Bargain With the Enemy Read Online Free

face sideways. The sound reverberated through the cramped space and for several seconds no one moved.
    The red imprint of her slap stood out stark against the dark tone of his cheek. Her lack of control horrified her. Now she had handed him another weapon to use against her. Fool!
    â€˜Dramatics do not impress me.’ He spoke through gritted teeth. His eyes glittered with barely suppressed emotion through half closed lids.
    â€˜Bullying tactics do not impress me!’ Stephanie retaliated in another bold move.
    Something flashed in his eyes and, flinching, she took a prudent step backwards.
    He stared down his nose and said in an affronted voice, ‘I do not hit defenceless creatures.’
    â€˜And I don’t hit men! But then you’re not a man, are you? You’re like some kind of robotic alien, imperious to any kind of emotion, determined to trample any helpless woman in your path.’ Her voice wobbled. She sucked in a breath.
    â€˜Hardly helpless,’ he murmured and rubbed his cheek. ‘Like the kick of a draptile.’
    Her face burned. Why did she suddenly feel the one in the wrong?
    And why did he stare at her so, as if she was an interesting phenomenon? Or was he digging for her weaknesses?
    As far as Stephanie was concerned she only had one weakness and she was holding her. Her weakness and her strength. She placed a loving kiss onto Mia’s satiny skin as the baby blew more bubbles.
    Ivo’s rough voice interrupted her musing. ‘Hand her over without any further arguments. I have no desire to continue to converse with you.’
    Still she persisted. ‘It’s late, almost her feeding time. Who will look after her? How do I know I can trust you to keep to your word? And with the curfew in place, how can you leave this sector?’
    â€˜Not that you need to know, but I have a female well versed in caring for younglings.’ He held up a hand. ‘The curfew does not apply to my ship. As soon as we have completed off-loading our cargo, we will depart.’
    Then I still have time!
    â€˜I will take her now.’ He dropped the pouch of creds onto the floor where it landed with a loud thunk. Face shuttered, his hands slid around the baby and brushed against her breast. Then Mia was lifted from her grasp.
    Flustered at the queasy sensation in the lower pit of her belly engendered by his touch she stood mute and shaking.
    This is it. I can’t fight all of them. I have to risk it.
    Feeling as if he had ripped her soul from her body, Stephanie turned to face him. He stood feet braced arrogantly apart, face chiselled from a slab of ice, baby Mia cradled in his arms.
    For a second she thought she saw a brief flash of disappointment glitter in those cold eyes, but that had to be a product of her crazy imagination.
    Her hands curled into fists, her fingers drew blood from her palms.
    The expression she blasted him with would have done Medusa proud.
    â€˜I want to say goodbye to her,’ she said. She held out her arms.
    â€˜You have now sold your offspring to me. There is no need for you to pretend an attachment you obviously are incapable of feeling.’
    She read nothing but cynical disgust on his face. The words boiling on her lips shrivelled and died.
    Her head lifted with stubborn pride. Let him think what he liked! His opinion meant nothing to her.
    She barely registered his henchmen as they filed past and followed their commander out the door.
    The hatch clattered shut.
    And Stephanie, alone in the silent compartment, lowered her empty arms.

Chapter 3
    The balmy computer-generated breeze flowed through Ivo El Boeka’s private quarters on Level 1, giving the occupier the impression of a warm night he’d often experienced in the mountains of Cerciron.
    A massive holograph depicting the jagged and treacherous landscape of his home planet covered the smooth wall on one side. Gradually the scene changed to night with the shadows lengthening and a