The Risen Gods (The Impossible Future, Book 2) by Frank Kennedy

Author:Frank Kennedy [Kennedy, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-22T16:00:00+00:00

T HE LAST TIME MICHAEL WAS MAGNETIZED to a still-seat, he slept for two hours. He refused to make that mistake again.

“I got to be ready for anything,” he told Sammie. “They need to know I can hold my own.”

An hour before they boarded the shuttle for destination unknown, they sat alone in Rikard’s bedroom. Sammie handed him the same pistol she took off him after the battle at the IDF. The same one he never fired even as their lives neared the brink.

“You have nine rounds,” she said. “If this goes bad, keep count. Make every shot matter. If you use them all, we’re in huge trouble.”

He sucked in his pride and asked for a refresher on how to hold and fire the weapon. Sammie also demonstrated the safety.

“I appreciate how you feel about killing.” She leaned against him. “But if we’re going on this quest with Jamie, we can’t avoid it. There’s as many Chancellors who want the Jewels dead as alive.”

“Hell, I knew that before I crossed the Albion County line. I get it, Sammie. We’re in a war. Guns, bombs, nukes. Whatever suits.”

“I believe in you, Michael. You saved my life when you killed Christian. You can hold your own.”

Michael did not mind her sounding like the older, wiser mentor.

“Sammie, there’s something I ain’t been able to put into words yet, but I need to say.” He grabbed her hand. “First few times I met you, I figured you for a cold fish. One of these smug little Daddy’s girls. The type who figure other kids got to bow down…”

She smirked. “A bitch, you mean?”

“That’s the one. Damned if I understood why J hung out with you. You turned out to be all right, and I don’t mean cause of the Wonder Woman shit. You got a big damn heart, and you ain’t in it just for yourself. You could take easy street right now. You heard Ophelia’s offer. All that money and power and…” He choked up. “I figured you’d drop us in a heartbeat when you made the Chancellor big time. But you’re putting every-damn-thing on the line.”

He squirmed. “Anyway, I just wanted you to know.”

He kissed her on the cheek. As he pulled back, he hesitated. Maybe it was the lighting, or maybe he was a fool. Something in her eyes? Either way, he couldn’t help himself.

“Last time I kissed a girl… proper kiss, on the lips… I got slapped. You, uh, you remember Wynona Smirnett?”

Sammie grimaced. “Wynona? You kissed her?”

“Yeah. Seemed like a good idea till it weren’t. Anyway, what I was thinking was, if I died today and that was my last kiss… well, hell, that don’t seem the proper way to go. If you get my speed.”

She did.

They met at the lips. Tender, quiet, long enough to cherish.

When they parted and shared lingering smiles, she said:

“Just for the record. The first few times I met you, I thought you were an idiot.”

“You thought right.”

Now, as he stood next to her in a still-seat, Michael appreciated the moment they shared, especially if it was the last.

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