She should feel uncomfortable with him right now. Surely he’s thinking about turning her in. But there’s still that kindness in his tone, in his face, that makes her feel like he’s not her enemy. Silly, silly girl. Wariness wakes at last. She should have charged her protections, at least. The only weapon she has is the laser pen in her bag.
“So,” Bo Rylen says, offering his hand, “what does it feel like to have an Underlord after you, anyway?”
Didi fumbles for something to say, even as Bo laughs and shoos her toward the exit.
“There are more comfortable places to talk,” he says. “And I have a delivery to make.”
Didi hesitates, hand going to her bag. She could get a few good cuts in with the laser pen before he could pin her down. If she can get her fingers around it.
He doesn’t move, but his face softens further. “I’m no threat to you,” he says in a voice that reminds her of the gunslinger. “I promise. I just want out.”
Didi nods, swallows. Backs her way out of the small cubbyhole. Bo emerges behind her, stretching out his tall body, turning to look back and forth at both ends of the alley. He’s taller than she thought when they ran, about a foot taller than her, lean hipped and long legged, with an expressive face that fascinates her. She has to shake off this odd influence he has over her before she loses it completely.
“Now then,” he says, turning down the alley the way they’d come, gesturing for her to precede him, “while it’s been delightful, I have a job to do.” He pauses while the panicked idea of being alone again takes her over in a rush of fear. “Unless you’d like to join me?”
He doesn’t have to ask her twice, though her mind is screaming at her to be more careful. What, is she really going to trust the first stranger she comes across, someone who is obviously at odds with the law, some kind of thief or criminal? Why yes, as a matter of fact. Until someone better comes along.
Didi convinces herself he might be able to help her. so she joins him when he strolls out into the street, taking her hand in the process. She welcomes the warmth of his skin against hers while her heart pounds, partly from the fear of being out in the open like this, and partly from the contact with Bo Rylen. He whistles softly to himself as they walk, the picture of a good-natured and well-behaved citizen of Trash City going about his business.
His attitude doesn’t help her nerves any.
“Why should I trust you?” The words escape her in a whisper and she wonders if he even heard her until he answers in a low voice past his relaxed smile.
“Why should I risk my life just being with you?” He winks. “Just so you know, I’d be crazy to turn you in. It’s my guess anyone who did so would end up dead, thanks to the Underlord.” He shrugs casually, Didi admiring the way his body moves before she swallows and looks away. “At least, that’s our experience in dealing with the scourge of the galaxy.” He nods to an older lady who smiles back on impulse. He really does have that kind of open allure and charisma. Didi catches her own lips turning up and stops herself by clenching her free hand into a fist, though for the life of her she can’t figure out why she’s still holding onto him with her other.
“I see,” Didi says. “I guess that’s a good reason.”
He laughs, the sound of it making her tingle. “That and I can’t resist a damsel in distress.” His blue eyes are the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. “You are in distress?”
She nods, looks away again as a lump rises in her throat. “How much do you know?”
Bo’s hand tightens ever so slightly, a gesture she takes as sympathy. “Not much,” he says. “Only the scuttlebutt about you. My family received the alert yesterday.”
“I’m looking for my father.” She shouldn’t tell him anything. She has no idea who he really is, though she strongly suspects he’s not trustworthy despite his assurance he won’t turn her in. There are lots of different kinds of trust.
“So that’s what this is about.” Bo sounds satisfied. “There was a rumor about a scientist the Underlord wanted to talk to. But no one knows why or what he’s after.” Her companion glances at her. “Your father, I take it.”
It’s Didi’s turn to shrug. “I guess it must be.”
“Any idea what’s so special about Daddy dearest?” She should take offense to his phrasing, but his words are kind, almost self-mocking. Is he thinking of his own father, maybe? Her mind and heart make the leap.
“No,” she says. “Only that he was working on a new invention.” She touches the pouch in her clothing, reassuring herself about the chip. She catches Bo looking at her hand, but he glances away again. He has no way of knowing what she carries. “Since it was taken too, I can only guess it was about that.”
“And Pops gave you no clue as to why this particular machine of his had value to an Underlord?” Bo slows his steps and waves to a young couple coming toward them. Didi holds her breath as the pair pass, Bo shaking hands with the young man before they continue on, the girl nodding to Didi. They have passed before she can nod back.
