Read Online Breakout by Ann Aguirre - Free Book Online Page B

through the access panel.
    â€œBit singed. And the stash was blown to shit.” Tam was burned a couple of places, mostly his forearms.
    â€œThat doesn’t sound like Ike,” Dred commented.
    Martine wore a permanent snarl. “Pretty sure Silence’s crew raided our cache first and left us an exploding present to find.”
    Tam nodded. “There were traps all over the area. I should’ve been more careful.”
    â€œI’m glad you made it,” Dred said. “Now we need to plan some payback.”
    Jael set his jaw, and she recognized the look from the last time when he’d gone rogue sniper, determined to take out the mercs. Since they only had one major enemy left to face, there was no question what he had in mind.
But maybe I can talk him out of it.
    This time, Jael didn’t sneak away. He waited until just before the watches started and pulled Dred aside. He began, “I’m telling you this as a courtesy, not asking permission.”
    â€œYou’re going after Silence,” she said softly.
    â€œEverything changes with her out of the picture. Her minions become easier to kill, less dedicated to wiping us out.”
    â€œI don’t think you realize how well protected she is. She’s like the queen at the center of the hive. Drones will die in droves to keep you from her.”
    â€œAnd I don’t think
you
realize how much experience I have hunting hard targets.”
    It wasn’t an idle boast, either. Back in his days as a merc, his commanders never blinked at aiming him at some impossible task.
Of course, you’re only half as effective as you used to be.
But this wouldn’t be like assassinating a general behind enemy lines; there was no razor wire, no electrified perimeter, no minefield. At worst, there would be some traps and a lot of tongueless assholes to carve a path through.
    â€œFine,” she said. “I can’t send anyone with you, but I suspect you knew that.”
    He nodded. “This is a solo mission. I’ll be back soon.”
    Jael leaned in for a kiss, and she met him more than halfway, such a change from the frozen princess in chains who glared anytime he stretched out a hand. Until meeting her, he’d lost hope that anyone could accept him as he was and not constantly see a failed experiment instead of a person. Gratitude certainly ringed his feelings for Dred, but at the heart of it, there was so much more.
    Everything, in fact.
    â€œBe careful,” she said.
    â€œYou went there once, right? With the Speaker.”
    Dred nodded. “I don’t know if they’re still in the same place, but let me map it for you.”
    He memorized the route she drew and discarded it. The others didn’t notice when he slipped out. This reminded him of when he’d gone out to snipe mercs, not expecting to make it back in one piece. At least this time, he’d kept his promise and not simply disappeared.
    There was no laser rifle, either. Weapons would only slow him down and make it difficult to move silently. No, if he succeeded in taking Silence out, it would be with his bare hands.
    This shit has gone on long enough.
    When he went out with Hex, he had to worry about how well the alien could fight. The same with Dred since she abandoned her chains in favor of stealth.
But I’m sodding tired of being hunted.
He was careful in moving to the center of the station, where Silence had holed up like a spider. Jael half expected to find the place deserted since Dred knew where they were, but from the smell on approach, Death was thriving.
    He stilled, listening to their movements. Since it was down cycle, he didn’t hear many of her trained killers roaming around.
That’ll make my job easier.
Though he’d love to execute the lot of them, that wouldn’t cut the head off the snake.
Then again, if I thin the herd, she can’t replenish her numbers.
    There was no point in speculating until he