Chapter Two

M enace stepped off the elevator into the med bay of the Valiant . He checked his watch again to make sure he still had time. The last week he'd been swamped with weapons shipments and inventory. Twice he had rescheduled his medical clearance for today's Grab. Even now, he was cutting it close. Only his rank and his reputation as a man who shouldn't be crossed were going to save him from being struck off the list.

He caught sight of Vicious, his close friend and the Valiant 's highest-ranking land corps officer, leaving a private exam room with his wife Hallie at his side. Vicious held her hand and tenderly swept his fingertips down her cheek. Not wanting to intrude on a private moment, Menace dropped his gaze. He had a feeling their visit to the med bay had to do with her inability to conceive but Menace didn't dare ask. He and Vicious had been friends since childhood but there were some things that even friends didn't discuss. This was one of them.

"Menace," Vicious called to him as he walked Hallie to the elevator. He smiled knowingly. "Sneaking in at the last moment for your med check?"

"Of course." Menace nodded in Hallie's direction. "Ma'am."

She grinned up at him, her smile warm and friendly. "I hear you're running today. Good luck, Menace."

Vicious chuckled. "If the women running today are anything like Hallie, you're going to need it."

She smacked her husband's chest. "Be nice."

He feigned injury and rubbed the spot his wife had whacked. "Yes, Kitten."

Menace still couldn't believe how gentle and sweet Vicious was with her. Vicious was one of the most feared of their kind, a true warrior who had proven himself in some of the worst battles of the war and their constant skirmishes with alien life forms. Somehow Hallie had wrapped him around her little finger. As far as Menace could tell, Vicious had never been happier.

Hallie stepped into the waiting elevator. "I'll see you at dinner."

Vicious nodded. "I'll call if I'm running late."

Menace wondered at the domestic scene before him. As little as six months ago, he would have been repulsed by such a sight. Now he yearned for these little moments of sweetness Vicious shared with his wife. All the long, hard years of unending war had taken their toll. He was tired of the loneliness and the bachelor quarters. He wanted a real home. He wanted someone to protect and love. He wanted a woman to support and love him back.

Alone now, Vicious turned his full attention to him. "You're going to Connor's Run?"

Menace nodded. "It's a midsized Grab today. Less than twenty girls, apparently."

"Good odds," Vicious commented. "You want my advice?"

Menace laughed. "Not really, but you're going to give it anyway."

"That's what superior officers do, Menace. But seriously, pick a woman and stick with her. Don't change your tactic halfway through the Grab. Listen to your gut. You won't be led astray."

"Did your gut tell you to Grab Hallie?"

Vicious chuckled. "I had this crazy idea that I wanted some tall, blonde, buxom beauty. My head told me that this imaginary woman was the perfect match for me. You know, someone with similar genes to complement my own." He shook his head. "But the moment I spied Hallie with that dark hair and those dark eyes?" Vicious touched his chest. "I felt it here. I knew she was the one."

Menace couldn't help himself. He let the image of that young woman from the flower stall in Connor's Run invade his thoughts. With her soft brown skin and black hair, she was so unlike the typical Harcos woman. One look at her and his heart had stuttered in his chest.

But that mouth of hers! He'd been wrong to knock her over but she'd bitten his head off before he could apologize for his accidental collision. The string of expletives that had left those pouty lips had blitzed his instant attraction, but her friend, the sweet brunette with dark eyes who had sold him the flowers? Now that was a woman he wouldn't mind catching. Modest, quiet, friendly, sweet. Maybe he'd look for someone just like that.

"Are you taking the full honeymoon period?"

Pulled from his thoughts by his commander's question, Menace shook his head. "Raze and the SRU boys have some weapons recertification needs. I'll be doing those during my days off just to get them out of the way. Terror and his crew will probably need rearming at some point. You know how they are about running through weapons and ammo."

Vicious grunted at the mention of his best friend's name. Terror excelled in his work with the Shadow Force the silent, secret arm of the military that carried out all the covert operations required to keep their people safe, but he was such a difficult man. The war hadn't been kind to him and he seemed to grow colder and more withdrawn with each passing year.

"Try not to work too hard during your bonding period," Vicious instructed. "Hallie and I weren't able to have any kind of honeymoon and it made things difficult in the beginning. You should take the time to get to know your new wife. You only get one chance to do things right."

"Understood."

Vicious clapped him on the back. "Let me know how it goes."

"Will do." Menace headed toward the reception desk and checked in for his physical. He was in and out in twenty minutes and on his way to the departures deck for the trip to the surface. He eyed the small crowd of waiting men and judged his competition. Only three were fellow officers and all of them lower ranking. As the highest-ranking officer taking part, the younger, lower-ranking soldiers would defer to him. He would have the pick of the litter, so to speak.

