Girl From Above #3: Trapped by Pippa DaCosta Read Free Book Online Page A

overhanging front section loomed high above us. Her hold was closed, but the personnel pressure door would be unlocked. “Get inside.”
    Shepperd ignored my words but picked up on my tone and glared into the crowds. “Where is he?”
    “Close.” I mentally cut my link to the cloud, severing the permanent connection with nine systems’ worth of knowledge, and turned my back on Lyra. My internal processes were curiously quiet now that I was isolated in my own head.
    Following Caleb up the personnel ramp, I noticed his hesitation outside the pressure door. He clamped a hand over the latch and sucked in a deep breath. He straightened his back and lifted his chin, the muddle of emotion he’d worn on his face since the police department vanishing. Then he pushed inside his ship’s hold.
    “Oh my, what happened to you two?” James came forward but pulled up short as Shepperd brushed by him.
    “Give me a while to get my shit together and I’ll debrief you.”
    His brother came through the opposite door and for the smallest of moments, relief brightened Bren’s face. Then in the next step thunder replaced the light in his eyes. “Caleb-Joe, what did you do?”
    I pulled Starscream’s outer pressure door closed, then locked and sealed it tight. Nothing would be getting inside without industrial cutting gear.
    Caleb’s sharp laugh sliced through the empty cargo hold. “Fuck, I haven’t even been tried yet, but you already know I’m guilty.”
    I eased forward, my processes feeding me the information that the brothers’ emotional states were quickly disintegrating. James darted his gaze all over me with questions in his eyes. I ignored him.
    “Who was she?” Bren asked, adamant disappointment as plain as day on his face.
    A muscle fluttered in Caleb’s cheek, and when he spoke, his voice came out flat and controlled. “Jesse …”
    Bren’s brown eyes widened. He’d known Jesse. They’d met when I’d helped them escape Ganymede. They’d spent time together after fleet had destroyed the Mimir warehouses. His heartbeat jumped. “When will you realize you can’t go on like this?”
    Caleb lifted his chin. “It wasn’t my fault. Bruno—”
    Bren exploded. His vitals flared hot and fast, and he moved in on Caleb. He loomed over his younger brother in a way I’d never seen from the commander. “Fran?! The Cande girl!” His right hand flexed into a fist. “Christ, Caleb. Take some responsibility. You killed them!”
    Caleb stepped back, just the one step, but the submission didn’t last. He swung a fast and tight right hook, punching Bren square in the jaw. The commander reeled and lunged.
    I was between them before either could stop me. I shoved Caleb back and held him there, hand splayed on his chest while he glared through me at his brother. Bren seemed to realize his mistake and backed off, gingerly fingering the flushed mark on his face. He checked me and then James before striding for the external door.
    “You cannot leave,” I said.
    “Let him,” Caleb grunted.
    I ignored the captain. “There’s a synthetic hunting me. If you leave, he’ll use you as leverage. You’re an asset to this crew, Brendan.” I lowered my hand holding Caleb back, ready to tackle Bren if he attempted to leave.
    James stood quiet and still off to the side, a hand on his hip. “I er … Let’s everyone just take a timeout. Clearly, we have a lot to catch up on.”
    Caleb grumbled something and then left through the personnel door.
    James swallowed hard and approached me. “The captain said you collapsed. I’d like to run a diagnostic program and make sure you’re fully functional.” He regarded me with his usual gentle patience. “Will you let me examine your wounds?”
    I was damaged but repairs could wait. “Later.” My tone dismissed him.
    He nodded and cast a troubled look toward Brendan before leaving the hold. He’d be waiting for me, the way he always did, eager to maintain my processes and study my