No Remedy Read online

  Riptide Publishing

  PO Box 1537

  Burnsville, NC 28714

  www.riptidepublishing.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. All person(s) depicted on the cover are model(s) used for illustrative purposes only.

  No Remedy

  Copyright © 2011, 2016 by Christine d’Abo

  Cover art: Lou Harper, louharper.com/design.html

  Editor: Delphine Dryden, delphinedryden.com/editing

  Layout: L.C. Chase, lcchase.com/design.htm

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher, and where permitted by law. Reviewers may quote brief passages in a review. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Riptide Publishing at the mailing address above, at Riptidepublishing.com, or at [email protected].

  ISBN: 978-1-62649-401-5

  Second edition

  May, 2016

  Also available in paperback:

  ISBN: 978-1-62649-402-2

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  For months, Mace Simms has been seeking an antidote for the poison killing her mentor. Her only hope is Alec Roiten, a brilliant scientist hiding on a backwater planet. Posing as a research assistant, Mace offers the elusive genius all the help she can, ignoring the explosive chemistry between them. Soon they’re close to a cure.

  But then Alec’s former love Byron shows up, attempting to claim a bounty on Alec’s head, and all that careful research gets left behind when they’re forced to flee. And when Byron realizes the tip-off about Alec was a ruse by his rivals to lure him out into the open to kill him, the bounty hunt turns into a three-person scramble for survival.

  Byron wants his old lover back, Alec is consumed by a haunting secret about the poison he’s desperate to defeat, and Mace is caught between them. But she’s beginning to think that’s exactly where she belongs as the three are drawn together in their race against death.

  About No Remedy

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Dear Reader

  Also by Christine d’Abo

  About the Author

  More like this

  Mace Simms tugged uncomfortably on her lab coat before slipping into the console chair to initiate the latest in her series of tests. Gods, please let it work this time. Her fingernails bit into the flesh of her palms as the scanner whirled up to full power, pulling the sample into its innards.

  It had taken Mace the better part of three months to become familiar with the procedures Alec insisted she use in his lab. It was only when she could complete them to his satisfaction that he left her alone for more than five minutes at a time. Gods, he was so stubborn. The last thing she wanted was him hanging over her shoulder, questioning her every move.

  The computer hummed pleasantly as it ran the latest chemical analysis of their continued attempts at an antidote for the ryana poison. Gritting her teeth, Mace tried to ignore the persistent memory of her most recent communication with her brother, Gar. She couldn’t bear to recall the look of worry coloring his normally impassive face. Gar’s husband, Faolan—Mace’s captain, mentor, friend—had taken a turn for the worse in recent months. Ryana poison was now attacking his nervous system, turning him from a vivacious man who laughed with everyone into a shell of his former self. They’d hoped for ten years of good health before the poison got to this stage—they’d barely gotten three.

  The computer beeped mournfully, announcing the end of its analysis. Huffing out a breath and shoving her short hair behind her ears, Mace triggered the readout and mentally rattled off the one and only prayer she knew. Numbers and compounds filled the screen, revealing a complex chemical breakdown of the interaction results. She leaned forward, pressing her fingertip to the screen as she followed the lines of text, trying to work out exactly what it meant. It was close—the compound had torn down the poison’s structure, but also destroyed the surrounding cells.

  “Shit.” She fell back into her seat with a groan, pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes. This will kill Faolan faster than the poison.

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  Mace turned her head and watched Alec stride into the room. She shivered as he scratched the back of his neck; her eyes were drawn to the flex of muscles across his arms and chest, barely concealed by his black, short-sleeved shirt. Gods, he was a temptation she hadn’t anticipated when she’d set out to find Faolan’s cure. Having lived on a ship full of men since she was twelve years old, she had learned to control her impulses long before now.

  There was something about Alec, though. He wasn’t loud and boisterous like the pirates on Faolan’s ship, the Belle Kurve. Alec had a quiet strength about him, making him more of a mystery to her than any other person she’d met. And while she wished he would relax enough to let her past the walls he’d erected, she enjoyed the flashes of his sarcastic humor. Slowly he was starting to trust her, even if he still refused to talk about his past.

  Honestly, who was she to criticize him for keeping secrets?

  Crossing her arms, she snorted. “Oh, it worked. It ripped the infected cells to shreds . . . along with the uninfected ones.”

  Alec stood behind her chair, leaning forward until the back of her head pressed against his chest. She glanced up in time to watch him slide his glasses up the bridge of his nose, wondering again why he hadn’t undergone the operation to repair his corneas. He had the resources and credits available to have it done legally. Hell, he could probably perform the bloody operation on himself if he were so inclined.

