He sat up, revealing a fresh bruise on one cheek. Anger ruffled deep in her chest.

“Caledonia.” His voice turned her name into an ocean, rising and falling with a mix of wonder and surprise. He cradled his chest as he struggled upright, everything about him communicating pain. Then his eyes flicked over to Sledge.

Effortless and subtle, his posture shifted, and instead of weakness, he communicated rigid poise. “Tell me your new friend’s name.”

Caledonia blinked at him. She turned on her heel, facing Sledge. “Unlock his cell.”

“No,” Sledge stated. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“I thought you were in the business of giving Bullets a fresh start?”

Sledge nodded, deep in his signature solemnity. “Bullets. Not Fivesons.” His eyes shifted to a point over her shoulder. “Not him.”

Caledonia tipped her chin up and fixed him with a gaze dipped in steel. This was her ship. This was her crew. And she would let him know it.

“He’s my crew, not a prisoner. I want him in the med bay,” she said, keeping her voice low, her words precise. “I won’t say it again.”

Two figures stepped into the doorway. Caledonia didn’t have to look to know it was Pisces and Pine. This was the kind of stand-off that could leave these two crews fractured beyond repair. But if she backed down, let Sledge direct this moment, she’d lose all the ground she’d managed to gain with the Blades.

Sledge clenched his jaw. His eyes tightened, and he let his glare drift once more to Oran. He stayed that way for a long moment, old resentments warring with new loyalties. He didn’t want the Fiveson on the ship, but he also wanted to work with Caledonia.

“Keys.” She held out her hand.

The air warmed with tension. Sledge looked from Caledonia to Oran, his expression clinging to anger, but edging toward something like fear.

Then Sledge released the barricade of his arms and fished the keys from his pocket, dropping them into Caledonia’s hand. She immediately passed them to Pisces, keeping her body in front of Oran’s cell like a shield.

“Don’t leave him alone,” Sledge growled, turning to leave the prison.

And as Pisces gathered Oran up and led him out, Caledonia realized she didn’t know if the statement had been offered for Oran’s safety—or their own.

Chapter Twenty-nine

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Once again, Caledonia was in the position of needing to keep Oran as close as possible. If Sledge’s threat hadn’t made that clear, their walk through the ship did.

Every Blade they passed paused to watch him go by. Their expressions went slack or their eyes distant or they stepped back with heads ducked to avoid his gaze altogether. On the air, a single word traveled in a shrinking whisper: Steelhand.