Jinx snorted. “No. When the PC dies, there’s an election held by our highest-ranking members. They can be bribed.”

“Yeah, and one of those bastards currently sits on my father’s throne.” Nero clenched his teeth. “Sorry I doubted you, Mordacity.”

“I understand and I don’t blame you. It’s hard to see the truth when your family’s being threatened.”

“So what do we do?” Jayne was frustrated at this point.

“Again, we have to kill off your target. There’s no other choice.” Jinx turned his attention to Mordacity. “As for you . . .”

“I know. I’ll have to change my name again.”

“You need to vanish. Go so deep underground that Commander Quiakides can’t find you.”

Suddenly, the door opened.

Everyone in the room, except Mordacity pulled their weapons and aimed them.

Only the person who came through the door was far shorter than where they aimed.

“Mama?” The little girl froze as she saw them and felt the tenseness of their bodies.

“It’s okay, Mimi. Come here.” Mordacity held her hand out for her daughter.

Jayne was stunned as she holstered her weapon. “How do you hide with a kid?”

“I’ll find a way. I always do.” She picked the child, who couldn’t be any more than four or five, up in her arms and held her close.

Hadrian put his blaster in his pocket, then turned to Jinx. “Am I dead yet?”

“You are. Officially this time. Poor Syn will be devastated that I undid his work.”

“Then we need to go.” Nero grabbed Hadrian by his sleeve.

But Hadrian shrugged his tight grip away. He moved closer to Jayne. “Thank you for not putting a blast through my skull.”

“You’re very welcome. Try to stay off my bounty sheets.”

“Make no promises.” He smiled. “You try not to get suckered by another contract.”

A wicked gleam appeared in her eyes. “Make no promises.”

Then, he took her hand into his and lifted it to his lips.

Her heart fluttered at the gesture. It was so simple and yet it did the strangest things to her stomach.

In that moment, she didn’t want to let him go. But that was stupid. They were basically strangers. She didn’t really know him at all.

He knew even less about her.

Passing strangers.

Yet as he turned and followed after his brother, a part of her ached. It felt as if she were losing part of her heart.

How stupid am I?

Eve would say infinitely.

Damn, she hadn’t hurt like this in a long time.

“Ready to go home?”

She blinked at Jinx’s question. The answer should be yes and yet . . .

I have no home.

Just a roof over her head and a place to take her meals. Sadly, she couldn’t remember ever having a real home.

“Sure.”

Hauk stepped back so that she could leave first.

Jayne stopped beside Mordacity. “Thank you for the hospitality.” With a smile, she ruffled the girl’s hair. “You stay out of trouble.”