Page 20 of Bernadette

“My transport is gone. Along with most of my belongings.” He glared at her.

She shrugged. “So that’s a yes to the job? I could use you, considering the asshole I’ll be dealing with on Haven.”

“You have yet to meet Tumsa, but he’s already an asshole?” Halmiko morosely studied his handheld, as if begging it to show him he hadn’t woken so late.

“Not your Dramok. A piece of shit Adraf captain I call Fod. That’s the closest I can get to pronouncing the first tenth of his name. We’ve had a lot of run-ins with him and his crew over the last couple of years.”

“That’s odd. Adrafs are typically all about profit. They don’t tend to find any benefit in feuds.”

“Broken hearts don’t care about income. Funny how love can turn nasty when it goes bad, isn’t it?”

His gaze narrowed, then eased as he nodded in understanding. “Ah. This Fod…and Dr. Z?”

“You’re a smart boy. When they broke up and she hired on theRogue, a grudge was born.”

“What’s his game?”

“Mostly badmouthing me to dock masters to convince them to cancel their shipments on theRogueand use his transport instead. Lately, there have been some attempts at sabotage. He’ll be on Haven within punching distance when we arrive.”

Halmiko scowled at his borrowed clothes and scatter of belongings. “I guess welcome to the crew, then. I don’t have a lot of choices, do I?”

Bernadette told herself his grouchy attitude was due to losing his property rather than having to work for her. She hoped that was the case.

She covered the sting his unhappiness had dealt her ego by heading to the bathroom. “I’ll be quick so you can clean up too. Then we’ll report to the bay and give Kom the happy news his fighting buddy is sticking around.”

“At least my new quarters and roommate are nice.”

From the bath’s doorway, she glanced over her shoulder to see his leer. “Calm your jets, crewman. One night doesn’t mean a relationship. You’ll have your own quarters, separate from mine. Clear?”

His scowl returned, and he threw his clothes onto the bed. He followed that by kicking his handheld across the floor. “Aye, Captain.”

So temperamental. So different from Doljen.

* * * *

Seven years earlier

“Take it off.” Doljen’s voice was soft but implacable.

Bernadette crouched in the corner of the room she hadn’t been allowed out of, with the exception of escorted trips to the nearby lavatory. A mattress, sheets, and pillow had been added to the otherwise empty storage space.

Also present: a cup of tea and an empty pouch. Both sat on the floor at Bernadette’s feet. The contents of the pouch, a Kalquorian meal ration paste, smeared the front of her nightgown.

As attempted hunger strikes went, she supposed it counted as a success. None of the “food” had gone past her lips. However, she’d meant to squirt it in Doljen’s face. Wearing it herself hadn’t been an intentional part of the protest.

Now he stood over her, demanding she do the unthinkable. She wore her mulish expression, but inside, she quavered.

“I won’t tell you again, Bernadette. Take it off to be cleaned, or I’ll do it for you.”

It was no bluff. What if he got started? If he stripped her bare, would it continue on to him punishing her with other acts?

She hated how as such thoughts filled her skull, her rebellious mind catalogued his attributes: wide shoulders, strong chest, muscled thighs. His uniform left so little to the imagination. The warmth within her was unwelcome.

“Turn your back,” she demanded, relenting a little. Bargaining, as much as she hated to. “I won’t have you looking at my shame.”

“Yourshame?” His brows shot up. “Is that how you regard your body?”

Her jaw tightened. “I don’t see you strolling around naked.”

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