FreedomofThree by Liberty Stafford Page A

not fair of you to blackmail me like that. What makes you think I’m going to stop just because I’m in love? I can multi-task, you know.”
    Hans knew his sister well. “You won’t let it lie until we go, will you?”
    “No, and if you don’t go with me, I’ll go alone.”
    “Shit, Brandy. Alright! Women,” Hans muttered under his breath, resetting his course. “I’ll get in touch with Thorn.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Twenty-One
    Destiny
     
     
    As Hans expertly slid his cruiser into the massive parking area of Botanica, he noticed a fine looking ship parked there and imagined it must belong to a film star. He had never seen a golden ship before, let alone one with a jaguar’s head on it. He parked his own rough and ready ship a little way away, feeling the contrast bite.
    “You wait here,” Brandana told him. “I’ll be back soon.”
    “I thought I’d stretch my legs, have a look round.”
    “Not yet, Hans. I know you. Once you get into the resort, you’ll disappear and I might need you. There are too many pretty women and crazy things to do here. Just you wait for a while, please, this is important to me.”
    “Alright!” Hans felt more and more frustrated; he needed some time to cut loose.”Don’t be long. And good luck!”
    Almost as soon as Brandana stepped through the sliding glass doors of the grand entrance and under the virtual waterfall, she sensed that something was wrong. Other holidaymakers were not smiling or moving and there was a spiky tension in the air. She stopped in her tracks and looked around, trying to figure out exactly what was happening.
    The only movement came from a drunken Ratt Pirate soldier who was causing trouble whilst on his general rounds. He staggered around with his pistol dangerously unsheathed. His aura emitted extreme aggression, tempered by the alcohol which had made him silly. Then, in the corner of her eye, Brandana noticed a tall, graceful, stunningly beautiful woman dressed in tight blue jeans, small high heeled boots, a black cashmere sweater adorned by several stunning pieces of diamond jewellery. She was moving like a tigress stalking prey in the savannah; slowly, almost imperceptibly apart from another hunter.
    Their eyes met. In that split second, they made a silent agreement to attack the Ratt Pirate together somehow.
    “You!” the Ratt Pirates spat at Brandana, “Keep still! I’m still waiting for my drink.”
    “Alright,” Brandana said soothingly. “Don’t I know you?”
    “What?” he reeled at her with his pistol dancing dangerously in all directions.
    “Haven’t I seen you in a film or something?” she teased flirtatiously.
    “No!” he growled.
    Brandana continued to flirt with him shamelessly, her eyelids batting, lips smiling, showing him that he could if he wanted to. “Are you sure? You look really familiar.”
    He approached her, his demeanour shifting from aggressive to aroused. “Perhaps you could join me for a drink? I’m famous for one thing among friends,” he hiccupped, breathing sourly upon her. “I’ve got an enormous…”
    He slipped to the floor with a thud. While Brandana kept him occupied, Raniko had sneaked up silently behind and hit him with a heavy brass candlestick from the desk.
    “Pleased to meet you,” Raniko offered Brandana her slim hand with a diamond ring in the shape of a jaguar. “My name’s Raniko.”
    “Good to meet you, too,” Brandana shook her hand firmly. “I’m Brandana. I like your moves.”
    Raniko twitched her eyebrows proudly. “Back at you,” she stepped out of the small pool of Ratt Pirate blood which was forming around her feet.
    “Listen, I’m here on business but perhaps we could meet up for lunch before I leave?” Brandana asked with a view to persuading Raniko into a role within the rebellion. She was sure that Devon would not mind waiting. What Brandana did not know was that Raniko was thinking the exact same thing, the bounty hunter having traced the