“Ria?”

  She shook her head. “Sorry. These will be fine. They’re an older style, but with a few amendments, no one will give them a second glance.”

  “So, what do assassins wear under these things?”

  She looked up at him and saw his eyes gleaming. “You’re trying to distract me?”

  “Is it working?”

  She couldn’t help the smile that touched her own lips. “Most wear a fighting suit.”

  “Hmm, I can imagine one of those slicking over your curves.” His gaze wandered down her body.

  “Give that to me, you lech.” She snatched the robe. “I want to check this fits.” She skirted the crates.

  “Aww, come on. I’ve seen you in all your mind-blowing glory,” he wheedled.

  “You stay there, Zayn Phoenix. I don’t trust you or your fast hands.” She shucked out of her trousers and shirt. “We need to make sure we’re one-hundred-percent prepared for this mission.”

  “We still have plenty of time until we hit the Nebula.”

  She adjusted the folds of the robe, their weight a familiar sensation. She stepped out from behind the crates. “This works fine. Not too long for me. Perfect if I need to run or fight.”

  He nodded. “I’ve used the other one once before, so it fits me fine.”

  “We’ll probably have to run and fight in these.” She knew the risk they were taking. That one or both of them might not survive.

  “Yeah.” His eyes darkened, his face looking stark in the dim lights of the hold. When he started walking toward her with very deliberate steps, Ria took an automatic step back. “Zayn?”

  “I need you, Ria.”

  Then he was on her, backing her up against the metal wall. His hands went to her hips, his body crowding hers.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “No more talking. Not now.”

  His hands shifted inside the fabric of the robe and found the invisible bindings just below her breasts. He gripped it and yanked it open. The robe sagged on her shoulders, baring her bra to the cooler air of the cargo hold.

  Ria swallowed. She’d never seen him like this. So driven. His hands were on her bra and with a hard yank, he tore it open. Her gasp was loud. Seconds later, his hands gripped her hips and boosted her up. Then he buried his face between her breasts.

  God. His mouth was a hot caress. He moved over one peak, sucking it in. She made a husky cry, her head thumping back against the wall. She watched his tawny head against her paler skin. He moved to the other breast, his teeth scraping gently over her flesh, making her shiver.

  “Zayn—”

  “I said, don’t talk.” He lifted his head, his hands bunching lower in the robe. He yanked again and the robe split open all the way. Then his hand was sliding between her thighs, cupping her mound.

  She was already damp and as his fingers scraped over the tiny scrap of silk, she moaned. His fingers dipped beneath the fabric, brushing against where she wanted his touch. Her hips bucked. Another wild yank and her torn underwear fluttered to the floor.

  His body pressed against her, his breath hot against her cheek. His fingers brushed over her clit, then he plunged one thick finger inside her.

  Ria heard the echo of her cries around them, rebounding off the walls.

  “That’s what I want to hear. Nothing else.” He eased another finger inside her, stretching her. “I’m going to fuck you, right here, right now. In this damn robe. They can’t have you. I won’t let them.”

  A trickle of unease washed through Ria’s desire. Was he thinking of her or his ghost?

  “Do you want me to fuck you, Ria?”

  Hearing her name made her chest loosen. “Yes.” Always. If he knew just what she wanted from him, he’d run to the other side of the galaxy.

  She felt him fumble with his belt and zipper. Then the smooth head of his cock brushed against her clit and she cried out again.

  He shifted and with one hard thrust, he filled her. This time, Ria screamed. He wasn’t gentle. His moves were hard, fast, rough. She loved it.

  He pushed them both higher and higher, gave her no time to catch her breath, or think. His hand slid between them, his thumb hard against her swollen clit. Sensation coalesced into a hard ball low in her belly which then splintered, cascading over her in a wild rush.

  As she screamed her release, Zayn pumped inside her one more time, then ground himself against her as his hot release spilled inside her.

  In the aftermath, the only sound in the hold was their harsh breathing. Perspiration glued them together and her robe still clung to her back and shoulders. She’d never done anything like this in her assassin’s robe before.

