The slap was loud, magnified by the silence that followed.

"I hate you," Meegat said.

"Well, well," Avon said, ignoring the red mark on his face. "You actually have a spine. I'm impressed. You may not be a liability after all." Part of him mourned at the death of her innocence, but he strangled it ruthlessly. They couldn't afford it.

If she hadn't sneaked on board, things would have been a lot simpler.