Stupid, stupid, stupid. Now he would appear weak to his female.
She went still. “What is it?”
“Remember those galactacarriers Rok asked for?”
“Yes.”
“I got swindled on the deal. The broker says they were stolen from the manufacturer, but no one has offered to make good on my 750,000 stein investment.”
She whistled. “So that’s what galactacarriers go for these days?”
“That’s half the cost. I would’ve paid the remainder when I picked them up. And like Rok said, we needed them yesterday.”
“So, is the manufacturer making more?”
“No. The broker says he doesn’t have the capital to invest. Even if he did, it would take another nine lunar cycles, and we don’t have that kind of time. I’ve put the word out to every broker in the galaxy, but no one can get me any others—used or new.”
She twisted a lock of hair around her finger, her beautiful face thoughtful. “Do we know who stole them?”
He loved that she said we. Maybe sharing hadn’t been a total fail. She’d aligned herself with him, wanted to be a part of solving it.
“Yes—perhaps. I got a name out of the broker. I have no proof to take to the United Galaxies court, of course. Based on my research, he’s a reclusive, rich collector. He operates outside the law and is considered dangerous. He took the galactacarriers as payment for a debt, not because he needed them.”
“So will he sell them to you?”
“I haven’t had any luck getting an audience with him. Not to mention the fact that Zander doesn’t have a spare 750,000 to make up for what I lost.”
“First of all, you didn’t lose it. Stop blaming yourself. Second, we’ll get them back.”
He blinked at her, unable to repress a grin. “That’s my thought, too. I haven’t told anyone yet because I want to fix it on my own.”
“No. Throw away the on my own part. And you have told someone. Me.” Her infectious smile lifted a weight from his chest. “What’s the collector’s name?”
“Neo Lin.”
Mina stiffened. “I know him.” The openness in her face shuttered, eyes deadened.
“You do?” Foreboding twisted through his gut. “How?” But he didn’t need to ask how. If she knew Neo Lin, it was from her days as a sex slave. The days she wanted to leave behind.
“I may be able to get you an audience with him.”
A chill sluiced through his veins. Whatever she was contemplating, it would involve returning to a world she hated, a role she hated.
“Never mind,” he said. “I don’t want you involved in this.”
Anger flashed over her face. “What—are you my father, now, too?”
“No, but you want to be Tara. You left Mina behind. You’ve told me that, and I have yet to respect it. I’m respecting it, now. I would appreciate any information you can give me about Neo, but I won’t have you involved.”
She shrugged. “We’ll see.” The hologram flicked off.
Growling, he attempted to reconnect, but she didn’t answer.
Veck it all. What had he done?
Chapter Seven
Erick paced the length of the palatial pod like a trapped animal. Mina hadn’t answered any of his transmissions, wh