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noticing the blood, wiped it on her black pantsuit. Then she put her slim palm in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She held his hand, when Nate would have turned away, and
    -34-

    My Fair Captain
    squeezed. “Thanks.” Letting go, she straightened her uniform, dusting off the gold bars on the shoulders signifying her rank. Once again she touched her forehead and drew her hand back, studying the red smudge.
    “You’re welcome.” He knew she was a little more shook up than she let on. He hadn’t worked with her for going on ten years not to know how she reacted to stress. She was rattled, sure, anyone would be having had a weapon pointed at their temple, but she’d rather die than show it. The woman had more pride than most people he knew. “Are you okay?”
    “Sure.” Kindros groaned and followed him toward his unconscious son. “I feel like a total idiot, allowing that schmuck to get the drop on me and get out of the interrogation room though.”
    Nate nodded. “What happened?”
    Brittani grimaced. “He asked for some water. I ordered Johnson to get some, feeling a bit sorry for him after you scared the piss out of him.”
    Nate arched a brow. Really, people’s reaction to him was downright ridiculous—not that he would do anything to dissuade them. It worked to his advantage—but it was outrageous nonetheless. Okay, he’d earned some of his reputation, but he didn’t go around killing people for the fun of it. “And?”
    “And when Johnson came in with the water, the prisoner surprised us. He shoved me, grabbed Johnson’s weapon and then me. I thought he was still shaken up over having been captured and taken on board your ship. I slipped up.”
    It wasn’t like Kindros to let down her guard.
    She groaned and threw her hands up. “For crying out loud, Hawk, the man was so petrified at coming face-to-face with you he peed himself.
    I didn’t think he had the balls to try something like that.”
    “See that it doesn’t happen again.” Nate stopped and looked down at his son. Then something occurred to him. He sniffed and tugged Kindros around, surveying her backside. A wet spot stained the right side of her black uniform. “Did you realize you have urine on your pants?”
    Her face scrunched. “Eww… You bastard. This is your fault.”
    -35-

    J.L. Langley
    Nate chuckled. “I’m a bastard, but I’m not completely heartless, therefore you may change uniforms before you carry on.” He felt much more amused than he had when this whole ordeal started.
    The fifteen-year-old lay on his side, his mouth hanging open. He seemed fragile and very pale against the plum-colored carpet, his blond curls appearing almost white in contrast. Muffled groans from behind Nate caught his attention.
    The security team members were hauling Jansen to his feet. The man was still mostly out of it. The bigger of the two crewmen bent down, lifted the prisoner over his shoulder and walked back down the corridor. The other crewman dipped his head at Nate and then followed.
    “Asshole,” Kindros hissed.
    “It wasn’t his fault you let him get away.”
    She winced. “Ouch, rub it in.”
    “That’s my job. And, Lieutenant Kindros, for the record, letting a prisoner loose is a court-martial offense. I’m letting you off easy. Since you were the one held hostage, consider this a severe dressing-down.
    Don’t let it happen again.”
    “Yes, sir. Thank you.”
    He bobbed his head in recognition to Kindros. “Make sure you get your head checked out.”
    “Yes, sir.” She sauntered off.
    A smacking sound brought Nate’s attention back to Trouble. The boy squinted and made a chewing motion then rolled over onto his other side, pillowing his hands together under his cheek. “Can we dress down Lieutenant Taylor too? I have been trying to catch him in the showers since he came aboard.”
    Nate nudged the back of Trouble’s thigh with his foot. “You’re in some serious trouble. And since you mentioned it,