Drifters' Alliance, Book 3 Read Online Free PDF

something?”
    “No, Captain. It appears that he is crying.”
    Crying? He’s crying? Would he cry if he were lying about what his brother is? Probably not.
    I refuse to let his tears make me feel guilty. I absolutely, positively refuse. And I nearly break my knuckle all over again when I punch the wall in frustration, because I cannot help but feel like his tears are at least partially my fault.

Chapter Seven

    “NO WAY. NO FUCKING WAY.” Baebong doesn’t believe my story. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this is outer limits nuts.
    “Yes, fucking way. That’s what he said, anyway. I busted him short-circuiting or something in the engine room. He said it’s part of the process, whatever the hell that means.”
    “What do you mean short-circuiting? Shadows don’t use circuits. You know that, right? They’re flesh and blood.”
    “Yeah, I know that, smart ass. He was having a tantrum or something. Throwing shit everywhere. He must have busted twenty parts in the process.”
    “He better not have busted any of my stuff. I’ll frigging rip his consciousness out of his host head with my bare hands.”
    “Thank you.” I walk faster, a tiny ray of light shining into my life. I knew Baebong would have my back.
    “Thank you for what?”
    “For having the appropriate reaction to the situation. Finally, someone gets it.”
    He doesn’t answer right away, and then when he does, he sounds a little nervous. “You know I wasn’t serious, though, right? I’m not ripping anything out of anybody.”
    I stop short and Baebong runs right into my back.
    “Dammit, Bae!” I spin around and yell in his face.
    “What?” He jumps back with his hands up. “You stopped too fast.”
    “I’m not talking about that, idiot!” I get right up in his face. “This isn’t right! Shadowing is fucking wrong !”
    His eyes go wide which is saying a lot for him. “Hey, okay, ease up, Cass. I get it. You don’t want any borgs on your boat. Chill.”
    My knife is out and at his chin in a second. “Do not … tell me to chill .”
    “Who said chill?” He pretends to look over his shoulder for the imposter who uttered those stupid words. “Not me.” He leans back as far as he can before his head hits the wall.
    I slide my knife back into its sheath and take off again. The brig is just around the corner. “Gus is in the engine room crying, and I’ve got this frigging borg in here telling me he needs to be with Gus as his second set of hands to keep things running.”
    “He’s probably right.”
    “Shut up, asshole, I know that.” I’m fuming. “And I have Macon hinting around that this really shouldn’t even be my ship except for the fact that someone wants to set me up with it somehow, for some fucked-up reason, I’m sure. And there’s Lucinda too, of course … who managed to build a huge Level G facility with invisible helpers that no one seems to know exist but me in my imagination. Oh! And a pirate who told me right before I floated his fat ass that some guy I’ve never met before, warned him to kill me the first chance he got!” I stop and turn around. “Ain’t life grand, Baebong?”
    He smiles. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
    I shake my head. “Do you want me to knock you out?”
    “No. I really don’t.” He puts his hands on my upper arms and squeezes. “What I’d like is for you to listen to me, okay?”
    I don’t respond. It’s not like he can say anything that will make any of this all right.
    “I know letting other people tell you what to do isn’t exactly your forte, but hear me out.”
    “What? I listen well. Lots of people have told me I’m a good listener.”
    “No, Captain. You’re a great observer , but you are a terrible listener. So, focus.” He lets go of me with one hand and points to his mouth. “Focus on the sounds coming out of this spot for just two minutes.” He puts his hand back on my upper arm and squeezes again.
    I let out a huge huff of air and try to send my