Rogue Pursuit: A Space Opera Adventure (Shades of Starlight Book 1) by B.L. Dean

Author:B.L. Dean [Dean, B.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2023-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

17

Tai should’ve been shocked. Instead, what he felt was disgust with himself for not seeing the truth sooner.

How stupid had he been, falling for Perrin’s lies? Falling for her? Clearly his mother had been right. He wasn’t ready for field work if a pretty face, quick tongue, and adventurous spirit were enough to blind him to the truth.

Why had she agreed to help him? Did she do more than smuggle? Was she part of the revolution?

A cauldron of fury simmered inside him.

To hide his emotion, he asked, “I don’t suppose she brings firedraught? I could use a drink.”

His neighbor slapped Tai’s back. “Good man. Haven’t had a case of that in a while, but there’s some right fine Amber whiskey.” He lifted a hand, and a girl brought out drinks.

Tai ignored the whiskey, but the request had kept the pirates from noticing his distraction.

Time to end this.

As soon as he had a solid hand, Tai bet aggressively. Three hands later, he held his strongest cards yet. He slow-played the betting before going all in. It was a risk—one weapon, but four highly rated people with top hand-to-hand skills that had impressed him.

Learning the truth about Perrin had given him the push he needed to be ruthless. If the other player had any large weapons, his people might be in trouble. But he was done with pirates and their games.

His anger somehow fed his players below. One took on the tigercat with nothing more than a stunner, while the others coordinated an attack on three opposing players firing a plasma cannon. After several minutes and a good deal of bloodshed, Tai won. The crowd roared, and the other players applauded him. His team was allowed to go free, and they craned their heads back and saluted him.

Despite helping four people win freedom, he felt dirty, itchy. Like his skin fit too tight.

In his quest to prove he was a good guy, was he becoming no better than the bad guys he wanted to catch?

He shoved away from the table. “Are we done here?”

No one stopped him as he marched out.

Digger cornered him in the walkway outside the arena. “Who are you?” His words were blunt, no hint of his earlier showiness.

“No fancy language, pirate?”

“Need I remind you where you are, stranger?” Digger crossed massive arms over his chest.

“I’m no one.”

“You’re a bold card player. Who are you to the girl you’ve been asking questions about?”

“A travel companion.” Tai bit out the words. “One-time thing.”

“You’re mighty curious about her.”

“I like to know who I’m working with.”

“You didn’t before?”

“Apparently not. But what she does when we aren’t working together is not my concern.”

Not yet, anyway.

“What I wonder is how you seem to know her?” Tai pressed.

“Do I? That act always works with pretty girls.”

Tai scowled.

“Oh, you’re not with her, are you? You don’t seem her type.”

“And you are?”

“Worth a shot.”

Tai knew the man was needling him on purpose and swallowed his grunt.

Digger pulled a knife from his belt and used the tip to clean his fingernails.

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