Heart of a Smuggler

by Heart of a Smuggler (lit)

  “So.” Torkra straightened. “Which tracker do you want?”

  Refocusing on the problem at hand, Shamon pursed his lips. “The tracker will tell me where the Larceny is, but if Gabie’s not on it when she gets into trouble, I won’t know for certain where to find her.”

  “So take both.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Aye.” Torkra nodded. “I have the plans. ’Tis easy to make more.”

  Easy? Shamon took another look at Torkra. The young man was a bit of an enigma. How had he missed just how intelligent he was?

  Torkra carefully repacked the contents of the chest. “How are you going to get the tracker into Gabie’s clothes?”

  “By getting her out of them.”

  Torkra laughed.

  “I’ll wander over shortly.” Shamon held up one of the devices. “Actually, I’ll sneak over now and plant one of these on her ship. Can it be put on the outside without being damaged by the pressures of space?”

  “Aye, no worries. I’d advise under the ship where ’twon’t easily be spotted. Somewhere obscure where they won’t do checks so often.”

  “Not near the landing ramps, refueller cap, or space shields.”

  “Aye.” Torkra stood up. “Want me to draw you a map?”

  “Cheeky sod.” Shamon ruffled his hair affectionately.

  Exiting the trade ship, he started across the docking bay, and that was when he saw Gabie and Misha walking fast across the lit grounds. Dropping back into the shadows, Shamon pocketed the trackers and trailed behind them, careful to remain out of sight.

  He had a feeling the lasses were going to meet with either security or smugglers, and he intended to find out which.

  They moved through the settlement until they came to an old, broken-down shed on a dilapidated street. Everything was quiet, and that didn’t bode well to Shamon. He watched as Misha knocked on the door and it swung open to reveal a man. The light behind him hid his features. Gabie and Misha entered and the door slammed shut behind them.

  The street had no lighting, so it wasn’t hard for Shamon to move stealthily through the weeds and around the side of the house. Kneeling beneath the window, he was careful not to press too close to it as he rose to peer inside. What he saw was not to his liking.

  Gabie and Misha were arguing with four men. The men were hard-eyed, hard-faced, and were ruthless.

  The dark-haired man seemed to be doing a lot of swearing, and Gabie was trying to placate him. Suddenly he grabbed Gabie’s arm and jerked her forward. His fist slammed into her stomach, doubling her over. It happened so fast. Within seconds Misha was struggling in the grips of two of the men, screaming Gabie’s name, cursing the men. The darkhaired man grabbed Gabie’s hair, dragging her head up, and he slammed the back of his hand viciously across her face.

  Shamon’s heart rate doubled, fury surging through him. He was going to kill the bastard! Rend him limb from bloody limb! A roar of pure rage starting, he started to spring to his feet when something hit him from behind. Stars burst in front of him, a flash of agonized light. The instinct to protect his lass kept him from falling immediately, and he stumbled down onto one knee, bracing himself with one hand on the ground. Another blow landed on the back of his head. Darkness claimed him, and even as he fell, her name was on his lips, and fear filled his heart. Then he knew no more.

  ~ * ~

  The people were being rounded up. He watched from his position at the top of the mountain. The last of the settlers were being hunted down, driven out of their homes, pursued and dragged from their hiding places amongst the rocks as they tried to flee.

  Things were getting too dangerous. It was time to end this little operation before it was discovered.

  Taking a sip from a goblet of wine, he watched dispassionately as one woman slipped and fell down the incline, smashing her head against a rock. Blood spurted. One of the hunters stopped and crouched own to check her. When he stood up and walked away, the watcher knew she was dead.

  What a waste of dinnos.

  The big ships hovered nearby, the ramps down awaiting the human cargo.

  ~ * ~

  Misha was crying silently as she steadied Gabie’s swaying steps.

  “It’s all right,” Gabie rasped, straightening carefully. Her stomach hurt and her cheek throbbed. She limped, her shin burning from the brutal kick Tason had dealt it while she was down on the floor. Her wrist stung from the vicious twist he’d applied to the skin there. “Shit, you’d think he’d do better than an old-fashioned twist-burn on it.”

