Microsoft Word - RecklessBounty

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  From what I could hear of Veronica’s curses and half audible mutterings, I could tell that things didn’t go so great for you either.”

  “Oh. Well. For me, it was all in a day’s work. I’ve had worse. It was nothing. Really,”

  Samantha murmured, dismissing her harrowing ordeal, as easily as she would forget about a bad movie.

  “Yes, and you cost me a great deal of money, young lady,” Lord Devlin interjected.

  Samantha snorted. “Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll be able to cost you a lot more, before this investigation is over.” She grinned.

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” His brow furrowed.

  “Ooh, look, Johanna. Lord Devlin’s so cheap he might even squeak,” she laughed, even as her eyes sobered with the thought of nearly losing her sister.

  “I’m not cheap. I’m merely a good businessman. And since you blew up the Moonlight Bar, I will be expecting payment in the way of damages. I owned that establishment.”

  RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 122

  “Establishment? It was a freaking hole in the wall. Low lifers of all sorts gathered there, and you give it a hoity toity name of establishment? You really are too much to believe, Lord Devlin!” She turned her back on him, and began brewing the tea. “And if you think you’ll get any money from me, you may as well try getting blood from a stone.”

  Here she was calmly making tea, while her heart was strained to the breaking point.

  An asshole of the highest class was speaking in his mother tongue, and Johanna was silently listening to the banter that was going on between them.

  “You know, Samantha, if you took the show you and Devlin create when together on the road, you’d definitely make a pretty penny,” Johanna murmured.

  Sighing, Samantha poured the tea, and added the milk. “Well. I wish that he’d hit the road without me. How much of his shit am I expected to take?” She handed Johanna the hot cup of tea.

  “I was going to ask Devlin some questions about the intruders, but since you’re trying so hard to piss him off, I don’t think that I will have the chance.”

  “Goody. I don’t think that he would be able to give you any clues, since the idiot doesn’t even realize that I wasn’t the one that blew up his cherished bar. If you haven’t already figured it out, you brainless wonder, someone was trying to off me, and my friends, and while I was occupied that very same person sent people here to do away with Johanna. You know, it very well could’ve been you that orchestrated the whole thing. Don’t think that just because you came rushing to Johanna’s assistance, I won’t consider the fact that you might play a rather key role in all of this.”

  “Samantha, bite your tongue,” Johanna cut in. She looked pissed off. “Lord Devlin would never ever do such a despicable thing. And I know without a trace of a doubt that he wouldn’t try killing me, and then rush to my rescue, as if he were some medieval knight. Would you just get off of your high horse, and look at the big picture? Someone murdered Devlin’s wife, and we’re here to find the real culprit, so that Tyler doesn’t go to the gallows for a crime he didn’t commit!”

  “Tyler wouldn’t have to worry about going to the gallows, if not for Devlin. He makes the rules on New Monaco, and he could break them. But he won’t because he wants revenge against me, for what I did to him.”

  “If I wanted revenge, Samantha, I would go to the source of my problem. And since I don’t harm children or women I can’t have my revenge. You’ve also secured your place as being untouchable. I wouldn’t even dream of hurting someone so dear to Danny’s heart. I might be a self-centered jackass at times, but even I have principles!”

  “Your principles couldn’t be any longer than your baby finger. I don’t believe a word that comes out of that mouth of yours.”

  “If anyone is interested, I have a fix on the location of the thugs that paid us a visit earlier,” Lucy piped in, crackling into existence in front of Samantha.

  Samantha sighed deeply and tapped her fingers restlessly on her armrest. She stared expectantly up at Lucy.

  “Cut to the chase. Give me all of the info you have so that I can go and beat the shit out of them,” she inwardly thanked Lucy for the timely interruption. If she had to sit, and chitchat with Lord Devlin for any longer, she would have to puke into a nearby wastepaper basket. The man was about as charming as a great big fart. “Lucy, where are Veronica and Ross? I’m going to need their help with this.”

  Lucy sighed. “I overheard Veronica muttering something about ripping someone a new RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 123

  one, and then she was gone. She took Aggie, though I don’t know if she’ll be getting far with her. Ross went with her, so I guess you are on your own, since Dylan is still sleeping like a baby down in med bay.”

  “Oh! Well that’s just peachy keen. I’m going to give Veronica a freaking earful when she brings her scrawny butt back here. Doesn’t she know that while onboard The Excalibur we all work as a team?”

  Stamping her foot, she punched her fist against the wall. Recognition dawned. “Shit.

  You let Veronica take Aggie? ” she exploded, feeling her face grow hot. “Lucy, that’s it, your days are numbered. I’m going to hack into your system, blind if need be, and I’m going to erase you. Why didn’t you tell me that Veronica had left? When I got here, Aggie was right where she should be. And she wasn’t driving too well, so let’s hope she holds together for Veronica.”

  Samantha fumed. And though Veronica had earned a teensy bit of her respect, she’d now successfully blown all of that sentiment straight to hell.

  “You didn’t ask,” Lucy said carelessly. Her face lit up with gleeful satisfaction.

