Page 56 of Escape Velocity

She spread her hands. “When men came to check up on us—they already had details of what went on.”

Max nodded.

“And it was known you shouldn’t call yourself to their attention.”

“But you did. And that’s why they decided to sell you to Tudor. What did you do exactly?

“You can probably guess. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I kept seeing that my friend, Esme, was being punished for things she hadn’t done, and I defended her.”

“Like how?” Max asked.

“Like I’d point out she hadn’t been anywhere near the table when the cup fell off and broke.”

Max wanted to hear more, but this probably wasn’t the time.

Rafe cleared his throat. “Some powerful men are so sure of their status that they don’t pay attention to lowly misfits living in the swamp.”

Amber swung toward him. “Do you want to bet your life on that?” she asked.

He scowled.

“Let’s not start fighting with each other,” Max said.

“I’m not fighting,” Amber and Rafe both answered.

“We should get some rest, then have a planning session in the morning,” Max suggested.

Rafe nodded. “You go back to your ship. I’ll be more comfortable here.”

Max knew his friend was right. They’d all be better off if they got a little distance from each other.

“And I can take a couple of the outfits?” Amber asked, looking at Rafe.

“Yes.”

“The one I’m wearing and . . .”

“The gold one you started with,” Max finished.

She went back to get the first outfit.

Rafe rummaged in a storage compartment, produced a carry bag, and handed it to her when she returned.

She gave him a look from under lowered lashes. “Thank you. We got off on the wrong foot. I think that is the expression.”

“Yeah.”

“I am sorry I attacked you.”

“I get it.”

Max was silent as they made their way back to the air lock. Really, he wasn’t sure what to say. He should read her the riot act for attacking Rafe, but like his friend, he did get it—probably better than Rafe. He’d spent time with Amber, and he had seen her fierce determination not to end up in the hands of a sadist. Still, there should be rules of civilized behavior. Perhaps he didn’t always adhere to what the planetary authorities considered lawful. But he had his own moral code, and that didn’t include shooting first and asking questions later when you were dealing with a friend.

Amber had grown up under conditions that might have made her meek and submissive—ready to accept whatever fate her masters decreed. Instead she’d had trouble accepting her role. And then when she’d learned her fate, she’d fought back.

He gave her a quick look, seeing that she was keeping her eyes cast down while they waited for the pressure to equalize in the air locks.

Finally, when they were back in the Golden Fleece, she turned to him with a fierce look on her face, and he braced himself for whatever was coming.

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