Trust Is a Fickle Business E-Book

Cara Lee

• Herausgeber: Cara Lee
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

All aid is not kind.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~After Raleigh stumbled out of her native universe, she suppressed the memory files of her time as a soldier. She and two other refugees from other universes rent an apartment together, pooling resources and helping each other cope with living in a somewhen other than the ones they’d grown up in.But their native universes haven’t forgotten them. Raleigh had to kill one roommate’s bioengineered sister just yesterday—and, in the process, she had to activate far more of her built-in tech than she’s used since entering the somewhen she’s living in.Her old captain’s been waiting for her to do that.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~A sci-fi novella featuring people who have escaped a bad situation, and who may or may not have reached a better one.· • · • · • ·E-book has two versions of the story: one with salty language and one without.

Leseprobe

displaced shadows 002

Trust Is a Fickle Business

Cara Lee

First Edition

Copyright 2016

All Rights Reserved

After Raleigh stumbled out of her native universe, she suppressed the memory files of her time as a soldier. She and two other refugees from other universes rent an apartment together, pooling resources and helping each other cope with living in a somewhen other than the ones they’d grown up in.

But their native universes haven’t forgotten them. Raleigh had to kill one roommate’s bioengineered sister just yesterday—and, in the process, she had to activate far more of her built-in tech than she’s used since entering the somewhen she’s living in.

Her old captain’s been waiting for her to do that.

(A novella that’ll take about 1.3 hours to read, for the average reader.)

This is a work of fiction. All people, places, and events are made up or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Any referenced trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners, and their use speaks only to the characters’ opinions, not to the product.

Jenga® is a registered trademark of Pokonobe Associates and was invented by Leslie Scott. Author enjoys the game, but she has no association or affiliation with the company.

If the e-book you’re reading wasn’t bought for your use specifically, please respect the author and either delete or pay for the e-book. Thanks!

Cover Designed by the Author

Foreground Image © outsider - www.kozzi.com

Background Image © Flavio Takemoto (flaivoloka) - freeimages.com

This e-book contains two versions of the story, for the sake of anyone who wants “clean” rather than “bad” verbiage.

Author’s Edition(rated M)Authorized Cut(rated T)

Trust Is a Fickle Business

Authors Edition

(rated M)

TamLin outright preferred when others disliked or feared him, but as he stared at the flushed face of the petite woman lying on his guest rooms bed, he felt disgusted at his own actions.

He pulled himself back from her, from the bed, and stood. Sorry.

Thirddamn it, he had to call her Second, nowpropped herself up on her elbows and tilted her head and hid her hooded eyes with her lashes, but the tentative fingers she raised to feel her swollen lips said more than she likely realized. Intimacy was forbidden, to Nameless like her. Even a hug wouldve been foreign, and kissing went a bit beyond that.

He was an ass.

Why? she asked.

Why had he kissed her, or why had he pulled back? Or was she asking why he liked her, when he didnt get along with the version of her from the same universe he was?

He shook his head and plucked her equipment belt off the floor, where hed dropped it after testing how far she was willing to trust him. He tossed it toward her and adjusted his own clothes, ridding himself of whatever rumples hed picked up and double-checking that everything was still fastened. He thought it was, but

He hadnt been that much of an ass, to his relief.

When he looked back at the young woman, Third/Second was still holding her belt.

Her sleeveless shirt had rucked up enough for a scar on her stomach to catch his eye. He was tracing it with a finger before he realized what he was doing.

Damn pulsar. It was the safest option that helped his cluster headaches, but the reduced inhibitions werent good for someone like him. Secrets and lies belonged in the dark, and someone had to keep them there.

For Seconds part, she drew a long, determined breath, then let it out in a huffbut she belted her equipment back on. Her fingers brushed against his.

He pulled his hand back, far more reluctantly than was wise.

Thirdthat was to say, Second, or whatever the hell he had to call her so he wouldnt accidentally get her euthanized by her own familylifted her chin. Thank you.