“None.” Didi shivers despite the heat of the aging morning. “But I need to find my father. That’s all that matters to me.” She thinks of the gunslinger with regret, of Pip. And pushes them to the back of her mind. Dad has to come first. The other two… well maybe she can find a way to help them when this is over.
“Interesting.” Bo turns her down another alley before releasing her hand and crossing his arms over his chest. “Not that I believe a word you’re saying. But interesting anyway.”
Didi stares up at him, mouth gaping. “Did you just call me a liar?”
He nods, shrugs, grins. “I’m a sucker for a pretty face,” he says. “Yours in particular it seems.” Bo’s arms drop, one hand going to her cheek, to brush hair back. She steps away from him, insulted and hurt and finally shaking loose of this odd charismatic control he’s woven around her. “But I know a liar when I talk to one.”
“Go to hell.” She turns on her booted heels, ready to abandon him and go it alone. Blikey boys and their ruddy arrogance.
“Didi.” She hesitates. “I’m sorry.” She turns back, body betraying her before she can stop herself. He stands there in the dimness, shoulders slumped, hands extended. “Please, forgive me. But I had to test you. Just in case you were lying.”
“Why?” She snaps the word
like a command.
“Silly,” he says. “If I’m going to help you at the risk of my own
life, I have to know you’re telling me everything.” He pauses,
looks purposefully down at her waist, at the pouch where the chip
hides. “You’re not, are you? Telling me everything?”
He’s like magic, this stranger. How does he know? And why ever would he want to help her? He doesn’t even know her.
“You’ve gotten as much from me as you’ve earned,” she says, taking a firm grip on herself. “For someone who threw me headlong into more trouble when I have enough of my own, you’re awfully cocky about this trust business.”
He laughs, shoulders back again. “Fair enough,” he says.
“I didn’t ask for your help, either,” she says. “Nor do I trust a stranger who offers when there’s nothing in it for him.”
Bo’s grin widens. “Who says there isn’t?”
She’s nervous again, looks around, expecting to be jumped or pinned down by strangers. She’s followed him blindly until now, the fool she is. But, no one appears, it’s just the two of them, Bo grinning at her like it’s hilarious.
“I don’t have anything to give you,” she says, stammering the admission.
He holds out his hand again. “I beg to differ,” he says. “See, I’m an enterprising sort. Whatever it is the Underlord wants from your father, it’s bound to be valuable, yes?” She can only assume that’s true. “And, since I have no desire to work for such an unsavory taskmaster, I’ll choose the next best thing.” He tips an imaginary hat at her. “I figure you and that dad of yours will be so grateful when I save the day some kind of sumptuous reward will be in order.”
Didi nods quickly. “Anything I can do, if I can do it.”
He winks, and she feels heat rise in her cheeks. Whatever that expression is on his face, she rather likes the way it makes her body tingle all over again.
“Good then,” he says. “For now, we need to get you to a safe place, cleaned up,” his nose wrinkles slightly and she blushes all over again, “something to eat. And a plan.”
She takes his hand, allows him to pull her along again. “What about the job you had to do?”
“What about it?” His blue eyes catch the light as they reenter the street. “Already done.”
She almost asks when, and realizes the young couple had to have been part of it. “I didn’t even see you pass him anything.”
“Not him,” Bo says with a chuckle. “Her. She picked my pocket.”
Didi shakes her head. “You are a thief, then.”
“Now, now,” Bo says, hurt in his voice. “Not a common thug, thank you. I am a master of my craft. As are most of my family.” He says the word with a hint of bitterness in his voice, just the barest touch. It makes her wonder what he means by family. “But, fear not. They are of equal mind with me. They know better than to mess with the Underlord. If anyone can find out where your father is being held, it’s them.”
She tugs on his hand, stumbling to a halt, forcing a couple of pedestrians to circle around her with odd looks at her. She’s suddenly aware of her state of mess, of the fact there’s a price on her head. They are still in the more run-down part of the city. Anyone here could be on the Underlord’s payroll. Including Bo and his family.
Bo gets her moving again as fear keeps her protests at a minimum. “I know what you’re thinking,” he says. “Just trust me, Didi. They’ll do anything for the right price.”
She shouldn’t. No way, not a chance, she’s daft and foolish to consider it. But she’s exhausted and alone, without anything resembling a plan of her own. And his smile and her hormones urge her to follow.
Knowing she’s a blikey fool, relieved to be doing something, anything, she finds herself going with him anyway, wondering if she’s just lost her mind.
***