But deep in a place where he wanted to deny it existed was a bitter yearning for something more.

For someone.

I’m a fucking idiot.

He’d go with that. Especially as he watched the way Jayne moved. The confidence and swagger.

She was exceptional.

Right in front of him. Everything he could ask for and more.

Yet he was bound to die old and alone because reaching out just wasn’t in the cards. At least not for the likes of him.

Life sucked. Always had and always would. That was the problem when you didn’t dare expose yourself. Be yourself. Because deep inside there was no way for anyone to accept you and you knew it.

And still that yearning remained. Damn Jayne for reawakening what he’d finally managed to bury. This was cruel and it was torture.

Yet as they reached the landing bay, his thoughts stopped abruptly.

Hauk slowed as Jayne pulled back.

“Anyone else see what I do?”

Jayne nodded slowly in answer to Hauk’s question.

Hadrian immediately homed in on what they saw. Two men dressed in assassin gear were hovering around his ship.

Hauk grinned at her. “Blasting our way out?”

Shaking his head, Hadrian cast his gaze toward a third assassin. “Not the place or the time.”

“What do you propose we do?” Jayne looked around at their possible exits.

Hadrian smiled. “Hauk? Put your comm in.”

“And?”

“Walk through there as if you’re speaking to someone. Tell them an assassin hit your target in the Devil’s Vein and you’re going home, empty-handed.”

Hauk scowled. “Why?”

“Decoy them.” Now Jayne was smiling. “I like it.”

“What if it doesn’t work?”

“We fight.” Hadrian pulled his backpack off his shoulders. “Let’s try the easier path first, shall we?”

Hauk snorted. “Did that once. Still have the scars from that stupidity.” He scratched his eye and sighed. “Fine. It’s a good day to die.” Tapping his ear, he headed toward Hadrian’s ship. “Yeah . . . was a total waste of time. Target was already taken. He’s dead.”

Jayne watched as the assassins frowned at Hauk.

And didn’t move.

She cursed their luck. “It’s not working.”

Hadrian cocked his head. “They’re not looking for me.” His eyes turned a lighter shade. “They’re hunting you.”

Those words shocked her. “Me?”

He nodded slowly.

And an instant later, someone opened fire on them.

Drawing her blaster, she ducked and slid behind the nearest ship with Hadrian one step behind her. “At least you’re big enough to make a great shield.”

He made a loud, undignified sound as he pulled his own weapon. “How did they find us?”

“That’s a question only a Trisani can answer.”

Hadrian didn’t really appreciate her glibness. Even if it was true. “Get to the ship and I’ll cover you.”

She fired two shots. “One problem . . . Your ship. Your biolock.”

The engines turned on.

Jayne turned to face him with a gape.

“It’ll open for you.”

She sputtered before snapping her jaw shut and nodding. Without another word, she ran.