Free Star Crossed by Trista Ann Michaels Page A

have told her.
    He should never have taken her up there.
    “Damn it, Krista. I didn’t know he would be up there waiting for us.” He scowled back at her, his eyes a deep black, but his temper didn’t scare her.
    “So now what?”
    “Well, we can’t go back to Daego,” he sighed.
    “What?” Surely she hadn’t heard him correctly. “Maybe you can’t but I certainly can.”
    “No.”
    “What the hell do you mean, no? It’s you he’s after, not me.”

    “And what if he catches us again when I try to take you back?” he yelled. “I refuse to endanger Sidious and Mikayla and I really don’t think you want to either.” That thought hadn’t crossed her mind. She sat back in the chair and stared out at the empty space before them. They still hadn’t exited the gate, and she wondered where he was taking them. “Where are we going?”
    “The old rebel camp. It should still be intact, although it might be a little messy.” A blue flash of light preceded the exit and she sighed in relief. She hated going through that gate. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she turned toward him.
    “All my stuff is still back on Daego.”
    “We’ll swing by the Klindorah Space Station and pick up some things. I don’t have anything, either.” He turned troubled eyes on her and she felt bad for yelling at him.
    He’d just saved both of them, after all. “I’m sorry, Kris. Looks like you and I will be on our own for a while.”
    She swallowed the lump that rose in her throat at the thought of being alone with him. Especially after what just happened.
    * * * * *
    Carlone growled loudly as he watched the small runner enter the transport gate. He had no way of knowing where Stefan went. He’d forgotten how good a pilot Stefan was. Next time, he’d try something else.
    As soon as Stefan emerged from the gate, the tracer he had hidden in Stefan’s ship would send a signal. How quickly he would get the signal would depend on how far away he was. Sooner or later the senator’s whereabouts would be known and he’d get the chance to get even—to finally get his revenge on the meddling count.
     

Chapter Six
    Mikayla stood inside her husband’s study door and watched the worry lines deepen around his eyes. Something was going on, something he wasn’t telling her, and it was high time he spilled the beans.
    “Sidious,” she said. His eyes left the computer screen and locked with hers in surprise.
    “Hey, baby. I didn’t see you standing there.”
    “Obviously.” She took a few steps closer, coming to a stop next to his chair. “Is there something that you want to tell me?”
    “Why do you ask?”
    Reaching out, he took her hand in his and pulled her onto his lap. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers sliding through his thick platinum hair. She’d always loved his hair. “You looked as though something was bothering you. Not to mention the fact that Taron has been in and out of here more in the last couple of weeks than the last year, and of course there’s Damon, who won’t let any of us out of his sight.”
    “Okay,” Sidious sighed. With a slight smile, he kissed her forehead. “Sometimes I think you know me too well.”
    “Well, are you going to tell me?”
    Whatever he was about to say was cut off when Taron burst into his office. “I need to talk to you.”
    “Now?” Sidious asked.
    “Now.”

    Sidious turned to look at Mikayla, and she shook her head. “No. I’m tired of being left in the dark. I’ll hear it as well.”
    Sidious nodded as she stood from his lap. “What is it, Taron?” he asked.
    “I was on my way back from Veenori when the alarm went off for the Negash . It’s gone, and so are Stefan and Krista. The hanger bay personnel said they left in it earlier this evening.”
    Mikayla shrugged. “Maybe they just went for a short trip.”
    “If they did, something happened. The alarm was deliberately engaged with Stefan’s code. Stefan must have turned it on to send a