Runner: The Fringe, Book 3 Read Online Free Page A

only answer.

Chapter Four
    Foster crossed his arms as he glared at Jynx over the audvid. True enough, Roberts wanted her alive, but she seemed a little too smug with the information, so let her worry.
    She’d removed the colored contacts, and her widened eyes were a startling shade of violet, made more so by the lilac shade of her clinging dress. He’d never seen eyes that color. No wonder she’d covered them up with lenses. Man, woman or child would remember someone with eyes that unique.
    “Fine,” she said softly. She didn’t seem to be looking for a way out any longer but for something to do. After a while, she closed her eyes. She smiled, frowned, drew her eyebrows up then down, oblivious to the fact he watched her.
    After several long moments, he asked, “What are you doing?”
    Rather than startling at his sudden intrusion into her privacy, she answered, “I’m remembering,” as if she’d known he was watching her.
    “Remembering what?” Despite his resolve not to get to know her, he had to ask. She didn’t behave like any package he’d ever delivered.
    “All the times in my life. The people. Everything I’ve accomplished. Mistakes I’ve made. Things I wish I’d done.”
    “Why?”
    “What else is there for me to do?”
    He watched her for a bit longer, then turned his attention to the console. Not much on the scanners to worry about. Even Berserkers would think twice about attacking him. He and his ship were too dangerous to tangle with. The vicious pirates would attempt to commandeer his ship only if they were in dire straits. No two ways about it, they would lose.
    In the twenty years he’d been a Runner, he’d been attacked three times, but not once since he’d acquired and upgraded the Damn You . His ship had a rep almost as bad as his. The sleek, shark-like shape was distinctive.
    Foster bought the ship six years ago from Michael “Overlord” Parker. She’d been a slaver ship back then and didn’t have much in the way of electronics, but she was fast. Over the years, Foster added every conceivable gleep to her array. Taking up the Damn You was the first of many deals he’d made with the notorious Michael “Overlord” Parker. One of those arrangements was responsible for his injured finger.
    Darting his gaze back to the cell audvid, he found Jynx still sitting quietly on her bunk with her eyes closed. Whatever she thought of made her laugh, wince, then touch the tiny scar over her right eye. What had caused that almost imperceptible flaw in her perfect skin, and why hadn’t she fixed it? Couple hundred credits and thirty minutes and poof ! it’d be history.
    He couldn’t believe she sat so peacefully. She should be terrified out of her mind. In all his years as a bounty hunter, he’d never had a package behave like she did. Calm. Accepting. Speaking in her cultured voice. Most prisoners rattled the bars, yelled, screamed and tried every trick in the book to escape, but not Jynx Brennan.
    He considered her request to be moved to the bigger cell. He saw no edge but that she would be more comfortable. And he could watch her shower. She didn’t seem to care if he did. Or did she think she could sway him with her body?
    Before refusing to apprehend women because of the inherent dangers in doing so, he’d handled plenty of beauties who’d tried the same trick, preening and pouting and seductively showing him enticing bits of flesh. All in the hopes of luring him into letting them go. Back then, keeping the little brain in line had been next to impossible, hence his no-female policy. But he was older and wiser now. Did Jynx really think he’d fall for such a pathetic ploy?
    “Time to find out.”
     
    “Here’s the deal, Sweets.”
    Jynx opened her eyes and turned to find Foster standing at the door of her cell with two sets of cuffs. He wore tight faded jeans, an even tighter green motton T-shirt, battered tennis shoes, and his thick black weapon-riddled leather belt, slung low,