D’aarn cleared his throat. “You are exactly who you are now. You are no longer whoever came before.”

  “Who. Am. I.”

  The doctor shifted nervously. “I’ll have to check the records.”

  Zayn watched the man tap at the computer console. His gut was so tight and Ria was so still in his arms. Under his palm, he felt her heart bounding.

  “I recall your face, actually,” D’aarn said. “You weren’t regenerated that long ago. About two years, I think.”

  Oh, God. Zayn saw Ria’s face blanch. “Ria.” He ran a hand down her back in a soothing stroke. “It’s okay.”

  Her hand gripped his, like she was using him to hold onto her sanity. “It’s not okay. We both know that.”

  “Here you go.” D’aarn touched the screen, sliding until a file appeared. “Subject AG9173.”

  Ria and Zayn stared at the photos. One of herself in her Guild robes. One of a woman who looked like her floating in one of the tanks. Her golden hair streaked upward, her skin pale white and a bullet wound in the center of her forehead.

  Zayn looked at the last photo and a noise escaped his chest.

  The last photo showed a woman with her blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, scowling at the camera in her navy Strike Wing uniform.

  “Vik,” he whispered.

  ***

  Ria closed her eyes, her world crashing down around her feet.

  She wasn’t who she thought she was.

  Her entire life was a lie.

  She pushed away from Zayn, trying to draw air into her lungs. She couldn’t look at him.

  D’aarn sat heavily on a stool. He pointed to Viktoria’s photo. “You aren’t that woman anymore.”

  “I don’t know who I am.” Ria felt a rush of desolation fill her insides. The mission. She grabbed onto that. She had to focus on the mission.

  Whoever she was, she had even more incentive now to be free of the Guild. Free of the organization that had stolen her life and her death. They’d taken her very identity.

  Hot anger choked her. “Let’s get out of here.” She speared the doctor with a look. “Is there a quick way out?”

  “Delivery door in back. It’s where the bodies are brought in.”

  Ria strode away.

  Zayn jogged up beside her. “Ria, we need to talk.”

  “Not now.” She still couldn’t bring herself to look at him. She’d truly believed he was starting to see her, not the past. She was falling in love with him, and she’d hoped there was a chance he might one day feel something for her. For Ria. But now she was Viktoria. God, what a mess. “Not now, okay?”

  He sighed. “Okay.”

  There was a set of sliding frosted-glass doors. As they approached, they slid open.

  The delivery area brought her up short. Metal tables lined one wall, all covered in dead bodies shrouded by white sheets. Poor souls waiting for their turn in the tanks.

  The boiling sensations in Ria bubbled over. She strode to the first body and ripped off the sheet. The man was an Argylian, in the prime of his life before someone had slit his throat.

  She wouldn’t let these people’s remains be desecrated. Wouldn’t let them live a lie, their existence stolen from them.

  She spun, studying the room. In the corner, she spied the industrial incinerator. As she neared, she felt the heat pouring off it. She guessed some bodies didn’t make the cut—either too damaged or not possessing the right physical characteristics to make a perfect assassin.

  Ria wrenched open the incinerator door and a wave of heat rushed out. The hungry flames burned a neon green, chemically enhanced to burn very hot.

  Next she moved to the table holding the Argylian, gripped his body under the arms and heaved him off the table.

  He was heavy and it took all her strength to drag him across the floor. Then Zayn was there, grabbing the man’s feet.

  “You’re sure about this?”

  She looked at Zayn now and saw nothing but sympathy on his handsome face. He had a right to be upset and angry as well, but instead he just looked worried.

  “I’m not going to let these people become puppets for the Guild.” God, her body had been in here, naked, covered by a sheet. “They died, they deserve to rest in peace.”

  With a nod, Zayn hefted the man’s feet. They slid him into the incinerator.

  Ria watched the flames leap high and forced herself to watch as the man’s remains dissolved. Then she turned and moved to the next body.

  She lost track of time as they dropped the bodies into the flames. Soon, the tables were empty and Ria felt empty inside too. She felt something on her cheeks and lifted a hand.