  “Did I hurt you?” Zayn lifted his head. His hair was disheveled. His face a little flushed.

  She cupped his cheeks. “No. I can take that and a lot more.”

  “I didn’t mean to be so rough…or fast—”

  “Zayn. I loved it.”

  They stared at each other for a long moment before his face finally relaxed.

  She stroked the hair from his forehead. “You okay? Do you want to talk about it?” She smiled. “Or we could go for round two.”

  She was happy to see his answering smile. “The thought of going back…”

  Back to his nightmares. “To where Vik died.”

  “To where I killed her.”

  “The Guild killed her, Zayn. You saved her. This is your chance to get back at them.” And lay the ghosts to rest.

  An alarm rang out through the ship. BEll’s voice came over the loudspeaker. “Devil’s Nebula is on long-range scanners. Everyone to the cockpit.”

  Ria pressed a kiss to Zayn’s lips. “We’ll be down there together. Time to show the Guild they can’t get away with everything.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The shuttle shuddered as it descended through the smog-filled atmosphere of Lucifa.

  Zayn focused on the controls but was conscious of the conversations around him. The viewscreen was the scarlet red of the Devil’s Nebula. It made him think of blood.

  “I hate this place.” Dathan leaned forward, watching the multitude of ships and shuttles powering on and off planet. Many had the markings of the Guilds: a kneeling slave, a skull and crossbones, and of course the crossed blades of the assassins.

  “You aren’t the only one who hates it.” Zayn put the shuttle into a wide left turn to avoid a lumbering transport ship that looked like it was held together by duct tape.

  “At least Eos agreed to stay on the ship,” Dathan grumbled.

  “I agree.” Lala blew an enormous gum bubble and popped it. “I need someone to babysit Fuzzy and Fred.”

  Eos and the Infinitas—and Fuzzy and Fred—were hidden in plain sight amongst the ships orbiting Lucifa. Zayn was happy Eos was safe, but didn’t envy her the task of waiting. Even now, nervous energy winged through him.

  Behind him, he heard Ria reassuring Lala and helping the younger girl into her spectrum camouflage suit.

  Zayn glanced at Dathan. His brother’s hair was a virulent shade of blue, and metal studs graced his nose and the curves of his ears. “Nice look.”

  Dath grinned. “Yeah, Eos was horrified. Figured I should look a little different from the last time I visited Lucifa.”

  When Dathan had come to rescue Eos, he’d dressed as a suave, elegant gambler. Zayn eyed the blue spiky hair. Nope, he didn’t think any slavers would recognize his brother.

  Niklas sat on the other side of Dathan, tapping on his Sync. The man was always researching something. Nik’s only concession to disguise was a pair of chunky goggles pushed up on his head. He still looked like a professor. Not that it mattered since he’d never been to Lucifa before.

  “Okay, everyone, we’re coming in to land.” Zayn tapped the controls and the shuttle zoomed downward.

  He approached the bustling spaceport just north of the Assassin’s Guild. Lucifa wasn’t big and was covered entirely by rambling city. The poorer sections were crooked streets of wooden shacks. The wealthier areas boasted cobbled streets and grand stone buildings.

  The spaceport wasn’t exactly organized. Ships of all shapes, sizes and quality were parked at haphazard angles. “BEll, you’re in charge of monitoring the shuttle. Anyone gets too close, zap ‘em with a pulse.” The security system would send out an energy pulse that would stun and incapacitate any would-be intruders. It was extremely painful.

  “You got it, Zayn,” the computer responded.

  He set down in the space assigned to them, narrowly missing clipping a dented deep-space starfreighter parked beside them. He unstrapped his belt. “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.”

  Lala was up first, bouncing on her feet. “This is going to be so cool!”

  Zayn rolled his eyes. “You listen to Dath and Nik, okay?”

  She nodded and dragged a finger over her chest. “Cross my heart.”

  Zayn looked at his brothers. “You guys take care. If you have any trouble, just get out.”

  Dath clapped a hand on Zayn’s shoulder. “Same goes, little bro. No heroics, got it?”

