Free Death World (Undying Mercenaries Series Book 5) by B. V. Larson Page A

should be vulnerable to logical reasoning. Let’s continue extrapolating down this path…if you wanted to tell Turov something crucial, why not send her a text? Can it be because you’re well aware all your texts are carefully monitored?”
    I gave him another startled look. He smiled.
    “I see that you do know. That indicates you want to talk to Turov in person in order to give her a private message—and don’t even try to convince me you’re simply making another ham-handed romantic overture. I know that you’ve been far from lonely at night.”‘
    This entire discussion was getting off-track in an alarming way. Winslade seemed to have gone paranoid. Reading my texts? Having people provide him with reports on my dating life? The man was losing it.
    “Sir, I’m in the dark about all that,” I said honestly. “I’m just trying to help our commander achieve her goals. If you stand between me and the imperator—well, that’s your business, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”
    Winslade was suddenly pissed again. He stood up and began to pace. He clasped his arms behind his back oddly, with one hand grabbing the elbow of the other.
    “Threats? You dare so much? You think you still have her ear and her eye, don’t you? All right, McGill. You can go to the imperator and give her your dirty little report. But don’t think I’m not watching. Don’t think I’ll allow you to keep rank-climbing and undermining my position year after year. I have real rank, and I have a growing record in the field. On top of that, let’s not forget I’m still in your chain of command. I can make things unpleasant for you.”
    “Of course, sir. I must say it’s been a pleasure to serve. Can I be on my way now?”
    “Get out.”
    I’d been thrown out of any number of offices, so I knew the routine. I left without saying anything more. I didn’t even glance back to see what he was doing.
    When the door squeezed shut behind me, I met up with the sneering Adjunct Bachchan. She’d evidently been waiting for me.
    “I’ll take you back to your module, Veteran,” Bachchan said. “This way, please.”
    “Uh…you might want to check with Primus Winslade on that point, first.”
    Frowning, she looked at her tapper, which beeped and displayed fresh orders. She looked up at me a moment later, startled.
    “I’m to take you to the imperator?”
    “Yes. As I originally requested.”
    Adjunct Bachchan didn’t say another word as she marched me down a passage or two. We wound up in front of a pair of imposing doors. She looked more worried than annoyed now. When Turov was involved directly, she knew enough to stay quiet and keep her head low.
    The office doors that led to Turov’s office were impressive indeed. They weren’t like any I’d ever seen on a dreadnaught before. Ornately carved with dark alien hardwoods, they depicted the heads of what looked like a species of bird that had been crossed with a demon.
    I stepped inside, and the first thing I noticed was the carpet. It wasn’t your typical military-grade weatherproof stuff. It was sumptuous. Red, rich…it felt like I was walking on velvet.
    “What do you think of my new office, McGill?” asked a voice I recognized. I looked for Turov, but I didn’t see her right off. There were hanging curtains, folding glass barriers and a variety of other decorations all over the place.
    “Wow,” I said, “this is really something, sir.”
    Imperator Galina Turov became visible then—sort of. She was lurking behind a semi-opaque pane of glass. I couldn’t help but stare, as her lithe form was displayed in stark silhouette. What’s more, it looked to me like she was walking around nude back there. She seemed to be toweling off her hair, like she’d just come out of the shower.
    It took me a long second, but I finally realized this personal display couldn’t be an accident. No one put a light bulb behind their shower curtain and stood between the two without a damned good