by test
The Red Falcon was handsome all right but her heart still belonged to Tyler. Even though she was still deeply in love that didn’t mean that she was dead, at least not yet. Looking never hurt. Now, if she touched, that would be a different story. But she had the blackness of space between them, so she was safe and sound.
Johanna, she noticed was also having a good time studying him. Samantha slipped back into her body. She couldn’t let the Red Falcon unnerve her. She stared up at the Red Falcon and cocked her head to one side.
“No. Actually, we’ve invited the crazy assed pirates to pilfer and pillage our ship.” Her sarcasm didn’t go unnoticed.
RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 59
The corner of his full mouth twitched. His bewitching eyes fell to the pistol she held in her hands and he slowly smiled, again. Damn. That smile could light up a darkened room.
“Well, dear lady, if you have everything safely under control, I will hasten to depart and leave you to it,” the Red Falcon declared smoothly, smirking as Samantha scowled up at him.
She hated asking for help. But since she’d been stupid enough to turn down his original offer of help, she’d have to swallow her pride and speak up before he left and they were left to face their fate.
“Wait.... ” She put up her hand and pursed her lips. What she was about to do, would probably turn her stomach.
He raised his hand to cut the channel but his hand froze in mid-air and he stared merrily down at her.
Right at that moment, Lucy’s eyes re-focused and a treacherous smile broke across her face. She put up her hand and waved a farewell.
“Say bye-bye, you bastards!” Lucy declared.
She had obviously managed to gain control over the internal weaponry The Excalibur had been equipped with. The weapons came to life, just as she waved goodbye. Cries of agony, carried through the intercom to them and Samantha stared over in shock at Lucy.
“You didn’t?” Samantha asked. She was nearly stricken breathless by the thought of numerous dead bodies strewn throughout her halls. That would be one bloody job to clean up.
Frankly, she didn’t want to have any hand in it.
“Of course, I didn’t kill them. I am not programmed for such a thing. Though I’d wager they won’t be walking properly for at least a few days,” Lucy remarked, a cheeky gleam present in her violet eyes.
Samantha let out a sigh of relief and returned her attention to the large view screen. Then she began laughing, unable to control herself. She’d just faced death. Truly faced death and yet here she stood unscathed. She’d probably used up another one of her so-called nine lives.
She’d almost asked for help, and yet when the chips were truly down, and she had assumed that everyone was out for the count, Lucy of all people had saved the day. With tears streaming down her face she sank into a chair. Tyler stared quizzically down at her, raising one eyebrow. His look of concern only made her go into another fit of hysterics. They still weren’t out of the fire, but she had to do something or she would go insane.
“Has the beautiful lady lost her mind?” the Red Falcon inquired.
Johanna snapped angrily to attention, and if looks could kill The Red Falcon would definitely be a heap of ashes.
“If you had just gone up against a mad world what would you do?” Johanna demanded.
His wide smile faded, and his eyes lost some of their glitter. “Dear lady, I exist in a mad world, and I’ve managed thus far,” he answered.
Samantha wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, and hiccupped.
“Thank you, for offering to help us. It was greatly appreciated. But we now have to do some clean up duty, so if you wouldn’t mind I’ll send you my thank you card through the email,”
she started, just as she heard his throaty chuckle.
“Your reputation does not do you justice, Sam Cassidy,” he drawled.
As his words sunk in, Samantha stared stupidly up at him. How the hell did he know what her name was? She stared over in confusion at Tyler and Johanna.
“Cut the crap, Falcon!” she commanded. She wanted him to come clean about how he knew of her. She’d never crossed paths with him before. Since she tried to keep a low profile RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 60
his comment raised her curiosity.
She moved into an aggressive stance and tried to get back into battle mode.
“Tell me, how the blazes do you know who I am when we haven’t yet been introduced?”
She wanted to know what this pirate was up to. The sneaky look he had in his eye had set her on edge. She’d seen that look before, and it never led to good things.
Her heart resumed beating wildly, and her stomach flip-flopped in a most irritating manner. She really needed a heartburn pill.
“Because, dear Samantha, I’ve come to take Tyler Cassidy off of your hands,” The Red Falcon declared quirking his one eyebrow. Her heart stood still.
RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 61
Chapter Seven
Samantha’s chest constricted, and she hurriedly placed her hand over her heart. It was beating so forcefully that she feared it would fly right out of her chest. Her eyes were literally popping out of her head, and she felt drained and defeated.
She reached up to grasp Tyler’s hand and his long fingers curled around hers. She wouldn’t lose him, not in such a horrible and unjust way. But what could she do?
She had run out of options. The Red Falcon had forced her up against the wall with nowhere to go. She thought of Tyler and the strong unwavering love that they both shared.
Their love was resilient. She was resilient. They were resilient. What could she do?!!!
