Stealing Coal Read online

  The captain hesitated. “This shuttle belongs to me and I want it back.”

  Confused, Jill tried to think of why the guy believed he had a right to the Jenny. She didn’t stick her head out this time but instead kept still in Coal’s embrace.

  “Look, I don’t know why you think it belongs to you but I inherited the Jenny from my father. I had nothing to do with it if he stole it from you. I honestly believed it belonged to him.” She paused. “Let’s talk about this, all right? Calmly.”

  “That sounds rational,” Flint stated.

  “Fine.” The captain didn’t sound happy but he agreed. “I’m holstering my weapon.”

  Coal relaxed and released her waist. Jill hesitated before inching over a little to peer at the captain while he put away his gun. Their gazes met and she didn’t miss the pure fury radiating from his bright-green eyes, directed straight at her.

  “This is my shuttle.” A muscle along his jaw jumped. “Where did you get it from? I want names and locations. I want to track down whoever killed my partner.”

  “I’m not sure where my father got this but he had it docked to his ship. His men rebelled and I managed to escape on the Jenny before the Viking ended up being destroyed. I totally believed it belonged to him. That’s all I know.”

  The captain’s mouth dropped open and shock widened his eyes. “Jillian?”

  It was Jill’s turn to gape at him in surprise, her own mouth parting. “How do you know my name?”

  The guy paled considerably. “My God. I didn’t see it at first but you resemble your mother.”

  He took an uncertain step forward and then halted when Coal reached for his own weapon. The captain spread his hands open, away from his sides, clearly not going for his gun, but his attention remained fixed on Jill.

  “I thought you died with Jim. I arrived a day too late and only found a debris field where his ship had been. He’d called me to meet up with him. We were silent partners and best friends since he first set out in space. I handled the Earth side of things while he traveled the outer regions of space. He became ill and told me he had only weeks to live, and wanted me to take care of you for him. It terrified him, thinking you’d be left alone.”

  Jill stood mute, trying to take in his words. This man knew her father? Her brain finally managed to form words. “Take care of me?”

  He nodded. “With him gone, he wanted someone to watch out for you, to protect you.” He took an uncertain step forward. “He planned to introduce us and he knew I’d treat you the way you deserved. He set up a marriage pact between you and me.”

  Coal snarled and jerked his weapon from the holster, aiming it directly at the other man’s chest. “She’s not yours.”

  “Marriage pact?” Jill gasped, stunned, but managed to reach over to grip Coal’s arm. She didn’t go for the one holding the gun but needed to hold onto him to keep her knees from collapsing.

  The captain looked uneasy while he stared at the barrel of Coal’s weapon but then his gaze flicked to Jill’s. “Yes. He regretted giving you to Darren and had no idea that asshole would abuse you. He wanted you with a man he trusted without question, someone who’d never hurt you in any way. That’s why he chose me.”

  Jill had no words. None.

  “It’s going to be fine,” the captain swore softly. He gave her a soft smile. “I’m going to take care of you and keep you safe. I’m so damn glad I found you, Jillian. I’ve been told so much about you from your dad that I feel as though I already know you. Your aunt knew about the pact. Mary didn’t tell you?”

  “She died on the Viking right after Dad’s crew turned on us.” Jill still couldn’t believe what the man said. It had to be some kind of sick, cosmic joke, but then anger at her father set in. “He had no right to tell you I’d marry you.”

  “I promise I’ll make you happy, sweetheart.” The captain gave her a soft smile.

  “She’s not your sweetheart.” Coal’s voice deepened into a rough, harsh tone. “I’ll kill you if you come any closer to her.”

  The captain’s shocked gaze glanced between Jill and Coal, paling again. “Shit.” He took a step back as his attention jerked back to Jill. “Call him off. You have nothing to fear from me.” He cleared his throat. “Are you sleeping with that?”

  “Him,” Sky ground out. “We’re not things. We’re people.”

  The captain turned his head to shoot a frown at Sky. “Sorry.” He faced Jill again. “It’s fine with me if you allowed him to touch you. I’m not angry. You did whatever you had to do to survive. Nobody needs to tell me what a miracle it is that you’re still alive.”

  Flint moved forward suddenly. “Can we have councilman Zorus now? You can resolve your issue with the female after he’s been returned to us. We are ready to pay you.”

  Captain Varel hesitated. “On one condition.”

  Flint growled under his breath. “We already made a deal. We hired you for a price we intend to pay when you return him to us.”

  “I’ll allow your man to come aboard after you transfer the payment if I can talk to Jillian alone.”

  “No,” Coal snarled. The hand gripping the weapon tensed.

  “Holster your weapon,” Flint ordered. “Now, Coal. That’s a direct order.”

  Jill rubbed Coal’s arm. “It’s okay.” She frowned at the captain. “Why do you want to talk to me?”

  “No,” Coal snarled again but he put away the gun. “You aren’t speaking with him without me present.”

  “And that’s why I want to talk to her alone.” Captain Varel turned his attention to Flint. “Her father and I were best friends for over thirty years. If she wants to stay with you then I’ll accept that happily. I just need an assurance that’s what she wants.” The captain jerked his head in Coal’s direction. “With him acting that way, you should understand my need to ask her questions without the fear of him intimidating her. I won’t believe what she says with him ready to shoot me if he hears something he doesn’t like.”

  Jill opened her mouth to tell him that was plain stupid and how Coal wouldn’t do that but Flint spoke first.

  “Do you believe he knew your father, Jill?”

  Her gaze locked on the captain. He appeared about the right age as her father had been, perhaps a few years younger, but he knew she looked similar to her mother. She’d heard that from her aunt her entire life. The sisters had different coloring so the guy couldn’t have just seen her aunt and assumed they resembled each other. Her aunt had been blonde with dark-green eyes while Jill’s mother had strawberry-blonde, almost-red hair and bright-blue eyes. He also obviously knew about Darren’s abuse and her aunt’s name.

  “He called you his pumpkin,” the man said softly. “When you were born, your hair looked more orange than anything else.”

  “I believe him,” Jill announced. “Only my father would have shared that story and only with someone he trusted. It’s also just like my father to have tried to give me to another man in marriage. He always had an annoying way of thinking he knew what would be best for me no matter how misguided it turned out to be.”

  Flint hesitated. “You will not undock with the Jenny but I will allow you to speak to her privately after you return the councilman to us. Once he is safely aboard we’ll send her to talk to you on your ship…alone.”

  “No!” Coal glared at Flint. “He could harm her.”

  “He knew her father, they were friends, and he seems reasonable. I understand the logic of him wishing to speak to her without us present to sway her answers.” Flint took a deep breath. “He won’t undock from us and it will alleviate any concerns he may have.”

  Jill realized Coal looked about ready to snap. Killing the captain who had possession of the cyborg would be bad. The crew would probably kill the cyborg in retaliation, attack the Jenny, and the captain had a much better ship than her shuttle. She stepped forward and turned to face Coal.

  “He won’t hurt me, Coal. I’ll be fine. It’s one short conversation and