Outlaw Rising by Kate Sheeran Swed

Author:Kate Sheeran Swed
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spells & Spaceships Press

CHAPTER 8

Still half leaning against the middleman, Sloane lunged, making a grab for the data key as it arched toward the floor. She dove for it, knocking over a chair, and snatched it in the last instant, palming the chip just as the man practically shoved her aside so he could drop to his knees to search for it.

He might look forgettable, but the man hadn’t even flinched at the onset of fireworks that he had to know weren’t on the schedule for tonight.

“I’m so sorry!” Sloane chattered as she pretended to search, keeping the key wedged between her thumb and palm as she patted the floor. If only ballgowns had sleeves to hide things in.

It was unlikely the man could hear was she was saying over the bursts of fireworks that Vin was dropping from the Moneymaker, but it felt like it was worth the effort to keep her lips moving. “I was just dancing, and then the fireworks… I can’t believe how clumsy I am!”

He was growing desperate, now, shooting looks back toward the Commander, though Sloane didn’t dare pause in her feigned search to see what Fortune’s response was. “Never mind, miss,” the middleman shouted. “I’ll find it.”

Miss. Right. Sloane shook her head, still prattling on about how clumsy she was, and crawled straight under the nearest table. Hidden by the gold-threaded cloth—and grateful that the fireworks had evacuated this table—she jammed the data key into the heel of her shoe. The tablecloth wasn’t quite thick enough to block out the flash of the fireworks, which were still exploding close enough to rattle the table. She could feel them vibrating through the floor.

At least it was clean down here. Someone had definitely given the floor a good polish.

Someone tugged at the tablecloth behind her, and Sloane kicked him away with her free shoe. “I think I see it,” she shouted, though really there was no way to know if anyone could hear.

“Finish it up,” she muttered.

If anyone answered through the bud, she couldn’t hear it. A beat passed, and the sequins on the shoes blinked green. That was quick. “Uploaded,” she whispered.

“Confirmed.” This time, she heard the response loud and clear—Alex, she thought. Sloane hadn’t even realized the scientist was participating in this mission, aside from making the shoes, even though she’d been present at the planning meeting.

When Sloane crawled out from under the table, there was a hand waiting to help her to her feet, and she looked up to see Commander Fortune peering down at her, concern plain in his gray eyes. He wasn’t quite as old as she’d thought when she’d seen him from across the room—must’ve been the glare of all those medals shining in her eyes—but his dark hair was flecked with gray, and lines were beginning to set in at the corners of his eyes.

She couldn’t imagine the concern that deepened those wrinkles could possibly mean he was actually worried about her. He must be thinking about the data.

Or about the fact that he still had his hand extended while she stared up at him like a fish.

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