Free Mesmerized by Lauren Dane Page B

back in the day.”
    Porter cocked his head, examining Andrei.
    “Hair’s longer now. Your sister worked at my tavern for many years before she finally married and hooked up with that husband of hers and hied off to wherever she did.” He grinned, standing and holding a wrist.
    Andrei clasped it, wondering where Hali had gone. Wondering if he should try to find her. He’d tried to find Carmine, his younger brother, but there’d been nothing after he’d been taken by the authorities. Chances were his name had been changed and he’d been fostered somewhere else. Andrei hoped he was well, wherever he was.
    “Walk with me.” Porter didn’t ask as much as he pulled on Andrei to follow, which he did, Piper with him.
    “Piper, why don’t you two just go back to your compound? Come back in a few turns.” Porter lowered his voice as he gestured off toward the town. “These Imperialists, the ones who attacked you. Yes, of course I heard about it.” He rolled his eyes at their silly ignorance. “They want that cargo run. You have a good head for business, Piper. Got people to keep alive back at the compound. Don’t go messing with this rabble.”
    Andrei looked to Piper, loving the curve of her cheeks. He wondered if Porter was trustworthy, and she gave him a short shake of her head. “What is it they’re moving?”
    “Nothing you want any part of, boy.”
    “But, you see, I do want part of it.”
    Porter looked at him closely, as if deciding Andrei’s intent.
    “I had family on Krater.” Which was a total lie, but he was a professional liar, so that worked out well. Krater had suffered so much both sides of the line had heard about it, had been affected by it. Most didn’t know Fardelle had used a primitive version of the portal collapsing device and it went horribly wrong, sealing Krater off to her own fate. Space travel would take two standard years from the nearest ’Verse. Even the private portal had been cut off.
    It had served to turn attention to just what Fardelle wasn’t doing to protect his own people. While most didn’t know he’d wantonly murdered his own people, they knew he was doing nothing to help.
    “These men are not easily played, boy.” Porter narrowed his gaze.
    Andrei didn’t need to tell him he had no intention of playing. He just waited as the gears turned in the old man’s head.
    “I’ll make the introduction. If you want my advice”—he paused to chuckle—“not that you need it. But they’ll know about the others. Cheney survived it, limped away, licked his wounds and was called off ’Verse. Own it.”
    Andrei planned to do just that.
    Porter showed Piper the next cargo he wanted her to run. Clever woman gave him a discount for the introduction.
    By the time they’d finished their business with Porter, Karl was still there, looking agitated. Good. Andrei would take great pleasure in bringing these fuckers down.
    “Do you want me to do the talking on this, or do you want to take it?” she murmured as they walked back toward the table where Karl sat.
    He nearly laughed. Instead, he shook his head. “You take it. You’re right. You have the reputation here.”
    “Jump in if I miss anything. I don’t want to mess up.”
    Andrei took her shoulders and turned her to face him. “You’re doing just fine. I’m sorry to put you in this position.”
    She tipped her chin up, locking her gaze with his. “You should kiss me.”
    Surprise made him a little wide-eyed. “I should? Other than the fact that you’re a beautiful woman with delicious lips, why should I?” Not that he was opposed to the idea in any way.
    “I like it when you cast aside the taciturn thing and flirt with me, Andrei. You should do it more often. And as we’re here having this little conversation in full view of the table of men over there, there should be a reason for it. Don’t you think a kiss is a good reason?” Her teasing smile brought out the dimple at the right side of her mouth. “Also,