removed an electronic measurer. He leaned forward, eyeing her, as he moved the device around her body so it could scan her.

“Are you all right?”

Mira eyed the man who whispered so Flint couldn’t hear him. She nodded. Doc moved the scanner lower, circling without touching her br**sts and back to take her measurements there.

“Do what he says. He’s a good guy. You got lucky. Some of the crew would barter your body out. Flint doesn’t share shit. He won’t hurt you and he’ll protect you. Just pray he doesn’t die.”

She swallowed. “What happens if he does?” She whispered the words.

Doc went to his knees, running the device around her lower body as he lowered it. He glanced down then looked up at her and shook his head. “You will be left to his family and if he doesn’t have any then you’ll be auctioned to the highest bidder. If you’re in deep space his things are divided amongst his men equally so it’s fair to all.”

They were in deep space. Horror hit Mira as that sank in. She’d be divided between his men? She was only one person. As if Doc read her mind, his expression was grim.

“You’d belong to all of them. They would all get to use you.”

Terror hit her at that thought, so strongly her knees went weak and she had to lock her legs to keep upright. She jerked her attention to Flint, seeing he was just feet from Iron. The two men were still glaring at each other like guard dogs trying to stare the other down. A horrible thought struck her.

“Do they assassinate each other?”

Doc shook his head. “Luckily no. Cyborgs will not kill other cyborgs . I meant if he died in an accident or if we run into pirates. Those crazy pirates love going after large ships. This used to be their flagship until it was taken from them by the cyborgs . Sometimes they attack just to piss us off. We lost two of the crew the last time we had a skirmish with them. I doubt they’d attack the Star right now though because we have the Rally with us this trip but you can never tell with pirates. The Rally is a heavily fortified large jumper shuttle so it might make them think twice before attacking two ships.”

Doc got to his feet and nodded at her. “All done,” he called out to Flint. “I’ll feed her information in and have her clothing manufactured within a few hours.”

Flint turned. “I won’t forget your two bottles. They will be delivered to you when we dock on Garden.

I’ll dispatch the order today so it’s automatically done.”

“I know you won’t forget.” Doc smiled.

Flint held out his hand to Mira. She ran to his side to grip his hand, not needing any real encouragement than that. She was too close to Iron for comfort. She refused to even look at as they passed him. She heard him sniff as they did though and she stiffened. Why had he sniffed her? Did she still smell like cooked meat?

Flint led her through the throng of men who had decided to spend their free time watching Mira. She refused to look up at them, keeping her eyes on the floor, and brushed against Flint with every step. If she could she would have crawled up him into his arms so he could hold her. She knew he could carry her like that, that he was strong enough to do it if need be, but she just didn’t think he’d appreciate her wrapped around him.

“That wasn’t bad, was it?”

They walked into the lift. Instead of putting her hand on the wall, she faced Flint and walked right into his body. He released her hand and she put her face on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.

She knew she’d shocked him when his body tensed but he relaxed and wrapped his arms around her.

“Are you all right?”

“No. I was scared.”

His hands were open on her back. He patted her with one hand. It was a light tap and she got the feeling he wasn’t used to comforting anyone. It was an awkward gesture but she appreciated it.

“I told you that I want no harm to come to you, Mira. I will protect you. The men won’t harm you and I won’t trade you away. You belong to me.”

She looked up into his beautiful blue eyes and then shut hers. She burrowed tighter into his body, seeking