Fortune's Risk: A Star Thief Novella (Star Thief Chronicles #1.5) Read online

  Finn curled his fingers into fists in his lap. “Go away, pirate.”

  “You wound me, Cap,” Viktis said, pressing a hand to his heart. “I thought we were friends.”

  “Then you’re even more deluded than I thought.” Finn gestured for another shot, but Viktis caught the bartender’s eye and shook his head.

  “Why the hardcore drinking? Missing our girl?” he asked.

  “My girl, not yours,” Finn growled. “You’re nothing to her any more. Nothing.”

  Viktis raised an eyebrow. Interesting. Was his former relationship with Renna really eating away at the man? Finn didn’t seem like the jealous type. “I wouldn’t say that.”

  “I would.” Finn glared at the bartender. “I need another drink.”

  “I really don’t think you do. A few more of those and you might end up going home with one of those lovely young ladies watching you from the end of the bar.”

  Finn glanced to where Viktis pointed and two girls not much older than Renna giggled and waved at him. One was human, the other Delfine and Viktis had recognized both immediately. They were notorious scammers who preyed on lonely men. And right now, Finn fit the bill perfectly.

  But Finn rolled his eyes. “Not my type.”

  “Right, you prefer leggy brunettes with a penchant for thievery. So how about instead of sitting here moping that she’s not around, you help me out? I promise you’ll feel better in the morning, too. That green stuff’ll give you a hell of a hangover.”

  “I told you, I’m not helping you cheat at cards.”

  “There will be no cheating involved — just a little sleight of hand and misdirection. It will all be perfectly legal on your end. Your shiny halo won’t get the least bit tarnished. In fact, you’ll be a hero.”

  Finn’s blue eyes were slightly unfocused as he stared at Viktis. “I could have been you.”

  Viktis froze. “Pardon?”

  “If things had turned out differently. I could have ended up just like you. A merc for hire with no scruples or morals. But I chose a different life. I can’t go back. No matter what Renna wants.” Finn propped his elbows on the bar and put his head in his hands.

  Viktis frowned. He didn’t know much about Finn’s past, just that he and Renna had been in a gang together when they were younger, and that Finn had left to become a model citizen. Whatever had happened to turn him away from crime was obviously still an issue.

  “Let’s make this clear, Captain. You could never be me. I’m the best there is.”

  Finn groaned into his hands and Viktis smiled. “Look, if Renna wanted someone like me, don’t you think we’d be together? I tried more than once in the last few weeks to get her to forget about you. She wouldn’t bite. For whatever reason, she’s only interested in good guys now. And from what I know about you, my friend, there’s no chance in hell you’d ever give up those damn morals of yours. Helping me with this won’t turn you into an evil mercenary with no soul. I promise.”

  Finn raised his head to stare at him. “Did you know Renna has a code? She only promises if she actually means it.” Finn nodded. “She learned that from me, when we were in Blur’s gang.”

  “Yeah, I knew that. It was her thing, even when we ran together. Made her a good mercenary. You always knew where you stood with her.”

  Finn nodded again, the motion causing him to sway on the stool. “She promised Myka that she’d stop the Cordozas for him.”

  “I know.”

  “Since she’s not here, I’ll help her with that promise.” Finn pointed a finger at Viktis. “But I’m not doing anything illegal!”

  He bit back a smile at Finn’s drunken order. “Of course not. It might tarnish that halo. Besides, you’re not the only one with a reputation to protect. Now, how about we get you back to the ship and talk about my plan. Looks like you’re not going to make it much longer.” He’d never seen a human get drunk so fast. The guy must not be a drinker. Not surprising, really. Finn was one of those nauseatingly upright guys who never lost control.

  Viktis slipped a shoulder beneath Finn’s arm. “Come on, buddy, let’s get you out of here before the vultures descend.” He pulled Finn off the stool and steadied him. The ladies at the end of the bar frowned, one of them getting to her feet like she was going to walk over.

  Viktis stopped her with a glare.

  “Hey, you’re not as skinny as you look,” Finn said, wrapping a strong arm around him.

