Microsoft Word - RecklessBounty (15 page)

She moved into an aggressive stance and tried to get back into battle mode.

“Tell me, how the blazes do you know who I am when we haven’t yet been introduced?”

She wanted to know what this pirate was up to. The sneaky look he had in his eye had set her on edge. She’d seen that look before, and it never led to good things.

Her heart resumed beating wildly, and her stomach flip-flopped in a most irritating manner. She really needed a heartburn pill.

“Because, dear Samantha, I’ve come to take
Tyler Cassidy
off of your hands,” The Red Falcon declared quirking his one eyebrow. Her heart stood still.

RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 61

Samantha’s chest constricted, and she hurriedly placed her hand over her heart. It was beating so forcefully that she feared it would fly right out of her chest. Her eyes were literally popping out of her head, and she felt drained and defeated.

She reached up to grasp Tyler’s hand and his long fingers curled around hers. She wouldn’t lose him, not in such a horrible and unjust way. But
what
could she do?

She had run out of options. The Red Falcon had forced her up against the wall with nowhere to go. She thought of Tyler and the strong unwavering love that they both shared.

Their love was resilient. She was resilient. They were resilient. What could she do?!!!

She could bloody well fight for her man that’s what she could do! She was a
survivor
.

She’d fight until her last breath if need be and she wouldn’t regret a God damn thing.

“Screw off, Falcon!” Samantha retorted, shooting to her feet.

His cocky smile faded into a grim line. She resisted the urge to cringe, as she suddenly realized that no one had ever dared to tell him to screw off, lest of all a
woman
. Ah, well, he had it coming to him. Since she wasn’t one to mince words, he’d just have to cope.

She swallowed again watching him fold his arms tightly across his chest. That was it--

his aggressive stance meant that she had just screwed herself and her family.

“Ross is taking the unconscious pirates to the brig. He can carry two at time, oh, what a man!” Lucy piped in, obviously unfazed by the tense exchange between the Red Falcon and Samantha. “I think that we should offer him a permanent placement on
The Excalibur
,” Lucy added. “He’s just so
fine!
”

Lucy shrieked when Johanna threw a metal mug at her. Lucy harrumphed, and then faded out of existence.

Samantha stood there for what seemed to be an eternity. What was she thinking? Here she was bravely staring down the most ruthlessly cunning pirate in the galaxy. If only her father could see her now. He would probably be quick to point out to her, that she was going up against a very powerful man. Her mouth went dry. She licked her lips. He’d always told her to wisely pick her own battles—this wasn’t a battle she should have chosen. Shit.

Dear God, the Red Falcon could blow them into tiny little pieces with just one single command. She felt her palms grow moist and the air fizzed through her nostrils in short little puffs. The only way one went up against the Red Falcon was if they had a literal space ship armada clustered around them. And even then it would be a crap shot.

“
Just, breathe!
” Tyler murmured in her ear.

She became all tingly when his hot breath caused delicious little goose bumps to erupt across the nape of her neck. A calm began to overtake her and she caught Johanna’s gentle smile of encouragement.

“Oh, yeah, and don’t call me
Samantha!
I don’t even know you. Thus, you don’t have the right to call me by my full name! Sam will do for you.” She was back. She didn’t know what had come over her there for a minute, but all self-doubt had been extinguished.

The Red Falcon smiled broadly, and fixed his intense gaze on her.

“Ah, yes, but I
know
you. Or at least I think I do. I’ve been studying you for quite a long RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 62

time and though I respect your need for anonymity. I simply can’t understand why you would want to shorten such a
beautiful
name,” The Red Falcon declared, standing there as if he was speaking to an old friend.

“Listen, I’m not your
friend
. I don’t think that I would ever want to be, now that I know your true motives behind extending your offer of assistance. You’ll get Tyler over my dead body. He’s
innocent
, and though I agree that he is a rascal and an annoying braggart he most certainly is not a murderer. I’ve gone through hell and back and I’m not about to stand down just because a respected criminal has told me he’s here to collect my husband. So, you may take your big fat lips, and kiss my
earthy ass
!” She gestured for Johanna to break contact.

