Her Pirate Master (Entwined Fates) (2 page)

She needed to get this fixed. Without the engine running, they didn’t even have power to open a communication channel. Why the hell didn’t this ship have a backup power supply? What the hell were they thinking?

Grasping the end of the flashlight between her teeth, Jack loosened the panel covering the engine components. The problem had to be in here somewhere.

“Jack?” Agnus called.

She glanced around the panel she was working on toward the beam of light coming from the other end of the room.

“I’m over here,” she replied around the flashlight and resumed working on the wire connections, making sure they were all secure.

“Found the problem yet?” he asked as he came closer.

He reached out and took the flashlight from her mouth and pointed it at the panel.

“Not yet, but I’ve narrowed it down to something electrical.” She sighed and dropped her hands. “I’m afraid I’m not a mechanic, so I’m just grasping at straws here.”

“What if we evacuate?”

She shook her head sadly. “Without power we can’t open the bay doors to get the shuttle out.”

“What if we blow it up?” Agnus asked.

“No. There’s too many hydrogen tanks stored down there. The explosion would spread to those tanks, then take us with them.”

“So we die here slowly or die quickly in a massive explosion?”

She pursed her lips and nodded. “That about sums it up. Take your pick.”

“This is ridiculous,” he growled. “Why would they not have a backup?”

Jack shrugged as she began to again dig through the wires. “I’ve been asking myself that same question for the last ten minutes. Stupidity, funding shortcuts. Who knows?”

Agnus narrowed his eyes at her. “How can you be so calm?”

“What am I supposed to do? Go running through the halls like a girl, crying my eyes out that I don’t want to die? How’s that going to get the engines fixed?”

Agnus sighed. “Point taken.”

Jack rolled her eyes and tightened the clip holding her hair back. “You just hate the fact I’m not running to you for advice. Admit it.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ve known you since you were a child.” He adjusted the light so she could continue to check wire connections. “I can’t help it if I still see you as that little twelve-year-old with braids and a penchant for climbing trees.”

With a smile, Jack tightened a connection and silently prayed that had been the problem. Unfortunately, she doubted it would be that simple. She checked a few more, then tried to reboot the computer.

Jack sighed when the screen remained blank. Nothing.

A bang startled them from several feet down the long, dark corridor. Jack and Agnus stared at each other, then looked toward the hall. “Where’s the others?” Jack asked.

“Morse was in the kitchen, and Kyle in his quarters. I told them to stay there for now till we get this worked out.”

A light flashed against the hall wall, and Jack frowned. “Looks like they didn’t pay attention to you. We’re in here, guys,” she called out.

When no one answered, Agnus handed her the flashlight back. “I’ll go see what the hell they’re doing. You keep working on the computer.”

Jack nodded and returned to troubleshooting the engines. Several seconds passed without a sound. She glanced around the panel toward the hallway that Agnus had walked down. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and a shiver of apprehension worked its way up her spine.

Something was wrong. She could feel it in every nerve of her body. A thud sounded from the dark hallway, then a curse from Agnus. Jack smiled slightly at how foulmouthed Agnus could be when agitated. She started to call out to him, but the second she spotted the strange shadow, she quickly shut her mouth and turned off her flashlight.

She knew the men on her ship, and the figure standing farther down the hall wasn’t one of her crew. While they were bobbing helpless, someone had boarded them.

“Who the hell are you?” Agnus demanded as he and the two other crew members were shoved through the opening and into engineering.

Jack stepped farther into the shadows, cautiously watching. She needed to find out how many there were before foolishly rushing in. Unfortunately the beams of light from their flashlights blinded her.

She needed to get around them, come in from behind. Was this all of them, or were there more somewhere else in the ship? Jack backed up slowly, working her way through the columns that ran floor to ceiling. Water pipes, exhaust vents, wiring filled these panels, running from the exterior to the engine room, one floor up.

“Where is he? Where’s Marcone?”

Jack froze. Why were they looking for her? Was this the pirate that Agnus had been so worried about? Someone stepped from the shadows and into the stream of light. He was tall, probably close to her brother Jonah’s height of six feet four. He had broad shoulders, a trim waist, short dark brown hair that just barely reached his collar, and a carriage that spoke of confidence and power.