  “Neither are you,” Viktis said with a grunt as Finn’s full weight fell onto him. “What the hell do they feed you humans?”

  “Food?”

  Viktis rolled his eyes and shifted his position. “Clever.” He helped Finn toward the door, nodding at the bouncer in thanks as he held it open for them.

  “Hey, you smell good. Like grass and cookies.” Finn sighed sadly. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen real grass. Earth grass.”

  Viktis chuckled. “Careful there, Cap. You wouldn’t want me to get the wrong idea.”

  Finn blinked blearily. “What idea would that be?”

  “That we should run away together. People are already talking.”

  “Ha!” Finn’s laugh bellowed down the empty corridor and Viktis half pulled, half carried him to the elevator. “You’re funny.”

  “And you’re drunk. Now shut up and walk before you pass out. There’s no way in hell I’m carrying you, no matter how good you think I smell.” But a smile curved Viktis’s lips as they walked.

  CHAPTER 3

  “I think we’re going to need some more help,” Viktis said as they stared at the holo monitor in his hotel room. “Kitty’s suite is here.” He pointed to a corner on the thirty-second level. “She’s taken the entire floor. I won’t be able to get in, plant the evidence, and get back out without a distraction.”

  “Are you saying I’m not enough?” Finn raised a mocking eyebrow. Entertaining a mob princess wasn’t exactly his idea of a good time, but he could handle it. Once his head stopped throbbing. Whatever he’d had to drink last night had left him feeling like a dying ruska.

  “You’re going to have your hands full with Kitty. I need someone to help me with her guards.”

  Finn rubbed a hand over his eyes, trying to ease the gritty, sandpaper feeling. “Did you have someone in mind?”

  “Lieutenant Keva.”

  Finn felt his jaw drop as he turned to stare at the pirate. “You’ve got to be kidding. Keva won’t help you. She can barely stand to be in the same room as you.” With Keva’s focus on following the rules, and Viktis’s insistence on ignoring them, the pair were like kerosene oil and matches. Strike a spark, mix the two, and run for cover, because the explosion was going to be big and messy.

  They were even worse than Finn and Viktis when they got going.

  “I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Let me give it a shot, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll figure out something else.”

  “What exactly do you want Keva to do? You know she’s even more of a hard ass than I am when it comes to breaking the law.” Finn didn’t know much about his XO’s past, but since joining his team, he knew that she prided herself on following protocol to the letter, could take down a man twice her size in six Bumani moves, and she never seemed to sleep.

  Viktis pulled up the schematics of Kitty’s suite. “Look at the security. Cameras, infrared, bio-locks. If Renna was here, we might have a shot at getting past them. But she’s not, so we need someone on the inside. I want Keva to join the Cordozas as one of Kitty’s personal guards.”

  “On such short notice? I can’t imagine Kitty would hire a stranger off the street.”

  Viktis’s smile was wicked. “Let me take care of getting the Lieutenant inside. I need you to get to the casino and start Phase One of the plan.” He paused and let his gaze travel up and down Finn’s body. “Don’t forget the tux, handsome.”

  Finn groaned. “I should kill you for this. If I’d known I had to wear a suit…”

  “Suck it up, old man. It�
�s a small price to pay for taking down the meanest bitch in coalition space.”

  With a heavy sigh, Finn rose to his feet. “Fine. But I’m not sleeping with her. No matter what you say.”

  Viktis found Lieutenant Keva just inside the lobby of the Luxor hotel. It was a modern hotel, with chrome and glass fixtures, but it never felt cold or clinical. He always made it a point to stay here when he was on the station. If he had the credits that trip.

  Looked like Keva had good taste as well. She’d booked one of the best suites in the place. On an officer’s salary. Interesting choice.

  He leaned against one of the marble pillars and watched her smile at the desk clerk before she headed toward the elevator. The woman was almost as tall as he was, and with her silver hair and violet skin, she was as striking as the twin moons on Antivia Nine. A little on the willowy side, but he could overlook that. The rest of the package was quite lovely. Too bad she’d rather fight with him than sleep with him.

