Page 27 of Caught By Menace

Naya shuddered to think what her life had been like. “She was lucky to escape that place.”

“She’d been in trouble with their law once or twice. It didn’t end well for her.”

Her gut clenched. “Oh, Menace, you have no idea how barbaric their laws are. At least when I was arrested, I never had to worry about having my head shaved or being beaten in a public square.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Naya bit her lip and dared to look at Menace. His hands had gone still. He leveled a calm stare at her. “You were arrested?”

There was no use denying it now. “Yes. Three times.”

“I see.” His jaw tightened. “I suppose that explains why you weren’t thrilled with being cuffed.”

“Basically,” she agreed.

“You should have told me.”

“When? Like right after you put a collar around my neck and carried me back to your warship? Or maybe when your doctors were asking me all those personal questions and jabbing me with needles? Or maybe later when you left me tied up in your dungeon?”

He frowned. “Playroom.”

“You know what I mean.”

“What were you picked up for, Naya?”

“Twice for theft,” she reluctantly informed him.

“What kind of theft?”

“Food.”

“Food?”

“I was hungry,” she answered honestly. “I was eleven the first time and thirteen the second time.”

His expression softened. “You were a minor. Those wouldn’t count against you in our society. I hope you learned your lesson.”

“To steal with more stealth? Yeah. Sure did.”

He didn’t appreciate the humor. His lips settled into a grim line. “You will not steal aboard this ship, Naya. Is that understood?”

“As long as you provide me with food and clothing or a way to earn an honest living, I won’t have to, Menace.”

“I’m not being funny, Naya. I’m deadly serious.”

“Yes, I got that.” She placed her fork back on her plate. “I haven’t stolen a damn thing since I was fourteen.”

“Then what was your third arrest for?”

“It wasn’t officially an arrest.”

“What was it?”

“I was picked up and held for three weeks without charges. They released me and that was that.”

His face slackened. “You were held for three weeks without charges?”

She didn’t understand why he was so surprised. “Sure. I mean, the secret police don’t exactly have to abide by the laws. That’s why they’re the secret police.”

“Why?”

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