Daggertail Read Online Free Page A

Tavish's skin. The voice belonged to a strikingly beautiful woman, whose curvaceous body leaned lightly, arms crossed, against a piece of machinery. Her ebony braid reached her waist, and brilliant cobalt eyes watched her with far more understanding than Tavish was comfortable with.
    Xave snorted. “Tavish, Lola. Lola, Tavish.”
    Tavish swallowed around the lump that had formed in her throat. She'd never in her life been more aware of how trashy she looked. She could only imagine what kind of conclusions this picture-perfect woman had drawn.
    Lola rolled her eyes. “Nice intro, Xave. Didn't your mama teach you any manners?”
    He grunted and turned to gather his gear.
    “Welcome, Tavish,” Lola said. “I'm in charge of babysitting the bondsmen. I feed them, change their nappies, make sure they eat their vegetables…”
    Xave growled something unintelligible without looking up.
    Tavish managed a nod, trying to straighten her appearance as discreetly as possible.
    “You could probably use some food.” One side of Lola's mouth quirked upward. “And maybe a fresh change of clothes? I can't imagine Xave let you have time to pack a bag or anything.”
    Tavish cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
    Lola motioned her down the ramp. “C'mon then, follow me.”
    Xave continued to rummage about the cabin of the Daggertail , not even sparing her a glance. Deep down, Tavish had known their acquaintance would be short, but now it was obviously over, and a brief sense of internal panic descended. Xave might not think much of her, but he was the only one she knew outside of Fat Louie's.
    Tavish tossed one last hopeful look over her shoulder. Unfortunately, he was either consumed by his work or ignoring her on purpose. Squashing down her disappointment, she carefully navigated the ramp in her awkward, strappy heels.
    Lola tilted her head to one side. She kept looking at both Tavish and Xave in turns, a strange expression creasing the smooth skin between her arched eyebrows.
    “Keep that stare of yours to yourself, Lola,” Xave growled. “And mind your own business for once.”
    Lola's cobalt eyes narrowed, and she shot a frown at Xave's broad back. “C'mon, Tavish. I'll drop you at Meddac while I find you some fresh clothing.”
    “I really don't need any medical attention.”
    “Warrick insists, which pretty much means you've got no choice.”
    Resigned, Tavish left Xave and the Daggertail behind to follow Lola through an air lock into a massive, sprawling structure.
    “Don't fall behind, honey. The place is one big maze with no prize in the middle.”
    Tavish wrapped her arms around her body. The corridors of the Stone Cold Bondsmen's base were freezing and dimly lit, though clean and free of the usual clutter she was used to seeing inside Fat Louie's. She lost track of how many twists and turns Lola made before she stopped in front of a wide, double-paneled doorway.
    “I'll just let Doc know we've arrived.” Lola pressed a red button beside the door.
    Tavish yelped in surprise when the image of a woman dressed in a vintage nurse's uniform popped up in front of the door.
    “S'okay,” Lola said. “It's just Doc. Warrick's a big fan of programming his holos in outdated Earth fashions. This one's from the early part of the twentieth century. He swears it was a sexy look, but I can't see how stiff white skirts and ugly shoes could possibly be attractive. So I figure it's all part of his questionable sense of humor.”
    Tavish felt silly, but she couldn't shake the edgy feeling that her life had changed right before her eyes.
    Of course it had changed. Had she ever thought to leave Fat Louie's in anything other than a funeral transport? Yet here she was on another planet after being hijacked by some strange bondsman who seemed to have scruples. Who'd have ever thought? Certainly not Tavish.
    “Doc is our holographic doctor,” Lola said. “She'll run a few scans and treat whatever pops up while I find you fresh clothes and