Imposter by Chanda Stafford

Author:Chanda Stafford [Stafford, Chanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-04-14T22:00:00+00:00

What You Want

Mira

After Rodney leaves, I start to feel as if the room’s closing in on me. “Would you mind if I went for a walk?”

“Right now?” Eliot peers at her com unit and frowns.

I let out a deep breath. The healing wounds around my head ache, but I resist the urge to rub them. “I need to go and clear my head.”

Eliot sighs. “All right.” She starts to stand up.

“No, please don’t get up.” I give her an apologetic smile. “I’d like to go by myself.”

Ellie tilts her head and studies me. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” I slip on my shoes and cast her one long look. “I’m at the Smith. There are cameras everywhere. It’s probably the safest place I could be.”

She stands up anyway and takes my hands in hers. “There could be danger sitting right in front of you, and you’d never even see it.” The ghost of a smile disappears as she grows solemn again. “The Lifers are not the only danger stalking these halls.”

“Nothing’s going to happen, and if it does, I’ll be fine.”

She arches her eyebrows. “Because you’ve managed to stay out of trouble so far, right?”

I flush. “That’s different.”

“You’re only one person. You can’t handle a whole rebellion that’s out for your blood.”

I pull my hands from hers and grab Ben’s leash from the desk drawer. “You mean they’re not willing to sit down and talk it out with me?” I grin, trying to add some levity into the heavy air.

She grimaces and implores Will with her gaze, but he ignores her and stares blankly out the window. “You make light of a situation that might cost you your life.”

“Why now? Why not try to take me out before the Exchange?”

“They tried, remember?”

Heat creeps up my neck as I remember the aborted kidnapping attempt at Chesaning farms. “Oh, yeah.”

Ben senses my mood and pulls himself to his feet. He whines and nudges my hand with his nose. Without even thinking about it, I rub behind his ears with my fingers. The simple action soothes us both.

“Fine. But if you still insist on your little walk, then at least take someone with you.” She nods at Will.

“If that’s what it takes.” I glare at Will. “If you don’t mind babysitting me, that is.”

Will inclines his head toward me. “As you wish, sir.”

After I stand up, I cluck my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “Come on, boy. Let’s go.” I clip Ben’s leash onto his collar and head for the door with Will trailing behind us.

We walk the halls aimlessly for a while. After a few turns, they all look the same. I steer clear of the lobby and the building’s actual museum parts. I don’t really feel up to tourists staring at me.

After a few minutes, Will clears his throat.

I spin around. “What?”

He schools his face into a blank mask, but I see the flash of surprise at my outburst. “I was just wondering if you had any destination in mind.

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