Zaya hunched over in her own lap and covered her eyes with her hands. She wasn’t about to cry, not in the least bit. To her, crying was a complete waste of energy. Though her eyes remained dry, she still felt the inward wave of grief that usually came with tears. Her throat felt dry and swallowing did nothing to alleviate her discomfort. Her body wanted to cry, needing to release her pent-up emotions. But Zaya wouldn’t allow it. She had trained herself to avoid such an exhausting way of self-expression while on a job.

She had to save her energy for what lay ahead: confessing her failures to Coran. Hale’s death wouldn’t be the issue here. Coran wanted him dead. Zaya was quite satisfied with the fact that she had it within herself to kill him.

There was only one problem with the way she had ended him.

Pandora had gone down with him. The princess of Elani, who’s father would likely declare war on Coran when he found out his precious daughter was dead. There would be no negotiating with the king to pay back the money he owed Coran. Coran would, instead owe him.

And that was Zaya’s fault. She wasn’t thinking back there. She let her hatred for Hale cloud the true goal of the job: to bring Pandora to Coran. Alive not dead.

Zaya threw her fists in the air, cursing at the galaxy, Hale, Coran, and herself. She couldn’t change what had happened. Pandora’s body was probably smashed into pieces.

No one could have survived that crash. No one. Not even...

She gasped, having a startling realization. It was a crazy, terrible thought. But she regretted turning back with the rest of her crew because there was a chance—a very, very small chance— that Hale survived.

She couldn’t believe herself. The probability that he was alive was slim, so slim that most would view turning back now as a waste of fuel.

Zaya would rather lose a little fuel than face Coran’s wrath right away. If she went back to Vanuu to see if Hale were alive, she would at least be delaying meeting with Coran, regardless of Hale’s status.

And maybe she just wouldn’t go back. She didn’t really need Coran. She could find other jobs from other people.

Zaya turned on her comm channel to her crew. She took a deep breath, trying to settle her nerves. They were going to think she was insane.

“I changed my mind,” she stated abruptly, without context.

“What do you mean?” one asked.

“I have to go back,” Zaya explained.

One of the male crew members laughed. “I didn’t think you were one to be funny.”

“I’m serious! I’m going back to Vanuu.”

Another member chimed in. “Hale is dead,” she told Zaya.

“He could be. But what if he isn’t. I’ve made up my mind.”

The woman scoffed. “Do whatever you want. We’re not coming.”

“I don’t care,” Zaya retorted. “And when I prove you all wrong, don’t ask for credit.”

Zaya cut off the comm channel and entered the coordinates for Vanuu again. Her ship’s computer rerouted her course in an instant, and all she had to do was press the accept button.

* * * *

Pandora awoke from a beautiful dream, one so vivid she wondered if it were real. She could almost taste his warmth penetrating through her skin and feel the sensation left by his touch. Opening her eyes, she looked over to the right side of the bed. The pillow and the sheets on that side were untouched by him. She reluctantly accepted that it was nothing more than a dream.

Last night, they both agreed that it would be best if they parted ways for the night. Hale didn’t mention or even suggest the other option that involved sharing sheets. His actions spoke volumes about how much he respected her, ironically leaving her wanting him more. She wondered why he was being careful with her. He seemed more hesitant to kiss her than she was with him. And she assumed she was one of many women Hale had been “involved” with. His criminal lifestyle showed where his morals lay.

Yet, last night, he allowed her to see the gentle, compassionate side to him. He ensured she was comfortable with how he touched her and that he didn’t go further without her permission. And he brought her food without her even mentioning that she was hungry. How could someone who lived despicably also be so wonderful?

Laying in bed… alone, she couldn’t think about anything else but Hale. Any thought she had of him was distressing because she was either wanting him to her hold her or trying to understand exactly who he was. Being unable to have either frustrated her already desperate heart.

Pandora kicked off the silken sheets and left the large bed empty. Wearing only her revealing undergarments, she covered herself with a soft robe provided by the resort before leaving her room. Though the sun still hid mostly behind the horizon, she made sure to be dressed in case he was awake.

She tip-toed around the living room, careful not to make a sound. Hale wasn’t on the sofa, and she sighed in relief. She sat down in the middle and stretched out. This was the first time she actually took notice of how nice the room was. She knew it must have been expensive, and Hale didn’t even mention having to spend more money. And here she was, thinking about Hale again.

As she lay there, the edge of the sunrise light caught her attention. The sky was dark navy with a purple ring around the sliver of sun peaking from the horizon. Vanuu’s beauty was entirely different from her world but had the same entrancing effect on her.