  “It’s not funny.” Misha’s voice was both furious and wobbly. “That bastard!”

  Cripes, Gabie’s heart was still beating double-time. “I don’t think he likes me.”

  “This is no time to crack funnies, damn it!” Misha’s arm around her waist was gentle. “I should have blown that prick apart when we walked through the door.”

  “We didn’t expect to be jumped.” Gabie sucked in a breath of air.

  Nausea welled up in her and she forced it down. Pain throbbed through her and all she wanted to do was swallow a heap of painkillers and lie down.

  Misha was careful to take the backstreets so no attention was drawn to their staggering progress. Worse was the fact that they knew Tason’s men were watching their every move to ensure they didn’t go for help. Bastards.

  By the time they staggered up the ramp of the Larceny, spots were dancing before Gabie’s eyes.

  “Olin!” Misha yelled as they got into the cargo hold. “Paz!”

  The staircase rattled as Olin and Paz ran down it.

  Olin took one look at Gabie and cursed. “What the hell happened?”

  “Tason is a little pissed at me,” Gabie croaked.

  Paz came up on her other side, pulling her free arm over his shoulder and steadying her as Olin did a quick inspection.

  “Get her to her bunk,” he ordered. “I’ll be right there with the medi-kit.”

  Her bunk sounded like bliss. Gabie bit back a groan as Misha and Paz shuffled her up the stairwell and into the main corridor of the Larceny. Her shin throbbed even worse from banging it on a stair when she didn’t lift her foot properly.

  “Maybe we should get someone—” Paz began worriedly, as they laid her back on the bunk.

  “No.” Misha dashed an angry tear from her cheek. “Those bastards that did this were watching our every move back here. No help.”

  Gabie cracked open an eyelid. “Don’t sweat it, Paz. I’m not seriously hurt.”

  “You don’t look good.” Perching gingerly on the edge of the bunk, he took her hand. He was so pale she thought he’d faint. “What happened?”

  Olin came barrelling through the door. “That’s what I want to know.”

  Gabie closed her eyes. “You tell them, Misha. I’m just going to lie here and whimper for a bit.”

  Her hands trembled. Getting a bit of a beating was something she didn’t come across every day. Sure, she’d seen others get beatings, you couldn’t go where she’d gone and not see some bad things, but she’d never been on the receiving end of one. Until now.

  Olin was fussing over her, lifting her shirt and pressing lightly on her stomach.

  “Damn!” Opening her eyes, she pushed his hand away. “Don’t touch!”

  “I have to make certain you’re all right.” Olin scowled at her and resumed prodding carefully.

  “I want painkiller. Give me lots of it.”

  “Not until I check you over.” Olin took her wrist and studied it. “What happened? Misha, you’re crying, damn it. Are you all right?”

  “Gabie got hit, not me.” Sitting on the chair, Misha trembled with anger and grief combined. “When we got the call to meet Tason, as you know, we thought he was just checking on us. He told us he had further orders for us, that’s why we walked right into the bastard’s den with no backup.”

  “I’d have shot him.” Furious, Paz squeezed Gabie’s hand. “Shot him dead.”

  Touch
ed that the gentle Paz cared so much, Gabie opened one eye and smiled slightly, even though it hurt. “Aw, Paz.”

  Olin’s mouth was tight. “Did he find out about Rose?”

  “No.” Elbows on her knees, Misha leaned forward. “He was angry about the brawl. Said he couldn’t have us risking ourselves by starting brawls for our own amusement, drawing the laws attention to ourselves. He said if we wanted trouble so badly, he’d give it to us. And then he started on Gabie.” Her fists clenched. “I started to go to her aid, but we were outnumbered. Two men grabbed me. They took my laser and held me back while that bastard...” She blinked. “Gabie, I’m so sorry.”

  Knowing her friend was swamped with guilt, Gabie held one hand up. “Misha, you said it yourself. We were outnumbered. There was nothing you could do. Stop fretting.”

  “Next time I’m going with you,” Paz announced.

  “Next time,” Gabie said wryly, “I’m insisting we meet in the open and we’re having all lasers drawn.”

