Aces Over Queen (The Drift Book 8) Page 5

  “That wasn’t the only mistake I made that day. I ditched my security team and deactivated my locator so they couldn’t find me. Because of that, it took them ages to locate the wreckage. I had plenty of time to think about my life and what I’d do differently if I survived.”

  “That’s why you weren’t happy to discover your ship’s transponder had been turned off,” Owen said.

  “Exactly. There’s only one person with the authority to order it turned off – my father.”

  “Why would he do that?” Royan asked.

  “No one was supposed to know where I was going. This whole voyage was cloaked in secrecy. Fake destinations. Last-minute departure changes. We left before we even had all the supplies on board.” She’d been trying to figure out how the attack happened, but she hadn’t come up with a viable theory until now. The supplies. “Son of a fraxxing starbeast. The bastards must have smuggled the micro-explosives in with the food. Before it happened, I got caught up doing research on Astek station and lost track of time. I didn’t order my meal until later than usual, and I couldn’t get my usual order because some of the food didn’t make it onto the ship before we left.”

  Owen nodded. “That’s a viable theory. I’m sure once Corp-Sec looks over the wreckage they’ll work out what happened, and how.”

  “That’s if the other ship didn’t blast what was left of the Alacrity to atoms,” she pointed out.

  “I don’t think cleaning up the evidence is their priority. Once they figure out you’re not dead, they’re going to focus all their attention on finishing the job. Fortunately for you, you’re with us. No one is going to find the Sprite unless we want to be found.”

  “Are we as well-hidden as the ingredients I need to make the pasta?”

  Owen chuckled. “Better. I think you’ll find what you need in the food dispenser. Just use the ingredients setting and it will produce a sealed packet of whatever you ask for.”

  Royan shook his head. “Or you could just tell it to make the meal itself. That’s what it’s for.”

  “It makes passable food. I make incredible meals. You can judge for yourself once I’m done,” she said.

  “You, too? I’m surrounded by secret chefs. Where did you learn to cook?” Royan asked as she moved back to the food dispenser.

  “My father had a houseful of staff, including several talented chefs. I was alone a lot, and I often snuck into the kitchen to watch them work. As I got older, I started asking questions, and eventually I picked up enough to be a decent cook. My father didn’t approve, but he never interfered. He figured out early on to pick his battles with me and apparently cooking didn’t make the list.”

  She found most of what she needed and set the packets of frozen or dehydrated foodstuffs on the counter. Owen moved over to give her space to work and slid a well-sharpened knife across the counter.

  “Now you’ve got me curious. What made the list of things you and your father fought over? I mean, you were on your way to the Drift to take over Astek station, so clearly you two don’t fight anymore,” Royan stated.

  She sipped her coffee and then got to work opening the various packets. “We fought about a lot of things. I was a source of constant disappointment for him. He thought he’d planned for every aspect of my creation. My egg donor was selected after a two-year process, I had every genetic modification galactic law allowed, and I was monitored constantly from conception to delivery. He expected perfection. He got me instead.”

  “Sweetheart, from where I stand all I see is perfection,” Royan drawled.

  She glanced up in time to see Owen smack him on the back of his head. “Behave yourself. Or at the very least, bring your A-game. That was pathetic.”

  “Ow! Come on, it wasn’t that bad.”

  “It wasn’t that good, either. I’m siding with Owen on this one.”

  Royan rubbed the back of his head. “Oh sure, you’ve been on board less than a day and you’re already teaming up with Owen.” He cocked his head to one side and grinned suddenly. “On second thought, I like that idea. I’d like it even better if you were both naked, though.”

  “Fraxx, is this your idea of behaving?” Owen rolled his eyes.

  “I think this is his A-game,” she whispered loudly.

  “You only think that was my best? My ego may not survive having you on board. That line was pure gold.”

  “It was…an improvement,” she conceded with a laugh.