An hour later, a quiver of excitement pierced his belly. Menace leaned against the railing of the hastily erected stage and gazed down into the group of women who had been picked by the lottery to participate in the Grab. He scanned the offerings and tried to find a woman who piqued his interest.

A few of the women were much too young to tempt him. He wanted someone equal to the task of being his partner and someone with enough life experience to relate to him. He instantly skipped over their faces in search of just the right woman. He only had once chance to find his life mate. He had to choose just right or risk years of unhappiness.

A familiar face caught his eye. His gut clenched. It couldn't be—but it was.

Menace frowned at the sight of the young woman who had cussed him out in the market that day. From the stunned look on her face, she remembered him too. Her dark eyes narrowed to a piercing glare that silently warned him to back off and leave her be. She shouldn't have wasted the energy. He planned to avoid her at all costs. One taste of that waspish tongue was quite enough for him.

His searching gaze skipped to her right. He spotted her friend, the one from the flower stall who had enthralled him with her sweet smile and kind voice. She was exactly the kind of woman he had in mind. There was no doubt now. He was chasing that one.

Menace's brow furrowed as the bratty one leaned over and whispered in her friend's ear. They glanced furtively his way. From the way they talked behind their hands, it was clear they were strategizing. Vicious had told him all about Hallie's battle plan for the day she'd run. She'd almost beaten him. What if the mouthy one helped the woman he wanted evade him today?

Bold as brass, the young woman with the dark, impish eyes flashed him a big smirk and gestured rudely in his direction. The crude one-fingered salute was a silent version of the nasty remark she'd tossed his way that day in the market.

He couldn't believe her audacity. She laughed and glanced away from him. Her behavior grated on his nerves. He planned to tell the man who Grabbed her to spank her—and often. Clearly she needed a little discipline in her life.

The mayor of Connor's Run climbed onto the stage. One of the Harcos liaisons, who monitored the Grabs and ensured complete cooperation by the people of Calyx, joined the mayor. While the mayor read from a piece of paper, the Harcos bureaucrat held his touchscreen tablet at the ready. The liaison would make sure all the rules of the Grab were followed to the letter. No violence against the women. No underhanded or devious means to catch them. No bribing or trading money or gifts to entice them.

Menace noticed the two women inching their way toward the starting line. They obviously planned to be the first out of the pen. The moment the mayor whacked the bell, the pair sprinted from the crowd and quickly left the other women in their dust.

Impressed, Menace stretched his neck and glanced at his watch. The women had three full minutes of running before the men could enter the race. His hand drifted to his shirt pocket. He felt the raised outline of the white bride's collar tucked safely there. It was the generic collar given to every man boarding a shuttle bound for one of the Grabs.

"Hey, Gunner!"

Without tearing his gaze away from his intended target, Menace answered to the nickname usually given to his rank and specialty. "Yes?"

"You have your woman picked out, sir?"

Menace nodded and pointed toward the two women he'd been watching. Little Miss Mouthy and her gorgeous sidekick were sprinting into the tree line now. "The one in the red shirt is mine."

"And the sexy one in gray?"

"You can have her." And good riddance.

***

"We aren't going to make it."

Naya glanced at Jennie. There was no time for a reassuring smile as they sprinted through the woods. "We stick to the plan, Jennie."

"It's a long way, Naya." Jennie wasn't breathing hard yet. Naya took that as a good sign.

"We have adrenaline working for us today." She cast another glance over her shoulder. The coast was still clear but soon they would have to evade the grabby hands of those giant, tattooed men in their frightening black uniforms and boots.

A shiver coursed down her spine. She couldn't believe he was here. He had recognized her the same moment she'd spotted him. The way he had looked at Jennie unsettled her. He wanted Jennie. That much was clear. No doubt he would be running their way soon.

She tried to ignore the frisson of unwanted jealousy that stabbed her belly. The fact that he had skipped over her so easily hurt her pride, but she would never admit that aloud. It wasn't easy to swallow that the man who had starred in her dirtiest fantasies found her utterly unattractive.

But this was so not the time to even think about that.

"Just keep running, Jennie. Josef is waiting for you. That's all that matters." She shot Jennie a quick grin. "We're going to make it."

A loud war cry of a whoop shattered the stillness of the woods. Naya's heart leapt into her throat. The men were loose and they were gaining ground.

"Is this where we split up?" Jennie asked, her voice unnaturally high and anxious.

"Yes. Remember the plan, Jennie. We've run this route a dozen times. We're going to make it."

Jennie nodded and took off one way while Naya ran the other. Even though she'd just given Jennie that pep talk, her stomach pitched violently. This was nothing like the dry runs. There were men hell-bent on capturing them hot on their tails. One mistake and their plan was toast. They were toast.