  He pushed himself upright and slipped inside the elevator, just as the doors closed.

  Keva’s eyes widened.

  “Enjoying shore leave, Lieutenant?” he asked as the elevator shot upward.

  She arched an eyebrow at him. “I’d enjoy it more if you left me alone.”

  Viktis chuckled, enjoying the curves visible through the clinging fabric of her street clothes. The woman knew how to fill out a shirt. “You hide it well, but I know your soul yearns for me when we’re apart.”

  “Oh, is that what that is? I thought I’d eaten a bad pastry.” The elevator halted and she stepped into the hallway. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a reservation with a good book and a soft bed. I don’t plan on moving for two days if I can help it.”

  Viktis followed, his worn boots sinking into the plush carpet. He wasn’t letting her get away that easily. “I’d be happy to keep you company in that bed. Provide some extra protection, you know, just in case MYTH tracks us down here.” The words were filler—vapid flirtation—but he wouldn’t say no if she agreed.

  Keva turned, her gaze narrowed in a wordless threat.

  He took a step back, holding up his hands in defeat. He also didn’t plan on getting punched today, either.

  “I think I can manage on my own.” She walked away, but Viktis matched her long strides. She was sadly mistaken if she thought he’d just give up.

  “What do you want, Viktis?” she asked, a note of weariness creeping into her voice. “Is it too much to ask for forty-eight hours of peace and quiet?”

  “Look, I know it isn’t fair of me to ask, but I need your help.” And he’d do whatever it took to stop the Cordozas. One way or another.

  Keva jerked to a halt in the middle of the silent hallway, eyes flashing. “No! I’m not going to help wash your back! Or anything else for that matter.”

  He chewed his lip to keep from bursting into laughter. His mirth was chased away by an image of Keva covered in nothing but soap bubbles. The hallway suddenly felt oppressively warm and he tugged at his collar. “That’s not what I need. I’m being serious here, Keva.”

  “Lieutenant Keva.”

  “Fine, I’ll call you whatever you want if you’ll just hear me out.”

  “I didn’t spend a week’s worth of salary on this room to stand here in the hall with you.”

  “Does that mean you’re inviting me in?” he asked, glancing at the frosted glass door.

  She rolled her eyes. “Not on your life. So spit it out, pirate. You’ve got sixty seconds before you’re kissing glass.”

  “I don’t need sixty seconds.” He lowered his voice. “The captain and I need your help to take down the Black Widow.”

  Keva’s eyes widened and she sucked in a tiny breath. “You can’t be serious. Anyone who’s ever tried to go after her has ended up dead or locked away for life.”

  “But I have a plan.”

  “I’m sure that’s what the rest of them thought, too. I can’t believe Captain Finn is helping you with this.” She frowned, eyebrows furrowing. “You’re not bribing him are you?”

  “No. I’m not. Shocking, isn’t it?” Viktis said with a grin. “So what about you? Is the spoiled, rich girl afraid of getting her hands dirty?”

  Keva’s lips parted with a furious gasp. “How dare you? You know nothing about me!”

  Well, that’d struck home. Interesting. “I know enough,” he said. “Your accent is pure Preill. High-family stuff. You even walk like a royal, despite your military training. I should know. I used to be one myself.”

  A muscle jumped in Keva’s jaw as she gritted her teeth. “Whatever my background is, it’s none of your business. And I’m not getting involved. You and Finn can do this without me.”

  He crooked a hopeful smile at her. “Look. I thought you MYTH-types were all about stopping injustices and make the galaxy a better place. Getting this woman locked up for life is the best thing for everyone.”

  Keva sighed heavily. “Except me.”

  Viktis watched her shoulders slump. She was starting to crumble. He pushed forward. “The woman almost killed Myka. She’s a slaver and a bully, and the tech she’s here to retrieve could change everything. If we don’t do something, she’ll be unstoppable.”

  Keva slipped her keycard into her door and shook her head. “I’ll think about it. After my nap.”

  Viktis nodded to her room. “I could help you with that, if you wanted…”

  “I don’t.”

  Viktis saluted as she shut the door in his face. That had gone better than he’d expected.