  “And now you’re encouraging him. I’d advise against that. He doesn’t need to be encouraged, he needs to be handled.” Owen's eyes widened the moment he uttered the last word. “Discouraged. Yeah, I meant to say discouraged.”

  Royan was grinning like a lunatic as he pushed away from the wall, deliberately ignoring Owen’s attempts to backtrack. “Baby, you can handle me any time you like.”

  She burst out laughing. “I see what you mean.”

  “You have no idea.” Despite his complaints, Owen’s eyes were crinkled with amusement and affection. Whatever was going on between the two of them, they were definitely more than friends… but if that was the case, then why was Royan flirting with her?

  She returned to her meal prep, enjoying the easy banter of her two companions as she wrestled with a decision she never expected to make. Being herself with these two was easy. Dangerously so. She was still tempted though. Once they made it to the Drift they’d go their separate ways. She had planned to relax on the way to Astek anyway. The only thing that had changed was the company.

  Liar. Letting my guard down around them is not the same as chilling in my quarters on the Alacrity. Her inner voice of reason was drowned out by another voice. I nearly died today. I deserve to have a little fun. She liked the second voice’s opinion better.

  Royan stayed by the door and watched Owen and Tianna cook together. It wasn’t often he got to see anyone cook – his mother certainly hadn’t been the domestic type – but it was more than that. The two of them were working in harmony, moving around each other in the cramped space like they’d been doing it for years. They didn’t even notice what was happening, but he did. He’d been mostly joking when he’d made the crack about the two of them teaming up on him, but now…

  “You’re quiet,” Tianna said.

  “I’m just enjoying the view. It’s been a long time since someone cooked me a meal. Your captain thinks this is a great idea and should become a tradition.”

  “Maybe.” Owen didn’t look up from the soup he was currently stirring. Royan was curious to try it, because despite knowing what it was made from, it looked and smelled delicious. Unfortunately, that meant he was probably going to lose tonight’s bet. He’d happily give up the bed, though, because that meant Owen was sleeping in the same room.

  “You might get to try Owen’s cooking again, but this is a limited time offer for me, so you better enjoy it while you can.”

  “Getting to eat a meal made for me by a beautiful billionaire and my gorgeous crewmate? I plan on savoring every mouthful.” He planned on enjoying more than just the meal. The Sprite was his ship, but in all the months he’d been flying her, she’d never felt like home. Tonight, it was full of warmth and laughter, offering him a taste of what he’d been missing. It couldn’t last. Nothing this good ever did. That didn’t stop him from enjoying these rare moments when everything went right.

  “You’ll get your chance to savor in about twenty minutes,” Owen said.

  “Since you’re both working on dinner, how about I set the table and break out a bottle of something special?”

  “How special? If the next words out of your mouth are Jeskyran vachtar, you’re might not live long enough to enjoy our cooking.”

  Vachtar was one of Zale’s favorite liquors, and they’d been toasting his memory with it the night he and Owen had finally given in to temptation. Owen hadn’t touched the stuff since. “No vachtar, then. How about I make up a batch of Sun Sprite Delights?”

  “Do I want to know why your ship has its o
wn cocktail?”

  “My sister is married to a couple of bar owners. Back when they were first getting to know each other they thought naming a drink after her ship was a smart way to get into her good graces.”

  Tianna laughed. “That’s sweet.”

  “Yeah, Zura must have thought so, too, because she’s having their babies.”

  “Babies, plural?” Tianna asked.

  “Twins.” Royan nodded. He still couldn’t believe he was about to be an uncle.

  “They should be arriving not long after we get back. There’s going to be a hell of a party when that happens.” Owen glanced at Tianna. “I know we’re all going our separate ways once we get back, but if you felt like slumming it with the local riff-raff for just one night, that would be the day to do it. Half the station will probably be there, anyway.”

  Royan loved this idea. “It’ll be fun! And if you’re worried about security, the club is probably the safest place on the station outside of Astek’s offices.”