Johanna broke the channel, and then stared over at her, as they were hailed again.

Several more beeps filled the bridge. Man, the Red Falcon could be annoying!

“Now

what,

dearest sister?
” Johanna demanded, staring pointedly down at her glowing console. “He isn’t going to be deterred that easily. I doubt that we can outrun him, he has the fastest ship in the galaxy and if you think that we can win a battle with him, think again!”

“I’ll give myself up,” Tyler whispered.

Samantha let out a shocked little snort and shook her head.

“You’ll do no such thing! Whatever put that ludicrous notion in your noggin, I’ll never know. But don’t ever get it again! I don’t give in, and I don’t give up. I’ll find a way, just give me a minute to get my head together.”

“A minute might be the only time you have.
The Emerald Star
is closing in on us, and sensors show that they are charging their weapons. The space battle for
New Monaco
is over.

The rest of the pirates took off as soon as the Red Falcon showed up. So it seems as if our moment of reckoning has come,” Johanna reported.

Johanna’s fingers flew over her console, and Samantha knew her sister was giving it her all to think of an escape plan. Someone had to have a moment of pure genius. There just had to be a way out, and no one was seeing it.

“
Never say never!
” Samantha whispered, hoping to dredge up her shredded confidence.

She had to save them. There just
had
to be a way! When one door closed, another one always opened. So where was her
freaking
other door? She could try some freaky shit as Johanna called it, but she knew she was no Charlotte. Only her sister would be able to make The Red Falcon back down… or she’d shrink something on his anatomy. She couldn’t do that; she would probably try shrinking it and enlarge it instead.

“Reopen the channel.” She knew what she had to do.

Tyler wound his arm around her waist and she was filled with more confidence than she’d ever thought possible.

“Don’t sacrifice yourself for me.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the love present in his voice. Maybe there was a chance for them after all. Maybe their marriage could stand another go. Then the full meaning of his words sunk in. If he thought she was going to hand him over to the Red Falcon on a silver platter he could bloody well think again. No one took anything away from her. Tyler was
hers
.

And the sooner he realized that the better off they’d both be. Her spine stiffened and her hackles rose.

“Yeah, and don’t get a big fat head, Tyler, darling.”

The Red Falcon reappeared on screen and seemed happier than he had before. “
Yes,
” he drawled lazily, staring expectantly down at them.

“I have a proposition for you, and it is one that I guarantee you’ll be interested in.” A RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 63

faltering flicker of hope glimmered in her heart and she prayed what she had in mind would work.

“
I’m listening
,” the Red Falcon invited.

She took a deep breath and prepared to put herself on the line for the sake of the man that she loved.

* * * *

“If you give us seven days of grace, then I will be forever indebted to you.” Samantha fell silent and waited for The Red Falcon’s reaction.

The Red Falcon’s eyebrows furrowed and he snorted with disbelief.

“I’ve had a lot of propositions in my time and coming from a lovely lady like you that was incredibly without an ounce of imagination. I
had
thought that you were a clever and intelligent woman that had enough spunk to take on a man such as myself.” He sighed, settling his lanky form into his ostentatious and luxurious leather chair. “I must say you
have
disappointed me.”

He sat forward and rested his hands on his lap. She tilted her head to one side, then bit her lip and closed her eyes. She mentally recited another silent prayer. Well, here goes nothing.

She might as well just steam roll right on.

“If within that amount of time we do not find enough tangible evidence to prove Tyler’s innocence then you may commandeer my vessel and I shall turn myself over to you, to do with what you see
fit.
” Samantha closed her eyes, against the sound of Tyler and Johanna’s angry protests. “In return, you use your incredible influence with Lord Devlin, which you may not deny, I know a thing or two about you, just as you seem to know
everything
about me. Oh, and the bargain doesn’t include my sister
or
her husband. If we fail, you only get
The Excalibur
and me.”

