Athena’s Ashes (Star Thief Chronicles #2)(71)
Author: Jamie Grey

“Yes. If nothing else, this fiasco has shown us that MYTH needs to change. It needs to refocus and find its way again. And I think you can help.”

“What if I don’t want to? I seem to remember you promising me a full pardon and a fancy house on Paradisio Prime when this was all over.”

Dallas seemed to deflate, but he nodded. “Of course. We’ve already wired the credits to your account. If you choose to retire, we’ll honor our agreement.”

Beside her, Finn sat stiffly, his gaze focused on the floor, but she could tell every word put him further on edge. What the hell was going on?

“I’ll need to think about it, Major. I’m in no shape to be making those kinds of decisions right now.”

“Of course. Just know that we’ll do everything in our power to make our mistake right. You’ll have your own crew, your own ship, your own missions to run as you see fit. We need you, Renna.”

Dallas saluted her and strode from the room, shutting the door softly behind him.

Silence stretched awkwardly between Finn and Renna, and she picked at the edge of her blanket. What the hell did she say to him? What did she even want?

“I need you too, Renna,” he finally said, still not looking at her. “I can’t lose you again. Lying to you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I thought I was protecting you, but I know I made a mistake. I am a MYTH captain, through and through, but you are more important to me than anything else, even MYTH. I should have stopped this plan as soon as Dallas suggested it.”

“And how exactly would you have done that without ending up in the brig for treason again?” She let out a low sigh. “I’m still hurt and angry about it, but I get it. I might have done the same thing. But Finn, I’m not MYTH material. I’m a thief. It’s what I do.”

“That’s why you’d be heading up part of the MYTH Intelligence Agency. Who better to catch a thief than another thief?”

His crooked grin made her heart clench. If she accepted, if she truly became part of MYTH, everything would change.

Except everything had already changed.

She’d fallen in love with this man. Could she really leave him and go back to her old life? Did she even want that life anymore? When Dallas had first recruited her, all she’d wanted was to get the hell out of accepting contracts and retrieving difficult items. Becoming a part of MYTH would certainly slam the door on her past.

She had no idea what the future might look like. Except she wanted to be with Finn.

“What happens to us if I join?” she asked, slanting a glance at him. “Doesn’t MYTH have fraternization rules?”

“I think Dallas will make an exception. I’ve already made him promise I’ll be part of your crew if you decide to accept his offer.”

“Really?” Her voice went higher than she would have liked, and she cleared her throat to cover it.

“Do you really think I’d let you go off and have all the fun by yourself? I know the kinds of trouble you get up to. Trouble that’s sorely missing in my own life.” He grinned again. “I know it’s a big change. I know it’s not what you ever planned for or wanted, but I love you, Renna. And I’ll take you however I can get you, even if it’s only temporary, even if I’m just your ship’s captain.”

“Nick, you can captain my ship any time.”

He groaned. “That was awful.”

A smirk twisted her lips. “Hey, just getting you back.” She sobered quickly and touched his hand where it lay beside her on the bed. “You’re right. I never saw this coming. For f**k’s sake, a month ago I thought you were dead. Now I’ve gone and fallen in love with you and I don’t know how to handle it.” She paused as his expression lightened and added softly, “But I’m willing to try to figure it out.”

“That’s enough for me.” Finn stood, letting his fingers caress the scar on her neck before moving to her jaw. For the first time in her life, she didn’t flinch or feel embarrassed.

He turned her face so she had to look at him. “I never doubted you for a moment.”

“Well, I promised I’d kill her. And you know how I feel about promises.”

“I do indeed.” A wicked smile curved his lips as he brought them to hers. Heat shot through her at his touch.

He pulled away slightly. “And I promise whatever you decide about joining MYTH, I’m going to take you to that beach on Paradisio Prime for a very long, very private vacation once you’re better.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” she said with a grin, pulling him back down to seal the promise with a kiss.

EPILOGUE

A warm breeze rustled through the palm fronds above them, and Renna snuggled her head against Finn’s bare chest. The sunlight felt like cashmere against her skin, and her whole body was more relaxed than she’d ever been. Two weeks in paradise with a handsome captain would do that to a girl.

Finn’s fingers traced circles along her lower back, and she arched her naked body against him. “Keep doing that and we’re going to have to start all over again, Nick,” she said with a smile. “Your record from yesterday still stands. I think we may need to try to break it.”

He chuckled, his laugh sounding warm and rich in her ear. “You’re insatiable, woman. I need to recover before we try that again.”

His hand moved higher until he could play with her long hair. He stroked it gently and gazed off at the sparkling blue ocean just feet away.

They’d been on Paradisio Prime for almost two weeks and had spent most of it in their private bungalow on the beach, only leaving to pick up their food deliveries at the end of the road. Not another human in sight.

The perfect vacation.

But Renna recognized that tiny furrow between Finn’s eyebrows. He was worried about something.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, stroking her fingers through the dark hair that dusted his chest.

He shrugged. “Our time here is almost up, and you still haven’t made a decision about joining MYTH.”

She let out her breath in a low sigh. She’d been putting off thinking about it. Focusing on the present was good enough for her, especially after the month she’d just had.

“Finn, I just don’t know. If I do this, it’ll change everything between us. We’ll be working together. Living together. Can we handle that?”

She loved being with him, loved the way his scent wrapped around her when they spent time together, and how safe he made her feel. But joining MYTH would be a huge step in their relationship. They’d be assigned to the same ship, the same missions. There was bound to be conflict between them on how to handle each assignment. Would it bring them closer together or drive them apart?