  Tianna shook her head. “It sounds like a good time, but I can’t. There’s too much I need to do, and I have to set an example. I was explaining this to Owen, earlier. While I’m on your ship, I can relax a little, but once we reach the Drift, I have a job to do.”

  “That sounds incredibly dull, sweetheart. I have it on good authority that even cyborgs kick back and relax from time to time. If they can do it, why can’t you?”

  “Because their last name isn’t Astor,” she replied with a barely-there shrug.

  And just like that, Royan had a mission. If she was only on a break until they got back home, then as captain, it fell to him to make sure she had a relaxing and memorable voyage.

  Starting now.

  Chapter Five

  Tianna took her seat in the ship’s small mess area and took a look around. Like the rest of the Sun Sprite, the space was well-worn but functional. It was lightyears away from the luxury she’d left behind on the crippled Alacrity, but it was clean, safe, and warm. That was all she needed right now.

  Her stomach rumbled. Okay, it wasn’t all she needed, but food was on the way and she’d snacked already. Owen had set out a bowl of mixed nuts while they worked. He hadn’t said anything, just filled it to the rim and pushed it across the counter until it was a few inches from her hand. She appreciated his thoughtfulness, but also the fact he hadn’t fussed over her.

  She’d been waited on by servants and sycophants her entire life. In fact, her need to escape it all had been the catalyst for her years of rebellion. Sneaking away from her guards to explore. Lingering in the kitchen with the staff to avoid the long, boring functions her father was always hosting. The older she got, the more expectations were piled on her shoulders and the harder she had to fight for even brief moments of freedom. She had always wondered what it would be like to live a normal life. For the next week or so, she might actually get to find out.

  Royan appeared at the door with a tray full of drinks and a pitcher of liquid that changed colors and appeared to be smoking.

  “Is it supposed to do that?” she asked.

  “Yep. All part of the delicious magic of this cocktail.” He set the tray down on the table and gestured. “Lady’s choice.”

  “Uh huh.” She selected the one closest to Royan. “Magical or not, you’re taking the first sip. If you live, I’ll try it.”

  “And Owen thought you were a badass. He’ll be so disappointed in your lack of trust.” Royan took a seat across for her, winked, and picked the drink closest to her from the tray. He raised it in toast, inhaled some of the mist, and then took a drink and smacked his lips. “Delicious.”

  “I am a badass.” She picked up her drink and held it up, watching the colors change as it bubbled and smoked. “But I have a strict policy of not drinking anything that looks more like a chemistry experiment than a cocktail. A girl has to have boundaries.”

  “Boundaries are good. I like to know where the lines are so I can be certain when I’ve crossed them.” He raised his glass again. “To you, Tianna. May the rest of your journey to Astek have more laughter and fewer explosions.”

  “I’ll drink to that.” She touched her glass to his, then threw caution to the wind and took a generous sip of her cocktail. It was surprisingly good, though strong enough she felt it burn all the way to her stomach.

  “Not bad. Is that saska syrup I detect?”

  “You can taste that? In one sip? Damn. We really need to introduce you to Luke. He’s the one who created this, and he’s always lamenting no one appreciates the subtleties of his creations.”

  “Another reason for you to come to the party at the Nova Club once Zura’s had the twins,” Owen walked in carrying a tray, this one full of bowls of steaming soup and a large platter filled with thickly sliced bread slathered in garlic butter.

  “Wait. That’s the club your in-laws own?” The pieces were finally falling into place now. The familiar names. The sense she knew something about the people they’d mentioned. She knew them, alright. They were at the top of the list of beings she needed to keep an eye on.

  “Yeah. Kit and Luke Armas are my brother-in-laws.” Royan raised his brows. “You have a problem with cyborgs?”

  If only he knew… “With cyborgs? No. I do take issue with troublemakers, though, and your family has done more than their share of that lately. Your sister, she’s the one carrying her husbands’ medi-bots, right? They gave her an unauthorized transfusion because of some sort of medical emergency, and it actually worked.”

