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“Who are you?”

She smiled sweetly. “The Queen of Dagon VII. I seem to have misplaced my entourage somewhere.”

Dare looked back at his brother. “Run the check.”

Then he turned and walked down the corridor, lugging Dakota with him like she weighed nothing.

“Where are you taking her?” Rynan called out. “The brig?”

She sucked in a breath. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d spent time in a brig, or, she suspected, her last.

“My cabin,” Dare replied. “Call me when you have an ID.”

His cabin? A dozen scenarios ran through Dakota’s head, and she discarded all of them. She had no idea what the man had planned.

But there was one thing she was certain about…she was in big trouble.

CHAPTER FOUR

Dare entered his cabin, making sure to lock the door behind him. His cabin was large, and his bed was big. He liked his space, even if he did live on a starship.

He dumped his still-struggling bundle on the bed. She bounced once, before pushing up on her knees, blue eyes sparking.

There was nothing left of frumpy, mousy Miss Johns. This woman was lean and toned, and oozed a confidence that said she could take care of herself. Without the coat, he got a good look at her slick, black synth-leather pants, and a long-sleeved, tight-fitting black top. The neckline scooped low enough in front to give him a hint of firm, high breasts. A silver chain disappeared into her cleavage.

Her hair was dark, a few shades from black, and fell just past her shoulders. But it was the stubborn lift of her chin and the challenging spark in her eyes that drew him. She was a fighter, this one.

“What was the Golden Nova assassin after you for?”

Her eyes widened a fraction.

Dare smiled. “Yes. We know he was with Golden Nova.”

“What else did that scumbag tell you?” she demanded.

“Nothing. He’s dead.”

She sat back. “You killed him?”

“No. He did it himself.”

That seemed to perk her up, some of the tension draining from her face. No squeamish sorrow for this woman.

“I don’t know why he was after me.” She slid to the edge of the bed and crossed her legs. “He attacked me, terrified me.”

She didn’t look terrified. “So you thought you’d steal one of my escape pods?”

“Like I said, I was afraid of that crazy monk. He tried to kill me.”

Dare strode closer and watched her tense. “My bullshit detector is pretty finely tuned, Miss Mysterious. Tell me your name.”

She lifted her chin another inch and stayed silent.

Oh, he wanted to answer that arrogant challenge. His hands itched to turn her over his knee and show her who was the boss around here. If he spanked her ass, would she cry out or would she writhe against him? Or both?

She spread her hands out. “Look, I just want safe passage to Sierra. Like I paid for.”

“You expect me to believe that?”