She could bloody well fight for her man that’s what she could do! She was a survivor.
She’d fight until her last breath if need be and she wouldn’t regret a God damn thing.
“Screw off, Falcon!” Samantha retorted, shooting to her feet.
His cocky smile faded into a grim line. She resisted the urge to cringe, as she suddenly realized that no one had ever dared to tell him to screw off, lest of all a woman. Ah, well, he had it coming to him. Since she wasn’t one to mince words, he’d just have to cope.
She swallowed again watching him fold his arms tightly across his chest. That was it--
his aggressive stance meant that she had just screwed herself and her family.
“Ross is taking the unconscious pirates to the brig. He can carry two at time, oh, what a man!” Lucy piped in, obviously unfazed by the tense exchange between the Red Falcon and Samantha. “I think that we should offer him a permanent placement on The Excalibur,” Lucy added. “He’s just so fine! ”
Lucy shrieked when Johanna threw a metal mug at her. Lucy harrumphed, and then faded out of existence.
Samantha stood there for what seemed to be an eternity. What was she thinking? Here she was bravely staring down the most ruthlessly cunning pirate in the galaxy. If only her father could see her now. He would probably be quick to point out to her, that she was going up against a very powerful man. Her mouth went dry. She licked her lips. He’d always told her to wisely pick her own battles—this wasn’t a battle she should have chosen. Shit.
Dear God, the Red Falcon could blow them into tiny little pieces with just one single command. She felt her palms grow moist and the air fizzed through her nostrils in short little puffs. The only way one went up against the Red Falcon was if they had a literal space ship armada clustered around them. And even then it would be a crap shot.
“Just, breathe! ” Tyler murmured in her ear.
She became all tingly when his hot breath caused delicious little goose bumps to erupt across the nape of her neck. A calm began to overtake her and she caught Johanna’s gentle smile of encouragement.
“Oh, yeah, and don’t call me Samantha! I don’t even know you. Thus, you don’t have the right to call me by my full name! Sam will do for you.” She was back. She didn’t know what had come over her there for a minute, but al
l self-doubt had been extinguished.
The Red Falcon smiled broadly, and fixed his intense gaze on her.
“Ah, yes, but I know you. Or at least I think I do. I’ve been studying you for quite a long RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 62
time and though I respect your need for anonymity. I simply can’t understand why you would want to shorten such a beautiful name,” The Red Falcon declared, standing there as if he was speaking to an old friend.
“Listen, I’m not your friend. I don’t think that I would ever want to be, now that I know your true motives behind extending your offer of assistance. You’ll get Tyler over my dead body. He’s innocent, and though I agree that he is a rascal and an annoying braggart he most certainly is not a murderer. I’ve gone through hell and back and I’m not about to stand down just because a respected criminal has told me he’s here to collect my husband. So, you may take your big fat lips, and kiss my earthy ass!” She gestured for Johanna to break contact.
Johanna broke the channel, and then stared over at her, as they were hailed again.
Several more beeps filled the bridge. Man, the Red Falcon could be annoying!
“Now
what,
dearest sister? ” Johanna demanded, staring pointedly down at her glowing console. “He isn’t going to be deterred that easily. I doubt that we can outrun him, he has the fastest ship in the galaxy and if you think that we can win a battle with him, think again!”
“I’ll give myself up,” Tyler whispered.
Samantha let out a shocked little snort and shook her head.
“You’ll do no such thing! Whatever put that ludicrous notion in your noggin, I’ll never know. But don’t ever get it again! I don’t give in, and I don’t give up. I’ll find a way, just give me a minute to get my head together.”
“A minute might be the only time you have. The Emerald Star is closing in on us, and sensors show that they are charging their weapons. The space battle for New Monaco is over.
The rest of the pirates took off as soon as the Red Falcon showed up. So it seems as if our moment of reckoning has come,” Johanna reported.
Johanna’s fingers flew over her console, and Samantha knew her sister was giving it her all to think of an escape plan. Someone had to have a moment of pure genius. There just had to be a way out, and no one was seeing it.
“Never say never! ” Samantha whispered, hoping to dredge up her shredded confidence.
She had to save them. There just had to be a way! When one door closed, another one always opened. So where was her freaking other door? She could try some freaky shit as Johanna called it, but she knew she was no Charlotte. Only her sister would be able to make The Red Falcon back down… or she’d shrink something on his anatomy. She couldn’t do that; she would probably try shrinking it and enlarge it instead.
“Reopen the channel.” She knew what she had to do.
Tyler wound his arm around her waist and she was filled with more confidence than she’d ever thought possible.
“Don’t sacrifice yourself for me.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the love present in his voice. Maybe there was a chance for them after all. Maybe their marriage could stand another go. Then the full meaning of his words sunk in. If he thought she was going to hand him over to the Red Falcon on a silver platter he could bloody well think again. No one took anything away from her. Tyler was hers.
