Ash Like Vengeance by J.L. Delavega

Author:J.L. Delavega
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781648983580
Publisher: City Owl Press

THIRTY-SEVEN

TESLA

Raleigh returns to the table with a platter of roasted sausage, potatoes, eggs, and peppers, still steaming from the cast iron he cooked it all in.

“Have I ever told you how much I appreciate a man who cooks?” I say. “It’s a very attractive quality. I don’t like my coffee on an empty stomach.”

“I approve of the handcar you got for us,” Leagan says from behind her book. “It’s beefy, not the bastard one rolling around with the maintenance crew in Damascus.”

“Well, sweet Jezebel.” Raleigh sits back. “Lady Nasty is in a good mood this morning too. Mark the calendar.”

“Oh, you know what the secret route to her heart is,” I say.

“Death.” Leagan turns another page.

“Food,” I whisper.

“You know I wouldn’t get something less than alkaline for you,” Raleigh says. “Steam-powered, lady. Nobody wants to pump or pedal a handcar all night.”

“You’re both wrong,” Leagan says. “The only reason I’m happy is because we’re going to get Adelaide back. Then I’m finally going to see the West Rim.”

“Sooner rather than later, my dear.”

“Well, neither of you are going to guess what stunning piece of information I came by this cycle,” Raleigh says. “Would you like to hear it now or wait for Navy?”

“Now.” I glance at my pocket watch. “It’s only seven. She won’t be awake for a few more hours.” And I don’t want to wait.

Raleigh flicks his tongue across his lip, light flaring through his blue eyes.

“Oh.” I lean forward. “This is juicy.”

Leagan finally lowers her book.

“Yes, it is. You will kiss me. Not you though.” He wrinkles his nose at Leagan’s black lipstick. “I have it on good authority an Exodus Ironclad is coming to the Rim.”

It rises slowly, my laugh, desire blooming like Solace flowers as Raleigh’s grin stretches.

“Told you.”

“You’d better not be lying to me, because it’s far too early in the day for rude jokes, sir.”

“Oh, I’d never joke about Exodus products. It’s against my religion.”

The last time an Ironclad came through must have been…well, shit, a long time ago, because I can’t remember.

“On a scale of Green to my mother, how reliable is this authority?”

“It’s my contact within the Exodus shipping line. The man behind every bullet you ever hauled for me. We’ve been doing business together six Seasons. It would be a tremendously odd moon for him to lie to me now.”

I don’t want to get too excited over a farce rumor. But too late, I’m all fluttery inside. Fool’s gold, if we took an Ironclad…

“I will kiss you.” I stand to plant one on his upturned cheek. “When is she coming, and where is she headed?”

“It’s a private order, not stock going up for auction.”

“I can think of only one operation with enough melded resources to afford that. I bet I can guess.”

“I bet you can.”

I bump Leagan under the table. “I told you I’d get another train.”

She smiles back. “I like it.”

“Along with the other thing we discovered, we’re going to be some very busy women.”

“Other thing?” Raleigh says.

“Green has kindly been keeping track of all his business partners coming and going.

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