“It’s true, she does,” Baz said, then shrugged, pink cheeked. “I mean, at least she used to, you know, back when . . . Forget it, doesn’t matter, the important thing is we’re all still alive, thanks to you. And you’re still alive—which is, honestly, thanks to us, seeing as how that’s how we left you. So now you can just take your rifle back and we can call it even.”

“Except you still have something I want,” the bounty hunter said. Her eyes fell on Leo. He noticed Kat take a step closer to him. Saw Boo’s hair bristle.

“You’re still after the kid?” Baz asked.

“As far as I know, the bounty’s still out for him. Him and his brother both. Somebody out there wants them, and I intend to collect.”

Baz snorted dismissively. “Good luck with that. I mean first off, if you want Leo, you’re going to have to go through us, and we’ve got you outnumbered.”

“You had me outnumbered last time,” Zennia pointed out.

“Yeah, and you saw how that turned out.”

Leo tried not to imagine what the bounty hunter’s cockpit smelled like.

“Secondly, that bounty you’re so eager to cash in on? Pretty sure it originated with the Djarik as part of a deal to get Leo’s father to work with them—the terms of which have changed considerably since we last talked, so I’m guessing ninja turtle here isn’t worth much anymore, no offense, Leo.”

Leo shook his head. He didn’t mind being worthless if it meant trained killers weren’t tracking him down.

“Thirdly,” Baz continued, “even if the Fender boys are still worth something to somebody, good luck finding the other one. Even his own family doesn’t know where he is. The Djarik lost track of the ship he was on, and nobody knows what happened to him. So even if we were to let you walk out of here with Leo—which we won’t—you’re not going to be able to collect anyway.”

Leo held his breath, waiting to see what the bounty hunter would do. Baz was right: they had her outgunned. And Leo believed him when the captain said there was no way they would turn Leo over to her. Not without a fight. And they were already in a fighting mood.

Zennia shook her head. “Oh Baz. Don’t you ever get tired of being wrong?”

She turned and ascended back into her ship without another word.

Baz cocked one eyebrow, surprised. Or suspicious. Probably both.

Kat shook her head. “Um . . . did you actually just talk your way out of something?”

Beside Leo, Crayt moaned again. His eyes were closed now, his breathing ragged. “It’s okay,” Leo whispered, bending close. “You’re going to be okay.” He thought of all the times his brother had told him the same thing. How Leo had always wanted to believe it because it was Gareth who said so. He reached for the med kit, but the sound of more steps on the ramp stole his attention again.