Read Online Beloved Stranger: Gaian Series, Book 5 by Janet Miller - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Janet Miller
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resort rather than a prison. Given the fact that you couldn’t leave the bubble without special equipment that she was sure would be hard to get hold of, or get to the spaceport without going through extensive security, the place was still a cage. But she had to admit it was a very comfortable cage.
She pondered what to do next. Roan had said this was a residential bubble, so maybe she would have to go to a different bubble to find the information she needed. She knew mining was the principle activity of the colony, but perhaps there was manufacturing as well. Some of the goods must be made here. Also, there had to be offices someplace.
If only she had a map of the colony so she knew what bubbles were where. Another thing she could have gotten from Roan before she’d left.
Suddenly, exhaustion dragged through her. It had been a long time since she’d slept, and even she had her limits. The strain of the marriage meet, the sleepless night before, making love to Roan—all she wanted now was a soft bed to rest in. She eyed the building behind her. Inside had been private dressing rooms and showers complete with linens. She could take a couple of towels and pile them on a metal bench in a room and get a couple hours nap until morning.
This late at night she hadn’t seen anyone about, no one to follow or ask questions of. She hadn’t seen or heard anyone since leaving Roan’s apartment. Once there were people about, she would find a way into one of the other bubbles.
Sonja was just about to move when she heard the sound of boot steps on the path behind her. Turning, she saw a pair of men in the same kind of uniforms the official at the marriage meet had been wearing, but olive-green instead of blue. One was tall and thin, the other short and somewhat round. They didn’t look happy and stood with stunners already drawn and aimed at her.
Fracking hell. That’s what she got for thinking about her temporary husband instead of paying attention to her surroundings.
The tall one spoke. “It’s after two o’clock. What are you doing out past curfew?”
“I’m sorry.” Sonja raised her hands slowly. “I’m new and didn’t know there was a curfew. I couldn’t sleep and was just taking a walk.”
“New?” The man’s hard stare moved over her slowly, up, then down. “You mean one of the brides? You don’t look the part.”
“She has a band.” His partner pointed to her wrist and the narrow band she had decided not to remove. Sonja congratulated herself for her foresight there.
The man frowned. “Yes, but when was the last time you saw a bride dressed like that?”
“I’d say she’s dressed more like a spy than a wife,” his partner said, equally non-smiling. “Maybe we should take her to the office for questioning.”
Sonja tensed. If they took her in, they’d no doubt search her and find her tools and stunner, and once that happened her cover would be blown. She considered whether she could get her hands on her stunner fast enough to disable both of them before they could get her.
Or maybe she could use her knives instead. Trouble was neither man looked like he could be taken off guard long enough for her to get to her weapons before one of them stunned her. She started to lower her hands, hoping they wouldn’t notice.
She was still plotting her actions when a familiar voice came from behind her. “Barnat, Earny. How are you tonight?”
Turning her head, she saw Roan come from the other side of the building. He was dressed as she was, all in black from head to toe.
Some of the tension eased from the men in front of her. “Hello Duman,” the tall one said. “What are you doing out?”
“Looking for my wife, Barnat. I see you found her.” He came to stand next to her and when Sonja looked close she saw that the friendly smile on his face wasn’t reflected in his eyes.
Barnat grinned and lowered his stunner. “You got married? Congratulations!”
“Yeah, congratulations,” the
She pondered what to do next. Roan had said this was a residential bubble, so maybe she would have to go to a different bubble to find the information she needed. She knew mining was the principle activity of the colony, but perhaps there was manufacturing as well. Some of the goods must be made here. Also, there had to be offices someplace.
If only she had a map of the colony so she knew what bubbles were where. Another thing she could have gotten from Roan before she’d left.
Suddenly, exhaustion dragged through her. It had been a long time since she’d slept, and even she had her limits. The strain of the marriage meet, the sleepless night before, making love to Roan—all she wanted now was a soft bed to rest in. She eyed the building behind her. Inside had been private dressing rooms and showers complete with linens. She could take a couple of towels and pile them on a metal bench in a room and get a couple hours nap until morning.
This late at night she hadn’t seen anyone about, no one to follow or ask questions of. She hadn’t seen or heard anyone since leaving Roan’s apartment. Once there were people about, she would find a way into one of the other bubbles.
Sonja was just about to move when she heard the sound of boot steps on the path behind her. Turning, she saw a pair of men in the same kind of uniforms the official at the marriage meet had been wearing, but olive-green instead of blue. One was tall and thin, the other short and somewhat round. They didn’t look happy and stood with stunners already drawn and aimed at her.
Fracking hell. That’s what she got for thinking about her temporary husband instead of paying attention to her surroundings.
The tall one spoke. “It’s after two o’clock. What are you doing out past curfew?”
“I’m sorry.” Sonja raised her hands slowly. “I’m new and didn’t know there was a curfew. I couldn’t sleep and was just taking a walk.”
“New?” The man’s hard stare moved over her slowly, up, then down. “You mean one of the brides? You don’t look the part.”
“She has a band.” His partner pointed to her wrist and the narrow band she had decided not to remove. Sonja congratulated herself for her foresight there.
The man frowned. “Yes, but when was the last time you saw a bride dressed like that?”
“I’d say she’s dressed more like a spy than a wife,” his partner said, equally non-smiling. “Maybe we should take her to the office for questioning.”
Sonja tensed. If they took her in, they’d no doubt search her and find her tools and stunner, and once that happened her cover would be blown. She considered whether she could get her hands on her stunner fast enough to disable both of them before they could get her.
Or maybe she could use her knives instead. Trouble was neither man looked like he could be taken off guard long enough for her to get to her weapons before one of them stunned her. She started to lower her hands, hoping they wouldn’t notice.
She was still plotting her actions when a familiar voice came from behind her. “Barnat, Earny. How are you tonight?”
Turning her head, she saw Roan come from the other side of the building. He was dressed as she was, all in black from head to toe.
Some of the tension eased from the men in front of her. “Hello Duman,” the tall one said. “What are you doing out?”
“Looking for my wife, Barnat. I see you found her.” He came to stand next to her and when Sonja looked close she saw that the friendly smile on his face wasn’t reflected in his eyes.
Barnat grinned and lowered his stunner. “You got married? Congratulations!”
“Yeah, congratulations,” the
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