Shadowrun - 27 - Headhunters by Odom Mel

Author:Odom, Mel [Odom, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

32

The silence that followed Archangel’s question about Emma deepened quickly and uncomfortably.

“Archangel,” Trey said quietly, setting his wine glass aside, “I think—”

“No,” she said with force, without turning from the lock she held with Skater’s eyes. “I didn’t ask what you thought, Cullen.” She was polite, but her tone offered no room for negotiation.

“Actually, it’s none of your business,” Skater said. He was aware that the answer came from anger rather than the cool detachment he wished for. He didn’t like being unprofessional, but he also thought it was an unprofessional question. “She’s my daughter.”

“A few months back,” Archangel said evenly, “you asked all of us to risk our hoops to get her for you. We did.”

“Maybe you should cut Jack some slack here,” Elvis said quietly.

“Slot off,” Archangel said just as quietly. “I’ve got a right to know. So do you.”

“Why?” Skater demanded. “Because of all the biz that went down a few months ago? Drek, how long am I going to owe that to you? Because if it’s going to be awhile, let’s agree on a price and let me pay it. I don’t need this drek.” Archangel’s features softened and a sheen filled her eyes. “Fraggit, Jack, it’s not because of what happened a few months go. That has nothing to do with it. It would make as much sense for any one of us to figure out who had saved whose hoop last on a run. That’s all history. What I’m looking at is going on right now.”

“I can’t help your feelings,” Skater started, “this is my prob—”

“It’s not about my feelings,” Archangel said irritably. “It’s not even about Emma’s. It’s about yours, and you’re so damn mudbrained you can’t see that.”

Skater tried to say something, then realized he didn’t know what he could say.

“You lead this team, Jack,” she said. “And we follow you. Sure, it doesn’t have to be that way, but that’s the way all of us want it or we wouldn’t be here. When you took Emma on, we knew there’d be some changes. There were. We’ve adapted. We’ve pulled our weight, and we’ve pulled yours when you were worried about your daughter.”

Her words hit Skater like a slap in the face. He’d been on his own, responsible to no one, for years. He wanted to say something, even if it was only invective straight from the simmering cesspool that had leaped full-blown into his mind. But he didn’t trust his voice. He made himself glance around at the other members of the team. Wheeler and Trey looked away and wouldn’t meet his eyes. Elvis shrugged helplessly in silent support. Duran’s gaze was flat, implacable.

After awhile, Skater found his voice. “Maybe it’d be better if we just shelved this arrangement here. You can make your own decision about the meet with the Johnson and handle it yourselves.”

“Chill, kid,” Duran said. “That’s not what she’s getting at.”

“Frag off,” Archangel told the ork. “I know what I’m trying to say.”

“Look,” Duran said, swiveling on

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