  “I’ll have the ship’s lasers set on them,” Olin promised grimly as he straightened. “You’ll be fine, Gabie. It’s mostly soft tissue injury—bruises and the like. You’ll be sore for a while, but there’s no serious damage that I can see. And he avoided marking your face.”

  “Just give me painkillers.” Gabie closed her eyes. “I’m not brave. I don’t like pain. Give me lots of painkillers.”

  Olin came back with a glass half full of green liquid. Gabie swallowed the bitter brew and lay back down. Olin ushered Misha and Paz from the cabin before turning back to her from his position at the doorway.

  “Gabie?”

  “Yeah?” She looked at him.

  He looked a little lost and suddenly older than she remembered, and Gabie wondered what bad memories this little episode had brought back to him.

  His mouth worked and he swallowed, but all he said was, “Call me if you need me. I’ll check you during the night.”

  “Thanks. Thanks, Olin.”

  He turned off the light and closed the door partially behind him. The light in the corridor was dimmed. Their muted voices drifted back to her.

  Now she was alone she could relax. Cripes, would this nightmare never end? Gabie stared up at the dark ceiling. Tason was dangerous, she’d known that, but this was the first taste of his violence she’d had, and no doubt there’d be more if she didn’t watch her step more closely.

  Holding up one hand, she felt it shaking. Violence was something she and her friends avoided. They weren’t heroes and they weren’t tough. It was why they worked for themselves and stayed mainly in the Lawful Sector. It was why they smuggled on the small side, flying beneath the radar of the bigger smuggling sharks and the law.

  Well, it looked like that idea was shot all to hell. Gabie rubbed her eyes, feeling bereft. After this, she just knew that Tason and Raznin wouldn’t let her or her friends go. This wasn’t going to end if the security didn’t end it, and who knew how far they were going to allow the Larceny crew to be used and abused? Hell, where was security when she was getting the shit beaten out of her?

  Flopping her good arm down on the pillow above her head brought a sharp ache from her stomach as the movement stretched her body, and she carefully brought her arm back down to her side.

  One thought hovered in her mind. She wished Shamon was there with her, to hold her, reassure her, and tell her it would be fine. But hell, she couldn’t call on him. He’d tear the settlement apart looking for Tason and likely get himself killed.

  No, she had to see this through herself.

  A tear pricked her eye. Common sense be damned, she still wished Shamon was with her. She craved the safety of his big arms right now. If he’d been with her there would have been no way Tason would have dared laid a finger on her. But then Shamon might have been shot, and that was something she couldn’t even bear to think about.

  Closing her eyes, she relaxed as the painkiller flowed through her system, easing the hurts.

  No, she had to get herself and her friends out of this mess somehow. She had to contact Sabra and ensure that that they would be protected once this bloody mission was over. A guarantee. She didn’t want to be used over and over. No way. Not her and not her crew. What they’d do once out of the smuggling game she had no idea, but it had to be better than being the chew toy for those bastards, both security and smugglers.

  Slowly she drifted off into a troubled sleep.

  ~ * ~

  When she awoke during the night strong arms surrounded her, cradling her close. A big body curled protectively around her.

  “Am I dreaming?” Sleepily, the painkiller making her groggy, she tried to look up.

  A big palm gently tucked her face back into a strong neck. “Nay. Go back to sleep, sweet lass.” A brush of lips on top of her head, a tender, light rubbing of a big hand on her back.

  She snuggled closer. “I wished you were here.”

  “I’m here.”

  “I’m safe with you.” In the dream she pressed her lips to the strong column of his neck. “Shamon...”

  “Sleep.” The words were deep and husky, as though clouded with emotion. “I’ll watch over you.”

  She smiled and drifted off again.

  ~ * ~

  The next time she woke it was to find Des bending over her, concern in her eyes and determination in the set of her jaw.

  Well hell, her dream had just turned into a nightmare.

  “Are you all right?” Des asked.

  She wasn’t dreaming. Gabie sighed. “Yeah. A few bruises. I’ll live.”

  “Good. We need to talk.”

