RANGE
Two years have passed since Inanna stole Junco away from Lucan. Two years of unimaginable pain. Two years of isolation, mutilation and torture. Two years of fear and loneliness in a morph tank. And that’s not something you just get over, even if you are psycho-assassin, Junco Coot.
MAGPIE BRIDGE INFO
Raubtier Aves, 039-1, a.k.a TIER
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The last time I was here in Subjack’s tunnels pops back into my mind. The day I met Gideon again after being separated for years, back when I was still tucking down those memories. He was acting the same way with me then, exasperated with my detached attitude.
“—I don’t want you to start any shit in here, got it?”
“Why would I start shit, Gid? I’m not a complete psychopath.”
He stares down at me, his eyes darting back and forth as he searches mine, then blinks and straightens up. “OK, whatever then. No scenes.”
I shrug. Why would I create a scene?
The biometrics on the door are triggered by someone on the other side and it slips open with a perfunctory whoosh.
When I look into the new room, Tier is staring down at me and I lunge at him, clasping my hands around his throat.
“You asshole, how dare you come here!” More words are spewing out of my mouth, ‘fuck’ mostly, ‘bastard’ and ‘dickhead’ put in several appearances, and then we’re wrestling on the ground. I’ve got my foot wrapped around his neck and he’s trying to grab my hands as Gideon pulls on me. I swing back with an elbow and crack Gid hard in the chin and he growls. My pretty flower dress is picking up little dust bunnies and all sorts of other debris as we roll around on the floor but I could give a shit.
“How dare you,” I growl as I lean down into Tier’s ear. “How dare you show your face to me again!”
“Junco!” he commands me as he squirms. “Calm the fuck down! That’s an order!”
I wriggle out of his grip and swing my foot around, slap him in the face with it, and then flip over and crack him once in the neck. “Fuck you and your orders, you prick.”
His hands scramble to grab me by the waist, then slip up my dress and I remember I’m hiding something. Something he’s not supposed to know about. I stop my struggle for a brief moment, hoping his hands will stop, but they don’t. They slide right up and find my secret.
And then he lets go and pushes me off him.
I get up and smooth out my dress, ignoring everyone standing around us. My eyes are stuck on Tier’s face to see what he’ll say.
He laughs but it’s not a happy laugh. It says I’ve got you.
J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).
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