Crash Deluxe Read Online Free Page B

matter if he had?
    What did I want to do?
    The short answer was that I wanted to find out the truths behind Dis so bad that nothing else mattered. Roo had died. Punters had died. My life had been reduced to the status of a rat in a cage.
    I wanted my life back.
    And to make it worse, thanks to the Eskaalim mucking about with my libido the thought of posing as an Amorato wasn’t entirely repulsive. But I wasn’t telling anyone that.
    Let Teece think he’d had a win.
    ‘Jeez, grrl, you get a sex change or something? Why you wearing a skirt?’ a voice behind me enquired.
    I cogged the voice instantly so I didn’t draw my pistol.
    Maybe I should have.
    Instead I swivelled, beer in hand. Casual. ‘What do you want, Mei?’ I didn’t waste pleasantries on her - we had too much history.
    She stood with hands on hips, breasts peeking out of a halter top. Tight pants and tottery high heels completed the look. Loyl Daac’s loyal shaman and part-time . . . whatever . . .
    I resisted the urge to bare my teeth and snap. Due to a ‘spiritual’ experience, Mei Sheong and I had wound up with some type of mind bond. Along with everything else that was weighing on me, I now needed an exorcism from that.
    She eyed off my skirt and heels. ‘Miracles.’
    I couldn’t help myself - her second taunt had me clenching my fingers just short of my piece.
    A rifle bolt clicked across the other side of the room.
    His Majesty Loyl-me-Daac .
    I heard it because Hein’s had gotten dangerously quiet. The locals knew the deal with Loyl and me.
    ‘Easy.’ Teece took one step and was breathing in my ear.
    ‘Leave Mei alone, Parrish,’ ordered Loyl.
    ‘Do as he says,’ Teece urged me from the side.
    Surely by now these boys knew better than to tell me?
    ‘Why?’ I growled.
    ‘There’s something you don’t know,’ he said.
    Mei heard our whispered interchange, winked at me, and twirled confidently on her heel. She sauntered over to the door and stood next to the man with the rifle, slipping her hand possessively onto his hip.
    With extreme difficulty I unclenched my fist and moved my beer along the bar, trying to ignore how Daac’s lean physique and unnaturally handsome face sent loudspeaker messages of desire to my brain. His hair had grown and I liked it. Dead straight, black water-silk falling in his eyes. This man had lied to me and used me and my heart still did cartwheels on demand. His demand.
    I forced myself to speak coldly, icing down my stupid, long-suffering admiration. ‘You should teach your pets some manners, Loyl,’ I said.
    Daac lowered the rifle and frowned. ‘What are you wearing? You look ridiculous.’
    I felt like he’d punched me in the stomach.
    I didn’t like my new look either, but I didn’t want him agreeing with me.
    What was his problem?
    And as for his tone . . . he seemed more annoyed with me than usual.
    ‘What do you want?’ I sighed.
    ‘I brought you a present,’ he said, staring uncomfortably hard.
    ‘Hand-delivered?’
    ‘It’s that sort of thing.’
    He had me then.
    I nodded to Larry. ‘Drink for the guests.’
    Loyl threw me a mocking smile, lowered his piece and stalked to the bar. ‘How kind.’
    Hein’s clientele relaxed collectively and the murmur of normal conversations reignited.
    I soaked it in for a second. That sound was the sound of home.
    Loyl leaned on the bar next to me and looked around.
    ‘Tomas.’ He nodded at Teece on my other side. Teece and Loyl had a family connection but no good mutual sentiment.
    ‘And . . . who’s this?’ His stare slid way too appreciatively over Honey tucked under Teece’s arm.
    She stared back, lips parted, awestruck by Mr Brave-and-Beautiful. Not quite panting, but nearly.
    I couldn’t tell who was more annoyed by it - Mei, Teece or me.
    Mei , I decided.
    The chino-shaman wedged herself between Honey and Loyl with a fierce look on her face. I should have laughed.
    We sucked down our drinks as if it might ease the tension.
    Nup.
    Loyl