  His brothers exited the shuttle with Lala between them. They disappeared amongst the ships, headed for Balthazar plaza. Zayn turned back to Ria.

  She stood, solemn and quiet, her dark robes cascading around her. She looked like the perfect assassin: cool features, blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun, her hands calm at her sides but ready for action.

  He couldn’t help but remember what he’d done to her in those robes.

  She smiled. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “Wish we had time to do it again.”

  She laughed this time and the perfect assassin was gone, leaving the woman who was rapidly captivating him. “After. I promise we’ll celebrate in style. Here.”

  She held out his robe. Zayn pulled it on and let her fuss over him adjusting the collar and the fastening.

  “Time to go,” he said.

  Ria pulled the hood up over his head and did the same with hers. “Keep your gaze down. Let me do any talking. Move slowly but fluidly. Assassins don’t swagger like space jocks.”

  “Yes, master.”

  She whacked his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

  They moved through the spaceport and into the city streets. Zayn noticed that locals moved out of their way or crossed the street to avoid them. Smart, in his opinion. The assassins had earned their deadly reputation.

  “This way,” Ria murmured, waving a hand to the left.

  They crossed a cobblestone street, barely avoiding a hovercar and a horse and cart. That was Lucifa, a mishmash of old and new, legal and illegal, high tech and low.

  Suddenly an old woman stepped in front of them. Her shoulders were hunched, her face covered in lines. But her dark eyes were lit with an unholy fire. “Murderers.”

  People walking nearby gasped. Most hurried away.

  “You killed my boy. Slaughtered him in his sleep like the cowards you are.” The woman’s hands curled into fists. “You skulk in the shadows to do your dirty work but here you walk around like you’re gods.” She spat on the ground.

  Ria moved forward. “Calm yourself and go home.” She lowered her voice. “If you cause a scene the Guild will want retribution. Go now.”

  “Your Guild is filled with murderers.”

  Zayn shifted to confront the woman but Ria blocked him.

  “My boy wasn’t perfect but he didn’t deserve to die. He was seventeen years old.” Tears welled in the woman’s eyes and her shoulders slumped. “He was my baby and now he’s gone.”

  “Let me talk to her,” Zayn whispered in Ria’s ear.

  She shook her head and moved her head in the direction ahead of them. Zayn looked up and saw another robed figure coming their way. Shit. The assassin was tall and moved in a way that made it look like he or she was floating.

  Zayn shouldered in front of Ria and bent his head so he could see the woman’s face. “The Guild is full of murderers and we’re here to teach them a lesson.”

  The woman’s head shot up and he heard Ria groan.

  “This is Lucifa, she’ll rat us out for a single e-cred,” Ria whispered.

  Keeping his gaze steady on the woman, Zayn said, “I don’t think she’ll do that. What was your boy’s name?”

  The woman’s lips trembled. “Leith.”

  “We’ll get revenge for Leith today. You aren’t going to sell us out, are you?”

  The woman dashed the tears from her eyes and shook her head.

  “Good. Go now.”

  The woman grabbed her ratty skirts and hurried away. Zayn and Ria turned to see the assassin reach them.

  “Greetings, kin.”

  A man with a deep, deep voice. Zayn keep his face angled down and gave a slow nod. He noted Ria keeping her face covered as well.

  “Greetings,” Ria murmured. “May your daggers be sharp and your aim true.”

  The familiar greeting made something in the man’s stance relax a little. “And you. Was the woman bothering you?”

  “Nothing worth the trouble of our time,” Ria answered.

  The assassin nodded. “And you, brother?”

  Zayn felt the man’s gaze on him like a laser beam. “We need to get back to the Guild. We don’t need the hassle of an angry old woman.”

  The assassin was silent, gaze still burning through Zayn. Zayn fought not to look up and meet the man’s stare.

  “Very well. Good day.”

  As the man moved off, Zayn released his breath. Ria started moving again, dragging Zayn with her by the side of his robe.

  “Oh my God, do you know who that was?” A furious whisper.