Pandora stood and walked up to the door to the balcony. She pushed it open slowly and closed it behind her softly. When she looked up, she was expecting to see the sky, the ocean, but not him.

Hale was there before her, leaning against the railing. He was only half-dressed, his upper body in full view for her to admire if she pleased. But she first gazed upon his irresistible eyes. He had mild darkness around his eyes as if he didn’t sleep well last night. When he saw her, he smiled and held out his arm to her.

Pandora timidly walked up to him and then kissed him on the cheek. He slid his arm around her back and drew her closer to him.

“I missed you last night,” he whispered in her ear.

She brought a hand to his face. “Is that why you didn’t sleep well?”

He bit the edge of his lip and nodded.

“I’m worried about you. You look so exhausted.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “Why don’t you lie down. It’s not like we have anything to do right now.”

He pressed a finger down her spine and rested his hand there. “I already told you. I’d rather be spending my time awake, with you.”

“As long as you’re happy.”

“You’re the closest I’ve ever come to that,” he admitted.

She leaned her head slightly back so she could look directly at his beautiful face. She wanted to read his expression when he said that. Did he just say that she made him happy?

Pandora found his eyes wandering down her chest. She hadn’t closed her robe up as well as she thought, which was allowing him to see too much of her undergarments.

When Hale noticed she had caught him, he immediately turned his head towards the ocean. He unsuccessfully tried to hide his foolish smile.

Pandora narrowed her eyes and flicked him on the shoulder. “Find what you’re looking for?”

He blushed deeply. “Uh… sorry.” He hung his head to conceal a larger smile. “But to answer your question: I did.”

“And what would that be?” Pandora asked, struggling to keep a straight face. His flustered expression was adorable to her and made her want to laugh.

He sighed and gazed intensely into her eyes. He quelled her inclination to laugh, instead making her silent. She fell so easily for those eyes.

“More of you,” he replied calmly.

Her heart fluttered, and she found herself unable to speak or move.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a somewhat innocent hug, ignoring how low he rested his hands. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”

She sighed and nuzzled his chest. “I suppose it’s only fair,” she murmured. “I get to see so much of you.” She inched her hands up his chest and placed them around his neck.

“I can put a shirt on if you want,” he said, grinning widely.

Pandora pulled him down close to her lips. “That’s not what I want at all.”

His eyes sparked with excitement. “Tell me what you want then. Whatever you want is yours.”

Taking in his tall, structured body, currently up against and towering over hers. “I’d rather you take the lead.”

With a wild smile, Hale picked her up, effortlessly, and brought her inside. For a moment, he stood still, only staring into her eyes.

“What?” Pandora asked.

“I just don’t want to rush things. I don’t want to hurt you. I want this to work out.”

She stroked the back of his neck with her fingertips. “You mean for more than just pleasure?”

Smiling, he scoffed. “You know, some men do want an actual relationship.”

She quietly gasped. “With me? You’d like that with me?”

He lowered her to the ground and hugged her tightly, kissing the exposed skin on her left shoulder. “I’d like to try.”

“Why?”

He stopped kissing her skin to speak. “I—you—you treat me differently than the others. You have so much more to offer… because you know what love really is. And I—”

“Hale, what are you—”

He lifted his head and met her with his eyes, bluer than the ocean water. “You didn’t let me finish.”

“Sorry.”

He brought his forehead to hers. “I’d like to learn how—”

Several pounding knocks on the door caused Hale to pause and look to the door behind them.

“Room service,” someone called, knocking again.

Hale let go of her and looked down at himself. “I guess you’d better answer the door. I’m not fully dressed.”

Pandora nodded and turned away before he could see her fallen countenance. She wished he would have ignored the door and finished his sentence. Maybe if she didn’t interrupt him, then she would know what his heart obviously wanted to say.

She closed her robe up higher on her chest and pressed the keypad to open the door. Once the door opened, Pandora didn’t have a chance to blink before she felt something thin and cold nearly cut into her neck. She looked down to see a small hand gripping her waist. The grasp was unbelievably strong. Pandora couldn’t break away even if she tried.

Her captor didn’t give her enough time to see their identity. But something was familiar about this person.

Hale’s eyes showed his desperate fear when he spotted the knife at her neck. He very slowly approached them, holding out his hands. “Zaya, you don’t want to do this. Please. Please, don’t hurt her.”

The way in which he pleaded brought tears to Pandora’s eyes. She never thought he cared about her that deeply.

“Oh,” Zaya laughed. “Oh, no you didn’t. Please tell me you didn’t fall for her.”

