Stealing Coal Read online

  Coal didn’t move or release Jill. His gaze locked with hers. “Did he harm you? Did he touch you?”

  Jill’s mouth opened but Rune spoke first.

  “He tried to soil her with his sexual fluids and frightened her but I interrupted before he could force use of her body. She isn’t strong enough to have stopped him.”

  “Oh shit,” Jill muttered, seeing a murderous look enter Coal’s gaze.

  He lifted his head to look at Sky. “The captain is mine.”

  “Good. Turn around then because he and four crew members are about to find us.” Sky jerked his head toward where Rune stood. “They are closing fast.”

  The second Coal released her hand, spun, and planted his big body in front of her, Jill knew with certainty that Captain Barney Varel would be dead if Coal got his way. She waved frantically at Rune.

  “Come on.”

  “Return to the Jenny now,” Coal ordered.

  Rune walked casually toward them as if she weren’t aware of the danger they were in. Jill nearly envied the android. Fear inched up her spine for Coal’s safety. “Let’s just go. The docking door is right there. You’ve damaged the Cutter badly enough that I doubt it can give chase.”

  “Go to the Jenny now.” Coal’s tone sounded unusually harsh.

  He’s going to kill them all, Jill thought, backing away. If Captain Varel survived, he’d come after her. She knew that deep down. Her father had meant to protect her but instead he’d unknowingly made her a target for anyone who learned about his money when he’d made Jill the only key to access it.

  She paused at the docking door, watching as Coal and Sky separated, getting behind crates piled by the doorway to the interior area of the ship. They both looked ready for battle with their weapons pointed in that direction. Jill hesitated and then inched toward the life pod to hunker down behind it.

  “What are we doing?” Rune stood next to her, watching her with a curious look fixed on her features.

  Jill reached up and gripped the android’s hand at her side. “Crouch down. We’re hiding. I’m not leaving Coal behind,” she whispered. “Lower your voice too.”

  Rune hesitated before lowering to her knees. “Why?” She whispered back.

  “I love him and if he gets into trouble, I’m going to try to save him.”

  Rune frowned. “You have no weapons.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I can’t wait for him in my ship just praying and pacing until he returns to me in one piece.”

  “I don’t understand the logic in―”

  “Silence,” Jill hissed as the doors to the interior of the shuttle slid open.

  One of the crew inched into the cargo hold gripping a portable laser cannon. Terror struck Jill when she saw it. One of those could literally cut a person in half with just one zap. Sky suddenly moved, lifted his own weapon, and fired. He aimed with deadly accuracy. The man screamed when his chest opened up.

  Blood poured down the man’s body. His distress lowered to a soft whimper before he fell over. The laser cannon skidded a few feet across the deck. Bile rose in Jill’s throat at the gruesome sight but she fought it down, peeking around the nose of the life pod. She tried to ignore the guy’s blood slowly spreading on the deck as it drained out of the dying man.

  The doors remained open. The silence in the room became stifling to Jill as she waited to see what would happen next.

  “I just want Jillian,” Captain Varel yelled out. “You can have the shuttle without a fight. Let’s make a deal.”

  The enraged growl that came from Coal reached Jill’s ears, though it wasn’t that loud. His voice rose when he spoke. “I will never allow you to have her but I will allow you a choice in how you die.”

  Silence stretched again. “I’ll buy her from you,” Varel offered. “Name your price.”

  “You can fight in a hand-to-hand battle with me or with weapons,” Coal countered. “Your choice.” He paused. “We have an armored military droid that I will send in after you.”

  “Take Jillian then and just get off my shuttle.” Varel couldn’t hide his fear when he responded.

  “Agree to fight me as men do or you can die without honor.” Coal really sounded furious over that last prospect. “I know you want my woman and may come after her again. I won’t allow that to happen. One way or another, this ends here and now.”

  Varel took his time in deciding. “No weapons, just you and me.” He paused. “How do I know you won’t shoot me if I walk in there?”

  “I want to kill you with my bare hands.” The rage audible in Coal’s voice left no doubt that he meant every word he said.

  “Fine. I’m coming and I’m unarmed.”

  “Don’t trust him,” Jill called out softly.

  Coal’s shot her a glare over his shoulder. “I told you to leave.”

  “I love you. Pay attention to them instead of me.” She jerked her head toward the open door. “Here he comes.” Please win, she silently added.

  Varel stepped into the cargo hold with his arms up, palms showing, and looked furious. Coal stepped out from behind the crates gripping his weapon. Varel’s eyes widened before he paled.

  “I shouldn’t have trusted a metal head.”

  Coal calmly threw his weapon aside to land somewhere near the bulkhead, far from the captain. “I have honor. You kidnapped my woman and you attempted to force her to have sex with you.” He moved back to the center of the room slowly, never taking his eyes off his adversary. “I’m going to make you hurt for that.” Coal’s fingers waved him forward as he took a defensive stance. “Fight as if you know what it truly is to be a male.”

  “Shit,” Sky muttered. “My friend Coal there is going to take you apart, slimeball.” He paused. “I have your back, Coal. If any of his crew moves I’ll take them out. You just worry about him. I have their locations locked, though they are staying out of visual range. I’ll know if they try to sneak up on us. It’s probably their plan to do that with the distraction of the fight.”

  “I’m aware. It would be mine.” Coal waved the captain closer. “Let this begin. I’m eager to see you bleed.”

  Varel had to step over the dead man on the deck, his boots leaving a trail of blood. He advanced slowly, taking in every inch of Coal’s six-and-a-half-foot frame.

  “I could make you rich, cyborg. She’s just a woman. I could show you a hundred of them for you to choose from if you allow me to have her. Jillian’s not even beautiful and her legs are too short. Wouldn’t you enjoy a thinner woman who stands at least six feet tall? She’s even a bit pudgy.”

  Another growl emanated from Coal. “You insult my woman and my loyalty to her as well?”

  “Stupid,” Sky snorted.

  Varel frowned. “Name what you want.”

  “For you to die,” Coal stated. He took an aggressive step forward. “Fight or don’t but I’m about to hit you.”

  Varel threw a punch first, as soon as they were close enough to attack each other. Coal allowed it to land on his chest. A cold grin flashed.

  “Is that the best you have?”

  He threw one himself, sending Varel stumbling back but the man remained on his feet. Varel backed up and his hand suddenly went behind him, whipping out a knife with a long, wicked blade.

  “I’m going to slice you up, you oversized lab reject.”

  Coal snarled, advancing again on the captain. Jill wanted to yell for Coal to be careful but she feared he’d look away from that nasty-looking blade that slashed out at his gut a second later.

  Coal’s body bowed to avoid the deadly weapon and his fist slammed hard into Varel’s face. Blood bloomed where his nose took the hit but the captain slashed again, seeming not to feel the pain. Jill watched the ghastly dance as Varel lunged again to cut Coal but the bigger cyborg had great reflexes, dodging it again.

  Movement by the door drew Jill’s gaze as three of the crew rushed forward. Sky stepped from behind the crate, firing at them. He hit two of the crew but a third one hit t