  “Aw, cripes. Now?”

  “We don’t have time to waste. There’s a raging Daamen trader on the loose.”

  ~ * ~

  Flexing his hands, Tason remembered the shocked expression on Gabie’s face when he’d struck her. Shock and then pain. It was a lesson she’d remember. Drawing attention to herself from the law, being stupid enough to cause a brawl. The silly little bitch had work to do, and she had to do it without playing around.

  Leaning back in his chair, Tason watched as the stars flickered past the space shield. Sometimes lessons had to be harsh.

  ~ * ~

  Striding into the dining cabin of the trade ship, Shamon glared at Des. She eyed him back without fear.

  “I heard,” she said.

  “Heard?” He almost snarled it. “Gabie was beaten up, I was knocked out, and you only just heard?”

  “I heard not long after it happened. I’m sorry. I also heard how you’ve been storming through the settlement searching for those bastards. You didn’t find them.”

  “You have to get Gabie out of this situation, Des. Now.”

  “No can do.” She shook her head.

  “Then why did you send Heddam and Simon to find me and bring me back here to meet you?” The fury that had been boiling up inside him threatened to overflow. “You can’t continue to risk her life like this!”

  “It’s not solely my decision.”

  “Then whose bloody decision is it?”

  Twelve

  “Sit down.”

  “I don’t want to bloody sit down, Des!”

  “Park your arse on a stool or this discussion is over.”

  Shamon glowered at her. “I’m putting a stop to this. Right now.”

  He could almost see Des grinding her teeth together but give the wench credit, she was hanging onto her temper. Just. And he didn’t care.

  She took a deep breath. “I have an offer for you.”

  “No offers. ’Tis over. I’m taking Gabie back to Daamen.”

  “Really? What about her friends?”

  “I’m taking them, too.”

  “Then sit down and listen to what I have to say first.” She studied him. “How’s your head, by the way?”

  Thanks to the painkillers Heddam had given him earlier, it wasn’t as bad as it had been. It ached instead of throbbed.

  “I know who those men were w
ho beat up Gabie,” she said when he didn’t reply.

  “Then lead me to them so I can rip those bastards apart!”

  “Sit down, Shamon.”

  In answer he swung away and started striding for the door. Gabie was his concern, not a security mission.

  Simon appeared in the doorway, blocking the exit, his calm gaze settling on Shamon.

  “Move,” Shamon ordered.

  Simon didn’t shift. “Shamon, I know how you feel.”

  Shamon almost saw red, he was that furious. “Gabie was beaten up, Simon! How the hell could you know how I feel?”

  “Because you helped me rescue Des, remember?”

  Aye, he had. Simon had gone through a silent torture, helpless to save her until the trade ship got close enough. But they had saved her.

  Gabie hadn’t been saved.

  “You’ve seen Gabie, you know she’s all right,” Simon continued quietly. “Bruised and sore, but all right. Just sit and listen to what Des has to say.”

  “Des may be your wife, Simon,” Shamon snarled. “But I don’t see anything being done to protect my lass! Now out of my way!”

  There was a brief flash of anger in Simon’s eyes, but it was mixed with understanding. When Des started forward Simon held his hand up to her without removing his gaze from Shamon’s.

  “What happened was terrible, I know,” Simon began.

  “Damned right ’twas,” Shamon cursed. “And there won’t be a next time.”

  “Nay, there won’t, because you’re going to be with her on the rest of this mission.”

  Shamon looked at him as the words sunk in.

  “Aye, you’ll be with her.” Simon nodded. “Sit down and Des will explain.”

  “She shouldn’t be on this mission at all—”

  “I agree, but ’tis not our call. Gabie agreed and now too much hinges on this mission, the lives of many people, including children.” Stepping forward, Simon placed his hands on Shamon’s shoulders. “Shamon, I know Des faces danger every day. I don’t know much of what she gets involved in, but there are times I have no doubt I’d scream with insanity if I knew what she did. But ’tis her choice. Gabie made a choice when she agreed—”

  “Agreed?” Shamon gave a harsh bark of laughter. “She was blackmailed, Simon.”