Jack tilted her head to better see around the column in front of her.

“Haydrien,” someone said.

The man turned toward her location. She gasped and jerked back behind the column. Her heart raced wildly as she waited to see if he saw her. She could’ve sworn he looked right at her. In her current hiding spot, she wasn’t completely in the dark. It was possible the beam of light illuminated her enough to be seen.

Damn, damn, damn.

They blocked her only exit from the room.

“I saw you, sweetheart,” the man she assumed was Haydrien called. “No point hiding from me. We’ll find you eventually, just like we have the rest of your crew.”

She glanced down and spotted a long metal pole. It wasn’t much, but it could do some damage. Maybe enough to allow her to escape. Although, escape to where was the question. She very slowly wrapped her fingers around the handle, determined to not give in without a fight. Her crew depended on her. She had to do something.

“Don’t,” Agnus shouted.

The distinctive sound of someone getting slapped, and then a soft groan made Jack’s stomach knot in terror and guilt. She would die if anything happened to Agnus. Footsteps moved closer, and she tightened her grip around the pole. She raised it shoulder height, holding it like a bat. Taking a slow, deep breath, she prepared to swing with all her might.

Arms wrapped around her from behind. She gasped in surprise and struggled against the hold around her upper arms. “Drop the pipe,” her attacker growled.

Jack shifted her weight instead and moved slightly to the right. She bent her elbows, then swung her lower arm down. Her fist made contact with his groin, and the man grunted, loosening his hold on her arms. She shoved out of his hold and turned to face him. Swinging as hard as she could, she hit him in the side of the head with the metal pipe she still gripped tightly.

The man staggered sideways. As she was preparing to hit him again, someone grabbed her arm. He slung her around, forcing her hard against the column. Her back hit metal, and air whooshed from her lungs. The metal pole fell from her hands to clang against the floor.

Jack brought her hands upward, hoping to catch him under the chin, but he anticipated her move and blocked it. He wrapped his fingers around her wrists in a punishing grip and shoved them over her head, pinning them against the column. He lifted her up, forcing her onto her toes, and Jack winced at the pain in her shoulders.

“Enough,” the man called Haydrien snarled.

Jack glared at him in hatred. Stunning whiskey-colored eyes stared back, but instead of anger, Jack saw amusement and a spark of interest. She lifted her chin in defiance. “Who the hell are you?” she demanded.

“Captain Haydrien Victis,” he replied. “And who might you be?”

Jack licked her lips, suddenly very aware of how helpless she was, but she refused to show fear. Stiffening her spine, she opened her mouth to answer, but Agnus cut her off.

“She’s my daughter.”

Jack froze and watched him warily. Haydrien’s gaze slowly slid down her body, pausing at her breasts before sliding back up to her face. She narrowed her eyes, hoping he got the message she was off-limits.

Full lips tilted upward on one side as though he found her defiance amusing. He raised one hand and rubbed them over the whiskers covering his strong jaw and chin. If not for the fact that he held her captive, she would definitely find him attractive. Hell, he was gorgeous.

“Somehow I doubt this beauty is your daughter, old man, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt if you give me her name,” Haydrien said as he kept his gaze on hers.

“Her name is Jacquelyn. She was named after my captain, Jack Marcone.”

Jack swallowed. Haydrien’s eyes narrowed. This was not a stupid man. Would he believe Agnus’s lie? If he didn’t, then Agnus believed this man would do her harm.

“Where is Jack?” he asked, still staring at her.

“He’s on his way to Tilarus. A family emergency,” she replied.

“You expect me to believe he left you on this ship? A crew without a captain?”

Jack nodded. “Yes.”

“I’m a very capable first officer,” Agnus said as he took a step forward. “It was a simple delivery. I’m sure you’ve run a life scan. I’m sure you know exactly how many people are on this ship, and as you can see, you have them all.”

Haydrien watched her thoughtfully.

“They are most likely telling the truth, my lord,” one of Haydrien’s men replied. “Marcone men have white hair and gray eyes. All of these men have dark hair. Marcone is not among them.”