The crackle of ground covering snapping under heavy boots echoed in the forest. Naya gulped and pushed herself to run even faster. She took a chance glancing back and spotted one of the Harcos men a hundred yards or so behind. He wasn't as big as the man from the market but he ran fast. Too fast, she realized and turned her attention forward.

Her gaze jumped around the forest. She hooked a quick right and ran straight for a tricky spot in the terrain that only the locals knew well. A dry creek bed, some fallen logs and shifting, loose rocks were a disaster for the uninitiated. The idea of causing an injury to the monstrous man wasn't one she relished but she wasn't about to be Grabbed by him. Hopefully he'd be smart enough to sense the danger and stay back.

Sure-footed as a rabbit, Naya hopped from log to rock and crossed the dangerous creek bed with the speed and efficiency of practice. The monstrous hulk in his black uniform didn't let the new obstacle slow him down. Stupidly he leapt onto a log that quickly began to roll. He fell forward and cracked his knee on a rock. His roar of pain filled the air. Naya winced at the discomfort he must have been feeling but didn't stop to render aid. She had to keep moving.

Cutting through the woods, Naya checked the forest for signs to help her navigate. This tree, that rock formation, the winding empty creek beds—all of them helped her stay on course. She estimated she was less than ten minutes from the safe zone and the spot they'd chosen to rendezvous with Josef.

"Naya!" Jennie's bloodcurdling shriek ripped through the forest. Spurred into action, Naya sprinted even faster in the direction of the scream. Her stomach clenched so tightly she was sure she would heave her guts. Legs burning and sides aching, she burst through some thick underbrush into a clearing. The slap of the thorny branches left her bare calves nastily scratched, but she couldn't think about that now.

Naya's stomach dropped at the sight of Jennie trying to evade the clutches of the sky warrior with the pale-white hair and green eyes. Refusing to let him Grab her best friend when they were this close to the safe zone, Naya reacted without thinking. She raced across the tall grass separating them and slammed into the man's side, wrapping both arms around his upper thighs and taking him to the ground.

His shocked grunt ricocheted off the trees. Stunned she'd been able to throw him off balance, Naya scrambled to her feet before he could recover and grabbed Jennie's hand. She roughly tugged on her friend. "Move. Now! "

They ran as if the flames of hell licked at their heels. Naya ignored the pain accompanying every breath. She was certain she hadn't broken anything, but she'd definitely bruised her shoulder and right side tackling that behemoth.

"Come back here!" he growled menacingly and chased after them. "You won't make it. Not both of you!"

Naya refused to even consider that possibility. They were so close to making their escape. She couldn't give up hope now.

"Jennie!" Josef appeared at the tree line. He sucked in ragged breaths, his sweatsoaked shirt clinging to his lean frame. "Jennie! Hurry!"

Relieved by the sight of Josef, Naya shoved her friend forward. "Move, Jennie. Move! We have to— aargh !"

"Got you!"

Naya lurched forward and then snapped back as a massive hand gripped the back of her shirt. She heard fabric tearing as her momentum was cruelly arrested. As if in slow motion, she fell backward, her shoes sliding on the dewy grass and her hands snatching at empty air. "No!"

Jennie grabbed her hand and jerked but she wasn't strong enough. "Naya! Naya!"

"Leave her," Josef shouted as he rushed toward them. He frantically forced Jennie's fingers open and hauled her up into his arms. Eyes glistening and chest heaving, he sobbed, "I'm sorry, Naya. I'm so sorry."

Panicked and overcome with dread, Naya screamed for help. "Jennie! Jennie! "

But Josef didn't stop. He ran. He ran with the woman he loved tucked safely in his arms. Yet again Naya had been left behind.

Naya shuddered in revulsion as the warrior tried to flip her over. She balled up her fist and whacked him on the jaw as he finally succeeded in forcing her onto her back. He hissed in pain but didn't strike back. Instead he captured her smaller hand in his and restrained her arm overhead. Shockingly he didn't try to hurt her.

"Enough," he whispered harshly. "It's done. You're caught."

"Please," she sobbed, her emotions overwhelming her. "Please let me go. My friends—"

"They left you. They're long gone." The briefest flash of sadness crossed his face. "You're mine now."

Naya dragged a slow, shaky breath into her lungs. She hated herself for crying in front of him. Showing a man—especially one as dangerous as this—weakness was a terrible mistake. "You're going to regret Grabbing me."

"Probably," he agreed with a sharp laugh. "The same way you'll regret coming to the aid of your friend. You could have been halfway to space by now if you'd just kept running."

"I will never regret saving Jennie from you. She loves Josef. She belongs with Josef."

"And now you belong to me," he reminded her.

"Not for long," she warned.

He laughed again, the sound so cruel. "You aren't the first bride to threaten that and you won't be the last." His fingertips trailed her cheek. "It won't work. It never does."

