Chapter Two
“No more trouble, Gelloh,” Selea said and wrenched her captive’s arm. “Or I’ll have to use full-body restraints, which I’ve heard put the squeeze on just the right places, if you get what I’m saying.”
The beady-eyed hustler peered over his shoulder with a lascivious grin. “Bet you’d like that, right? Squeezin’ me jes’ so.” He rocked his hips and ran his fat tongue over his cracked lips. “Com’on, girl, I can getcha there.”
Selea laughed and shoved the big guy down the hallway and through a security scanner. “Keep talking, Gelloh. Your mates want to hear details so they’ll know how you want it.”
He growled, and she pushed through the lockup entrance. Gelloh rounded on her—just as she’d expected he would. Lowlife scum like him didn’t know when they were beaten, merely a bottom rung on the racketeering ladder that some other self-made idiot stepped on to move higher up. Gods, he’d been nothing but a pain in her rear since she’d caught him snogging some chit at a local hangout. Of course, his predictability had made tracking him down far easier. So, when he crouched to make a run at her, she kicked his shoulder instead of his face.
The brute lost his balance and spun around, tumbling through the one-way force field caging a dozen other offenders. The engetic bond she’d used to restrain him released from his wrists and clattered to the floor as he passed through. She bent to pick them up.
“Frickin’ chowda-twa,” he snarled as he pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll get ya. Thisn’t done, Selea.”
She pivoted toward the door. “Merry time, boys.”
Upstairs, she waited for her payment while the accountant double-checked records and marked that Gelloh Krohan, wanted for skimming funds from his boss, had been locked up until the situation could be rectified. Yeah, sad times when criminals could use the law to punish their own for unacceptable behavior. In the past, they took care of their problems themselves, but it appeared they no longer wanted to get their hands dirty. She sighed. Someday, she’d find a way to catch them at their own game.
She held out her wristband, and the accountant swiped her finger across the virtual screen in front of her. A beep followed, alerting her the transaction was complete.
“Keep your head down, Selea.”
Strolling toward the exit, she waved a hand over her head. “Always do.”
Twenty minutes later, she hopped a rail-pod across the city to the residential quarter. While she rode, she adjusted her nasal filters, blocking out the rancid city odors that had slipped through, and eyed the two passengers who rode with her. The pair sat locked in a passionate kiss, oblivious to her presence. How fortunate they were to have found one another.
Shifting her gaze to the window and the massive city beyond, she bit her lower lip, remembering a man who’d elicited similar feelings in her. The image of steel gray eyes framed by shoulder-length waves of gold leapt to mind. A full mouth that had brushed over hers in a moment lost to fiery lust. Strong arms that had held her close, alluding to desperation and desire.
The rail-pod bumped to a stop, and she bolted to her feet, shoving the memory away. Striding up the ramp to the residential platform, she hugged herself against the frigid night air…and the icy tendrils that had somehow managed to wrap around her heart. She gritted her teeth. How could she have been fool enough to lower her guard with such a seductive bounty? Stepping on the lift that would take her to her floor, she swore once again not to repeat the mistake.
She treaded the lengthy hallway, pausing at the far end long enough to swipe her hand over the sensor that opened the door to her flat. Entering, she stripped off her jacket and hung it on the rack. No mucking up the place, not with three flatmates. Neatness was key to sanity in the tight two-room apartment.
“Sel, good to have you.” Felina stood at the food prep counter and held up a bowl. “Tat-tohs. You want?”
She shook her head and moved to the common area where Cara sprawled with one leg over a chair arm, spooning up the meal Felina had made.
The woman glanced up, her heavy amber curls trembling with the movement. “You look tired, doll. Rough time of it?”
“Yes, but the bounty’s locked up.” Selea jerked her thumb toward the door. “And aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
Cara leapt to her feet, almost spilling her bowl. “Scret! And I’ll get fired if I’m late again.”
“No worries,” Felina called from the prep area. “I’ll go with. Need a drink anyways.”
