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eimarraBodyguard of Lies is a serialized science-fiction novel updating once a week on Tuesdays. If you missed last week’s episode, Shakedown, it can be found here. You can catch up on the entire serial on this page with a description of the story and links to all published episodes.
Bodyguard of Lies
Episode 28
Wake-Up Call
Sabra woke in a room she didn’t know. The colors looked familiar, though she was certain she’d never been here. The combination of greens and whites was rather restful. She pulled up the blanket, and recognition flooded over her. These were the sheets Trace had been wrapped in.
Sabra sat up. Now that she’d identified the room, she could see the evidence of Mick all around — the jacket flung over the back of a chair, the stunner he’d been using, the extra boots kicked into the corner. The knives on the table didn’t look his style, though. Right, she’d been carrying those in the fight.
The door opened, and Sabra turned. Mick stood there, flanked by Ian and Owen. She raised her hand to wave at them.
“About time you woke up,” Owen said. “We’ve been taking bets on how long you’d be out.”
“I suppose this means you won, then?”
He shook his head regretfully. “I thought you’d only be a minute or two. These guys are the only ones left in the running.”
She looked between Mick and Ian. No, she wouldn’t ask. Instead, she said, “Is Leo okay? The rest of the team?”
“Leo’s fine,” Mick said. “He told you he would be.”
“One wonders why he bothers with a bodyguard then,” she replied. “And your team?”
He wouldn’t meet her eyes. Ian said, “Some of them are in the med bay. That’s why you’re here; there wasn’t room for you.”
“Everyone made it, then?”
“This time,” Mick said.
She closed her eyes. She’d managed to forget Gareth’s bloodshed the previous day. She felt herself swaying.
An arm wrapped around her. “Breathe,” Mick said. “Come on, Sabra, breathe.”
She exhaled then opened her eyes slowly.
He was beside her on the bed, his almost-lashless eyes looking at her, his brow wrinkled with concern.
She smiled. “I’m okay, really.”
“Doubt that,” Ian said. “But we’ll just go let everyone know you’re awake again. The docs were concerned.”
From the look on his face, it wasn’t just the docs who had been concerned, but he didn’t say anything. Owen spun him by the shoulder and propelled him out the door. It closed behind them.
Sabra looked back at Mick. He still hadn’t let go of her. She wanted to snuggle close, and he looked like he’d welcome it. But she had to know first.
“Trace?”
“She’s fine; she wasn’t with the other mercs who were watching us.”
Watching them fight. Right. She’d almost forgotten that. “Last I saw her, you were standing with your arm around her pretty much just like this. Could make a fem feel like she’s just another one in the chain.” She pulled back a little.
His arm tightened. “Can’t we forget that?”
“No.”
“Sabra — ” He let go and slid back to look at her. “I walked in and saw a professional fighter clobbering one of my team.”
“She started it.” Sabra knew she sounded sulky, but she really didn’t care right now.
“And she says you did.”
“You’d better decide which one of us you’re going to believe.”
She shoved the covers back and rolled away from him, to the opposite side of the bed. The fast motion was a mistake; she was more light-headed than she had expected. She hesitated on the edge of the bed. All she’d had today was coffee, and only a sip of that. At least the kitchen here was well stocked.
Mick spoke quietly behind her. “I can’t choose. She’s a member of my squad, a friend. If I decide she’s lying to me, I’m never going to be sure she’s got my back. That’s an uncertainty I don’t need.”
She smiled wryly, though he couldn’t see it. “Right. Well, you told me in Flynn’s office that you didn’t think he needed me. Maybe you’re right; I don’t want to bust up your team.”
Damn it, why didn’t he say something?
She stood up and turned to face him. “I might have — no, I did want to start a fight with Trace. I wanted nothing more than to smash her face in from the moment she answered the call . . .”
“What call?” He looked confused, but then Trace had said he was busy. He probably hadn’t heard the vid at all.
“This morning, I — ” She stopped and looked around the room. They were a team. They wore uniforms. They lived in glorified barracks, most likely with identical furnishings. And evidently Trace had unsuspected electronic talents. “That bitch. She intercepted the call. I’m going to kill her.”
“So much for not wanting to bust up my team.” Mick look amused.
“Is something funny?”
He leaned across the bed, reaching for her. She dodged his hand, and he lay there, looking up at her. “Two beautiful women want to fight over me? It’s good for my ego, you know?”
“Glad I could help.” Sabra strode around the end of the bed, keeping out of his reach.
When she reached the other side of the bed, the door opened and Trace walked in. Sabra checked her stride. “You don’t knock?”
“I didn’t think I’d be interrupting anything.” Trace looked back and forth between Sabra and Mick. “It seems I was right.” She nodded at the open door. “You can go; Mick and I have things to talk about.”
“Like how you screen his calls for him?”
Trace smirked. “I can’t be held responsible for you jumping to conclusions, now can I?”
Fine. Sabra could play it that way, too. “Sadly, Mick and I weren’t finished yet. Run along, and he’ll catch up with you later.”
She didn’t dare look at Mick. He was probably enjoying this. Trace didn’t share her reluctance. At Trace’s look, he burst out laughing.
“If I’m that funny to you — ” she stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Sabra heard muffled laughter from the corridor and wondered if the mercs had yet another bet going.
Click here to continue reading with Episode 29, We Have To Talk.
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Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.
