Page 27 of Tempting Fate

“Enjoy.” I wished I could do the same, what with it being our last day here and all, but I was too jittery to relax.

The uncomfortable feeling still needled me as I walked up the path, and knowing me, it wouldn’t go away until I’d done something about it.

As soon as I was back in my room, I video-commed Garrison. Please be in range. Please pick up.

My friend’s holographic face shimmered into life. “Imani! Good to see you.”

“You too. Are you folks okay?”

“Yeah, we’re— Oh. You heard, then?”

I scowled. “I heard something in passing. Bounty hunters? What the hell? Are you safe?”

“We will be. We have a plan. But I can’t say what it is over an unsecured line.”

“Shit. Should I go?”

“No, no, this is fine, it’s good to see you. How’s Vadias treating you?”

“It’s good. Right choice.” I snuggled into my nest and took a breath. “But, look. Tokki said they won’t tell Airida. And I’m not supposed to know, but I do, and how can I keep that from him? And who the hell has… put a hit out on you, or whatever the fuck you call it.”

A muscle twitched in Garrison’s cheek. “They’re not trying to kill us. But we’re pretty sure it was their awful mother. Shohari doesn’t want to worry him while he’s recovering.”

“Don’t you think he has a right to know? Wouldn’t you want to know?”

He ran a hand over his hair. “Don’t drag me into this. You wanna talk to my wife?”

My stomach knotted. Arguing with Shohari wasn’t high on my to-do list, but the injustice of it burned me. “Fine. Put her on.”

Garrison smirked. “Let me just grab my brew.” The familiar corridors of the Dorimisa panned behind him as he walked—to the bridge, I thought, though they all looked similar. “Sweetheart, you have a comm.” The screen shifted from him to her.

“Imani.”

She remembered my name, at least. “Hi, Captain Shohari, sorry to hear about your predicament.”

The imposing woman split her face in a wide grin. “You are not on my ship any more, human. You do not have to call me ‘Captain.’ What can I help you with?”

“I want to talk to you about your brother.”

“Oh?” She gentled her tone. “And how is he?”

“He’s doing okay. I don’t know the specifics, but I think he’s improving.”

“Good to hear it. And what did you wish to say about him?”

Here goes. “I overheard Tokki saying not to tell him about the bounty, but I think he has a right to know.”

She leaned forwards, a predatory glint in her eye. “Is that so?”

“Yes. I probably wasn’t meant to find out, but now I have… I can’t be his friend and keep it from him.”

She let out a low growl. “You would add to his troubles?”

Of course not—which was why I was agonising over it. “It’s his life. I certainly wouldn’t want him to experience another shock out of nowhere.” Shit. What a way to get her on your side.

I could almost feel her growl through the comm. But to my surprise, her snarl softened, and she turned away. “I didn’t want to hurt him.”

Oh god. I knew how to handle a growling Shohari, but an upset one? Underneath all the gruffness and bluster, I knew there had to be more to her, a softer side even, and I felt strangely honoured to get this glimpse of her, the woman Garrison had fallen for. “I know. And for what it’s worth, you did the right thing bringing him here.”