And the sooner he realized that the better off they’d both be. Her spine stiffened and her hackles rose.
“Yeah, and don’t get a big fat head, Tyler, darling.”
The Red Falcon reappeared on screen and seemed happier than he had before. “Yes, ” he drawled lazily, staring expectantly down at them.
“I have a proposition for you, and it is one that I guarantee you’ll be interested in.” A RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 63
faltering flicker of hope glimmered in her heart and she prayed what she had in mind would work.
“I’m listening,” the Red Falcon invited.
She took a deep breath and prepared to put herself on the line for the sake of the man that she loved.
* * * *
“If you give us seven days of grace, then I will be forever indebted to you.” Samantha fell silent and waited for The Red Falcon’s reaction.
The Red Falcon’s eyebrows furrowed and he snorted with disbelief.
“I’ve had a lot of propositions in my time and coming from a lovely lady like you that was incredibly without an ounce of imagination. I had thought that you were a clever and intelligent woman that had enough spunk to take on a man such as myself.” He sighed, settling his lanky form into his ostentatious and luxurious leather chair. “I must say you have disappointed me.”
He sat forward and rested his hands on his lap. She tilted her head to one side, then bit her lip and closed her eyes. She mentally recited another silent prayer. Well, here goes nothing.
She might as well just steam roll right on.
“If within that amount of time we do not find enough tangible evidence to prove Tyler’s innocence then you may commandeer my vessel and I shall turn myself over to you, to do with what you see fit. ” Samantha closed her eyes, against the sound of Tyler and Johanna’s angry protests. “In return, you use your incredible influence with Lord Devlin, which you may not deny, I know a thing or two about you, just as you seem to know everything about me. Oh, and the bargain doesn’t include my sister or her husband. If we fail, you only get The Excalibur and me.”
“And what makes you think that I will still accept this bargain? I am not a simpleton.
There really isn’t much in it for me. I mean, knowing you, you’ll probably prove Cassidy’s innocence and then that leaves me high and dry,” he remarked, rubbing at the thick red bristle on his chin.
“You will accept my proposition, because you love a challenge and because for some reason unbeknownst to me, I fascinate you. Besides, a falcon always gets its prey. As far as you are concerned, you already have the bounty that is on Tyler’s head. And, you don’t require the extra fortune at this present time. You’ve been quite a busy man, these last few hours. I’d wager that you’ve been in orbit around New Monaco safely hidden by your cloaking system. You’ve probably already looted your guts out and while you profess to be Lord Devlin’s friend, you’re profiting from him without his knowledge.” Samantha stopped talking, and watched his implacable features, as he stared at her with his glittering blue eyes.
“I respect your tenacity.” His eyes sparkled again. They were full of vivacity. Strangely enough he almost reminded her of Tyler. But he didn’t do the same things to her that Tyler did.
Tyler could just look at her and make her insides melt to mush.
The Red Falcon stood up, placing his hands behind his back. “However, I fail to see how you will be able to conduct your investigation, with a wanted man on your team. Other bounty hunters will come for him. Mark my words.”
“Ah, yes. But you’re a pirate, and you don’t understand the unspoken code between space bounty hunters. Once one bounty hunter stakes their claim, they don’t contest it, unless that bounty hunter gets stupid and loses their prize. Then Tyler would be fair game, for the taking. The only exception to the rule is if the bounty has already been turned over. Then of RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 64
course all bets are off. I won’t be turning Tyler over to anyone!”
She narrowed her eyes. “Besides which, Lord Devlin is quite busy at the moment, and since it is a personal bounty, he may be willing to give us some time.” She fell silent. She realized the terrifying space battle that had nearly cost all of them their lives, might’ve worked to their advantage. It was strange how fate sometimes winked down upon them.
She’d originally intended to run with Tyler, but if she ran she would never have been able to get to the bottom of the mystery that shrouded Lady Devlin’s death. She wanted answers.
And she’d soon be getting them.
“You w
ill come over to my ship and we shall discuss the rest of our agreement,” The Red Falcon said almost as if he didn’t expect an argument.
Who the hell did he think that he was talking to...a saint? No one. No one ever told Samantha Cassidy what to do. They asked, and if she felt inclined to do it then she did it.
Samantha smiled, pursing her lips into a thin line. “I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. I have other things to attend to here. Perhaps, another time.” She made a slicing gesture across her neck, and smiled as Johanna went to break the connection.
“As you said, my dear Samantha, Falcon’s always get their prey.” He raised his hand.
She flinched, feeling the strangest sensations flow throughout her body. She could hear Johanna’s screams of fury, and she saw Tyler’s look of horror as he lunged for her. Just as she felt a rush go through her, she watched him hit the metal floor. Her breath caught in her throat, as she rematerialized onto The Red Falcon’s bridge.