  Mace looked back at the screen as Alec reached ahead to advance the report. He seemed completely oblivious to how much of his body was pressed against hers. Hell, most of the time he didn’t show any awareness of her except as another functional piece of equipment in his lab. She wasn’t used to being ignored or blending into the background. That was more her brother’s style.

  Gar had been the best and most infamous operative in the Bounty Hunters’ Guild. If he was on the trail of a mark, nobody would know it until he was right on top of them—and then it was too late to do anything but give the hell up. Mace had some of those instincts too. On the other hand, Faolan had taught her the
benefits of seizing life by the throat and living it to its full extent, which usually meant being the center of attention.

  “You’re right. Shit.” Alec’s voice rumbled in his chest. “We’re closer this time, so that’s promising.”

  Mace rolled her eyes. “Sure, if killing the patient is forward progress.”

  “Depends on the patient. If a Sayton happens to ingest the ryana, then we’ll have an antidote ready to go.”

  “Too bad ryana only seems to affect humans.”

  Alec stiffened and pulled back. “Be thankful it isn’t more races.”

  The loss of his contact was as unnerving as his reaction. He always withdrew whenever she tried to talk about the origins of the poison they were studying, and for the life of her, Mace couldn’t figure out why. Sliding her hands over the tops of her thighs, she turned and glanced at him.

  His cropped black hair looked as though he’d been running his hands through it compulsively. He did that when he was stressed about something. He wasn’t wearing his lab coat, but as civilian or scientist, Alec always appealed to her in a way he shouldn’t.

  Damn it. The last thing she needed was to get tangled up in feelings for a man she would inevitably leave when she returned to the Belle Kurve. She would use Alec to get the antidote for Faolan and then she’d get the hell off this stupid planet. She’d deal with her emotions once she knew Faolan was better.

  Allowing herself a final admiring glance at his mussed appearance, she said, “Good old Rusty trying to press you for credits again?” She leaned her elbow against the top of the chair and propped her chin in her hand. “I’m surprised he hasn’t stopped playing bully yet.”

  Mace didn’t know the security officer’s real name and frankly didn’t give a shit. She’d dubbed him “Rusty” based solely on the massive amounts of rust covering the UVA he drove. Planet Naveeo clearly wasn’t high on the Loyalist list of priorities when it came to new equipment. Hell, it was lucky to get the few castoffs it did, given the reputation of most of the colony’s inhabitants.

  Alec’s gaze dropped to her cleavage before quickly snapping back to her face. Those little slips were the only reason she knew he was attracted to her, although he was too professional to ever make a move. And she was too guarded to let him.

  But it felt . . . good.

  Maybe she should let him.

  “Our friend wanted me to pay extra for my not-so-new colleague. Again.” Alec smirked as he nodded his chin in her direction. “Seems it’s hard work to keep the brutes from stealing you away. I set him straight, but if he gives you any trouble, let me know. I’m not going to let him get away with this bullshit any longer.”

  Mace rolled her eyes but sat up straighter. “Next time invite him over for a little sparring. I’d be more than happy to show him how little protection I need.”

  “Not necessary. I showed him the imprint of your foot on my back and told him it was from a month ago.”

  “Liar.” She grinned. “Though it really was a good kick.”

  Alec didn’t respond. His brown gaze slipped again, this time to the side of her neck. Gods, she could almost feel it like a touch on her skin, sending a shiver through her body. He hadn’t shaved yet today, giving him an uncharacteristic ruggedness. Alec stepped closer, and Mace’s breath hitched.

  “How long have you been at this?” He reached out and tapped the tip of his finger against the chair’s top. “I don’t remember seeing you come in this morning.”

  She watched, transfixed, as his light tapping continued. If Alec knew how many hours she’d been working, he would no doubt try to enforce the restrictions he’d previously put in place “for her own good.” His last lecture about overworking herself still stung.

  His tapping increased in speed, but the rhythm remained constant. Mace couldn’t look away as her body relaxed. Something in the back of her mind tickled. Her mouth began to move before she could stop herself.

  “I didn’t go home last night.”

  The words slipped from her without conscious thought. The moment she’d spoken, Alec stopped the tapping, and Mace shook off the spell she’d slipped under. The sudden fog on her brain lifted, and she glared at Alec.

  Alec reached forward and caught her chin in his hand. “Mace, you promised me you weren’t going to bury yourself in this work.”

  What the hell? “I didn’t mean to say that.”

  “Stop trying to deflect. You’ll kill yourself if you continue at this pace. I know, because I’ve seen it happen to enough of my colleagues.”

  “Why did I tell you—”

  “I refuse to sit by and watch you burn yourself out.” Alec sighed as he shifted his hold and brushed his fingers against her jaw. “I’m taking you out to eat.”

  She snapped her mouth shut, frowned, and pulled away from his touch. “What?”

