The Star Thief (Star Thief Chronicles 1)

“Good evening, everyone.” Gheewala let out a little shriek and jumped from her chair. Aldani ignored her and made his way to Captain Finn. “I trust you’re all comfortable in your quarters?”

Renna paused to touch Gheewala’s arm. “He didn’t mean to startle you, Sergeant. Were you listening for something in particular?”

Gheewala shook her head, worry lines wrinkling her forehead. “How did you know I was listening?”

“I’ve met other empaths before. I recognize the look.”

Gheewala’s eyes darted around the room, never landing in one place for more than a few seconds. “There’s another voice out there, just out of range. I can’t place it, but it’s been following us since we escaped Hesperia.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“I can’t tell. It’s unlike anything I’ve heard before.”

“Did you tell the captain?”

“I told the lieutenant. I’m sure she thinks I’m imagining things.” Gheewala shrugged. “Perhaps I am.”

“Well, I believe you. Will you tell me if you hear anything else strange?” Renna held the other woman with a steady gaze, hoping it would calm her.

Gheewala’s darting eyes finally stilled, and she nodded. “I’ll keep you posted. And thank you for believing me.” Then she scurried off to stand with the rest of her team, though she kept to the fringe of the group. Separate and apart.

Aldani stood at the head of the table and gestured to everyone. “Why don’t you all take a seat? I’ll have my staff bring in dinner, and we can discuss our next steps.” Captain Finn and Lieutenant Keva took seats on either side of him, like guards. The rest of the officers fanned out on either side.

How very strategic.

Renna sat in the last open seat at the far end of the table. She preferred to stay out of the way and watch without being noticed. She always got more information that way. And it was going to be interesting to see how the rest of the team interacted. Enjoying a civilian dinner was completely different from being on a military ship.

The two special ops guys—she vaguely remembered their names were Doyle and Santos—ignored the rest of the team and talked only to each other. Finn and Aldani chatted easily, but Keva sat stiffly, as if she were still on duty. Bokal and Gheewala sat on the other side of the table, both silent and watchful.

She studied Finn as he and Aldani made small talk. The man made her pulse race, and not entirely in a good way. He’d yelled at her, thrown her in the brig, called her a whore, and yet despite all that, he still fascinated her. Maybe it was the contrast between the Hunter he’d been and the captain he was now. Maybe it was something else. She didn’t really care to find out.

Keep telling yourself that, Renna.

She let out a sigh and took a bite of the seaweed salad in front of her. Interesting that, despite Finn’s lounging pose and the slight smile he wore, something told her he was still perfectly aware of everything going on in the room.

And that included her.

Finn met her gaze down the length of the table as if he knew she’d been watching him. His expression held a hint of challenge.

She smiled slowly. Intimidating her wasn’t going to work. He should know that by now. His answering smile held a thousand threats. A shiver made its way down Renna’s spine, and she glanced away.

She pretended to be absorbed by her food, but her eyes kept drifting Finn’s way. He had such strong hands. Aldani’s fine tungsten utensils looked so delicate when Finn held them. And despite her dislike of the man, she couldn’t keep the thought of those hands drifting over her body from popping into her head.

She took a gulp of wine, then coughed as it burned her throat. Her face reddened, and she looked away, still trying to cough away the sting of the alcohol.

Aldani laughed from the head of the table, noticing her discomfiture. “Terribly sorry, I forgot to mention I’d asked for moonwine from Purgatory. It’s a little stronger than what you might be used to.”

Finn smiled down at his plate. There was a sparkle in his eye that made Renna wonder if he’d guessed what she’d been thinking about.

The wine might be powerful, but by the gods was it good stuff. Even burning in her throat, she could taste the sweet ripeness of the grapes grown especially on the desert planet. The acid in the earth there led to an exceptional vintage.

Aldani’s staff brought out the rest of the food. She sighed lovingly at the thick, juicy steak in front of her. It was a far cry from the takeout or hastily radiated plate of noodles she usually ate.

Renna tried to block out the conversations around her so she could concentrate on the amazing food. It worked until the blasted Lieutenant Keva brought up Myka again. Renna couldn’t stop herself from listening in. The boy’s name seemed like some sort of switch for her. By rescuing him, she’d forged some sort of strange bond with him that she really needed to get over. She wanted nothing more than to steal those prototypes and bolt to the nearest big city. She could disappear for a few months until all this blew over. But she’d promised…

Renna chewed angrily. Damn her stupid code. Damn Myka. Her gaze wandered back to Finn.

And damn him. Yet another reason to get out of here. The man had betrayed her. Betrayed Blur’s gang. And given the chance, he’d lock her away in a prison for her crimes. She had to stop getting involved.

Emotions were just too deadly.

FIFTEEN

After Aldani’s staff took away the dessert plates, Renna wiped her lips with the soft-spun napkins. Nothing quite like classic chocolate cake to end a meal. At the end of the table, she watched Keva lean forward, smiling at Captain Finn and the doctor. The alien’s silky hair hung loose around her shoulders instead of scraped into a bun, and the silvery tresses shimmered softly in the helolights. Renna also noticed dark kohl highlighting Keva’s slanted eyes and a berry stain on her lips.

Renna sat back a little in her chair, watching the three. She’d bet the sapphire around her neck that Keva had on slinky underwear beneath her dress uniform.

“Captain, Dr. Aldani, we need to talk about our plans for the mission,” Keva said after a sip of wine.

“Our mission is rescuing Myka.” Aldani’s voice went cold, his jovial expression gone. “I thought you understood that.”

Finn shook his head, lips pressed together in a thin line before he spoke. “But sir, earlier we agreed that getting into the warehouse was our priority.”