  Moisture. Tears tracking down her cheeks.

  Zayn took her hand and squeezed. She wanted to turn into him, hold him tight and pretend that everything was all right.

  She didn’t. Because everything wasn’t all right.

  But she held onto his hand as they watched the devouring flames.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The shuttle ride back to the Infinitas was silent.

  Zayn slowed the shuttle and completed the docking. A moment later, the shuttle door opened with a hiss.

  Ria was already walking off. She hadn’t looked at him or said a word during their journey back to the shuttle. He glanced at Nik.

  “She okay?” his brother asked.

  “No.” With a heavy sigh, Zayn followed her.

  Dathan came striding down the hall. “How’d it go? We were starting to get worried because you guys took so long.” As Ria strode past him, Dathan pressed back against the wall and raised his eyebrows. Then he looked at Zayn, his brow creased. “Shit. You’re hit.”

  Zayn pressed a hand to his shoulder. He’d completely forgotten about the injury. Now that he focused on it, he wondered how he’d missed the dull throb. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

  He was more worried about Ria.

  Dathan shoved the medscope at Zayn. “It went well?”

  “We got the derringer.” Zayn flicked on the scope and waved it over his wounds. “I wouldn’t say it went well, though.”

  His wounds healed, they walked into the main area. Ria had set the bag down on the holo-table. The others crowded close. Lala hitched herself up on the corner of the table.

  “What have I said about sitting on the holo-table?” BEll’s voice was loud and exasperated.

  Lala rolled her eyes. “Chill your circuits, Bella. What are you going to do about it anyway?”

  There was a zapping sound and Lala leaped off the table with a squeak, rubbing her bottom.

  “Behave, you two,” Dath said. “Refereeing these kids is doing my head in.”

  Eos and Nik were oblivious to the drama. They were focused on the bag.

  Eos raised a hand. “May I?”

  Ria gestured. “Go ahead.”

  The astro-archeologist opened the bag carefully and let the sides fall away. The pistol sat on the folds.

  “A beauty,” Nik said.

  “Yes.” Eos picked the weapon up, turning it over, looking at it from all angles. “A .44-caliber pocket cannon. Very old. Definitely matches the Lincoln Derringer.”

  “An important piece of Terran history.” Niklas held out his hand and Eos set it on his palm. He tested the weight. “It ended a presidency.”

  Eos nodded. “Lincoln abolished slavery and set what was then known as the United States of America on a course for greatness. He was known as a champion of human liberty. He became a symbol of freedom during the future wars.”

  Ria crossed her arms over her chest. “I need to contact the Guild.” Her voice was toneless.

  Lala snapped her gum. “Shouldn’t we get out of here first? I mean, we are right in the Guild’s backyard after giving them a really big finger.”

  “That’s what they’ll expect,” Zayn answered. “Best we stay here in orbit with the hundreds of other ships.”

  “Hidden in plain sight.” The girl nodded. “I like that. Ballsy.”

  Zayn moved closer to Ria. “When you make the transmission, I can ensure it’s scrambled. They’ll have no idea where you’re calling from.”

  A nod. “I’m going to clean up first.” She disappeared in the direction of the cabins.

  She was so distant. Zayn felt a pain under his heart. She was moving away from him, freezing him out and he didn’t know what the hell to do about it.

  “Something wrong?” Dathan asked.

  Zayn dropped into the cockpit chair and hung his head in his hands. “I always knew the Assassin’s Guild was bad, but they are far worse than we thought.”

  “Can’t get much worse than cold-blooded killers, surely,” Dathan said.

  Zayn rubbed his chin. “They recycle dead bodies.”

  He saw his family trade confused glances.

  “What?” Niklas asked.

  Zayn launched into an explanation of what they’d found in the secret Guild lab. Eos gasped, Lala made gagging noises and his brothers both wore fierce frowns.

  “This is unbelievable,” Nik said.

  “That’s not all. Ria is…was…shit—” he still couldn’t believe it “—Vik’s body was used to create Ria.”

