Page 14 of Star Cruise Captain's Story

“I’ve already infiltrated the AI running the spaceport,” she said with smug satisfaction. “It’s a rudimentary model. I’ve blurred, obfuscated or erased data from more sophisticated setups before. In fact, I already overwrote the details of my arrival with the guys tonight.”

“Smart.” His eyes sparkled and Maeve glowed at the praise. “If you can keep us from being seen on monitors, then I know a less traveled way to get to the spaceport from here. I’ve checked the place out pretty thoroughly while bar crawling with my gang of untrustworthy buddies.”

Maeve caught at his sleeve. “You know Daveed is here?”

Swallowing hard, Gil met her eyes. “I was in the gang that brought him here. Ten other hostages as well. I’d rather save the details for when we’re all together.”

“How is he?” she asked as she rose and slid her feet into the high heels she’d worn for this evening’s adventure.

“Banged up. Some pretty serious injuries but he’s determined. We haven’t been able to talk at all—too dangerousfor us both—but he knows I’m here and he’ll be ready for anything.” Running a hand over his face, he considered his words and added, “I won’t lie though, he’s physically pretty weak. He’s obviously been tortured.”

Maeve gave him a soft kiss on the lips and then stepped back as Gil donned his weapons belt and checked his blaster in a practiced move.

“Ready?” he asked?

“As I’ll ever be. I’ve told the guys we’re on our way. I’ll spare you Red’s ribald comment.”

As Gil ledMaeve through the refuse strewn, smelly alleys of the city, he reflected on the astonishment he’d felt when he saw her come into the bar with Jake and Red. Not only had he missed her so badly the pain probably had eaten a hole in his gut, the two men were the answer to his unspoken prayer to the Lords of Space for help. He needed a break to get Daveed and himself out of this place alive and figured the odds were heavily stacked in favor of the two of them blowing themselves up and taking the Jlonngi to hell with them. Now, with a small crew of highly lethal operators watching his six, not to mention Maeve and her limitless capabilities, he allowed himself to hope this was no longer a suicide mission.

When they reached the spaceport and hurried across the deserted landing field, he approved of the trim shuttle waiting. The ramp was opening as they ran up to it and he allowed Maeve to precede him. Red was already closing the hatch again as Gil made it into the flyer and the engines vibrated with power as Jake lifted off.

He gave Red a quick warrior’s hug, pounding him on the back as he did so. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”

“Good to see you too, captain,” Red said. “I hear you’ve been up to no good out here on the rim of civilization.”

“You can’t imagine what an understatement you just uttered. I’m probably working my way up the Sectors’ Ten Most Wanted List.” Laughing in genuine amusement punched a hole in the stress he was under and to be with people around whom he didn’t have to watch his back for a doublecross was a tonic for his anxiety over this entire operation. As he went forward to the cockpit to greet Jake, Gil felt the tension leaving his body. Maeve had rekindled his spirits and relieved a huge amount of his stress but knowing he had help now was a huge relief. He reminded himself he had to stay frosty and maintain his role as a member of the Main gang in good standing until the moment of escape arrived. Slipping up now after everything he’d done to get here would be inexcusable. He couldn’t fail Daveed.

“Next time you decide to take off on a private jaunt across the damn Sectors,” Jake said as he left the cockpit and came to say hello, “Talk to us first, okay, captain? Instead of making poor Maeve do all the hard selling to get us on board?”

Maeve, clinging to his arm as if she’d never let him go, exploded in amusement. “Seeing your faces when I sat in your office and told you who I was, was priceless.”

“I still don’t quite believe it,” Red said. “But here we are.”

“I hope there won’t need to be a next time,” Gil replied, “But I’m beyond grateful you came to help. I owe you and the others more than I can ever repay.”

“Not a thing between old friends and shipmates like us,” Jake said, shaking his head. “Of course we’ll have your six. We’ll be at the ship in two minutes so if you three want to sit and catch up on old times, I’ll handle the flying. I’ve told the others we’re coming and the team’ll all be in the wardroom ready for a quick briefing and strategy session.”

“Yeah, I’m on duty at dawn,” Gil said. “I’ll have to be on the planet well before then.”

“No problem.” Jake gave a salute and vanished inside the cockpit.

Gil took a seat and Maeve sat on his lap, cuddling close. He was startled for a second but relaxed into her affection. Right now he wasn’t the captain of a ship and Jake, Red and the others weren’t his subordinates. There was no need to maintain discipline. There were also no guarantees of success for this mad adventure he was on and he should soak up all the love Maeve wanted to give him because he was thirsty for her, for her caring and her devotion. He hoped she knew how much she meant to him but after glancing at Red, who was studiously watching something on his handheld, the words clogged his throat. Gil Fleming didn’t display his emotions in front of others.

“I know,” she whispered, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.

She probably did, but he vowed to say the words out loud before they parted.

The flyer shuddered as Jake brought her into the landing bay on the ship. Maeve slid off his lap and smoothed her dress, although it clung to her curves like nothing he’d ever seen before. His cock pulsed in response and Gil had to close his eyes and will himself not to react to her right now. There was life or death business at hand.

Jake and Red escorted him into the ship and up two levels to the wardroom while Maeve trailed behind.

“Nice ship,” Gil said appreciatively, eyeing his surroundings as he walked.

“I bought it,” Maeve said. “It was the best fit for what we needed. Of course I’ve made modifications.”

All three men laughed because she was notorious among the senior members of theNebula Zephyr’screw for makingmodifications to the cruise ship as she unilaterally decided revisions were warranted. Maeve tossed her hair self-consciously and glared at them.

“I can see it was a good choice,” Gil said, hoping to head off any heated response from Maeve to being teased. She probably wasn’t used to anyone but himself teasing her and he’d always been careful what he said, remembering she wasn’t human.

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