Haunting Blackie Read online

  “I conked out too but I’m okay. You think there are going to be that many?” Some of Danica’s bravado faded.

  “I don’t know. We killed a bunch of them but I lost count of how many we plowed into before the engines died and the sensors failed. The screen got a little wonky before that so I couldn’t see everything we nailed. There’s also no way to tell the number of pirates living on each ship.”

  A loud screech of metal made them both wince.

  “They are coming,” Eve whispered, staring at the door.

  “That sounded like a seal being forced open.”

  They both backed up.

  “Keep your voice down. Maybe they won’t hear us and move on.”

  “I doubt they are stupid enough to forget to check here but our voices aren’t going to carry through that sealed door.”

  “I’m not used to it being this quiet, with the engines out. We could hope it was part of something collapsing instead of them tearing through seals.”

  “I don’t think so.” Eve hated to disagree but every instinct told her someone or a bunch of “someones” were coming at them. “You ready? We’ve faced tougher shit than this. Remember that bar on the station with all the mechanics? That was grim.”

  “There were only seven of them and they were out of shape.”

  “Yeah, but they were really pissed off. You told them they were incompetent after the repairs they did.”

  “I was right. We’re still having issues or at least we did, when we still had a semi-working ship. I’m glad we stuck together, Eve. I know I bitched a lot about leaving Earth with you but it was better than staying. You saved my life. It was only a matter of time before I made a mistake and they discovered—”

  The door was activated when the lights on the panel next to it flashed but the lock held. There was no doubt they’d been boarded.

  “They could be morons,” Eve hoped aloud. “Maybe they won’t figure out how to bust in.”

  “That would be great.”

  “Yeah. Of course it would also mean we’re trapped on a disabled ship in pirate territory. At least this way we’ll be able to steal something to make it to Titan. If they can reach us, it might gain us a way out. They know we’re women so they’ll want us alive. That means they are sealing any breaches they pass so we don’t die outright. They have to be smart enough to know we won’t have suits.”

  “I like the way you always find a bright side.”

  “I try.”

  “You’re good at it, Eve. That’s why you’re our brave leader.”

  “I’m not feeling it so much at this second. Those things are really ugly.”

  The light completely cut out on the door panel.

  “Fuck.” Eve tensed. “It looks like they know how to disable the door lock. Here we go. Game on!”

  A soft growl filled the small room and Eve envied her sister that kind of rage. She was just scared shitless. Danica moved, stepped in front of her and took a protective stance.

  Eve studied her back and pondered ordering her to switch positions. She had always felt responsible for Danica’s well-being and was more skilled in hand-to-hand combat. She dismissed the idea though. Protective instincts were a strong motivation to win and they would distract her from being terrified.

  “Don’t worry about me,” she coached, feeling proud. “Just concentrate on what they are doing. Don’t get sucker punched like you did in that bar because you saw me go down. I’ll get back up.”

  “I remember,” Danica swore. “You dived in to break his legs but I thought you were hurt.”

  “I’m tougher than that.”

  Danica gave a sharp nod. “I have this.”

  “I know you do.” Sadness filled Eve again. Their chances of survival were very slim. She refrained from saying “those” three words. Danica knew she loved her and it would sound more like a goodbye than a reminder.

  “Let’s do the single-file routine.”

  Eve moved into fighting stance. She was right behind Danica, their bodies aligned in the same position. “Set.”

  They’d reached the command center of the transport. They hadn’t discovered any bodies yet. Of course the damage had been massive in the sections they’d had to clear. Most of them were airless corridors, some leading to open space. The corpses of the crew were probably tangled with the wreckage that had been vented outside and were floating in space.

  Blackie, face mask in place, raised his weapon to aim at the door as Gene, kneeling in front of the electrical panel, turned his way and nodded. Gene stood about the same time that the bulkhead doors slid open.

  The sight of a brunette with bright green eyes, wearing a blue jumpsuit, was the first thing Blackie spotted. She blocked his view of the woman behind her but there was no doubt of her fellow crewmember’s sex since he got a glimpse of rounded breasts contained inside a small shirt before something hit his chest. The one in front had pitched an object at him.

  Instinct made him catch it before it bounced off, instantly assuming it was an explosive device. He glanced down to gauge the type, hoping there was a clear path to throw it far enough to avoid being killed. His mind blanked for a second as he gawked, freezing.

  “Is that an artificial phallus?”

  Gene’s deep-voiced question jolted Blackie from his stunned stupor as he dropped the nonthreatening object and aimed his weapon at the woman. She held a second one as if it were a weapon, waving it back and forth. Part of him wanted to laugh, the sight so absurd it seemed impossible.

  “Drop the…” Gene hesitated. “It is a fake—”

  “I’m aware,” Blackie muttered. “We won’t harm you.”

  “Right.” The green gaze of the woman narrowed and her lips parted. As he watched, her canines grew into razor-sharp points.

  “What the hell? Do you see her teeth?” Gene stumbled back a step.

  Blackie couldn’t help but gape at the sight of those sharp, fanglike canines. He’d never seen that before.

  “The better to bite you with, you mangy mutts.”

  The woman threw the other artificial penis, landing a direct hit on Gene’s mask as she launched forward with her hands clawed. The fact that she had unusually long, pointed fingernails registered before Blackie pulled the trigger of his weapon.

  The electrical charge struck the woman in the stomach, doubled her over and she crashed to her knees in a huddle. The fact that she remained awake was curious. Most Earthlings would have been rendered unconscious. The voltage wasn’t high enough to kill but it would shock their systems to the point of passing out.

  “No!” the other woman yelled and jumped over her fallen crewmember. She landed in a crouch, putting her body between them. Blonde hair was a wild mass of ringlets that blanketed the floor around her hands, covering most of her face. Her head snapped up, her lips parted and fangs extended. A blue gaze locked on Blackie as a deep growl resonated from her.

  He froze. Her hair had grown much longer, those sharp teeth were new, but it was her. He’d never forget that face as long as he lived.

  “It can’t be.” The words ripped from his throat.

  She launched toward him and all he could do was toss the weapon aside. It crashed to the floor an instant before her small body hit his torso. She didn’t weigh much but he was off balance. Pain tore into his ribs as something pierced his suit and he twisted as they fell.

  He landed on top of her hard and realized what he’d done. Years of training had made sure she took the impact with the floor. The air was forced from her lungs as she hissed.

  The pain in her features as he stared at her face inches from his own made an emotion close to grief sweep through him until he couldn’t breathe either. Tears filled her eyes and her pale skin changed color.

  She couldn’t breathe. He was crushing her.

  More pain dug into his side and he jerked his head down, saw one of her hands clawed there and knew she drew more blood. She was pinned under him, starving for oxygen, but she stil