  “Oh, God,” Eos said.

  “Fucking bastards.” Dathan pulled his wife close.

  “Jesus,” was all Nik added.

  Zayn looked back toward the cabins. “She’s messed up by all of this.”

  “That’s understandable.” Eos set a hand on Zayn’s shoulder. “You must be, too. You believed she was Viktoria all along.”

  “Not as messed up as I thought. I don’t know when it happened, but I see Ria now. I know Ria.” He ran a hand through his hair, grasping for the right words. “I cared deeply for Vik but killing her…all my guilt…in my memory I’d turned her into this perfect shining paragon. But that’s not who she was. She was a woman, a hell of a pilot, my friend, and if I had to go back, I’d help her again in exactly the same way. I’ll always miss her. But she’s gone, I’ve accepted that.”

  “Does Ria know how you feel?” Dathan said quietly.

  “Not yet. She needs some time.”

  Eos shifted. “No, I think it’s exactly what she needs to hear. And she needs to not to be alone right now.”

  “You think?” He wanted to be there for her. To hold her.

  “Go get her,” Lala said cheerfully.

  Zayn shot to his feet and strode toward the cabins.

  ***

  A shower hadn’t made Ria feel much better. She felt itchy and restless like she was going to crawl out of her skin. By the dagger, it wasn’t even her skin.

  Wrapped only in a towel, she dropped onto the edge of the narrow bunk and stared at nothing.

  When the door clicked open, she knew it was Zayn even before he sat down beside her.

  “I don’t know what to say to you,” he said.

  “You don’t have to say anything.”

  He turned a little and she felt his gaze on her. “I’m here for you, Ria.” He touched her bare shoulder, his fingers the lightest caress.

  She shrugged the touch away and stood. “Here for me or Vik?”

  “You aren’t Vik. D’aarn made that clear.”

  “What if there’s a way to reverse the regeneration procedure?” Did he wish she was Vik? That he could have her back. Ria couldn’t bear being a stand-in.

  “Vik’s dead.” His voice was flat.

  Ria pressed the heels of her palms to her eyes. “Look, all this complicates things. It’s best I deal with the Guild and then leave.”

  “Just like that?” Zayn shot to his feet. “You said you’d come with me. Vacation, treasure hunts, remember?”

  “That was before.”

  He yanked her hands down. “Look at me, damn it. After everything you’ve fought for, you’re just going to give up?”

  “I still want my freedom. But I don’t know who I am anymore.”

  “You’re Ria Dante.”

  She tried to pull away from him, but he tightened his hold on her wrists. He spun her, until her back was pressed against hard, angry male. He forced her to look in the small mirror above the desk.

  “There you are. Tough, clever, stubborn Ria.” He released one wrist and ran his knuckles down the side of her throat.

  She tried to move away again.

  He wrapped one arm around her waist. “Don’t pull away from me. Please.”

  She sagged against him. She didn’t know if she had it in her to give him what he needed. “I’m broken, Zayn. I’m transparent, no substance. I don’t have anything to offer you.” Now when she pulled away, he let her go.

  Ria made it to her bag on the bed and grabbed some clothes. She dropped the towel and yanked on her clothes. “I need to call the Guild.”

  Zayn’s jaw was so tight, she thought it would break. He nodded. “I’ll see you in the cockpit.”

  Everyone was standing in the cockpit when she arrived. Ria sucked in a deep breath and moved to the console.

  She felt someone beside her and turned her head. Eos stood, her face filled with a mix of emotions. The other woman touched a tentative hand to Ria’s arm. “Good luck. Whatever happens, remember you aren’t alone.”

  Ria looked behind her and saw Lala lounging against the holo-table. The girl gave her a thumbs-up. And behind her stood the three Phoenix brothers, shoulder-to-shoulder. By the dagger, they were a handsome lot. Her gaze met Zayn’s. He gave her a nod.

  She turned to the console and initiated the transmission.

  Seconds later, the face of the head of the Guild, Master Kassius, appeared on the screen.

