Page 61 of Stealing Mercury
“And...” The softly spoken word encouraged her to continue. To dive back into the old memories as she completed her work.
“I knew he was my only way out of the camp, so when he came to visit Mom I hung out with his crew. I was just a kid, but I was his kid, so they treated me well. Taught me things.” Probably, her old man had told them to keep her busy so she wouldn’t be in the way of him getting busy with her mother, but mentioning that might be over-sharing. “So, I learned to work on ships around the port and he eventually falsified citizenship papers for me and paid for the tests so I could get certified. I signed onto his ship and he taught me to be a pilot, too.”
“You no longer work with your father.”
She had to swallow a lump of regrets before she could answer. “He died last year.”
Mercury stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. “I may not have had a true blood family, but we made our own.” She’d understood that much and been awed by the strength of heart that had allowed them to survive in such brutality without losing their humanity. “We made packs to protect one another, to stand and fight together. Just as Carn and Lo are my pack brothers, there were others who are gone now. We mourned their loss and still feel it with each breath.” Maybe it was the loss he wore like a gravity-suit that had made it so impossible for her to ignore him. It was something they shared. He slipped his fingers under her chin and lifted her face to look into her eyes. “I’m sorry you lost this man who was your father. You honor his memory by using the skills he taught you.”
Something moist dripped onto her lip. She licked it away, tasting the saltiness of tears. She hadn’t known she was crying. Had never cried for her father before.
She scrubbed the moisture from her eyes. “I hated him. I loved him, but I hated him too. My mother loved him, always. Every time he came around she’d light up and then he’d leave again. She never cried in front of me, but her light was gone when he left.” She scrubbed at her eyes again to make sure all traces of her tears were wiped away. “I swore I’d never cry for him.”
Mercury pulled her into his arms. His deep voiced rumbled softly in her ear. “You wanted to hate him, but you couldn’t hate someone who gave your mother joy, gave you life, gave you skills to make a life for yourself.”
She pulled away, choking on a laugh. “Sure. Side with him. Just like a man.” Her laughter faded quickly, leaving a raw ache in its wake. “I thought I’d become important to him, but when he died he left me nothing. Not even a part interest in his freighter. He left that to his crew chief.”
“I have nothing to give you,” he said. His eyes narrowed as his stormy gaze met hers. “Nothing but myself. But I’ll never stand against you or leave you behind. I’ll fight to keep you with me always.”
His words were too perfect, everything she could hope for... and impossible to believe. “When would that be? After you rescue Carn’s mate? Or after you free all the slaves?” Stars, she sounded like a selfish shrew.
Mercury didn’t bristle as she expected—as some terrified corner of her soul hoped he would. A fight would be easier to handle than more of this weak, clingy creature that had taken over her body. But the solemn expression on his face never wavered, never gave way to anger.
“You’re right,” he said. “I’m not free to devote myself solely to your happiness, but seldom in our world are things as we would wish.”
His easy agreement doused the fuel for her ire.
She couldn’t even imagine the life he’d endured. The cruelty and hate. He came from a world that seemed terrible and incomprehensibly horrifying.
He didn’t scoff at her grief. A grief that should have seemed trivial through his eyes. Eyes that had gone silver for her. As if he stood ready to fight her battles. How could she do any less for him?
She couldn’t find the words to tell him how she felt. Even if his intentions were the best, letting herself love him would give him the power to crush her.
The crackle of the cargo-drop’s newly adapted receiver saved her from failing, utterly, to protect her heart.
“Drake? Come in Drake.” The voice coming across the recently modified circuits was unfamiliar, but the person obviously knew the Roma men.
Mercury stilled, barely breathing.
“This is Drake.” The voice that answered filled Samantha with rage. “You get them?”
“We retrieved the tracking receiver from theDove. We’re coming down for a low pass now. We’ll land when we’ve completed the sweep. Should be first light in your location.”
“We’ll be waiting,” said Drake’s voice over the receiver. “We can start the hunt as soon as your ship is down.”
“Hoowa.”
The transmission went quiet and Samantha let out the breath she’d been holding. “That doesn’t sound like a rescue.”
“Hunters.” Mercury growled in the back of his throat.
“We must return to camp and tell the others.” Mercury threw back his head and howled. The others joined him, howls echoing faintly in the distance.
By the time they made it back, Carn and Lo were there, waiting for the news.
“The hunters are here. They hunt at daybreak.” Mercury’s voice had gone all snarly in a way she hadn’t heard since they’d left Drake and Resler behind.
“We’ll be ready.” Carn sounded calm and confident.
