Sucker Punch by Pauline Baird Jones Read Free Book Online

the mistake of holding out his hand. They were hand cuffing, not handshakingacquaintances. It was a nice bonus, not being on handshaking terms, if he was currently playing host to an evil something or other that liked to switch bodies through physical contact. Which just showed it was possible to find the good even in a bad situation.
    â€œThis is—” she stopped and sent Joe a wide-eyed look.
    â€œI am Dzholh Ban!drn,” he said. It still sounded like her cat coughing up a hairball, not helped by the almost imperceptible bow he offered with the words. “Intergalactic Law Enforcement Exchange Program.”
    In the past six months, she’d noticed that the depth of the bow reflected Joe’s notions of someone’s importance. He’d for sure nailed it this time.
    â€œThat’s quite the view you’ve got.” She touched an elbow to a tall, semitransparent cabinet and studied the view again. One wasn’t supposed to fear heights in a floating city, but one feared them less when one couldn’t see exactly how far one would fall if something malfunctioned. “Is it better or worse?”
    â€œIt is…different.”
    Yeah, he’d spent way too much time with lawyers.
    â€œChange can be satisfactory.”
    Afoniki cast Joe a doubtful look.
    â€œExcept when it’s not,” Vi said, possibly a bit too emphatically.
    A real smile spread across Afoniki’s face. Who’d have thought they’d find common ground in the aftermath of a big old storm? Vi noted the smile failed to spread to his eyes, which were so cold, she lacked a metaphor for how much. One brow rose over one cold eye, and he indicated the sumptuous seating with a touch of hesitation. As if he weren’t sure how long they planned to stay, but he did have company manners. For now. Vi didn’t kid herself that their “welcome” mat could easily be pulled out from under them. Which brought her mind back to the floor. She eased over to the couch, trying not to look eager or relieved, and sank down. It was as comfortable as it looked, which was sad, because she still didn’t feel comfortable. What if he had a button that would drop all of it, or the section she sat on, into the goo of NOO below?
    If she hadn’t seen the evil something or other’s handiwork, her imagination might not be running quite so wild. But she had. She glanced around, as if studying the fixtures. He had a good decorator. Even the furniture had a lightness to it that went against the vid portrayals of bad guys homes as dark and sinister dens of iniquity.
    â€œI love what you’ve done with the place,” she said. Most of it.
    â€œMy designer was most…satisfactory.”
    Vi was pretty sure that was a double entendre. Not everyone looked beneath his surface—or cared to look. Lots of money and good looks were all that mattered. Vi, well, she always felt a bit dirty after spending time with him. This time she’d arrived dirty, so she was ahead of the game.
    â€œCan I offer you something? A beverage? Food?” His gaze lingered on her face. “A bed?” Joe must have tensed or something because he added, “For sleeping, of course. You look exhausted.” His gaze shifted to Joe. “You as well, naturally.” His gaze flicked between them, both piercing and unsettling.
    Vi looked at Joe and danged if he didn’t look tired. She had to give Lurch chops for knowing how to set the stage.
    â€œThank you, but no, thank you.” She wasn’t sure how to start a non-hostile, non-interrogation. “I’m fine. We’re fine. Thank you.”
    He shifted from one foot to the other, his hands sliding into the pockets of his perfectly fitted slacks. He didn’t say that they needed to get to the point, but his lips lost their pseudo-friendly curve. Vi hesitated, but this wasn’t a power struggle, at least not yet. Afoniki hadn’t killed Jimbo, and