watching them, amusement gleaming in her emerald eyes. “You said you wanted to see the navigation room.”
Skylar’s tongue flicked out to moisten her dry lips. Her gaze lingered on Rico’s hooded eyes for a moment, and then she nodded.
“I do.” The words came out as a squeak, and she cleared her throat. “I do. Yes, I definitely want to see the navigation room.”
She ducked under Rico’s arm, but could feel his eyes on her back as she walked out.
“Skylar?”
She turned back at the doorway. “What?”
“You won’t be able to run forever.”
Once they were a safe distance down the corridor, she released her breath. “Thank you.”
“Hey, a deal’s a deal,” Daisy said. “Besides, you’re paying us, and you looked like you were about to cave.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
Daisy snorted. “Right.” She gave Skylar a sideways look. “You won’t hurt him, will you?”
“Hurt who?”
“Rico.”
Shock stopped Skylar in her tracks. She turned to face Daisy. “How could I possibly hurt Rico?”
“Well, he’s changed since you came on board.”
“How so?”
“He used to be really aloof. He’d talk to the captain, but the rest of us, he’d pretty much ignore. Then the last week, he’s been talking to us, he’s more…human, and we know it’s because of you.”
“You’ve been discussing this?”
“Of course. He obviously likes you, but we reckon you’ll be leaving after the job’s over.” She studied Skylar, head cocked to one side. “Or will you? You could stay. I mean, you obviously like him as well.”
“No, I don’t.”
The response was automatic, and Daisy snorted again. “Of course you don’t. You should think about it though—staying on, I mean. We’d like you to.”
She shoved her hands in her pockets and sauntered off, leaving Skylar staring after her.
They’d like her to stay?
Why should that make her feel all warm and fuzzy?
The feeling didn’t last. Running a hand through her hair, she pressed her fingertips to her scalp, trying to ease the pressure. She’d never allowed herself to consider a different existence; she’d made her choices long ago and always believed that was the way things would be.
Forever.
Now, thoughts of another life teased her mind. What would it be like to turn her back on everything that was safe, to stay on El Cazador, to explore the universe?
For a brief moment, she imagined it was possible. But the notion was fleeting. What about duty and honor? Besides, after tomorrow, they wouldn’t want her to stay.
They’d want her dead.
Chapter Eleven
Rico drummed his fingers on the console in front of him and stared at the comm unit, willing it to do something. Skylar had set off an hour ago, and they were waiting to hear from her before they headed off to intercept the transport ship.
Finally, the comm light lit up. “Skylar, here.”
She sounded cheerful, and some of the tension eased from his muscles. He’d been worried about her. The thought brought him up short. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cared enough to worry about anyone.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he answered. “You in position?”
“Yup, and it’s on schedule. I should intercept in less than two hours.”
“Great. We’ll be right behind you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Rico closed the connection and turned to the others. “Well, looks like we’re on.”
Tannis grinned. “Everyone ready?”
She was strapped into the co-pilot’s seat, her shoulders tense, her eyes gleaming gold. Daisy sat in the pilot’s seat, readying the shuttle for takeoff and looking very pleased with herself. She’d be on her own, piloting the shuttle once he and Tannis transferred to the transport ship, and Rico reckoned she might as well settle in.
“I’m ready,” she said, and Rico could hear the barely suppressed excitement in her voice.
He took the seat behind them and strapped himself in. “Right, let’s go.”
At that moment, Janey appeared in the open hatchway. She peered inside. “Captain?”
Tannis swiveled her seat. “What is it?”
“I thought this might be important. You know the cruiser that’s been following us?”
“How could I forget?”
“Remember the first time it appeared, the day Skylar came on board? Well, just before it showed up, there was a comm sent from the ship.”
Tannis frowned. “A comm? How did you pick it up? Or more to the point, why did you even look?”
“Rico suggested I check back for anything unusual. I nearly missed it. It’s not like anything I’ve ever heard before—more like brain waves than electrical—and I still can’t pinpoint exactly where it came from.”
Tannis sat for a minute, tapping her booted toe on the ground. “How did you know?” she asked Rico.
“I didn’t. I just thought the whole thing was odd.”
“Hmm,