“Good to have you home again, Sel. Ten should be home quick.” Cara grabbed her coat from the rack and opened the door. “Later.”
With the flat to herself, Selea decided to clean off the filth Gelloh had imparted. She yanked her shirt over her head and paused at the doorway to the bedroom. “News on,” she commanded, and a rectangular area on the far wall in the common area sprang to life. A primped anchorwoman reported the latest events around their planet.
She entered the bedroom, ambling between the bunk beds that lined two walls, and moved to the bath where she stripped and dumped the soiled garments into the cleaner bin. After a quick dash through the sonic shower, she grabbed a set of clean clothes off the shelf, dressed, and returned to the common area.
“And in other news,” the anchorwoman said, “legendary corporation Vast Innovations endured a major blow to their research and development arena when chief scientist Kalo Dorvis was murdered last night. The remains of the lead scientist were discovered in his lab with genetic tests confirming the identity. On the up, DNA at the scene has confirmed a suspect, the specs of which have been disseminated to all available bounty hunters. Founder and spokesperson for Vast Innovations, Mertan Graiton, has offered no speculation as to how the loss of Dorvis will affect future projects. A memorial for the Dorvis family and VI employees is expected to be announced soon. In other news—”
The front door opened and Ten strode through. “Selea, you’re home.”
“Yep.” She muted the news and grinned, rising to hug her childhood friend. “Good to be back.”
She pulled away and eyed Selea. “So, no problems?”
“None.” She held out her arm, displaying the credit band on her wrist. “And with almost enough to cover my share of the rent.” She gestured toward the newswoman. “You heard about the murder?”
Ten pulled off her jacket and hung it on the rack. “Horrible. Our world will suffer the loss of his creative inventions. It’s been on everywhere.” Her eyes widened. “You’re not thinking about going after the murderer?”
“I haven’t pulled the stats yet, but yeah.” Selea crossed to the couch and sat. “A bounty like that could cover expenses for a year.”
Ten pulled the clasp from her hair, releasing her platinum and lavender tresses. She stared down at Selea, her violet gaze sharp. “Not if this madman pops you like Dorvis.”
Selea swallowed. “Pops?”
“Yeah. Some new tech they were talking about at the infirmary. Implodes you ‘til you literally go pop.” Ten frowned. “Look, I get that hunters have run in your family for generations, but if you don’t choose your bounties with care, you’ll be the end of your line.”
“I am careful,” she growled. “But snagging frickin’ scum doesn’t pay. It takes twenty to equal this one.”
Her friend sighed and lowered to the chair. Her gaze shot to the news screen. “So, you check your messages yet?”
Selea recognized the attempt to smooth their differences by changing the topic and rolled with it. “Only been here long enough to clean up.” She shifted her attention to the news. “Display messages,” she commanded.
A half dozen images appeared on the wall. Four she recognized as pertaining to her job and one displayed the Vast Innovations logo. That message probably included the murderer’s stats and bounty information. She would open that later when Ten had gone to bed. No sense smacking her intentions in her best friend’s face.
The last message puzzled her. “Secured?”
“Encrypted, even.”
Selea looked at her.
Ten arched her eyebrow. “We get encrypted information at the infirmary. Patient data, new treatments, virus alerts, stuff like that. While I don’t recognize the image, the gold halo indicates encryption. Thought you’d want to know.”
“Yeah. And that number with those intertwined letters. What is that? A one, an N, and an S? That’s a symbol I haven’t seen before, either.” Selea pointed at the message and tapped her finger in the air. The image highlighted red.
“Identity confirmation,” the computer stated.
“Selea Val’keer.”
“Confirmed.”
The communication spiraled open, and a text message appeared.
Ms. Val’keer,
I am personally forwarding this message to you. The gentleman who contacted me assured me privacy was of the utmost importance. Please let me know me if you require further assistance.
Sincerely,
Madame Evangeline
“Who is Madame Evangeline?” Ten said.
“No idea.” She frowned. “I don’t know anyone by that name.” She swiped her finger through the air, opening the forwarded message.