Hale continued to inch forward. “Why is everyone so interested in my love life?”

Zaya pushed the blade deeper into Pandora’s neck. “Not a step closer, Hale!”

Hale obeyed. “Alright, alright. Just be careful with her. She has no place in our conflict.”

“Actually, she does. And that’s your fault. You stole her from Coran and from me,” Zaya retorted.

Hale chuckled. “Actually, I didn’t. But it’s not really worth explaining to you obviously.”

“GET ON YOUR KNEES!” Zaya shouted, hurting Pandora’s ears.

Hale’s face was overcome with dread. He slowly lowered himself to the floor. “Now, let her go, Zaya.”

Zaya laughed. “I’m not quite done yet.”

She pushed Pandora along towards Hale. Standing beside him, Zaya released her grasp on Pandora’s waist and unholstered a pistol from her belt. Zaya held it against Hale’s head. She sighed and let Pandora loose completely. She traded her knife in for the second pistol on her belt. Zaya pushed both her guns to his head and cocked the triggers.

Hale looked to Pandora. “Run away. Get as far away from us as you can.”

“SHUT UP!” Zaya screamed. “There are so many things need to say to you, Hale Verdun. Things that I have held back for years.”

“Well, you have my full attention,” he said dangerously sarcastically.

Zaya punched him with her pistol. “You have caused me so much grief. It’s been that way from the moment we met. And the pain that I’m causing you now, pales in comparison to what you have put me through. I have never been free of you. Even when we were lightyears apart. But once I kill you, I can finally be free.”

Zaya went on and on. Pandora eventually blocked out all her nonsense words, while she tried to figure out what she must do. She wasn’t about to leave Hale with two guns pointed at his head. Pandora decided she would help him, regardless of the outcome.

Since Zaya was still rambling, she wasn’t paying Pandora any attention. Pandora quietly stepped backwards towards the door. She crouched down by Hale’s backpack. With the quietest of touches, she unzipped the main pocket. Just as she expected, it was filled with guns. She grabbed the pistol on the top of the stack and stood to her feet.

Zaya was still running her mouth and was too distracted to notice Pandora by the door. Pandora’s hands shook as she held up the gun. This was the first time she had ever touched one. She brought her pointer finger to the trigger and aimed at Zaya.

A concentrated beam of light left the gun and struck through Zaya’s hands. Zaya screeched, and both her pistols fell from her grasp.

* * * *

Hale needed a moment to react to what just happened. Did Pandora really shoot Zaya? He was having trouble believing what his eyes had seen. It seemed against her nature harm someone. And the accuracy of her shot was extremely impressive. Hale wanted to stare in awe of Pandora and her quick response, but Hale’s instincts of self-preservation urged him to capitalize on Pandora’s unexpected move.

While Zaya was clutching the burn hole in her hands and stumbling around, Hale kicked her down with his feet. Zaya fell and knocked the back of her head on the hard floor. She was too stunned to utter a single word.

Hale grabbed both of her pistols off the floor and turned over on top of Zaya to hold her down.

“Kinda reminds me of old times,” he said.

Zaya’s eyes burned more intensely with hatred at his his remark. “Shut up!”

Hale looked back to Pandora. She held her hand over her chest as she hyperventilated. He wanted to leap to her side and comfort her. But he couldn’t let Zaya go.

“Pandora, can you reach in my backpack for the two sets of handcuffs? They’re in the front pocket.”

Pandora gave a shaky nod and zipped open the pocket. With the cuffs in her hand, she stumbled over to Hale and handed them to him.

“Thank you,” he said. “I think you should sit down.”

“Ok,” Pandora whispered, falling on the sofa.

Hale quickly locked the cuffs around Zaya’s wrists and then her ankles. Zaya closed her eyes and lay there in silence, not acknowledging his victory. Hale didn’t expect her to.

“Pandora!” Hale rose to his feet and dashed over to her. He clasped her hands between his. “Are you ok?”

She smiled faintly. “Yeah. I’ve never shot someone before.”

“I believe I owe you again,” he whispered.

She leaned back and pulled him down with her. “I have a few ideas on how you can pay me back.”

“Well,” he leaned in closer, “I first need to thank you for saving me. I really appreciate that you didn’t run away.”

“I wasn’t about to leave you alone with another woman,” she joked.

“Very funny. But there is no one but you.” He lay down between her and the back of the sofa. “Not anymore.”

She released a satisfied sigh as he brushed his lips against her neck. “It’s a start.”

“Please STOP!” Zaya hissed. “I’m still here.”