  She’d learned about Zura Armas’ situation by accident. The executive she was shadowing at the time had mentioned it, assuming she already knew the details. He’d been venomous about the whole incident, advocating that Zura be forcibly sterilized or even killed to prevent the nanotech from being passed on to the next generation. The man’s opinions had been vicious, and she’d left his office even more convinced that she needed to protect her secret at all costs.

  Royan’s eyes darkened and his smile faded away. “Zura got shot saving my sorry ass. Kit and Luke did the only thing they could think of to keep her alive. And for the record, they’re free citizens of the galaxy. They didn’t need anyone’s fraxxing authority to save Zura’s life.”

  She raised a hand. “Sorry, bad choice of words. I’m glad they saved her. After all, if she hadn’t rescued you, you wouldn’t have been around to save me today. Still, that club has been at the center of a lot of problems lately.”

  “You’re not going to close them down, are you?” Owen set out the bowls of soup, then set the tray aside and took a seat at the end of the table.

  “Not without a good reason. I hadn’t done more than some preliminary reading when the explosion went off. That’s why I didn’t make the connection until now. I’m being sent to Astek station to regain control of one of our most important assets, and that means I need to figure out who, and what, the threats are to nullify them.”

  Royan fixed her with a hard stare. “You make it sound so clinical, but that asset you’re so keen to protect is also home to thousands of beings, including my family.”

  “She’s never been there, though.” Owen lifted his spoon and pointed to his soup. “Just like this food. You can’t truly know something until you’ve experienced it for yourself. Until then, it’s all facts and theories. I know what the ingredients are, but that doesn’t mean I know how it’s going to taste.”

  “So, you’re saying I shouldn’t make any assumptions until I get to Astek and see things for myself?” His advice ran counter to everything her father had instilled in her. He worshiped facts and figures, convinced that with enough study they would provide the answers to any challenge. She didn’t have the same faith he did, but she had adopted his methods since the accident. Doing things his way was just easier for everyone.

  “I’m saying until you try the soup, how can you know if it’s any good?”

  “Well, I can already tell you it smells amazing.” She paused, then added. “And since a
ll my research and data about Astek station is still on the Alacrity, I’m going to have to form my own opinions about everything. And I promise to remember that the station is more than an asset.”

  “Thank you,” Royan said, his expression warming.

  She dipped her spoon into the soup and took a sip. It was good. Given the lack of fresh ingredients, that was no easy feat. She was still trying to figure out the flavors when she noticed both men were completely still and watching her intently. Something was up.

  “Well?” Owen prompted when she set the spoon down.

  “Be honest, sweetheart. If it tastes like crap, say so. His ego can take it.”

  “It’s delicious.”

  Royan threw up his hands. “Fraxx!”

  “I win. You’re sleeping on the floor tonight, Royan.” Owen was chortling as he dug into his meal.

  “Won? Is that why you were both staring at me? I was part of some bet?”

  Owen nodded, looking slightly sheepish. “He bet me I couldn’t make the soup edible.”

  She looked down at her bowl, her stomach tightening. “And why wouldn’t it be edible?”

  “Because it’s made from algae broth,” Royan poked the bowl with his finger. “You sure it tastes alright?”

  “I’m sure. And now I’m damned impressed. I’ve heard that’s awful stuff. I think Owen’s a better cook than he let on.”

  “I grew up eating that crap for almost every meal. I learned every trick there is to know about how to improve the taste and texture.”

  She took another spoonful, but even knowing what was in it, she still liked it. “So you bet him the bed that I’d like it. What did Royan want from you if he won?”

  “Winner’s choice,” Owen said and glanced over at the other man. “Though I have my suspicions about what he’d ask for.”

  They ate in silence for a few minutes, as even Royan picked up his spoon and started eating. She ate and drank, not worrying too much about the effects of the alcohol on her empty stomach. The medi-bots she carried would ensure she didn’t get too drunk, and there would be no hangover, either. She was free to indulge herself in any way she wanted, far from anyone who might judge her or use her behavior against her later.