Programmed To Protect (The Tau Cetus Chronicles) by Jenna Ives Read Free Book Online Page A

double dealings nearly cost Jai her life. Bastard. “Tell me.”
    “He intends to smuggle diamonds inside the mouths of five of the soldiers. As a test.”
    Wyatt’s eyebrow rose at that information. “What kind of test?”
    Veraine smiled slyly. “Mr. Carron wants to ensure that he has a comfortable retirement if Theus should one day – shall we say – tire of his services. Terra Acer and that part of Tau Cetus are still fairly lawless; it’s a good place for Mr. Carron to be able to disappear and enjoy his hard-earned profits. I’m to collect the diamonds once we get to Terra Acer and pass them to a trusted contact Mr. Carron has there. And to give this covert operation less chance of discovery, I’ve implanted the diamonds into soldiers number one, one-thousand-one, two-thousand-two, three-thousand-three and four-thousand-four.”
    “And you chose those particular soldiers because every tenth robot is pulled out for testing.”
    Veraine looked surprised that Wyatt was aware of their quality-control process, but he nodded in acknowledgment.
    Wyatt paused while digesting all this information. He knew very well that if Theus tired of someone’s services it usually meant they’d fucked up in some way, and the Council’s standard way of dealing with that was by killing them, not retiring them. And smuggling diamonds for personal use inside robot soldiers technically owned by the High Council would definitely not sit well with Theus.
    “Why are you telling me this?”
    Veraine shrugged. “I think the Council should know what Mr. Carron is up to. Besides, I’m an ambitious man. If Theus decides to get rid of Mr. Carron, I’m confident he’ll remember my service in alerting you to this information, and realize that I’m here – ready and able – to take Mr. Carron’s place.”
    Not bloody likely. If Veraine could betray Carron this easily, he could just as casually betray the High Council. Still, there was a lot here for Wyatt to consider.
    Veraine turned suddenly, and strode across the lab. Before Wyatt could utter a word to stop him, Veraine had opened his utility closet door.
    “Ginger? Come on out and say hello to agent Wyatt.”
    Veraine’s command woke Ginger from her hibernation mode. The Beautiful Doll’s green starburst eyes slowly opened, and she took a step into the room.
    Despite his vow to resist her, Wyatt was once again transfixed by her beauty. He stared at her flawless face, with that enticing mouth. At her gorgeous red hair, falling like a curtain to her creamy shoulders. And her perfect body, naked in all its glory for him to admire.
    She held herself as proud as a queen.
    Ginger’s green-eyed gaze went from Veraine to Wyatt. Then she smiled sweetly. “Hello, Leith.”
    Wyatt stopped breathing. He hadn’t imagined it yesterday. The way she said those two simple words was akin to a physical caress. A long, drawn-out purr. He couldn’t imagine Ginger without vocal chords.
    His traitorous body began to stir.
    Veraine’s eyebrows reached his hairline. “ Leith, is it?” He threw Wyatt a glance, and laughed out loud. “Sounds like you two had a better time yesterday than I thought.”
    Wyatt scowled fiercely, which only made Veraine laugh louder.
    “Ginger? Why don’t you show agent Wyatt… er, Leith …congress of a cow today.”
    “Yes, Titus,” she agreed.
    “No, Titus,” Wyatt contradicted. Damn it, he was determined not to let himself get into this tempting situation again!
    Veraine left the Doll’s side to walk the few steps back to Wyatt. He lowered his voice. “Go ahead and enjoy yourself, agent Wyatt. It’s safe here.” He shrugged. “I mean, would I have told you about the diamonds if we were being recorded?”
    The words surprised Wyatt so much it gave Veraine time to exit the lab, pulling the door closed firmly behind him.
    Would I have told you about the diamonds if we were being recorded?
    How the hell did Veraine know that was exactly what Wyatt had