Her breath caught. Steel gray eyes stared at her from wall screen. Next to her, Ten gasped.
“Selea,” Rhykar said, a sexy grin quirking his mouth.
She gazed at the image, stunned by how diminished her memory of him had become. A dark jacket covered his broad shoulders, and his shoulder-length golden mane had darkened to bronze. He’d pulled his hair back, tying it at the nape of his neck, revealing his strong jaw and the jagged tattoo that marked his clan. Her heart pounded at the sight of him, her body trembled at the deep timbre of his voice speaking her name—and he wasn’t even real!
“I know after our last, um, encounter, I’m probably the last person you want contacting you. But I find myself in need of your specific talents.” He frowned. “Truth is, I’m in trouble, Selea. I’m hoping you’ll see your way to meet with me.” Rhykar swallowed and tilted his head, his virtual gaze piercing her. “I’m asking for your help. A temporary truce to our ongoing adversarial dance. You’re the only one I trust to set the record straight. I’ve attached the details.”
His image vanished, replaced by a list of information. Selea sucked in a breath. Drek!
“Well, there’s your next bounty,” Ten murmured, an odd grin on her face.
“No way.” She rounded on her. “It’s a trap. Why else would he ask me to meet?”
“Maybe because he really does need your help.” Her friend shrugged. “And if not, you can tag and cuff him, get the rest of the rent. Or….”
“Or what?” she snapped.
“How many times have you almost snagged Rhykar? Six, eight?” She slanted her head toward the screen. “I can understand why he continues to elude capture. He’s frickin’ hot.”
Heat crept up her neck. “Bounty hunting isn’t a game. It’s dangerous work.”
“I’m not denying that. I’m simply saying that I think there’s more to the two of you than you may realize.”
The memory of Rhykar’s mouth on hers filled Selea’s mind. He’d tasted so good. She swallowed.
Ten arched a platinum eyebrow. “Oh my gods. There is more going on.”
She grimaced. “He kissed me.”
“I knew it!” Ten grinned, delight suffusing her face.
“It was a tactic to escape.” She shook her head. “He needed to get in close, so he could dose me with a knockout drug.” Though he had apologized before tagging her neck with the laced dart. She glared at the screen. “This is just another ploy. He needs me somehow to help disseminate his conspiracy theories about Vast Innovations.”
“I’ve read a few of his allegations. Makes some compelling arguments about VI being in bed with the crime syndicate.” A sly grin curved her mouth. “Course, there is something to be said for being in bed. Especially with a guy who looks like chiseled stone wrapped in a whole lotta yumminess.”
“Oh my gods, Ten. You’re drooling over a wanted criminal.” She rolled her eyes. “Do you have no morals?”
“Did he kill anyone?”
“No, nothing so extreme. He’s wanted for corporation defamation and corporate espionage.”
Ten shrugged. “Then he’s just dangerous enough to be interesting.”
“He’s still a criminal.”
“Sounds more like he’s onto something, and VI’s trying to shut him up.”
Selea scanned the information he’d sent and leaned forward. “Earth? He’s on Earth?” She read further down the list. “And he wants me to meet him through some one-night stand service?”
“Told you he was interested in you.” Ten smiled. “You’re going to meet him, right?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. Sure could use the bounty.”
Ten stood and crossed to the bedroom. “I know what you could use, and it’s not the bounty.”
She groaned. “Shut up. I don’t cavort with criminals. I bring them in.”
“Whatever you say. I’m going to get cleaned up.”
Ten disappeared into the bedroom, leaving Selea alone. She shoved her fingers through her hair and then waved her hand through the air, closing the file Rhykar had sent. None of it mattered. She wasn’t going to the meet.
“Retrieve bounty hunter wanted files.”
A long list appeared on the screen—the top item, the bounty for the murdered Vast Innovations scientist. She tapped the air, opening the file.
“Oh, frick.”
An image of Rhykar rotated on the screen, the words Wanted: Dead or Alive scrolling in bold letters across the top.