  “Assassin Ria, I’ve been expecting your call.” The older man’s features were calm and solemn. “You’ve caused us a lot of trouble.”

  Ria gripped the back of the chair, her fingers digging into the synth-leather. There was so much she wanted to say, so much bubbling up inside her. “I want my freedom.”

  “In return for the derringer.” Master Kassius tilted his head. “Really, I should send an assassin after you. End this extremely troubling situation for the Guild.”

  Zayn burst forward. “Try it, asshole. We’ll never let—”

  Ria put a hand to Zayn’s chest. His defense warmed something cold inside her. “It’s okay, Zayn.” She looked back at Kassius. “I’m not offering the derringer.”

  The silence around her was deafening. She felt Zayn’s regard but focused on the flash of confusion on the master assassin’s face.

  “I discovered the Guild’s dirty little secret.”

  Kassius’ face was pinched. “I don’t know what you’re—”

  Ria held up a hand. “Please, stop. I’m talking about your little body-snatching business.” The anger stormed through her. “Ring any bells now?”

  Master Kassius pulled in a sharp breath.

  “And we all know that the one tradition left over from Earth times, that almost all the galaxy believes, is that desecration of a dead body is not fucking acceptable.” Anger churned, an acid burn inside her. “I’m guessing the Guild will lose a hell of a lot of clients when your sordid secret is out in the open.”

  “We’ll grant you your freedom in return for your silence and your—” Kassius glanced at Zayn “—associate’s silence.”

  It was what she wanted, but Ria wondered why she didn’t feel something, anything. Elation, jubilation, happiness. She glanced at Zayn. During this week with him, she’d started to imagine a life. One where she decided what she wanted to do.

  Now that dream was gone. The moment she’d stepped into that lab, her dreams had disintegrated.

  “No.” Ria shook her head. “I plan to broadcast the details about your little regeneration scam to everyone and anyone in the galaxy who’ll listen.” She squared her shoulders. “You, the Assassin’s Guild, you don’t have the right to desecrate remains, create new people without consent and then treat them like slaves.” Now that she felt something, emotion stormed through her in a mad rush.

  On screen, Master Kassius’ face turned a mottled red.

  But Ria wasn’t finished. “You don’t have the right to play God and I’m going to stop you.”

  “I’ll send every assassin in the Guild after you.” A deadly promise.

  “I know you will.” She disconnected the call.

  Chapter Twenty

  Zayn paced across the cockpit. Their mission had been a success, the autopilot was taking them home to Khan…but the feeling on the ship was subdued.

  He glanced toward the hall leading to the cabins. After making her call, Ria had disappeared into her cabin again without a word to anyone.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. Damn, he was proud of her. She’d had plenty of options for taking the easy way out, but his girl had to do the right thing.

  Except now she was going to have every trained killer in the Guild on her trail.

  He sank into a chair. There had to be a way out of this. A way to keep her safe. He knew he wanted her by his side. Wanted to continue their adventure and see where it took them.

  Of course she wasn’t going to keep quiet about the Guild’s regeneration program. She’d want to help all assassins, all the victims of the Guild, not just herself.

  “Zayn?”

  BEll’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Yeah, BEll.”

  “I wanted to let you know Ria has finished making her calls. To the Galactic Broadcasting Corporation. To News Central and the Dish.”

  He couldn’t help but smile. Of course she’d shout what she had to say to the galaxy through the top news networks. “Thanks, BEll.”

  “She also left something for you on the holo-table.”

  “What?” He jerked upright and strode to the table.

  There, resting on the blank screen of the table was the Lincoln Derringer.

  He picked it up, running his thumb over the polished wood stock. Funny how now it wasn’t a weapon to be reviled, but just a tool. An historically important tool. “BEll, where’s Ria?”

  “I think she has some…plans that mightn’t make you very happy.”

  Zayn dropped the derringer and raced down the hall. He opened Ria’s cabin door. Empty. The bed was neatly made and the scent of her lingered in the air.