Polaris Read Free Page B

out from it. One second fire and chaos filled the screen, and the next there was nothing but space.
    The footage was chilling, but the idea that he could be responsible was laughable. Jeth Seagrave: Super Villain. In truth, Jeth had been lucky to make it off that Strata with his life—his resulting cyborg hand proof enough of the close call. And the Strata hadn’t been carrying innocent civilians but renegade soldiers, scientists, and mercenaries. Jeth hadn’t even known the ship had been destroyed—the footage could have been real or doctored. Either was possible when it came to the ITA.
    â€œOh my God,” Lizzie’s voice filled his ear. “What are they doing?”
    Flushing us out, Jeth thought. It had been inevitable. The ITA had been pursuing them for months, growing more and more desperate in their attempts to recover what he’d stolen from them—both the Aether Project data file and his little sister Cora. First it was ITA soldiers and special operatives, then covert mercenaries. But this was their most desperate move yet: enlisting the public.
    There’s still a way out of this, Jeth said to himself. There’s still a way out of this .
    But then the bulletin reached its final segment, guidelinesfor catching and approaching the armed and deadly Jethro Seagrave.
    Capture his ship, the bulletin said and flashed a picture of Avalon .
    Jeth’s heart tumbled into his knees, and he choked on a sudden intake of breath. He might be able to get away from Wainwright, but there was no protecting his ship, no way to keep her hidden. Black and streamlined into a fierce, predatory shape, Avalon was unmistakable. Unforgettable.
    And parked within firing distance of every bounty hunter, crime lord, and wannabe criminal in the entire Nuvali spaceport.
    â€œSo,” Wainwright said, turning back to him. “Shall we try this negotiation again?”
    Jeth swallowed, reading Wainwright’s gaze. The man had no intention of negotiating anything. Why should he, with Jeth in easy reach? He could have the Mirage Cipher, the ITA reward, and the Aether Project if he played it right.
    To hell with that . Jeth placed a hand on the table, ready to give the signal that would have Vince, Sierra, and Celeste bursting through the door.
    Lizzie’s panicked voice buzzed in his ear. “They know we’re here! They’re locking us down. Security’s on the way.”
    Jeth didn’t think, just moved. He jumped to his feet, grabbing the tray of food and flinging it across the table at Wainwright’s head. Wainwright ducked, colliding with Albert, who was moving to protect him. Spinning away from them, Jeth grabbed his chair, hoisted it into the air, andhurled it at two more men moving to intercept him. The chair struck the first man in the knees, and he went down, tripping the other on the way. Jeth hesitated long enough to grab the token carrier from the table and leaped over them both, charging through the door.
    â€œGet us prepped to fly and get everybody back to the ship,” Jeth said through the comm.
    â€œAlready on it.”
    Back on the main floor, Jeth spotted Celeste, Sierra, and Vince moving toward him, and he waved them away. They turned at once and headed for the door. He hurried after them, walking as quickly as he could. There might be holes in Nuvali’s security when it came to weapons, but there weren’t when it came to the guards. Any sign of someone trying to make a break for it, and they would close in, suspecting a thief. It was a fact Jeth remembered, but Wainwright’s men did not. They charged after him, making it just a few steps before Nuvali guards converged on them.
    Jeth pressed on, his breath coming in rapid pants as adrenaline charged through his system. His friends exited just as he was passing the casino cage. He glanced at the empty cashier window, wishing he could stop and change out the tokens. But he couldn’t, not now.