  “I

  didn’t

  ask! That’s it, I’m going to rearrange your program so that you’re talking out of your ass! ”

  “Before you blow a gasket, Samantha, why don’t I just accompany you?” Johanna offered.

  “Over my dead body,” she huffed, moving to the weapons cabinet, she began reloading her personal supply.

  “You should have something to eat before you go on your kick ass mission,” she said, clucking her tongue like a mother hen.

  “Johanna, you’re giving me one big ass ache, with your constant concern. Why don’t you go and get some rest. I’ll grab an energy bar, and then I’ll be on my way. So, Lord Dumbo, when will you be leaving my ship?” she demanded. On a whim, she added another gizmo to her belt.

  She didn’t know what some of these gadgets did, but she’d be finding out soon enough, since Dylan was not around to ask.

  “What the hell, are you grinning like a Cheshire cat for?” Her stomach rolled again.

  “Uh…Johanna, make him behave. I don’t like the glint in his eyes. And if I wasn’t worried about dirtying the ship, I’d be done with it, and punch him in his smug little mug.”

  “Devlin. Stop that! You’re freaking Samantha out,” Johanna chastised, rubbing at her eyes.

  Samantha walked toward him, and sighed heavily when he blocked her path.

  “I think we’ve done this dance before, Dev,” she muttered, trying to walk around him, but decided to blow a big blast of air in his face when he dodged side to side, as he gained great satisfaction out of her annoyance. Rubbing her hands together, she pushed him out of her way.

  “Lock the doors behind me, and don’t let anyone in. Lucy, if you don’t keep on guard, I’m going to convince Dylan to turn you into a man,” she threatened. Johanna called out her name.

  “What? ” she barked, without really meaning to. “Sorry,” she mumbled, crossing her arms.

  “You should take Devlin with you. How do you expect to get to where my attackers are without a hover car?”

  “Well. Actually, I thought I’d rent one,” Samantha shot back, ripping open an energy bar. She hungrily bit into it. Her stomach growled loudly. Sighing, she chewed the dry and tasteless bar.

  “Get real, Samantha,” Johanna scrunched her face up in annoyanc
e.

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  “I was going to use my jet pack, if you must know. It’s a handy dandy little thing, and has saved my ass several times today.”

  “Oh, yeah, like you’re going to be able to sneak up on them that way,” Johanna said.

  Samantha marched over to Johanna and pulled her aside.

  “What has gotten into you? Are you going loony? Since when was Lord Devlin our greatest ally? Let me take you down a road called memory lane. He was the one that issued the hefty bounty on Tyler in the first place. He was the one that placed our butts in the fire, and most importantly, he was partially responsible for what just happened to you. I thought you still loved Dylan, but perhaps I’m a little mistaken on where your loyalty lies!”

  “I am still devoted to Dylan. You know I love him more than anything, but I can’t help but admit that maybe you should take Lord Devlin with you. He can watch your back.”

  “Yeah. By stabbing me in it!” Samantha hissed.

  Johanna rolled her eyes.

  She didn’t like the way that her sister defended Lord Devlin. It made her feel icky all over, and she wanted to shake some sense into her sister. Didn’t Johanna know that she was defending a bloody warlord? Her sister was getting on her last nerve. She wanted to leave and get the information that would lead her to clearing Tyler’s name. She was sick of New Monaco and the sooner she got off of the crime-infested planet, the better.

  “Perhaps, I should tell my people to take Tyler and bring him down here. We haven’t had a public execution of a well renowned criminal in many years. Don’t you think that the hanging of the Galaxy’s King of Thieves, will draw a large crowd? It could be a definite money maker for me, and no one ever accused me of not being an enterprising businessman,” Lord Devlin declared, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

  “You

  wouldn’t

  dare! ” But then Samantha thought back to when the Red Falcon had told her about the spies that Devlin had littered throughout The Emerald Star. “Are you listening to him, Johanna, or have you gone deaf? He just threatened me with doing bodily harm against Tyler!”

  “Can’t see why you’re still concerned about the little good for nothing. But then in my many years as a man I have never fully understood the mind of a woman. Though it does nearly drive me crazy, when I try to. I mean you supposedly have my Danny, and yet you still want to protect Tyler Cassidy. Samantha, the only thing Tyler ever did for you that was good was leaving you.”

  “Shut up…before I shove something really big in it. You know nothing of what I think or feel, and I’m really not in the mood to take advice from you. Now are you going to sit there all day, or are you going to get your ass in gear?”

  “You know, Samantha, you never cease to amaze me,” he mused, walking toward the door leading out into the hallway.

  “Lucy, have you downloaded all of the coordinates into my minicomputer?” she asked, pointing to the minute computer that she had tucked into the pouch on her belt.

  “Yep. I did that an age and a half ago. And if you don’t get your butt moving those bad dudes will be gone by the time you reach your destination,” Lucy pointed out.

  “Please. Tell me, that we don’t have to ride in your oversized excuse for a hover mobile!” Samantha rubbed her forehead.

  “No, though I don’t see the problem with my hover limo,” Lord Devlin remarked.

