Tiger of Talmare Read Online Free Page B

small box she held in her palm. "Actually, she left it up to me."
     
    "Really?"
     
    Zach had never had any problem getting women. He was aware that some of them were just attracted to the exotic and even more were attracted to the danger they associated with him. But whatever the reason, he knew they found him desirable. He tried his best smile, the slightly lopsided one that normally had them falling for him in droves. She didn't seem impressed. He sighed. "So, are you going to let me go?"
     
    "I might."
     
    He closed his eyes. He was stuck on a ship—his ship—with the biggest bunch of bitches in the known universe. Why him? What had he done to deserve this? He supposed he could try begging. He opened his eyes again.
     
    "Please." The word nearly stuck in his throat, but he managed to choke it out.
     
    She smiled but turned and left. The door clicked shut behind her, and Zach cursed loudly.
     
    But a moment later, the icy grip that held him in place relaxed. His head fell back to the floor, and for a minute, he lay there. He sat up slowly. Everything seemed to be working okay, but he was still weak. That was the cryo. He'd never been in cryo before, but he'd heard other people say it could knock you out.
     
    And he was starving.
     
    He tugged at the bracelets on his wrist, but they were locked in place. Which meant they could paralyze him again anytime they liked.
     
    The thought was not a happy one.
     
    He needed to get out of here.
     
    Rising to his feet, he swayed; he was still unsteady, but his strength was seeping back. He tottered to the door; it was locked, as expected. He tried pressing his palm to the panel, but nothing happened. Next, he went to the cot. Sinking down, he investigated the bundle and found a pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt, both black. He pulled on the pants and felt immediately better.
     
    The T-shirt was an impossibility; no way was it going to stretch over his shoulders, but he could live with that.
     
    Once decently covered, he turned his attention to his surroundings. The room wasn't small, but it was crowded with stuff. He sifted through some. "Crap," he said, tossing an obsolete wave reader onto the floor. After ten minutes, he gave up, pushed the rest of the rubbish from the cot, and stretched out.
     
    He needed to take stock. He wasn't dead yet, but he wouldn't last for long once Pieter got hold of him. He wondered why he had even kept him alive this long. Why not have him killed straight away? The only reason he could come up with was Pieter wanted to make sure that he hadn't shared his discovery with anyone else. He wished he had.
     
    So a plan. First, get the little pirate to let him go, then inform the authorities what Pieter was up to, and finally, get his life back. No, he decided, what he really needed to do was get the little pirate to take him where he needed to go, or better yet, get her to give him his ship back.
     
    He was sure he could persuade her, after all, she was a woman, and she'd kissed him. A little sweet talk, a little seduction, she'd be eating out of his hands.
     
    He felt much better once he had a plan. The feeling didn't last for long. Just long enough for him to realize what a load of crap his "plan" was, and that he was very likely a dead man.
     
    Still, it was the only plan he had. The problem was, in order for it to be implemented, he needed her here, and so far, hers hadn't been one of the faces peering in through the window. But she'd come. She wouldn't be able to resist coming.
     
    In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to get the crew on his side. The next time a face appeared at the window, he gave them his best boyish smile.
     
     
     
     
     
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Chapter Three
     
     
     
     
     
    Bloody Zachary Knight. He'd only been on her ship for two days, and he was already causing havoc.
     
    Mel glared around the table at her crew. "Where the hell are your hardcore mercenary sensibilities?" she asked. "You're