  “No.” Zayn turned to look over his shoulder, but Ria wrenched him forward.

  “His name is Master Ronin. He’s one of the top assassins in the Guild. A master of the sword.” Ria sucked in a breath. “We’re lucky to get away from him alive. Thank God he didn’t recognize me.” She dragged Zayn to a halt. “And why the hell did you tell the woman what we’re here for? She’s still likely to sell us out.”

  “She won’t.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Hey. Calm down.” Zayn gripped her chin, his thumb rubbing over her skin. “I really want to kiss you—”

  “You can’t. Two assassins kissing would cause mayhem.”

  He rubbed her skin again. “I’ll manage to resist. Now stay calm and let’s get to the Guild.”

  She nodded, set her shoulders back and started walking again. Just as Zayn moved to follow her, movement from the corner of his eyes caught his attention. He saw a flash of black robes disappearing down a side alley. Someone had been watching them. He frowned. Another assassin? Master Ronin? Zayn wasn’t sure. It could have just been someone in a black coat.

  Shaking it off, he followed Ria.

  A few minutes later, the Guild Headquarters appeared ahead. In front of the harsh, austere stone building, there were no crowds on the streets. Two robed figures stood on either side of the large carved metal doors at the top of the steps.

  Ria pushed him into a narrow alleyway across from the building. “We can watch from here.”

  Zayn glanced at his timepiece. “Only another five minutes and Lala and the boys should have their fireworks ready.”

  Ria’s gaze was on the building. He saw shadows in her eyes.

  “This isn’t as easy as you thought.”

  She blinked. “Actually, this plan is far easier than anything I could have come up with.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  She sighed, rubbing her palms against her robe. “This has been the only home I’ve ever known. A prison, yes, but still a home. God, I look at Lala and wonder if I would have been strong enough to survive on my own.”

  He gripped her shoulders, massaging the tension he felt there. “You would have. You deserve the chance to make your own life. Make your own decisions.”

  “You do too, Zayn.”

  “I do exactly as I please—”

  “No, you don’t,” she said quietly.

  His gaze drifted back to the Guild. What had taken place there two years before had scarred him. He’d lost everything. His friend, his job, his sanity. Most of all, his confidence in himself. He’d carved an identity on being Zayn Phoenix, fighter pilot. Ace of the Strike Wing. Maybe he’d believed his own hype, thought he’d always win.

  Then he’d felt like nothing but a failure.

  Now he felt a twinge of shame. He’d had the freedom to make his own choices, while Ria hadn’t, and he’d done nothing but drift and wallow for the last two years.

  Today, he vowed that was going to change.

  Suddenly the ground beneath them rumbled.

  A muffled boom echoed down the street. They both lifted their heads. Bright fireworks streaked into the red-hued sky.

  Zayn tugged Ria close for a quick hug. “Showtime.”

  ***

  Ria watched the assassins pour out of the Guild building. Some were in robes, others in tight-fitting fighting suits. All of them carried weapons. Swords, crossbows, stunners.

  Three hurried past the mouth of the alley. One was talking. “They’ve said Lastite Lala was spotted near the statue before the explosion.”

  “The girl’s hard to mistake for anyone else,” another assassin said. “We’ll get her this time. No one makes a fool of the Guild. Especially twice.”

  Beside her, Zayn whispered into his Sync. “Dath, you there?”

  There was a beat of silence, and Ria felt her chest tighten.

  “Yeah, we’re here.” Dathan sounded a little breathless.

  “How’d it go?” Zayn asked. “Everyone okay?”

  “Everyone except old Balthazar.” Dathan turned on the visual and his face surrounded by his shock of blue hair appeared. “God, you should have seen that thing blow. Kid’s got a real flair for the dramatic.”

  A giggle came through the line and Dathan tilted the communicator to show the empty space beside him. The spectrum camouflage was doing its job. Further back, Nik waved a hand.

  “Where are you guys?” Ria asked.

  “On a rooftop, enjoying the view.” The Sync swung again and down below Ria could see the rush of people in the plaza below. They milled around the mangled statue.