Pirate's Price Read Online Free PDF

manner.
    “Wait!” Vega held up both hands. “Why are
you doing this? What are your terms? We can negotiate without
involving Rana.”
    Her captor’s arm tightened painfully and
Rana cried out.
    “We’ll negotiate when I control the
situation.” He dragged her along the gravel path and through an
arched opening in the high perimeter hedge. His companions
followed, keeping the guards back with compact rifles positioned
against their shoulders, solid and steady.
    She struggled against her captor’s hold,
dragging her feet and twisting her upper body. They were a bit too
good at this. A violent shiver slipped down her spine and she
wiggled one arm free. Instead of scratching his arm or inflicting
pain, she shoved the gun away from her temple. “A dead hostage
won’t do you any good.”
    He made a sound suspiciously like a chuckle
and hurried her across the wide side lawn. They piled into a
skimmer and took off at breakneck speed. She gasped and reached for
the nearest solid object, which happened to be her captor’s thigh.
There was no mistaking his throaty laugh the second time. He
covered her hand with his and guided it to the railing in front of
her.
    Night air whipped her veil around her face
and shoulders, sending another shiver down her spine.
    “We’re not going far,” he told her. “You’ll
be much more comfortable on my ship.”
    “Ship?” Keeping one hand on the railing, she
crossed the other arm over her chest. “Where are you taking
me?”
    “You’ll see.”
    They lapsed into silence as the skimmer sped
along. She glanced behind, but there was no sign of pursuit. Had
Vega been caught completely unprepared or did he not care that his
fiancée had just been kidnapped? The lack of response stung her
pride, though it served her purpose better. She hadn’t been able to
accomplish as much as she’d hoped in the short time since the
marriage had been announced.
    The skimmer raced toward their destination.
Rana studied her surroundings, but the darkness and her minimal
knowledge of Peronite conspired against her. Did Kashi know where
these men were taking Rana, or would she be out of contact with
everyone for the duration of her “captivity”? No guards, no
regimented agenda, or meddling mother? She wouldn’t know what to do
with herself.
    A smile played about her lips and she
enjoyed the brisk wind against her face. The Pirates were being
suspiciously civil. Did they realize she was their client? They had
been given detailed plans and invitations to the wedding. They had
to realize she was involved to some extent.
    She looked at the man seated next to her,
intrigued by his strong profile. The lower half of his face was
covered by a stretchy material he had apparently pulled up from
under his neck cloth. The wind tossed his dark hair, creating messy
waves. Tingling awareness passed down her spine, but the elusive
image remained just out of reach. Did she know this man? That would
explain Kashi’s certainty about his proficiency and character.
    His shoulders were broad and those long arms
had maneuvered Rana with effortless strength. As if sensing her
gaze, he turned his head and looked at her. His thick-lashed eyes
were pale in the moonlight, but she couldn’t determine if they were
green or blue.
    He made his living on the fringes of
civilization, doing things no one else would dare. His base of
operations was Spaceport Makar, but she didn’t even know his name.
Despite Kashi’s confidence in this man, Rana’s real security came
from the Sephoran bankers and their two-stage transfer process.
    The stranger’s gaze lingered on her face and
his brows scrunched together. He couldn’t see her through the veil,
she realized. Had he heard of the Devauntian Empire or was this
just another job?
    “It’s not far now,” he said and one of the
men behind them snorted, obviously amused by his concern.
    Dragging her attention away from her captor,
she stared out across the rolling hills. She’d made