“And what makes you think that I will still accept this bargain? I am not a simpleton.

There really isn’t much in it for me. I mean, knowing you, you’ll probably prove Cassidy’s innocence and then that leaves me high and dry,” he remarked, rubbing at the thick red bristle on his chin.

“You will accept my proposition, because you love a challenge and because for some reason unbeknownst to me, I
fascinate
you. Besides, a falcon
always
gets its prey. As far as you are concerned, you already have the bounty that is on Tyler’s head. And, you don’t require the extra fortune at this present time. You’ve been quite a busy man, these last few hours. I’d wager that you’ve been in orbit around
New Monaco
safely hidden by your cloaking system. You’ve probably already looted your guts out and while you profess to be Lord Devlin’s friend, you’re profiting from him without his knowledge.” Samantha stopped talking, and watched his implacable features, as he stared at her with his glittering blue eyes.

“I respect your tenacity.” His eyes sparkled again. They were full of vivacity. Strangely enough he almost reminded her of Tyler. But he didn’t do the same things to her that Tyler did.

Tyler could just look at her and make her insides melt to mush.

The Red Falcon stood up, placing his hands behind his back. “However, I fail to see how you will be able to conduct your investigation, with a wanted man on your team. Other bounty hunters will come for him. Mark my words.”

“Ah, yes. But you’re a
pirate
, and you don’t understand the unspoken code between space bounty hunters. Once one bounty hunter stakes their claim, they don’t contest it, unless that bounty hunter gets stupid and loses their prize. Then Tyler would be fair game, for the taking. The only exception to the rule is if the bounty has already been turned over. Then of RECKLESS BOUNTY Marly Mathews 64

course
all bets are off. I won’t be turning Tyler over to
anyone
!”

She narrowed her eyes. “Besides which, Lord Devlin is quite busy at the moment, and since it is a personal bounty, he may be willing to give us some time.” She fell silent. She realized the terrifying space battle that had nearly cost all of them their lives, might’ve worked to their advantage. It was strange how fate sometimes winked down upon them.

She’d originally intended to run with Tyler, but if she ran she would never have been able to get to the bottom of the mystery that shrouded Lady Devlin’s death. She wanted answers.

And she’d soon be getting them.

“You will come over to my ship and we shall discuss the rest of our agreement,” The Red Falcon said almost as if he didn’t expect an argument.

Who the hell did he think that he was talking to...a
saint?
No one.
No one
ever told Samantha Cassidy what to do. They asked, and if she felt inclined to do it then she did it.

Samantha smiled, pursing her lips into a thin line. “I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. I have other things to attend to here. Perhaps, another time.” She made a slicing gesture across her neck, and smiled as Johanna went to break the connection.

“As you said, my dear Samantha, Falcon’s
always
get their prey.” He raised his hand.

She flinched, feeling the strangest sensations flow throughout her body. She could hear Johanna’s screams of fury, and she saw Tyler’s look of horror as he lunged for her. Just as she felt a rush go through her, she watched him hit the metal floor. Her breath caught in her throat, as she rematerialized onto The Red Falcon’s bridge.

“Oh, holy crap! That was certainly uncalled for!” Her eyes scanned the large and impressive deck, and her stomach lurched. “This is
so
not good,” she rasped out, and she jumped as a heavy hand rested on her shoulder.

Once again, her enormous trap had been her downfall. She really had to learn how to think before she spoke. And now she had found herself in highly terrifying predicament.

“This is freaking
unbelievable!
” she fumed, turning to punch the Red Falcon.

His head jerked back and she smiled gleefully. With a window of opportunity, she ran toward the bridge’s exit. She heard his heated instructions but she didn’t pay any attention to them, until she felt something hit her squarely in the back from behind. Her senses hadn’t caught that attack in the nick of time. Damn.