3013: MENDED Read Online Free PDF Page A

had generally been scared out of her mind at every turn. For the first time in more than a decade, though, she was free.
    “Why is she so small? She doesn’t look like other females. Maybe she’s sick. I should feed her.”
    Pressing her lips together, Cami pinched herself hard on the thigh to hold back her giggles. It was just like a man to try to solve his problems with food.
    “I could eat,” she answered his unvoiced question.
    Tariq scowled at her. “New rule. Stay out of my head.”
    “Then you shouldn’t think so loudly,” Cami argued. “I wasn’t purposely eavesdropping on your thoughts. You were just sort of…yelling.”
    Instead of chastising her as she’d expected, Tariq sighed and jerked his thumb to the left. “I’ll take you to get food.”
    “Is there a place I can buy some real shoes?” Cami held her left foot up to show the patches of grease and other grime blotting her soft, purple slippers. “If I’m going to be staying for a few days, I’ll also need more clothes and some personal items.”
    “Bay E is still on lockdown, but I can have a repair tech retrieve any belongings from your ship.” Tariq turned and began walking as though that solved the matter.
    “I don’t have any—wait.”
    Half jogging to match his long strides, Cami hurried to catch up, but her soft shoes hadn’t been made for running. The toe of the slipper caught against the threadbare carpet, sending her tumbling head over feet to the ground. Sprawled on her stomach with only one shoe on and her dress hiked up to her hips, Cami whimpered as she felt the heat of a blush stain her cheeks.
    “This is all your fault.”
    Helping her to her feet, Tariq snorted as he brushed her tangled hair out of her face. “Probably. Maybe we should try to get your belongings now.”
    Cami adjusted her clothes and pulled Tariq’s jacket around her tighter. “That’s what I was trying to tell you. I didn’t bring anything with me.” She tucked her hand into the pocket of her sundress, only to find it empty. “No, no, no.” Spinning in a circle, she searched the floor for the missing data chips. “Oh, fiddlesticks, this can’t be happening.”
    “Strong language, angel.” Tariq smirked. “What are you hemorrhaging about anyway?”
    “Data chips. I was supposed to give one to Commander Quinn, and the other had credits.” The icy tendrils of panic began to coil in her gut. “They’re gone. They were right here, and now they’re gone.”
    The lines around Tariq’s eyes softened, and his tone was gentler when he spoke. “Okay, just breathe, Cami. You probably lost them when you fell, that’s all. We’ll find them.”
    She appreciated his reassurances, but they didn’t help her situation. “They’re not here. You’re looking at the same floor I am. Do you see them?” Cami could hear the undertone of hysteria in her voice, but she couldn’t worry about being a lady right then.
    Tariq pointed to a small grate in the floor behind her. “I think they may have disappeared down there.”
    Turning, Cami dropped to her knees and stuck her fingers through the slats of the grate. “I can’t reach. I can’t see anything, either.” She leaned against the wall and huffed. “Why is there even a hole in the floor anyway?”
    “Oxygen,” Tariq answered with an arched eyebrow. “What did you think? Life support systems ran on magic?”
    With as much dignity as she could muster, Cami stood and brushed the dirt off her pale pink dress. “There’s no need to be rude.”
    “Let’s go, angel.” Placing a hand in the middle of her back, Tariq gave her a nudge to get her moving. “Dinner is on me.”
    Her problems weren’t Tariq’s fault, and she felt badly for taking her anxiety out on him. “Thank you. I know this wasn’t your choice, but I’m still grateful for your help.”
    Tariq stared straight ahead and didn’t answer as he led her to the end of the hall where the narrow passageway opened into a large