Haydrien snorted softly. “Then we’ll bring him to us.”

“And how do you plan to do that?” his man asked.

“Her.”

Chapter Three

Haydrien watched the pretty eyes of the woman in front of him widen in surprise. She was stunning with golden-blonde hair and unusual blue-gray eyes. He could get lost in those eyes way too easily.

She was tall for a woman, probably very close to six feet. She’d pulled her hair back, but the severe style did nothing to detract from her beauty. If anything, it enhanced it, calling to attention her high cheekbones and long, graceful neck.

“What makes you think he’ll come for me?” she whispered.

“I would,” Haydrien replied, then smiled. “Oh, I definitely would.”

She struggled against his hold, and he tightened his fingers around her wrists. She winced, then tried to kick out with her knee. Haydrien moved forward and pinned her hips against the column with his lower body. Stomach to stomach and thigh to thigh, they stared at each other. She had spunk. He liked women with spunk.

“Get off me,” she snarled.

“Not yet,” Haydrien murmured.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Agnus try to approach, but one of his men held him back. He certainly acted like a father.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a beautiful submissive,” Haydrien said.

Her pupils dilated, and Haydrien smiled slightly. Was it possible the old man’s daughter was a submissive at heart? Would claiming her bring this Captain Marcone to his door, where he could finally take his anger out on the man’s hide? That captain had cost him lives, lives that could’ve been saved if they’d had the medicine they’d needed.

“I’m no man’s submissive,” she growled.

“No man’s?” he asked with amusement. “A woman’s, then?”

“Screw you,” she snapped.

He let go of her wrists and stepped back. “Oh, you will.”

She dropped her hands and rubbed at her wrists. He had a pang of regret, for he was sure his hold would leave bruises, but she hadn’t given him much choice attacking him with the pipe like she had. She was strong too, and he’d had to hold her much tighter than he’d intended.

When he’d pinned her against the column with his body, he could feel the firmness in her muscles. He dropped his gaze and admired the way the material of her pants clung to her thighs.

“I most certainly will not,” she argued, and Haydrien couldn’t help but admire her spirit as well.

“Really?” He pulled his gun and pointed it at the man who claimed to be her father. “How about now?”

He clicked the safety off, allowing the gun to power up. Her eyes widened, and she rushed forward, grabbing his arm. “No!”

“You and your crew are outnumbered, sweetheart, three to one. If I were you, I would think very carefully about my next actions.”

She looked up at him with moisture-filled eyes. “Please.”

She was worried about the old man. That much was obvious. “You will go willingly, without a fight?”

She swallowed, then nodded, albeit reluctantly.

“Say it.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “I will go willingly, without a fight.”

“No!” Agnus snapped. “Jacquelyn, no.”

“I’ll be fine.” She dropped her hands from Haydrien’s arm. “You must allow me to say good-bye.”

“No.”

Her jaw went slack, and he turned away from her to address his crew. “Jacquelyn, Lear, and I will take this ship and her supplies back to our planet. The rest of you take the others to the Vorgan station and gather supplies. Take Marcone’s crew with you and drop them off there.”

“That’s two weeks one way,” one of his men said.

“Yes, it is. Keep them locked up. I don’t want them to get any opportunity to signal Marcone until you get there. Two weeks in my care should be plenty of time to make Marcone angry enough to come to me this time.”

Agnus and the two others rushed toward Haydrien. Jack moved to intercept. Throwing up her hands, she shouted, “No! Just get Marcone. I’ll be fine.”

Her two younger crew members backed down, but Agnus continued to glare challengingly at Haydrien.

Haydrien snorted in amusement. “Quite brave for an old man. You must love your daughter very much.”

“If you kill her…” Agnus growled.

“I don’t think killing her is what you have to worry about.”

“When this ship doesn’t arrive on time, they’ll look for it,” Jacquelyn said with menace, trying to divert Haydrien’s attention from Agnus.

“Yes. Good thing you’re not scheduled to arrive there for another two weeks.” He turned to fully face her. “And if you’re plotting a way of escape, you might want to think again. One wrong move from you, I alert my crew, and your father dies.”