Read Online The Independent Worlds (The Sixteen Galaxies Book 2) by William Drayman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: William Drayman
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them just as easily as he killed the terrorists themselves, and never give a damn.
The Somers family were no different. Chances are, they provided funds or intel to a terror cell in Britain. They wouldn’t be the first, and they won’t be the last. But as long as Justin had breath in his body, their active support for people like those who took his family would cost them their lives.
*****
Nuthros’ ship, Present Day
Jack Short stood at the viewport, but his eyes barely saw the jaw-dropping view that no human had ever witnessed before. One spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy swept away into space to the left and right; the system that surrounded the star they called Sol not much bigger than the billions of other stars in the galaxy.
Justin Blake was a name, and a life, he had sworn he would never think about again. Twelve years in the US in a new life saw his past fade into the background, though the nightmares never left him.
Now, the knowledge that his old identity was out in the open brought it all back. He took one step to the left to make room for Ron Baxter, who walked up behind him. No need to hide his abilities now. One was never truly blind, if one was trained well. Reflections from various surfaces, shadows, smells, even a shift in the breeze or a subtle change in the light could indicate another person nearby. Anyone that came near Jack was seen, tracked, and evaluated. It was all second nature to him.
One time, four years ago, he and Mandy were in New York, researching a drug cartel import business that ran their merchandise through the docks. The cartel was tipped off about Jack and Mandy’s intentions. Four thugs were sent to violently demonstrate to Jack why he and Mandy should return to DC. They had followed him into an alley late one night. Three of them ended up in intensive care; the fourth one wasn't so lucky.
Ron took position beside Jack. “I never bought the investigative journalist thing, you know.”
Jack gave a small laugh. “I’m getting rusty, then.”
“Nah, not really,” Ron said. “I always knew you had a combat past. You hide it well, but I’ve been in the game too long to fail to recognize military skills. We came up against them all the time. Lots of ex-military types in the opposition. Some were real tough acts. You’re too young for ‘Nam. Where was it? Iraq? Afghanistan?”
Jack shrugged. “Paras, first. Then I got into the SAS.”
“Ah,” Ron said. “I thought it might be something like that. In that case, I won’t ask where you’ve been.”
“You wouldn’t really want to know, believe me. I was a…problem solver. Except the problems I solved were people.”
Ron nodded. “We had guys that did the same job, I know we did. Sometimes I’d be on a case and word would come down to drop it. Some poor sap in the wrong place, gets to see or hear something he shouldn’t, and next thing he walks in front of a train, or throws himself off a building. I never argued; I didn’t want to end up the same. You guys are on a different level to us field agents.”
“Yeah. Not a higher level, though. I was a cold-blooded killer; the lowest of the low.”
“That is what you were , Jack,” Ron said. “But, from the sound of it, ever since you stopped that life, you’ve protected Mandy. You’re changed. You’ve left that past behind you.”
Jack turned to Ron, his eyes dark and empty. “Not exactly. Five times over the last twelve years, different gangs have put a price on Mandy’s head. She does love to expose drug rings, for some reason.” He turned back to the viewport. “It usually took a few dead bounty hunters to put the word out on the street that she had a guardian angel.” He sighed. “And now Mandy’s been told I killed her parents.” He looked at Ron. “She’ll never let me near her again, will she?”
Ron’s eyebrows shot up. “Good God! You killed Mandy’s parents?”
Jack didn’t reply. The two men stood at the viewport for several
The Somers family were no different. Chances are, they provided funds or intel to a terror cell in Britain. They wouldn’t be the first, and they won’t be the last. But as long as Justin had breath in his body, their active support for people like those who took his family would cost them their lives.
*****
Nuthros’ ship, Present Day
Jack Short stood at the viewport, but his eyes barely saw the jaw-dropping view that no human had ever witnessed before. One spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy swept away into space to the left and right; the system that surrounded the star they called Sol not much bigger than the billions of other stars in the galaxy.
Justin Blake was a name, and a life, he had sworn he would never think about again. Twelve years in the US in a new life saw his past fade into the background, though the nightmares never left him.
Now, the knowledge that his old identity was out in the open brought it all back. He took one step to the left to make room for Ron Baxter, who walked up behind him. No need to hide his abilities now. One was never truly blind, if one was trained well. Reflections from various surfaces, shadows, smells, even a shift in the breeze or a subtle change in the light could indicate another person nearby. Anyone that came near Jack was seen, tracked, and evaluated. It was all second nature to him.
One time, four years ago, he and Mandy were in New York, researching a drug cartel import business that ran their merchandise through the docks. The cartel was tipped off about Jack and Mandy’s intentions. Four thugs were sent to violently demonstrate to Jack why he and Mandy should return to DC. They had followed him into an alley late one night. Three of them ended up in intensive care; the fourth one wasn't so lucky.
Ron took position beside Jack. “I never bought the investigative journalist thing, you know.”
Jack gave a small laugh. “I’m getting rusty, then.”
“Nah, not really,” Ron said. “I always knew you had a combat past. You hide it well, but I’ve been in the game too long to fail to recognize military skills. We came up against them all the time. Lots of ex-military types in the opposition. Some were real tough acts. You’re too young for ‘Nam. Where was it? Iraq? Afghanistan?”
Jack shrugged. “Paras, first. Then I got into the SAS.”
“Ah,” Ron said. “I thought it might be something like that. In that case, I won’t ask where you’ve been.”
“You wouldn’t really want to know, believe me. I was a…problem solver. Except the problems I solved were people.”
Ron nodded. “We had guys that did the same job, I know we did. Sometimes I’d be on a case and word would come down to drop it. Some poor sap in the wrong place, gets to see or hear something he shouldn’t, and next thing he walks in front of a train, or throws himself off a building. I never argued; I didn’t want to end up the same. You guys are on a different level to us field agents.”
“Yeah. Not a higher level, though. I was a cold-blooded killer; the lowest of the low.”
“That is what you were , Jack,” Ron said. “But, from the sound of it, ever since you stopped that life, you’ve protected Mandy. You’re changed. You’ve left that past behind you.”
Jack turned to Ron, his eyes dark and empty. “Not exactly. Five times over the last twelve years, different gangs have put a price on Mandy’s head. She does love to expose drug rings, for some reason.” He turned back to the viewport. “It usually took a few dead bounty hunters to put the word out on the street that she had a guardian angel.” He sighed. “And now Mandy’s been told I killed her parents.” He looked at Ron. “She’ll never let me near her again, will she?”
Ron’s eyebrows shot up. “Good God! You killed Mandy’s parents?”
Jack didn’t reply. The two men stood at the viewport for several
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