Blood Money: A Galactic Empire Space Opera Series (Mercenary Warfare Book 2) by Zen DiPietro

Author:Zen DiPietro [DiPietro, Zen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781943931125
Publisher: Parallel Worlds Press
Published: 2017-09-30T06:00:00+00:00

6

When he woke, Nagali had already left, leaving her bunk neatly made. How had she done that with him asleep in the bottom bunk? The only clues of her presence left in her wake were a scarlet robe hung over the edge of her bunk and the faint scent of strawberries. Her signature scent.

Had she left to give him privacy or because she had tasks to attend to? He’d thought he had her pegged, but now he questioned everything.

It was exhausting.

He dressed in the cramped necessary, which was no treat but a better option than having her return to find him naked. He couldn’t discount that she might do that intentionally, either.

He felt a little bad to have a bunk, narrow as it was, as well as quarters assigned to him, even though he had to share them. He’d suggested to Anja, one of the Atalans who had taken a leadership role for the group, that perhaps some of her people might prefer to stay in quarters. She had politely declined, saying they were accustomed to sleeping together en masse, and would feel isolated if closed into quarters by themselves.

They’d at least created more space in the cargo hold so the entire group could be together again, rather than spread across the ship. Cargo now occupied some unusual spaces, but for now, the solution worked.

The only place for six people to reasonably meet was now the mess hall, provided none of their guests were using it. As Cabot had breakfast, the other five filtered in. First Doony and Roma, who didn’t seem entirely comfortable in each other’s presence, then Nagali, Omar, and Peregrine arrived in quick succession.

Cabot left the briefing of the newcomers to Peregrine. She had the most experience in such things, and the kind of intimidation that would keep Romo in line, should he decide he wasn’t as enamored of Nagali as she thought he was.

“So that’s where we are,” Peregrine announced in summation. “We need to locate my associate Arcy, as well as get to the bottom of this slaving ring. Thoughts?” She looked from Doony to Romo.

Doony’s lined face had gone from serious to grim. “I hadn’t heard about a slaving ring so close to PAC space. I have some contacts below, people I trade with when I come out this way. Best way to get info is to go to the surface and talk in person. Pretend I know about what’s going on and am looking to move some flesh, if the price is right.” His lip curled. “Not that I’m looking forward to associating with such people.”

Peregrine looked to Cabot.

“Doony’s old enough and grizzled enough to be taken seriously. I’m not dirty enough, but this guy can get it done.” Cabot had no doubts about his skills, but one of his rules of sales was that you always sent the right person to do the job.

“I’m dirty enough,” Nagali announced. “I’m known for leaving my own husband to die, along with a few other things we need not talk about.

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