Marre Nostrum, Murph [top 10 ebook reader .TXT] 📗

you left Auburn at 16 because of the age you look in the photo, there's a vehicle loaded with personal items, and I recognize the Auburn City Library. You lived on the corner of East Main and North. I also noticed the Amerigo emblem on your husband’s hat in the picture of him. There's a wedding band sitting in front of the picture. 14 karat gold, with an 18 karat sapphire surrounded by small diamonds. Not a cheap ring. Which means; he probably found those gems."
Kristen was staring blankly at the wall, almost as if looking through James.
"You didn't know what to do after your husband died, but I'm guessing that he'd made enough in the mines that you felt comfortable spending it on sponsoring black market activities." He paused for a moment, "Rassii venom is a powerful drug. And expensive. You probably thought that the only way to deal with the pain. You incriminated and alienated yourself, so your only option was to become the most powerful outlaw you could. With the entire criminal world under your belt, you'd be nearly invincible, but look! Here I am, a member of the UEN with the authority to eliminate you with no questi-."
"Shut up!" Kristen shrieked, pulling her revolver from its holster. Before she could bring the pistol to bear, James dove over the sofa and got low.
"I'll kill you for threatening me!" She came over the sofa and looked down at James, pointing the pistol right at his head. In as quick a motion as he could manage, James grabbed her arm and pulled, bringing her to the ground and flinging her a good 6 feet. As quickly as she'd hit the floor she was up again, waving the revolver around searching for a target, but James was already on her. He swatted her weapon hand aside and stepped close to her, spinning and ducking around her to avoid being hit by her left arm. As he danced past her, he plucked her knife from its sheath on her hip. Kristen turned and pressed the barrel of her revolver to James's forehead, but not before he had brought the knife up to her throat. They stood, eyes locked, for what felt like hours.
"You're pretty fast, Kristen" James panted. Kristen smiled her devious smile,
"Nice of you to notice, Colonel." she took a moment to breathe, "You're pretty fast yourself. For a fighter jockey."
“I wasn’t always a fighter jockey,” James replied, “I was originally a HALO.”
“I see.” Kristen said smoothly
Suddenly, she swatted the knife away from her throat. In a single fluid motion Zasha grabbed the wrist of her weapon hand and batted the .44 caliber revolver across the room. For a moment they stood, glaring at each other, hearts pounding and muscles aching to pounce. Before either of them knew it, their hostility had vanished and his lips were pressed against hers.

2 hours later

James lay breathing in perfect unison with Kristen. How did this even happen? He wondered. He was staring at the ceiling, contemplating old memories. Kristen cuddled closer to him.
"What is her name?" She asked softly.
"Who?"
"The girl." She said, "The one you're thinking of right now."
James exhaled deeply. He swallowed hard, trying to keep the rush of old emotions at bay. "I'm not thinking of anyone." He half-whispered.
"Oh come now James, you should know better than to lie to me."
James sighed, "Leslie," he choked, "Her name was Leslie."
"Was?" Kristen inquired, curiously.
"She was killed in a battle with the Empire goin' on a year ago." He smiled heartlessly, "She was the best pilot I've ever known."
Kristen propped herself up on her arms, "Old pains don't go away easily, Colonel." She said, "But you can't let those pains become a weakness. No one, especially not your followers should ever see or feel your pains or fears." She paused for a moment, "You are a leader, Colonel. Your followers idolize you, therefore, you must have no visible flaws."
James swallowed hard in an attempt to force his old emotions back down. Kristen softly kissed his cheek, "You will be a great leader, James."
James gave a short chuckle, "Says the self-proclaimed Queen of the Pirates."
"Hush now," she said softly, placing a single finger over James's lips, "Sleep." With that, she curled up against him. James absent-mindedly stroked her hair as he waited for sleep to take him. I am SO fucked. He thought as he slowly drifted away.
Imprint

Text: Murphy, T
Publication Date: 08-26-2012

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