RedeemingZorus by Laurann Dohner Read Free Book Online Page B

idiots hadn’t frisked her
for concealed weapons. A smile curved her mouth as she hacked wires then
withdrew her small kit from her bra that contained the tools she had used to
free Zorus. She worked quickly.
    “What is your request?” The computer had a masculine voice.
    “Display a layout of the shuttle’s interior.”
    A blueprint of the shuttle appeared on the screen above the
panel. It even detailed where she’d been dumped.
    “Show me where nonpersonal is.”
    One room lit up since the computer had been fooled into
thinking Charlie had full access. Zorus had been assigned a room on the same
level of the three-floor shuttle but his quarters were located on the opposite
end, one corridor over.
    “Now display all heat signatures.”
    The crew seemed to mostly be grouped together on the lowest
deck in what appeared to be the mess hall. Two signatures showed near the
engines but none shared the same level she and Zorus were on. The cyborg’s
stationary heat signature assured her he wasn’t moving around the ship.
    “Track me and verbally warn me if anyone attempts to enter
this section.”
    “Confirmed.”
    “Give me full voice command.”
    “Confirmed.”
    “Open the doors.”
    The doors slid open to reveal a dim hallway. Charlie stepped
out, confident that she wouldn’t run into anyone, steered right, and used the
wall to keep her upright as her still-sluggish legs struggled to carry her
forward. She paused in front of the door where Zorus was quartered.
    “Open the door.”
    The second it slid open Zorus whirled to face her, his big
body going into a defense posture. She gripped the open doorjamb to stare at
him. “Hi. I’m the cavalry so don’t attack me. My body is still too messed up
and my reflexes are too screwed to block any punches you may throw. Are you all
right?”
    “I locked the door.” His body relaxed but he looked
distinctly surprised. “What are you doing here?”
    “Saving your ass if you need it.” She cleared her throat.
“I’m escaping but I wanted to check on you first. If that son of a bitch
brother of mine lied to me about our plans then I wasn’t sure he really
intended for you to be returned to your people. If he set you up too then I
sure wasn’t going to leave you behind.”
    Zorus’ dark gaze widened. “Why didn’t you just escape?”
    Charlie frowned at him. “Do you need rescuing or not? I’m
sure someone will realize I hacked the computer sooner than later. We need to
be off the shuttle before they do. We’ll be screwed once they take back
control. At the moment, I can get us out of here and disable them long enough
for us to put some distance between us and the pod I plan to steal. I’m going
to have their computer run diagnostics. It will lock it up for a good twenty
minutes with this old shuttle. That will give us plenty of time to make good on
our escape.”
    The big cyborg gaped at her, mute and shocked.
    “Time is not our friend now, Zorus. Do you need to come with
me or are you cool?”
    Her words seemed to shake him. “What if I were in danger?”
    “We’ll find the nearest space port and I’ll hack into a
secure line for you to contact your people to pick you up. I’m heading for
Saturn to have a little family reunion once I’m sure you’re safe.”
    “You are truly concerned for my well-being?”
    “Duh.” She closed her eyes, attempting to fight off a dizzy
spell. It took a lot to look at him and remain standing. “We need to go if you
want out of here.” Her eyes snapped open when the worst of it passed.
    “You’re pale and shaking.”
    “I’m drugged still and I feel as though my body weighs four
hundred pounds. It’s all I can do to stay on my feet. Time is wasting.”
    “Movement on lift two,” the computer voice stated. “It is
headed for this level.”
    Alarm jolted Charlie. “We’ve got to go, Zorus. Someone is
coming. Stay on my ass and I’ll get you out of here.”
    She turned and her knees collapsed from the