Page 59

“We aren’t where we come from, Dakota. We are what we make of ourselves. I’d prefer to hear the information from you now.”

“Mase is the hellhole of all hellholes. Criminals, gangs, traffickers…you name the depravity, it’s there. What else is there to say? The people who conceived me were probably some sort of junkies. They left me on a doorstep, but those people already had mouths to feed. I raised myself.” Stars, the office felt as tiny as a box. “So with my treasure, maybe I’ll buy a house on some fancy mega-city planet. With all the high-tech gadgets I can find.” She wheeled back to face him. “Or maybe I’ll buy some land somewhere, a farm. With trees, and grass, and animals.” She stared at the walls and the window showing space beyond. “Or maybe a ship.”

He leaned back against the desk. “You don’t know what you want.”

She thrust out her hand dismissively. “I’ll work it out once I have the treasure. And you’re one to talk about knowing what you want.”

He raised a brow. “I have exactly what I want.”

“Career-wise, maybe. But I think you’re just as messed up as I am. I see the dark edges you keep under your gloss and control. Something in your past is still nipping at your heels.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Drop it, Dakota.”

His icy tone made goosebumps break out on her skin, but she’d never been one to back away.

“You prodded into my past. You wanted all the gory details. I slept in doorways, and I ate scraps that were unfit for dogs. I even traded sex for food once or twice.” She’d thrown up afterward and vowed to find a way, any way, to escape. To one day be rich and to be the master of her own life.

She saw an answering darkness on Dare’s face.

“So whatever you’re trying to control and keep hidden, it can’t be as bad as what I lived. I’ll do whatever I have to do to outrun my past. You just seem to be ignoring yours.”

They stared at each other. She thought he was about to say something, anything, when there was a chime from the comp.

Rynan’s voice filled the cabin. “We are coming up on the coordinates.”

Dare and Dakota stared at each other for a few more seconds.

“On our way,” Dare answered, his tone ruthlessly controlled.

Then he stood up and walked out of the office.

Dakota’s shoulders sagged. She’d pushed him too hard. She knew better than most that no one wanted all their inner demons out there for the galaxy to see.

Dare, it seemed, was happy to uncover all of her secrets, was more than happy to share his body with her.

But anything else was clearly off-limits.

She strode out of the office. The treasure was within her grasp. That was all that mattered, and all she needed to think about. Not Dare Phoenix.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Arocky, lava-covered proto-planet appeared on the viewscreen, and Dare sucked in a quick breath.

This was it.

Most of it was pockmarked, gray rock, but large pools of glowing, orange molten rock dotted the surface. It didn’t seem a likely planet to wreck your starship on…unless you wanted to kill everyone.

“Scan it,” Dare ordered.

“Done,” Rynan replied. “There’s nothing here.”

“What?” Dakota said sharply.

“There are no signs of structures, starship wrecks, or any life.”

“There must be something.” Dakota pressed a fist to her chest. “The wreck of the Southwind must be there, somewhere.”

Ry cleared his throat. “I’ll run the scans again, but my equipment’s good. There’s nothing here but rock.”