Programmed To Protect (The Tau Cetus Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

lab. Wyatt turned back to the factory floor. Bloody hell. He’d have to ask Carron for a set of earplugs or headphones. Something to dampen the awful noise.
    Would that seem like a sign of weakness?
    He strode over to the metal stairs, taking them two at a time. Mimicking the guard from earlier, Wyatt banged once on Carron’s office door and entered, not waiting for a reply.
    The room was blessedly quiet.
    Carron sat behind his desk, leaning back in his chair, elbows propped on the armrests and his fingers steepled. He stared at Wyatt over the tops of those fingers, and Wyatt returned the stare. Two opponents sizing each other up. But there was no sign on Carron’s face of any smug knowledge of the sexual indiscretion Wyatt had just indulged in.
    Either Veraine truly hadn’t told him, or he simply hadn’t told him yet . Or else Carron had a brilliant poker face.
    It didn’t matter. Wyatt didn’t trust either man. And Wyatt’s indiscretion with Ginger would never happen again.
    “So,” Carron started. “Theus sent you.”
    Wyatt paused. Carron was apparently not going to ask him to sit, probably hoping to make things uncomfortable for him. Carron was flaunting his control. But Wyatt knew from Theus’ attempt at control yesterday, that by standing, Wyatt could intimidate Carron by towering over him.
    Two could play at this game. Wyatt straightened to his full six-foot height.
    “Yes. Theus has your first assignment. The five thousand robot soldiers the High Council commissioned will be sent to Terra Acer. Theus believes this particular area of Tau Cetus is extremely volatile since regulator Clemens Egidia killed regulator Forens Hericus and took over Hericus’ area of Terra Domus.” Wyatt paused, then arched an eyebrow. “Egidia killed the regulator using the wasp missiles you stole from Callex Industries, as I recall.”
    Carron waved a dismissive hand. “Chavis Smith stole those weapons, I simply… bought them.”
    “And then turned around and sold them to one of the most rogue nations on the planet,” Wyatt pointed out. “Egidia is now threatening his neighbor to the north, Terra Acer. The High Council will not allow one man to control such a large portion of Tau Cetus. Hopefully, the sight of five thousand robot soldiers set up along the border between the two regions will insure the peace there. I’m to go with you on the deployment, and give any needed strategic advice.”
    Wyatt’s last sentence caused Carron to sit forward in his chair, his face flushing. “You think I need advice from you on warfare strategy? You’re nothing but a hired gun!”
    Wyatt took a step toward Carron’s desk and looked down his nose at the man. “I am Theus’ liaison,” he said coldly, “and I have the power of the High Council behind me. You will do as you’re ordered.”
    Carron flushed a deep red, deeper even than the unhealthy shade he’d turned when Wyatt had announced earlier that Theus had named him as the conduit to the Council. Honestly, it was a miracle Carron didn’t have a heart attack right here on the spot.
    A heart attack…
    Damn it. Why did that image have to conjure up the vision of Jai Turner being shot in the chest, and ending up with an artificial heart?
    Wyatt’s jaw tensed, and he leaned in even closer. “You nearly killed my partner, you bastard. If I were you, I’d watch my step. There’s always a chance my ‘hired gun’ might just go off unexpectedly at some point during this operation.”
    Carron fought to get himself under control, turning slightly purple before managing to get a grip on his temper. Wyatt probably shouldn’t have threatened him like that, but he felt a certain satisfaction seeing the man rage over the powerlessness of his situation. I’ll make him pay for what he did to you, Jai. Even if it’s just by being a constant, annoying hair up Carron’s pompous ass.
    Theus had been right to cut Carron off at the knees. Taking away his power was the perfect way to