She choked back the sob that threatened to escape her lips. As if curious, he lowered his face until their noses nearly touched. Eyes closed, he inhaled deeply, drawing her scent into his lungs. When his eyes opened again, he tilted his head. "I'm Menace. What's your name?"

"Naya," she whispered. Menace? What the hell kind of name was that? She studied his face but it was pointless. Try as she might, she couldn't read this man. The unsettling feeling of being completely at his mercy made her stomach lurch.

"Naya," he repeated slowly. His fingertips moved down her jaw and along the side of her neck. "I like that. It's different."

Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers glided across her collarbone and down the center of her chest. Her ripped shirt displayed too much flesh. Menace took advantage and swept his fingertips across her bare belly. His touch, so intimate and possessive, caused goose bumps to blossom on her hot skin.

Pinned beneath his powerful frame, Naya could barely move. Trapped and terrified, she tried to slow her panicked breaths. She fought the claustrophobia gripping her chest.

Menace must have read the fear in her face. Caressing her arm, he urged, "Easy, Naya. Deep breaths. You're safe with me."

Despite his surprisingly kind voice, she chortled sarcastically. "Safe? With you?"

His jaw tightened. "Your people may think we're all monsters, but it isn't true. I've never harmed a woman in my life. I won't allow you to be harmed either. Do you understand? You are mine now. Mine. "

The possessive word rang in her ears. Her new reality washed over her like cold water, chilling her right to the bone. Unlike many women in her world, she'd been able to live a fairly independent existence. Even as a homeless, orphaned teenager, she'd found a way to escape the clutches of men who wanted to make her their own. To now be owned by someone—by this stranger—left her feeling ill.

"I don't want to be yours."

His lips settled into a grim line. "It's too late for that. I've Grabbed you. It's done."

Putting an end to the discussion, he reached into the front pocket of his black uniform shirt and withdrew a thin white collar. Squeezing her eyes shut, Naya cursed the tears that dripped from her lashes onto her cheeks. The collar was slipped around her throat and fastened, not too tightly, but snug enough to remind her that she was this man's property now.

"Don't," he rasped and wiped the wetness from her face. "I gave you my word, Naya. I'll take care of you."

"Take care of me?" She laughed caustically. "If stealing me away from my planet and forcing me to be your sex slave is your idea of taking care of me, I'll pass."

"Luckily for me, I'm not giving you the option." He rose to his full height, reached down and swept her up off the ground. His pale eyes fixed her with a warning stare. "Don't even think about trying to kick or hit me or run away, Naya."

She arched her brow and informed him of the obvious. "You'll have to put me down sometime."

Menace snorted and patted her backside. "Don't worry about that. I've got cuffs and a gag waiting on the ship."

Her jaw dropped with shock. Indignant, she whacked his arm. "You're a pig, you know that?"

"Is that the worst you've got for me?" Laughing, he shifted her in his arms and threw her over his shoulder.

Forced into the awkward position, she stiffened in fear of being dropped right on her head. "What kind of a dirtbag carries around cuffs and gags?"

"The kind who plans to protect his investment," he replied matter-of-factly. "I survived some of the nastiest, most brutal battles of the war to gain enough points to Grab a wife. I'm not about to let you run off or get taken by another male. You might not have been the one I wanted, but you're pretty enough for a consolation prize."

His words wounded her more than his fists ever could have. Not the one he wanted? His consolation prize?

Suddenly she was taken back to the night her mother had packed her bags and left with the sky trader. Only six years old, Naya had tearfully begged her mother to take her along, to please not leave her behind, but the answer then hadn't been any different than Menace's cutting remark just now. Her mother had revealed she'd never wanted her and had viewed her as little more than an obstacle in her path to happiness.

And then there had been her older brother, Nattie. What had he told her the night he'd chosen to take Sindee, his girlfriend, to the colonies instead of her? I love her . She's everything to me.

Because, in the end, Naya had meant nothing to him. After she'd risked her life to make the money they needed to run, she'd been disposable. Nattie had easily discarded her in his quest for freedom and a new life with his girlfriend in the colonies.

Forced to relive some of the lowest memories of her life by Menace's cruel remark, Naya fought the urge to punch him in the kidneys. Just the knowledge that his three hundred pounds of dead weight would crush her on the forest floor stopped Naya from taking some revenge for his hurtful words.

All the fight left her then. She sagged against his powerful shoulder and let his thick, corded arms bear her full weight. This would go down as one of the worst days of her life. She'd been abandoned by the last person she'd loved and trusted and captured by a man who didn't even want her. Now he was taking her back to his ship where he would force her to do all kinds of degrading and perverted things.

But that didn't mean she had to go quietly. She'd make him so miserable he'd trip over himself to put her on a transport ship bound for the colonies just for some peace and quiet. Oh, she'd let him think he'd won this battle, but their personal war? It was far from over.