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Golden Nova after you?”
    She closed her eyes. She visualized the cuff gone, being free, finding the Atocha Treasure. She’d done this since she was a kid—when everything got too hard, she’d just focus on what she wanted, and will her problems to dissolve away.
    Fingers gripped her chin and her eyes snapped open. His face was inches from hers.
    “Dakota, it’s time you tell me why Golden Nova has a contract out on your life.”
    Her heart skipped a beat. She’d figured there was a kill contract, but she still didn’t like knowing that every scumbag in the quadrant knew about it, too.
    “My business, Phoenix. Take me to Sierra—”
    “No. Not without knowing who else might turn up on my ship to get to you.”
    “Then drop me at the next habitable world.”
    He snorted. “I give the orders around here. We’re in uncharted space now. Not a lot of starship traffic around here. If I drop you at the next habitable world, you’re likely to be stuck there for months, or a sitting duck for the next assassin. Tell me why they are after you.”
    She ran through her options. She couldn’t reveal the treasure—it was hers . He might not hurt her, but she could see him claiming her treasure.
    She yanked on the cuff again, fighting back the taste of bile. She wanted it off.
    The only option she had left was to do what she did best.
    “I dabble in antiquities sales. I purchased an…artifact. I didn’t know what it was and I didn’t know that it was stolen from Golden Nova. The dealer was reputable. I had no clue he was selling stolen goods.”
    Dare’s silver eyes narrowed. He made a sound, and Dakota couldn’t read him. Was he buying it?
    She bit her lip. “After I purchased the artifact, the first assassin came after me. Then another. I was afraid, so I ran.”
    “Mm-hmm.”
    That didn’t sound convincing.
    “What is this artifact?” he asked.
    Dakota took a risk. Sometimes just a little bit of truth in a lie made it believable. She grabbed the orb and held it up.
    He frowned. “What is it?”
    She knew this holo-orb looked like no holo-crystal ever made, so she wasn’t surprised he didn’t recognize it. “It’s some kind of jewel.” She gave him her best innocent look.
    “And you have no idea why it’s so valuable to Golden Nova.”
    She shook her head.
    “They’ll keep coming.”
    She nodded. Golden Nova never gave up. Their one agenda was anarchy, and they weren’t kind to anyone who got in their way. Maxir Sander, their leader, was not only scary, but smart. A dangerous combination. He was different from the rest of the crazy members. And Korrdo Drach, Maxir’s right-hand man…she shivered. The time she’d spent with Korrdo had creeped her out. The man had the soulless eyes of a reptile.
    “Is this jewel worth it?” Dare asked.
    Her hand clutched around the orb. “It’s mine.”
    “Then it must be worth more than most pretty gems. It’s worth something to them.”
    Her gut cramped. There was consideration in his eyes. He knew there was more to this, and he wouldn’t let it go. Dammit .
    Then he stood, and she realized he was leaving.
    Her stomach turned over. “Unlock me. Don’t leave me here like this.” Helpless. Trapped.
    “I’m going to talk with my brothers. You need to finish healing under the med scanner. I’ll be back.”
    She watched him leave, feeling sweat beading on her forehead. She remembered being locked in that gang dungeon, hearing the cries of the other girls echoing down the hall.
    Dakota squeezed her eyes closed. The past was gone. She’d escaped it, like she had that gang dungeon—with her wits and determination.
    She looked down at her cuff.
    And she’d escape from this situation, as well.
     

Chapter Five
    In the hall outside of the med bay, Dare conferred with his brothers. “She’s conscious.”
    “Well, what did she say?” Ry asked.
    Dare’s jaw worked. “She says she bought an artifact and didn’t know it had been stolen from Golden