Read Online Queen of Denial by Selina Rosen - Free Book Online Page B

disappearance to the Lockhedes or their government. Not and make it stick, anyway. The wreckage of Zarco's ship would be found, and Zarco and his staff would be considered dead. He could extract the necessary computer codes from Zarco and his staff, and then the take-over would be easy.
     
    "I told you, Jaco. A piece of cake."
     
    Erik Rider sucked on a big cigar, puffing the cabin full of smoke.
     
    The ship lurched violently.
     
    "What the hell is that?" Erik demanded of the ship's Captain over the comlink.
     
    "One ah the motors has gone out," the smuggler answered. "We'll be some slowed, but it shouldn' be no trouble."
     
    "Don't let it be," Erik ordered.
     
    One of the greasy smugglers walked right into Jaco's quarters without knocking.
     
    "What do you think you're doing?" Jaco demanded.
     
    "The prisoners 'ave come to."
     
    "It's about time!" Jaco got to his feet.
     
    "Coming?"
     
    Erik hesitated for a moment. He would really rather not deal with Qwah's wrath, but it was all going to have to come to a head sooner or later. He nodded and got up to follow Jaco.
     
    The prisoners were each pacing their own path through the cell, looking at the ceiling instead of each other.
     
    "So, the mighty King," Jaco laughed. "Brought to his knees for the love of a woman."
     
    "Jaco!" Zarco hissed. "I will not grace you by making a comment."
     
    "Oooh! Snappy come back," Drewcila mumbled.
     
    "Here, put these on." He threw in a pile of white robes.
     
    Drew had just grabbed one, and started to put it on when she saw Erik. "Erik! You fucking piece of shit!" She jerked her arms into the robe, which almost went to her knees. "You . . . you sold me out!"
     
    "How's it feel?" Zarco mumbled.
     
    Drew ignored him.
     
    "How far into this shit are you, Erik?" Drew demanded.
     
    "I've been in it since the very beginning." Erik looked at his feet."They brought you to me right after the operation on your brain. You understand, don't you, Drew? It's a big pay-off. Biggest of my life. The smuggling operation is bringing in a mint, but it's only a matter of time."
     
    "Fucking smuggling." Drew hissed. "Kidnapping is one thing, but smuggling. Van Gar was right about you. God damned, rat-loving, Velcro wearing, roach eating, human."
     
    "Why didn't you just kill us out-right?" Zarco asked.
     
    "You truly are a stupid man, Zarco. The codes to shut off and turn on the computers that run your country are locked in the minds of you and your two top aides, both of whom you conveniently brought off the planet with you. The women are just to help guarantee that you will behave yourself."
     
    "Did you really do that?" Drew asked in disbelief. "Did you really bring every man who knows the codes with you?"
     
    "Of course not! Many competent men at the capital know the access codes."
     
    "Not only are you stupid, but you're a shitty liar," Drew said in disbelief.
     
    "It will be days before they give up all hope on you. In a few hours, we will land on an obscure little moon where one of my men will extract your memories, and thus your code key numbers, and leave you like your lovely wife. Of course, since that part of your brain has already been removed, Miss Qwah, and since you have no information we need, I'm afraid you'll just have to be terminated. Perhaps slowly, while Zarco watches."
     
    Drew yawned, and stretched dramatically.
     
    "Now wait a minute, Jaco, we had a deal . . ." Erik started.
     
    Drew turned to Stasha. "How sweet. He just sold me out, but he didn't actually want me dead."
     
    "Surely you understand, Erik. I can't let anyone live who knows what we're doing. I can't take the risk. Not when we are so close to reaching our goal."
     
    "But you promised me you wouldn't hurt Drew. She's the best Salvager I've got," Erik pleaded.
     
    "I'm so touched," Drew drawled out.
     
    "Come on, man," Erik said. "Drew has no quarrel with you, give her a couple of iggys and she'll . . ."
     
    "I'm sorry, Erik." Jaco