choked on his own spit made up for some of the trauma he’d put them through, Anna decided. Almost.

  “It’s your fault,” she said breezily, while Berenger coughed and sputtered, “which I will make sure Viktor knows when he finally gets here.”

  “I don’t‌—‌understand,” Berenger gasped at last. “How’s that even — ”

  He looked so completely flummoxed that Anna felt a tiny laugh burble up in her chest.

  Deek shot the injured man a scathing look. “Oh, don’t tell me you’ve never heard tell about Plimus’s laws either.”

  Beneath his bruises, Berenger blanched. “You’re not‌—‌you can’t — ” His terrified eyes traveled from Anna to Colin and back before he visibly deflated. “Your brother’s gonna kill me.”

  “He was already going to kill you,” Anna informed him sweetly. “This just gives him another reason.” She felt Colin’s eyes on her, but ignored him. Clearly, Berenger thought there was more between them than there actually was‌…‌and she was suddenly feeling rather ambivalent about disabusing him of the notion.

  I’ll tell him after Viktor gets here, she decided.

  “If he’s lyin’ about knowin’ where Lobai is,” Deek advised, “I say we send him out the airlock on general principle.”

&nb
sp; “Not lying.” Berenger’s puffy lips twisted into a grimace. “On my son’s life.”

  “That’s still supposing I believe you,” Anna snapped back, but the bulk of the anger had drained from her voice. Her rage-fueled adrenaline rush had faded as well, leaving her tired. Very, very tired. “You should have told us.”

  He had the grace to look abashed.

  Now that Anna had calmed down, Colin moved in. “What were you going to do after Lobai paid you? Go back to your son’s world and live?” He snorted, his blue eyes cold and sharp. “You can’t have thought you’d be able to go back to the Iliana.”

  “I didn’t,” Berenger said dully. “Was going to find another job, one where I could take him with me.”

  Anna let out a puff of incredulous laughter. “A spacer like you grounded? For a kid you don’t even know?” This was too much‌—‌trying to reconcile the man she’d known for four years and the man slumped before her was a bigger job than she could handle just now. Her knees gave out; she collapsed rather gracelessly onto the couch.

  Berenger shot her a baleful look out of his good eye. “Wouldn’t be grounded forever, Anna.”

  She returned the look with interest. “Don’t know how much work you’d be getting once word got around about you selling your crew out to Lobai.”

  “It wouldn’t have spread that fast.” Berenger hesitated, and then went for the jugular. “Not coming from a pirate crew.”

  Anna inhaled sharply; out of the corner of her eye, she saw both Colin and Deek tense, as though they expected her to lunge at Berenger again. She held back a bitter laugh. I think I’m more inclined to shoot him at this point.

  But, no‌…‌she’d leave that up to Viktor.

  In a deceptively calm voice, she asked, “What did you tell my brother?”

  Shame flickered across Berenger’s face again, but he held his ground this time. “Told him Lobai had betrayed us, and that he’d sold us out to the Plimus police too.”

  “How’d you convince him I was with you?” The question came out in a rush; she’d been wondering that since the moment she realized Viktor had fled Plimus without her.