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Look at me. She didn t dare refuse him. His gaze burned her skin. We all have a past, Naya. I
don t much care about yours. It s done. It can t be changed. Let s leave it where it belongs.
You make it sound so easy. In my experience, the past has an ugly way of finding its way right
back into the present.
If it does, we ll deal with it. He spoke with such definitive finality.
She arched an eyebrow. Just like that?
He nodded. Just like that.
She marveled at his certainty.
Menace reached for an orange. What s that look?
She shrugged and picked up the last bit of bacon on her plate. I was thinking about how nice it
would be to have an ounce of your arrogance.
Menace laughed and sat back in his chair. It s a cultural thing, apparently. At least, that s what
Hallie is always telling me. He jammed his thumb into the bright orange peel and nicked the skin. I
think you ll like her.
We ll see. Naya didn t want to tell him that she d never been particularly good at making friends,
especially with other women close to her age. She had always been awkward and a bit strange. Other
girls couldn t relate to her. You said she was from Harper s Well, right?
Yes.
Naya shuddered to think what her life had been like. She was lucky to escape that place.
She d been in trouble with their law once or twice. It didn t end well for her.
Her gut clenched. Oh, Menace, you have no idea how barbaric their laws are. At least when I was
arrested, I never had to worry about having my head shaved or being beaten in a public square.
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Naya bit her lip and dared to look at
Menace. His hands had gone still. He leveled a calm stare at her. You were arrested?
There was no use denying it now. Yes. Three times.
I see. His jaw tightened. I suppose that explains why you weren t thrilled with being cuffed.
Basically, she agreed.
You should have told me.
When? Like right after you put a collar around my neck and carried me back to your warship? Or
maybe when your doctors were asking me all those personal questions and jabbing me with needles?
Or maybe later when you left me tied up in your dungeon?
He frowned. Playroom.
You know what I mean.
What were you picked up for, Naya?
Twice for theft, she reluctantly informed him.
What kind of theft?
Food.
Food?
I was hungry, she answered honestly. I was eleven the first time and thirteen the second time.
His expression softened. You were a minor. Those wouldn t count against you in our society. I
hope you learned your lesson.
To steal with more stealth? Yeah. Sure did.
He didn t appreciate the humor. His lips settled into a grim line. You will not steal aboard this
ship, Naya. Is that understood?
As long as you provide me with food and clothing or a way to earn an honest living, I won t have
to, Menace.
I m not being funny, Naya. I m deadly serious.
Yes, I got that. She placed her fork back on her plate. I haven t stolen a damn thing since I was
fourteen.
Then what was your third arrest for?
It wasn t officially an arrest.
What was it?
I was picked up and held for three weeks without charges. They released me and that was that.
His face slackened. You were held for three weeks without charges?
She didn t understand why he was so surprised. Sure. I mean, the secret police don t exactly have
to abide by the laws. That s why they re the secret police.
Why?
Well, they do the bidding of the central government and they don t officially exist so
He shook his head and interrupted her. No, I meant why were you held?
Oh. She figured a watered-down version of the truth was in her best interest. She didn t know
Menace well enough to really and truly trust him with all the sordid details of her life. He said the
past was in the past, right? I was suspected of smuggling.
Smuggling? He laughed. You?
Naya bristled at his insinuation that she was some stupid, helpless little thing. You don t know me,
Menace. You don t what I m capable of or what I did to survive.
His eyes narrowed. So it was true?
Of course it was true. I was helping smuggle people off the planet and moving medicine and other
contraband around Connor s Run and the nearby towns from the age of ten.
His jaw dropped. Ten?
I had to eat. My parents were gone. My brother was totally useless. It was the only way I could
make money to keep us alive. I was quick. I was smart. It was good work for me.
Good work? He spluttered and sat forward, slamming the orange down on the table. You were
engaging in criminal activities, Naya.
Yeah, Menace, I know. I was there, remember?
You re lucky you were a child when you were doing these things.
Why? Because you d turn me in for being a criminal?
He looked aghast at the very thought. I would never
She put up her hand. Spare me. I ve heard that line before and both times it ended with me getting
royally fucked over by someone.
That time he didn t correct her blue language. Voice laced with irritation, he declared, You should
never have been put in that situation. Someone should have been looking out for you.
She scoffed. And who would that be? My dead father? My loser brother?
What about your mother?
She stiffened. What about her?
Where was she during all of this?
Far away from me, Naya said and rose from her chair. She gathered together their dirty dishes. I
was six when she left with a sky trader from Jesco.
She left you behind?
Naya blinked rapidly to force away the tears threatening to spill. I should have wised up then and
realized she was just going to be the first.
Your brother?
She took his empty glass. He hopped a transport ship to the colonies six years ago.
But you would have been just a teenager then, he said in obvious confusion.
She felt his stare boring into her back as she carried the armload of dishes into the kitchen. What
can I say, Menace? I guess I m just not the kind of girl people want to fight for.
Put the dishes down right now and come here.
His angry tone shocked her. She complied instantly and slid the dirty dishes onto the closest
countertop. When she spun to face Menace, he d risen from his chair. The stony expression on his
face struck fear in her chest. Swallowing hard, she made her way back to him.
Menace snatched her by the waist and dragged her close. He reached back and turned his chair
around before sitting. He hauled her onto his lap and forced her to straddle his thighs. Those skilled
fingers that had shown her so much pleasure cupped the back of her head and tangled in her hair. The
pain in his pale eyes stunned her.
Naya, he said with force, you are worth fighting for.
Wh-what? She could barely form the word.
You are worth fighting for, he repeated just as firmly. Those people? Your blood? They
abandoned you, but I never will.
He seemed so honest and sincere. She had never wanted to believe a man so much in her entire life.
She opened her mouth, but he shook his head and pressed his fingers to her lips.
I know what you re going to say, but I m not those men. He seemed to be struggling for the right
words. Do you have any idea what you mean to me? What I went through to get you?
Menace gripped the bottom of his shirt and pulled it up and over to display the right side of his
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