Page 20 of Escape Velocity

“You have no legal status on Danalon. If we get you into the system, you could go to one of the other planets and pretend that you’re a Danalon resident who’s changing locations.”

“And then what?”

“Then I forget I ever met you.”

The words sounded harsh, even to his own ears. He was going to get rid of her, just like that? Was that really his plan? Well, he wasn’t exactly set up to drag along a woman on his trips around the planets.

She lifted her chin and asked, “What happens when your friend—Rafe—wants the merchandise he purchased?”

“I tell him the truth—with a slightly different ending. The men who met me stole the jewels and planned to kill me. I got away. But you didn’t.”

“How did all that happen?”

“I have time think about my story.”

“Are you good at telling stories?”

“Yeah.”

“Where do I get a forged identity?”

There was really only one option. And on balance, he figured the benefits outweighed the risks.

“On the Freedom One Space Station.”

“You don’t look certain.”

Annoyed that his expression had betrayed him, he said, “I’m talking about the station that operates outside of Confederation control. We’ll have to be careful if we go there.”

Even as he spoke, he was wondering if arriving at Freedom One with contraband from Naxion was a good idea. He wished he could dock and leave her on board. But that was impossible if he wanted to get her credentials—and stupid to boot. He couldn’t give her the run of his ship—unchaperoned—where she could get into a lot of trouble in a few hours. Just a little of her poking around could cost him a boatload of credits for repairs.

“Careful of what?” she asked, bringing him back to his previous comment.

“Men who think they can take advantage of you—or of me.”

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The observation sent a shiver traveling down Amber’s spine. She could tell Max didn’t love the idea of going to the station. Did that make it an opportunity or a disaster for her?

There was no way to tell—yet. And she had to take Max’s word that he was trying to do his best for her. As he saw it.

“Before we get there, we have to set some ground rules,” he was saying, his voice turning hard.

“Like what?”

“You will stay beside me at all times. You will not make eye contact with anyone.”

“It is not safer to leave me on the ship?”

“Actually, you have to be there so they can record your biometrics.”

“What are those?”

“Physical characteristics that are unique to you—that prove your identity.”

“And then what?”

“Like I said, you make a new life for yourself.”

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