The Star Thief (Star Thief Chronicles 1)

“In the next room. I thought you’d like to keep an eye on him.” Major Dallas picked up a small remote control and pressed a button. The wall on the far side of the room, which had looked as solid as the rest, went translucent.

Myka sat at a long table, a bowl of some sort of food in front of him. He kicked his heels against the legs of the chair as he ate.

She bit back a smile. “Nice clothes.” Someone had found the boy a spare uniform, with pants rolled up to his ankles and a button-down shirt long enough to be a dress on him. They had scrubbed him clean and at least he’d stopped shivering. Maybe MYTH wasn’t all bad.

The major took a sip of his tea before setting the mug down on the table with a thunk. His amiable expression melted away. “Now that you’re assured we’re not harming the boy, why don’t we get down to business?”

“I expected nothing else.” Renna took a sip of her own tea, gazing at him over the rim of the mug in silence. Nothing like a long, purposeful pause to put a person on edge.

For such a high-ranking military man, Dallas cracked sooner than she’d expected. The faster they jumped to break the silence, the more important the situation was. Based on this, his organization needed her more than they’d like to admit. Men were always so easy to read.

His dark eyes bore into hers. “Miss Carrizal, I have a proposition for you.”

FIVE

“How come I’m not surprised?” Renna took another sip and leaned back in her chair. “Was Myka’s rescue a test?”

Dallas nodded. The bastard didn’t even have the grace to hide his satisfied expression. “I had heard you were sharp. We used your fence Boyd to offer you a job retrieving the destabilizer, which we’ve been trying to track down for months. We made sure it was an offer you couldn’t refuse.” His pleased smile showed a row of shiny white teeth. “I don’t know why I was surprised by your success. You did steal the Seralline Star Sapphire two years ago, did you not?”

Renna’s throat closed at the mention of that job. She’d been so careful to keep her identity a secret. She forced her hand to relax around the handle of the mug instead of creeping to the sapphire necklace beneath her shirt. Her tone was carefully expressionless as she said, “I’m so glad I’ve met with your approval.”

Dallas leaned back. “We knew the Cordozas were holding Myka captive. After chasing him across five different planets, we figured this was an opportunity to combine two projects into one. So we hired you to retrieve the destabilizer, hoping you’d also rescue the boy.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean you’re doubling my contract as well then?”

Dallas laughed. “Let’s discuss money later, shall we? I think MYTH may have something better to offer.”

Renna shrugged, swirling her rapidly cooling tea to mask the trembling in her hands. “How long has your organization been tracking me?”

“Long enough to know you’re the best mercenary in the traverse. Your clients are always extremely satisfied with your work. So much so that they’re extremely reluctant to talk about services rendered.” His lips twisted into an amused smile.

Damn right they were. Most of the time, the things she retrieved were illegal on so many levels. A word from her and her clients could end up on a prison planet digging for minerals for the rest of their lives. “So how did you find out about my particular skills then?”

“We have many resources at our disposal. But honestly, it wasn’t difficult.” He dropped his hands to his lap, bracing his forearms on his thighs as he leaned forward to meet her gaze. “Five planets have permanently banned you, another three will execute you if you’re caught on-world. Not to mention the standing warrant across the traverse for whoever did the Seralline job. You’ve made quite a name for yourself, Miss Carrizal.”

Her pulse jumped, but she forced her face to stay expressionless. The whole Star Thief thing had been nothing but trouble since she’d finished the job two years ago. The money hadn’t been worth her newfound infamy. Even if no one knew she was actually the Star Thief, she lived in constant fear they’d discover the truth. And yet she let Boyd keep talking her into contracts she knew she should turn down. That shiny retirement dream was looking further and further away by the second.

She let a strategic sigh escape her lips before saying, “Call me Renna. I think my detention is enough for us to be on a first-name basis.”

Major Dallas inclined his head. “Because of your exceptionally impressive skills, we have another job for you, Renna.”

“Let me guess, refusal is not an option?”

“Very astute of you. We need your help, and I’m afraid you’re the only one who will be able to pull this off. The universe depends on you.”

Renna rolled her eyes. Did he really have to be melodramatic? “The universe depends on a cutthroat mercenary who can’t be bothered to care?”

“I think you’ll find you care quite deeply after I tell you about the job. And what we can offer you.”

She sat back in the chair, crossing her arms beneath her chest. It didn’t hurt to emphasize her womanly qualities at a time like this. He was still just a man, and they always tended to underestimate her. Star Thief or not.

“Let’s hear it then,” Renna said with a smirk. “Make me care about the fate of the universe.”

Major Dallas tugged at the collar of his jacket. “I’m afraid it’s not that easy, Miss Carrizal. This information is so top secret even the President of the Coalition doesn’t know about it.”

Renna sat up, adrenaline rushing through her veins. This was going to be worth a small planet’s gross domestic product to a couple of her clients. She was already calculating the new numbers in her bank account. “I give you my word that what you say will stay in this room.”

He blew out a lengthy breath. “Unfortunately, your word is worth less than nothing. I’m not stupid, my dear. MYTH is offering you a choice.” He stared at her for a long minute. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, Renna. I assure you it’s not a threat.”

Her eyes narrowed. “When you have to say something like that, it usually means it is.”

Dallas got to his feet and paced the room, his hands deep in his pockets. “The Seralline Star Sapphire heist is one of the most notorious unsolved crimes in the traverse. Until now, no one has been able to discover who did it.” He paused, pinning her with a matter-of-fact stare. “I possess information tying you to the theft. I also have three orders on my desk for your execution. If you help us with this job, I can assure you all of your wanted ads will be pulled, the books wiped clean. We’ll give you enough to retire comfortably to Paradisio Prime and live on the ocean for the rest of your life. We’ll help you disappear.”