Introducing SFR Author, Heather Massey
In the sea of stars, an epic love story is about to begin…
Earth is dying. Nick Venture, the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus, embarks on a dangerous mission to find a new planet and save humanity. This places him on a collision course with Raquel Donovan, the deadliest space pirate in the galaxy.
Raquel lives for one purpose: revenge against a horrible demon from her past. When an attempt to hijack Nick’s starship backfires, Raquel becomes his protector in order to avoid capture by the tyrannical Space Defense Corps. Nick and Raquel are irresistibly drawn to one another despite the forbidden nature of their attraction. But the conflicted pirate’s deepest secret could tear the couple apart even as humanity’s time runs out…
Excerpt:
As the airlock hissed shut behind him, the last surprise Nick expected was the very Siren herself aboard his ship. Dark and still, she stood like a wraith in the shuttle opening. Their gazes locked as soon as he stepped forward into the bay. Momentarily dazzled, he didn’t anticipate the blow that landed squarely between his shoulder blades. The force of it sent him sprawling to the steel plated deck.
Stunned, all he could do was roll over, bringing the shuttle back into view. At first, Nick saw only a pair of clingy, knee-high boots as the Siren advanced with supple movements down the shuttle ramp. Then his gaze shifted to a brown gun belt, slung about her hips at a jaunty angle. But the distraction cost him. When the unknown assailant kicked him in the ribs, air shot like a torpedo from his lungs. What the fuck?
Nick barely had a chance to recover his breath when the man turned him roughly over and smacked him across the face. He grimaced against the pain of stung lips, and then a spurt of blood coated his tongue. Blinking, he tried to plan a move, any move, in self-defense. What kind of coward attacked from behind like that? Pirate cowards, apparently.
When the thug forced him unceremoniously to his feet, he held up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Listen! I’m Nick Venture, and I’m in command of these ships. Let’s discuss this situation like rational people.”
Hatchet Face drew back his hand for another blow. Raising an arm to block the next attack, Nick added, “I won’t resist! Just give me a minute.”
By now, the Siren had reached the deck. Nick gazed at her, almost forgetting the mortal danger that hovered mere inches from his body. With a shipsuit that clung to her body in all the right ways, she looked even more stunning in person. The slinky motion of her stride seemed to electrify the very air surrounding her. Flesh tingled with anticipation, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to rise. This woman didn’t just invite attention, she commanded it. His assailant glanced at her, too, although he continued to stand poised for another hit. Then other pirates started circling, some with drawn weapons. The noose tightened, attracted to him as if he were a magnet. Silence gripped the bay as the face-off intensified.
Just as Nick considered mounting a berserk attack, the Siren’s voice cut clear and low across the bay. “Smiley, go with the others,” she ordered.
Nick exhaled in relief as her man searched him roughly for weapons and then released him. ‘Smiley’? Now there’s an apt name. He wiped excess blood from his mouth, staring at the pirate captain as her men slipped past him. As the last one ducked through the airlock into the ship proper, a deathly hush settled. Now it was just Nick and the Siren.
It’s about time I got you alone. The seductive vision before him sparked a hot streak of arousal, and it occurred to him that she stood much too far away. Territorial instincts uncoiled, demanding that he remedy the situation immediately. But as he stepped forward, she reached for her holster with lightning-quick precision and pulled a gun on him.
“That’s close enough.”
Nick held up his hands again. “I’m unarmed.”
“And I’m not.” She held the gun higher.
Shit. Her weapon looked primitive, but he didn’t doubt its firepower. The threat of injury or death scrambled his thoughts. What was he going to say to convince this woman not to plunder? Because after all, that’s what pirates did.
Then a risky idea occurred to him. Dare he tell her about the mission? Might it make a difference, even to a jaded outlaw? It was worth a try. Anything less than the truth would hardly be persuasive. Somewhere in that lush body, there had to be at least an ounce of sympathy for the plight of humankind.
“I have something important to tell you,” he began. The gun stayed firmly trained upon him, but she didn’t tell him to stop talking, either. Nick plunged ahead. “We’re on a mission…to save Earth. You see, a planet’s been discovered. A habitable one.” He could have been wrong, but he thought he detected the slightest narrowing of her good eye. “These three ships were built for the voyage to this new planet. Our job is to claim it for the people of Earth.” He searched for words that might influence her the most. “Not for the military, or the rich, or the politicians….but for the people…like you and me.”
“So what’s your point?” She sounded bored.
A curse danced on his tongue, but he stayed it. “My point,” he said calmly, “is that on behalf of this mission, this very, very important and life-saving mission, I want to negotiate a deal. If you take all of our supplies, we’re going to fail. And if the military catches us, it’s over. Not just for us, but all of humanity can kiss its future goodbye.” Nick paused, unsure if his words were having the desired effect. “We can spare some supplies, but not all. Leave us enough for a few months, at least.”
The Siren only stared at him, her expression unreadable.
Anxiety began to gnaw at him—and anger. The “negotiation” was going nowhere fast, but he couldn’t give up just yet. “You want proof? I have proof. Come study the data.”
No response. Nothing. Not even a blink.
“Look, maybe the Collective—they’re the ones backing all of this—maybe they can authorize land for you and your crew. It’d be a chance to start over. Freedom. All the open space you want.”
His words petered out, sucked into the black hole between them. Still she said nothing. Did nothing. What part about Earth dying didn’t she understand? This kind of blatant unresponsiveness made Nick realize he’d had enough. Her eye narrowed to a slit as he continued. “That is, when you get tired of plundering and assaulting innocent people.” I don’t care how beautiful you are…you have no right to be this heartless. Who exposed you to such cruelty, that you spend it so carelessly? “And ruining the lives of billions, who’ll probably die when Earth finally caves in on itself.” A final retort spewed from his mouth like venom. “Are you that much of a cold-hearted bitch?” There. Fuck. Now he had totally shot to hell any chance at convincing her. He glanced away, too furious with her callous attitude to even gaze upon her beautiful face any more.
However, his caustic words didn’t seem to ruffle her. This time, it was the Siren who took a step forward. She flexed her gloved hand, the one gripping the gun. “Your mission means nothing to me.” Another step forward. “I have no way of knowing if you’re telling the truth. You could be military spies for all I know.” Another step. “Besides, I have all the freedom I want.” Step. “All the open space I want. The sea of stars is my home.”
Nick looked up and tried to swallow past the lump of fear in his throat. He was just a simple mechanic. Didn’t travel at all, let alone set foot aboard starships. No one had ever threatened his life with a gun before. Now he faced one of the most terrible space pirates that ever lived, according to his crew. He hoped Twitch and Sammy and Lillian could transport everyone to safety somehow, because clearly he was about to die. I’m worthless to you, all no matter who I am, came the rueful thought. I’m sorry.
The pirate now stood an arm’s length away. Nick could almost see the gaunt figure of Death raising its whetted scythe in her shadow. Strangely, his next thought was actually comforting: At least he would die knowing what she smelled like.
Fresh and fiery, like cinnamon.
***
Free downloadable 3-chapter excerpt at: HeatherMassey.com. Or buy it now at Amazon.com, Red Sage, Powell’s, All Romance Ebooks