  “Come on, up.”

  “Alec—”

  “Move, Mace. If you expect to keep working for me, you’ll need to learn when to take some time and unwind. Flashes of brilliance can’t happen when you’re exhausted.”

  It was pointless to argue the point, and she got to her feet in defeat. “Says the man who slept here every night for two weeks straight last month.”

  He snorted as he slipped an arm around her waist. “Completely different. And if I remember correctly, you gave me hell for doing that.”

  “As I should have.”

  “Well, consider this payment in kind.”

  Alec towered over Mace as he guided her toward the exit. The last of her argument slipped away. Warmth from his body bled through the thin material of his shirt and her body soaked it in. His tactile nature reminded her so much of Faolan. The pirate captain needed physical contact as a reminder that the ones he loved were still present—still safe. Mace wondered what motivated Alec’s need for touch.

  “I’ve been told,” Alec whispered against her ear as they stepped out into the heat of the twin suns, “that Dail has come up with a new concoction he claims tastes exactly like Hydraxian ale. I suggest we go get a couple of mugs and a plate of narn. Both of us can relax for a change.”

  Mace let Alec lead her through the square comprising the colony center, ignoring her natural impulses to pull away from his protective stance and show him she was more than capable of looking after herself. Despite their occasional sparring rounds, she had managed to maintain her cover as a relatively harmless scientist. As far as Alec was concerned, Mace’s sharp tongue was her deadliest weapon.

  Besides, the bounty on Mace’s head was too big to risk drawing attention to herself.

  “Drinks and narn. Sounds good to me.” She leaned a bit closer as they approached the bar. “But you can keep the ale. I swear Dail slipped something into mine the last time.”

  Laughter greeted them as the door slid open, revealing darkness and the stench of unwashed bodies. Mace cringed but kept moving forward until she found an empty booth to the side of the room. The surface of the seat was pitted and sticky with a residue she thought it best not to examine too closely. If it weren’t for the fact this was the best place in the settlement to get food, she’d never have set foot in here twice.

  Alec dropped into the seat opposite her, and with a quick push of his glasses, leaned across the table. “No arguments. We eat, drink, and then I’m escorting you back to your apartment so you can get some rest.”

  The look of absolute seriousness immediately reminded Mace of her brother, how Gar would get when trying to convince Faolan to lie down or take his medication. Despite her deception, she appreciated Alec’s genuine concern. It was touching. Screw that, it was downright sexy.

  Rolling her eyes, she leaned back and crossed her arms. “Are you going to tuck me in too?”

  They’d done this dance before without it going anywhere. Alec was too much of a gentleman to be anything but the proper boss, but Mace had spent too many years as one of a very few women in a ship full of men to not instigate a little flirting. It wasn’t natural to avoi
d risqué banter.

  Although with Alec it was different. She knew he wouldn’t take her up on it. He was safe.

  This time, though, something flashed in his eyes. “Is that an invitation?”

  Mace tucked the hair that had fallen forward behind her ear again, cocking her head. “Does it matter?”

  “Yes.” His voice sounded rough.

  “You’ve never agreed before.” She caught herself fidgeting and quickly sat on her hands. “Why would this time be different?”

  “You weren’t serious before.”

  Oh. Shit.

  She wasn’t serious now. Was she?

  “Alec! You bastard.”

  Mace’s gaze snapped to Dail as the short Cybrax waddled in their direction.

  She smiled at Alec’s sigh and silently thanked the obnoxious bar owner for saving her from confronting her rising attraction to Alec. Now wasn’t the time to give in to her lust. She was still too far away from getting her hands on a cure.

  “Dail, I thought you were off-world.” Alec seemed amused enough to almost sound friendly.

  The Cybrax made a high-pitched squeak that Mace recognized as his equivalent of a snort. “Is that why I find you gracing my establishment?” Dail reached over and lifted Mace’s hand to his lips. “And you brought your beautiful assistant as well. I am truly honored.”

  Slimy lips smeared across her skin, sending a shiver of disgust through her. “I’ve been told you have new ale,” she managed to say with a smile. “The temptation was too much for me to resist.”

  Dail let loose another squeak. “You need to improve your dissembling abilities, my dear. You’ve far too honest a face for anyone to believe your lies.”

  Mace found it hard not to laugh. Instead she simply shrugged and gave him a small smile. “What can I say? My parents raised me to always tell the truth.”

  Never mind that both her parents had been murdered and she’d been taught to lie by the best pirate in the sector.

  Alec growled softly as he liberated Mace’s hand from Dail. “If you think you can tear yourself away from molesting my assistant, we could stand to have some food and drink. But if you can’t provide us with any, we can try over at Dominars.” Alec smirked.