Code Breakers: Beta Read Online Free PDF Page B

away. “I bet you’re enjoying all the female attention, eh?” Sasha said.
    Malik blushed. “It’s not quite the attention I want. They’re... erm... a little high-pitched.”
    “You can’t blame them, though. You’re a stone-cold hero.” She reached up and wiped lipstick from his face. “You look ridiculous.”
    “What can I do? Sometimes I wish James had given me a new face. Would make this job a lot easier.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Sasha said. “You have a certain rugged charm. Sure, it’s a face that scares small children and animals, but in a certain light and at a certain angle, on the right day of the week when the sun is at the right height and the wind is blowing in the right direction, you do have a slight attractiveness to you... occasionally.”
    “Gee, thanks a lot. The Sisters don’t seem too afraid of it.”
    “See, I knew you were lovin’ the attention, ya dirty dog.”
    “Jealous weasel.”
    “Motherfucker!”
    “Yup, you’re jealous all right.”
    “Of having a bunch of screaming teens gushing over me? I don’t think so.”
    “I didn’t say you were jealous of me...”
    “Them? You think I’m jealous of them?” She made a loud ‘pfft’ noise and pulled ahead of him. The truth of it, though, was that deep down, yes, she was a little jealous. Not that she could ever admit to such a thing, of course.
    Breaking the tense silence that had built up, Malik finally said, “So, what tactic are we using? What’s the plan? How are we gonna take this bastard down?”
    Sasha laughed. Because of their time spent together Malik had picked up some of her language use. Most Libertas citizens were eloquent and well spoken. Sasha felt like some kind of primitive ape by comparison, but Jimmy had insisted she not change for anyone. So she kept on being her, and surprisingly, people accepted her for that.
    “Tactics? Don’t know about that. I was thinking of just knocking on his door, then knocking him out. If he’s guilty, it’s unlikely he’s going to do anything suspicious. And we ain’t exactly the image of justice and vengeance.”
    “Are you suggesting I’m not scary enough for this work?”
    “You’re plenty scary. See how you made all those girls scream?”
    It was Malik’s turn to retort with a ‘pfft’ sound.
    They passed through the main doors of the building. Luckily there were no Silvermaniacs around to be a pain in the ass. She pressed the button on the elevator and stepped into the car. They were alone inside. She tapped number forty-three on the holocontrols.
    As they ascended, Sasha wanted to say something, break the silence. They both stood there, occasionally glancing at each other before staring ahead, neither getting too close, ensuring a polite distance remained between them. Malik appeared tense, his shoulders all hunched up.
    She wondered if he was claustrophobic or perhaps feeling the effects of his surgery. She’d grown quite protective over him given the extent of his injuries and the physiotherapy. She looked up at him; he stood nearly thirty centimetres taller than her. He seemed to be staring off into the distance, thinking about something.
    “Everything okay in there, bud?” She tapped gently on the side of his head.
    “What? Yeah? Of course, just thinking.”
    “What about?”
    “You seemed a little ticked off back there. With the Silvermaniacs.”
    Sasha rolled her eyes, ignoring his question. “That’s such a stupid name, by the way.”
    “I didn’t coin it; they did.”
    “You’re like their god now. Can’t you decree they change it to something that sucks less?”
    “Are you suggesting I abuse my power?”
    “Why not? With all those hot girls begging at your feet, are you telling me you don’t get a little... you know... excited about that?”
    Malik’s face reddened. He looked away. “That’s not me. I wouldn’t take advantage like that. I’d want to be with someone I cared about, anyway. I’m not openly available like