  CHAPTER 4

  Three hours later, Viktis tugged at the high collar of his suit jacket and surreptitiously wiped his sweating palms on his black tuxedo pants. The last time he’d worn a suit was for Big Joe’s funeral, but according to his intel, Kitty Cordoza was a sucker for a man in a tux, and if he hoped to get close to her, he’d need to play the part.

  Hopefully Finn was already playing his.

  He walked through the casino doors, inhaling the scent of credits and desperation. The clanging metallic slot machines played their festive ditties in the background, while a group of Conyara aliens, squat women with grayish skin and thick ridges running parallel across their bald heads, stood around a roulette table, shouting at the little white marble in deep, raspy voices.

  Across the room, he spotted Lieutenant Keva in the doorway. She paused, surveying the room, her tight black dress skimming her curves and showing off her long, long legs.

  Viktis swallowed. Damn. The lieutenant was clearly hiding more than just a rich girl persona beneath her uniform.

  He was going to have up his game. No doubt about it.

  The woman spotted him and inclined her head regally before slowly making her way toward him. She’d pulled her silver hair up, and her violet eyes looked big and luminous in the glittering chandeliers that hung from the ceiling of the casino. A blue-clad waiter passed by, carrying a tray of champagne. Keva lifted a glass without missing a beat.

  A woman after his own heart.

  He couldn’t help but watch her wet her lips before taking a sip. Her eyes fluttered closed as she swallowed.

  Viktis fiddled with his collar again and shifted uncomfortably. Pull yourself together, he ordered.

  “Not bad,” Keva said, letting her gaze travel down Viktis’s body. “You clean up well. For an Ileth.”

  “I’d make an equally witty comment about you, Lieutenant, but you’ve left me so breathless I can’t find the words.”

  She looked away, but Viktis caught the curl of her lips and tried to ignore the thrill that shot through him. There was nothing better than making a beautiful woman happy. There were a few other ways he’d like to delight her, too. Unfortunately, they would have to wait.

  But when this was all over…

  “Where’s Captain Finn?” she asked, scanning the crowds.

  “I sent him on ahead. Figured I’d give him a chance to brush up on his Costa Five.”

  The poker tables were
across the casino floor, beneath the garish flashing helo-lights. These tables were for high rollers, with a minimum bet of ten thousand credits. It was early yet, so most of the tables were empty. Luckily, the one Viktis had scoped out still had an open seat.

  They headed toward the other side of the casino, and Viktis snagged his own glass of champagne from a passing waitress. As he walked, he caught the suggestive gaze of a tall, Trezian woman. Viktis returned her smile. Beside him, he thought he heard Keva grind her teeth.

  “You ready for this?” he asked quickly, drawing her attention—and his—away from the other woman’s beckoning glance. His gaze drifted down to the bulge on her thigh. “I see you came prepared.”

  She smiled, tugging up the hem of her dress enough to show the holster and pistol strapped to her shapely leg. “Always. I am your bodyguard after all.”

  “And what a bodyguard,” he said with a smirk.

  Keva shook her head. “There you go with your awful innuendoes again. No wonder no one takes you seriously.”

  “Who wants to be taken seriously?” He nodded to the table where Finn was already sitting, a stack of chips growing in front of him. “What’s it done for that guy? Broken heart, boring life, treason. No thanks, I’ll stick to my happy-go-lucky personality and get along just fine. Now start looking like a guard.”

  She dropped back to walk behind him as he approached the poker table. Two men and a woman wearing a shocking red dress were waiting for the game to begin.

  “Is this seat taken?” he asked the woman. Her dark hair was carefully dyed, her unlined face showed faint signs of frequent surgery to keep it looking fresh. As he let his gaze drift appreciatively down her body, he noticed that she had the smooth curves of a much younger woman.

  She smiled at him, completing her own careful inspection with big, gray eyes. “Not anymore.” Her smoky voice was like pure sex, and as she leaned forward to help pull out the chair, she twisted her torso, providing him an excellent view of her perfect cleavage. Instead of being attracted to the beautiful woman, Viktis forced back a shudder.