  Samantha stopped, arching her left brow at him. She pointed down to the docking bay, and muttered, “Oh, you can’t be serious! ” She felt like screaming. Here she was actually talking RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 125

  in a normal tone to a man she hated, and now he was expecting her to ride in that? Oh, yeah, she should’ve killed him when she’d been given the chance.

  * * * *

  “It’s ugly,” Samantha said, moving toward it. “What the hell is it anyway?”

  “It has the latest in technological advancements, for a hover car. It can transform itself into a submarine, or a space shuttle. It’s very useful,” Lord Devlin remarked. Giving her a sly wink, he shouted a command at it. It came to life, and transformed in front of her very eyes. It changed color and shape and now resembled something close to a hover car. “As soon as I brought it in here, it camouflaged itself. That’s why you didn’t notice it, until I pointed it out to you.”

  “Yes, well I also had a few things on my mind, and I can tell you, I wasn’t expecting your fat ass to be on my ship.” Samantha turned at the sound of Johanna’s voice and smiled at her.

  “Go get them,” Johanna encouraged, even as her eyes began to widen. “Pinch me because I think I’m dreaming. Oh, I have to come with you! I’ve wanted a Faerie Cruiser ever since they were invented. I want to drive it! And being nearly strangled isn’t going to hold me back.”

  “Johanna, snap out of it. You have to stay here with Dylan, remember?” she asked, closely watching her sister’s face transform from her normal placid expression, to one of pure joy. She was in heaven that was for sure.

  “Oh, I have to touch it! ” Johanna breathed eagerly, walking down the gangplank. “It’s beautiful!”

  “I thought that it was ugly when I first saw it,” Samantha remarked, following her sister.

  “Do you know what this baby can do?” Johanna asked, running her hand over the shiny exterior. “It can do anything! ”

  “What do you mean? It’s just a heap of junk that can fly,” she sighed. Her sister’s infatuation with cars never did make any sense to her. Lord Devlin looked angry at her comment, and Johanna was too busy to care.

  “I’m

  not a heap of junk,” a female voice boomed out. Suddenly, the thing moved, as if by its own accord. Samantha jumped back, completely freaked out by it, and rested her hand on her pistol. “Take your hand off of your weapon. There is no need for that! You’re in your own ship.”

  “Holy shit! ” she breathed, continuing to edge away from the car. “I’m not getting into a hover car, that’s smarter than you, Devlin.” Samantha slowly reached to activate her jet pack.

  “If we don’t get moving soon, the trip will be a waste,” the hover car said impatiently, as its doors opened, and the inside lit up. She tried swallowing past the lump in her throat. She wasn’t exactly the Queen of Technology, but this hover car sure took the cake.

  “Her name is Eleanor,” Lord Devlin announced, pride carrying into his voice. He patted Eleanor, and then climbed inside.

  “How do you do, Eleanor,” Samantha muttered, moving around to the other side of the vehicle.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” Eleanor answered, which made her eyes almost fall out of her head. Samantha couldn’t believe she was interacting with the hover car. Even Aggie wasn’t this sophisticated.

  “Johanna,” she muttered, as the seat molded to her body shape, “You should probably go and check on Dylan. He might be waking up by now.”

  “Hmm....” Her sister murmured dreamily, not lifting her eyes from Eleanor’s sleek RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 126

  exterior.

  “She said that you should go and check on Dylan,” Eleanor clarified, earning a delighted sigh from Johanna. Samantha watched as Lord Devlin peeled his eyes off of her sister. Anger simmered inside of her, at the naked adoration in his eyes. She hated the man, and she’d be happy when she could finally rid herself of him.

  “I’m going...,” Johanna sighed, her eyes meeting Samantha’s. “I’m going…really I am!”

  “God!

  Eleanor, I think my sister might love you more than she loves me.”

  “Probably. I am much cuter,” Eleanor retorted. She had to fold her hands in her lap to herself from hitting the dashboard. This car was going to drive her batty by the time they reached wherever they were going. Pulling the mini-computer from her pouch, she groaned when she realized where they had to go.

  “So, where to?” Lord Devlin asked.

  “I can’t believe this,” Samantha stuttered. “So Lo
rd Dumbo, who was the brilliant mastermind of Atlantis City? ” she asked, almost barfing up the energy bar she’d shoved down her throat not fifteen minutes earlier.

  “I was.” The pride in his voice was unmistakable. He tilted his head to glance her way.

  “Freaking wonderful! Because now, I’m going to have to kill you.”

  * * * *

  “Promises. Promises,” Lord Devlin teased. “You make threats to kill me in almost every breath you draw. I think that secretly you’re deeply infatuated with me.” He gave her a smirk.

  She groaned. “Keep dreaming.”

  Samantha tried shifting in her seat. She tried again and then let out a frustrated snort.

  “Hey, Eleanor, give it up. I want to move, and you can’t keep my butt snuggled in forever.”

  “Be thankful that Eleanor has such extensive safety precautions. If we crashed, you’d be held in tight,” Lord Devlin remarked.

  Eleanor’s engines thrummed to life.