Page 62 of On a Rogue Planet
“We’ll take the bridge,” Xander said.
“Wait a minute, we need to discuss this—” Dathan said.
Mal shook her head at her cousin. “Not now, Dath.” She turned back to Dare. “Technis and this Forge…what else do you know about him?”
“He’s insane,” Dare said.
Justyn ran a finger over the condensation on his glass. “And he likes to party. When he’s anywhere near civilization, he likes to throw these balls and invites people he finds interesting, or wants to kill. He gives the coordinates to Technis, and well, his parties are legendary for their excess.”
Suddenly Justyn trailed off, his gaze looking over Mal’s shoulder. He leaped to his feet.
Mal looked back and saw a tall woman in a Patrol uniform entering Moonrakers. Wow, she was stunning. She clearly had a reptilian in her family tree—her caramel-colored skin shone with a golden sheen, her shapely head was bald, and a gorgeous, bronze scale pattern was visible on her forehead andcheekbones. Mal envied her the toned curves that filled her navy-blue uniform.
The woman scanned the bar, her attractive face dominated by yellow eyes with dark, elongated pupils, and a generous mouth.
When she spotted Justyn, she stiffened and strode his way. Her long legs ate up the distance.
“Phoenix,” she growled.
Mal blinked. The woman also had a beautiful voice. Deep, smoky, and as smooth as expensive whiskey. She sounded like she should be singing in a jazz club, not working Patrol.
If she were a ship, she’d be a modified Trandlan scoutship. All spit and polish on the outside, but with secret modifications that gave the unexpected.
Justyn smiled and lifted his arms up, palms flat. “Captain Sander, a pleasure seeing you here?—”
“Cut the crap,” the captain bit out.
“Now if I’m not mistaken, you’re off-duty and I’m not currently engaged in anything…of the less legal variety.” Justyn’s smile stayed in place.
The tension pumping between them was so thick Mal felt like she could reach out and touch it.
“It was you in that little ship of yours that I just chased at the quadrant border three hours ago. You were carrying illegal weapons, my sensors picked them up.”
Justyn tilted his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Captain Smooth.”
At the nickname, Sander’s yellow eyes narrowed. “You are full of shit, Phoenix.” Then the tension dropped away and the tiniest hint of a smile flickered. “And you’re right, I’m off-duty and need a drink. It’s been a hellish day.”
Justyn leaped forward. “Let me buy you one.” His grin was set to megawatt charming as he sidled up beside the captain. “I think maybe I owe you.”
Captain Sander snorted. “You owe me about a hundred, Phoenix.”
Mal knew that out here on the edge, the lines between the law and those who skirted it got a little blurred. Besides, it was an unwritten rule that in a bar like Moonrakers, rank and file were left at the door.
The captain glanced at the table. “Sorry to interrupt.” Her gaze touched on Justyn’s brothers and she inclined her head. “Dare. Rynan.”
“Nissa,” Dare acknowledged. “Have that drink. It makes him easier to handle.”
“He drives us to drink as well,” Rynan added.
Nissa Sander’s wide mouth moved into a real smile. “And here I thought he reserved it just for me.”
“Captain Smooth, I keep a special brand of crazy just for you.”
She rolled her eyes at Justyn before spinning and heading for the bar. The captain’s wry “Why am I not surprised” drifted back and made Malin smile.
Xander shifted impatiently. “Can we get back to Forge?”
Dare sipped his ale. “Sure.”
