Things have changed on the Bell, thanks to the war. Luca finds herself doing some pretty colorful runs for the Carnes Syndicate these days, beginning with a little weapons smuggling. It's not the smuggling that's dangerous, though.It's the thugs following her that catch her first mate's attention. Emery Charles trained for years to do the Empire's dirty work, and he did it without flinching. His refusal to bring in the captain of the Carry Bell gets a bounty on his head, and a swarm of operatives out to do the job. Now, they have to find a way out of this rat's maze of spies, war and biological weapons alive. Falling in love is bound to complicate everything, but he's not sure he has another option.