though she hadn’t even spoken.
“Staten Port-Master, this is War-Commander Sayeed, authorization code india-mike-seven-three-niner. I have an individual in custody who attempted to board this vessel for the purposes of kidnap. Also aboard are the remains of his comrades. I will need the prisoner contained until transfer to the Galactic Corp of Justice can be arranged.”
Biting her lower lip and fighting the tears that threatened to spill over her cheeks, Nerys brought the ship smoothly into the docking bay.
Overhead, the crane loaders slid smoothly into place, their claws already open to start grabbing crates. She nodded to the drivers, strapped into the tiny cabins above the claws and dropped the Lady ’s shields. With a metallic whir, the canopies retracted to allow them access they needed to start unloading.
“Confirmed sir. We have holding facilities, dispatching portside security to facilitate prisoner transfer.”
The port-master’s reply was immediate, and the fawning tone almost made Nerys gag. Typical. All Kelwin had to do was wave a military title around and people rushed to do his bidding.
She grabbed her bag then climbed the short ladder onto the boarding bridge and started across it. Kelwin paused at the console, but she ignored him. Two could play at that game.
The double doors on the dockside opened to disgorge armed security officers, and she lifted an eyebrow in surprise.
“Wow, impressive. Just your name has the honor guard out. What do you reckon…red carpet next?” She flicked a glance over her shoulder as Kelwin slid down the ladder, his back to her.
“Ahhh, my darling daughter. Thank the gods I’ve found you.”
The familiar, oily voice froze the blood in her veins. Her neck creaked as she turned slowly. It couldn’t be… Everything moved in slow motion.
It was. Her eyes widened as her gaze fell on the tall figure standing in between the guards on the dock. Tall, with a distinguished appearance he worked hard at and spent a fortune to maintain, Cordon McQuaid was an unmistakable figure. As unmistakable as the hard look in his eyes. It was the hard look she recognized from her childhood—the one that promised payback.
Standing at the top of the descent ramp, she squared her shoulders and looked him directly in the eye. “I don’t know how you found me, Daddy Dearest, and I don’t really give a damn. You can turn right around and get lost again.”
Cordon simply smiled and turned to the thin, nondescript-looking man who stood next to him. “As you can see, she’s totally unreasonable. And a danger to herself…piloting a deathtrap like that with just two crewmembers. With the other evidence I’ve provided of her irrational decisions and inappropriate behavior in several ports, I urge you to approve my case for custody.”
Her heart stuttered to a stop.
“Custody? What the hell are you talking about?” she asked as the man next to her father pursed his lips and studied something on his data-pad. Whatever it was, she knew it wasn’t going to be good—not with her father involved. The stranger looked up at her, his pale eyes almost colorless. She flicked a glance down at his nametag.
Gethan Kerran, Clerk of the Courts. Her heart thundered into life again. She knew what this was about. She hadn’t fallen into line like the rest of the family and done as she was told. Hadn’t fucked the guys she was told to—like her aunt, Cordon’s younger sister had, and no doubt still did.
This was about revenge. Pure and simple.
“Mr. McQuaid has petitioned the intergalactic family courts to gain custody of one Nerys McQuaid, offspring of the petitioner, citing hereditary mental instability and a breakdown in the individual’s ability to care for herself in a reasonable and safely practicable manner.”
“ Mentally unstable? Bull shit!” She burst out. “I’m supposed to be mentally unstable because I decided I didn’t want to be related
“Staten Port-Master, this is War-Commander Sayeed, authorization code india-mike-seven-three-niner. I have an individual in custody who attempted to board this vessel for the purposes of kidnap. Also aboard are the remains of his comrades. I will need the prisoner contained until transfer to the Galactic Corp of Justice can be arranged.”
Biting her lower lip and fighting the tears that threatened to spill over her cheeks, Nerys brought the ship smoothly into the docking bay.
Overhead, the crane loaders slid smoothly into place, their claws already open to start grabbing crates. She nodded to the drivers, strapped into the tiny cabins above the claws and dropped the Lady ’s shields. With a metallic whir, the canopies retracted to allow them access they needed to start unloading.
“Confirmed sir. We have holding facilities, dispatching portside security to facilitate prisoner transfer.”
The port-master’s reply was immediate, and the fawning tone almost made Nerys gag. Typical. All Kelwin had to do was wave a military title around and people rushed to do his bidding.
She grabbed her bag then climbed the short ladder onto the boarding bridge and started across it. Kelwin paused at the console, but she ignored him. Two could play at that game.
The double doors on the dockside opened to disgorge armed security officers, and she lifted an eyebrow in surprise.
“Wow, impressive. Just your name has the honor guard out. What do you reckon…red carpet next?” She flicked a glance over her shoulder as Kelwin slid down the ladder, his back to her.
“Ahhh, my darling daughter. Thank the gods I’ve found you.”
The familiar, oily voice froze the blood in her veins. Her neck creaked as she turned slowly. It couldn’t be… Everything moved in slow motion.
It was. Her eyes widened as her gaze fell on the tall figure standing in between the guards on the dock. Tall, with a distinguished appearance he worked hard at and spent a fortune to maintain, Cordon McQuaid was an unmistakable figure. As unmistakable as the hard look in his eyes. It was the hard look she recognized from her childhood—the one that promised payback.
Standing at the top of the descent ramp, she squared her shoulders and looked him directly in the eye. “I don’t know how you found me, Daddy Dearest, and I don’t really give a damn. You can turn right around and get lost again.”
Cordon simply smiled and turned to the thin, nondescript-looking man who stood next to him. “As you can see, she’s totally unreasonable. And a danger to herself…piloting a deathtrap like that with just two crewmembers. With the other evidence I’ve provided of her irrational decisions and inappropriate behavior in several ports, I urge you to approve my case for custody.”
Her heart stuttered to a stop.
“Custody? What the hell are you talking about?” she asked as the man next to her father pursed his lips and studied something on his data-pad. Whatever it was, she knew it wasn’t going to be good—not with her father involved. The stranger looked up at her, his pale eyes almost colorless. She flicked a glance down at his nametag.
Gethan Kerran, Clerk of the Courts. Her heart thundered into life again. She knew what this was about. She hadn’t fallen into line like the rest of the family and done as she was told. Hadn’t fucked the guys she was told to—like her aunt, Cordon’s younger sister had, and no doubt still did.
This was about revenge. Pure and simple.
“Mr. McQuaid has petitioned the intergalactic family courts to gain custody of one Nerys McQuaid, offspring of the petitioner, citing hereditary mental instability and a breakdown in the individual’s ability to care for herself in a reasonable and safely practicable manner.”
“ Mentally unstable? Bull shit!” She burst out. “I’m supposed to be mentally unstable because I decided I didn’t want to be related
Similar Books
