forgive me, will he?”

Doc hesitated. “ Cyborgsare…well, they are human in a lot of ways but they take certain things badly. I think he feels that you betrayed his trust. That’s the worst thing you can do to one of them. He’s pretty damn angry.”

“Is there a way to get rid of his marks? Has he asked you to do that so he can sell me to someone else?”

Doc looked away. It was enough of an answer for Mira. Flint had asked. Doc cleared his throat.

“Markings like that are permanent. I’d have to remove inches of tissue and you’d have to re-grow it. It would be weeks of pain. You’d be locked in a med bed to prevent bleeding and scarring during skin and tissue rejuvenation if it would even work. Those marks are meant to be forever. Flint understands that. I told him when he asked.”

She shut her eyes, fighting tears. “So he’ll have to sell me to someone besides a cyborg , right?”

Doc hesitated. “Yeah. No cyborg would want you with his markings. At least not long term. It would bother them. They— Oh, hell. This is upsetting you. Don’t worry about this now, Mira. Just get well.”

She went back to sleep.

It was the sleeping cycle when she woke next. She was finally starting to feel better. The lights in the med bay were dim and Doc wasn’t on the med bed next to her, reading. She lifted her head and almost gasped. Fear hit her instantly at the sight of a large man standing at the head of her bed. Her gaze flew up.

Flint was watching her with his arms crossed over his chest. She stared at him in stunned silence, taking in that he’d cut his hair. It was shocking to see his longer locks gone. It was cut short—only about an inch long. It made him look ruthless with his mouth in a tight line while fury burned in his dark blue eyes.

“Flint…” She whispered his name.

“I came to evaluate my property.” His voice was deep and cold.

She flinched. “I’m sorry.”

He growled low in his throat. “You’re sorry? What are you sorry about, Mira? Sorry that you almost cost us the raid on the Piera because we were docking to her when I got word that you’d stolen a pod?

Are you sorry for the fuel and resources we wasted going after you? Are you sorry that you didn’t get away? Maybe you’re sorry that pirates caught you before I could. Maybe you’re sorry that you’re back here. What are you sorry for exactly?”

Mira gripped the blanket. She felt weak but carefully sat up on the bed, wrapping the blanket tighter around her na**d body. “I’m just sorry for everything. I didn’t think past escaping. I thought if I got away that I wouldn’t be just property anymore.”

He swayed a little on his feet as his hands fisted until his knuckles whitened at his sides. Flint’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You are property, Mira. You are mine to do with as I wish. You almost got yourself killed and you could have gotten me, along with the crew of the Rally , killed with you if those pirates had gotten the drop on us instead.”

“I’m sorry. I never meant to put your life in danger.”

“You did.” He took a step toward her and then halted. “You are going to have to be punished for what you’ve done, Mira. You’ve cost me a lot of money. I’m the one who had to pay for the fuel that both ships wasted going after you.”

Movement in the dim room caught Mira’s attention. She saw Iron standing about fifteen feet back, behind Flint. Flint turned his head, motioning Iron forward. Iron strode closer. Mira eyed the man with dread. She knew he didn’t like her and she remembered his suggestions of what he’d do to her if she were his when he’d shoved her into the cage. Was he going to suggest her death or have Flint take a belt to her ass to remove some layers of skin?

He stopped next to Flint to glare down at Mira. Terror flooded her at the anger she saw in the other cyborg’s eyes. She turned to Flint, silently pleading with him. His eyes were cold.

“I’ve sold you to Iron.”

The words shocked and horrified Mira. She literally jerked back on the bed. “Please, Flint. I’m sorry.

I’ll pay you every cent I cost you. I have money. Please don’t do this.”

Flint’s mouth tensed. “I don’t