Chapter 33
NG's goblet was almost empty and he was almost done. He forced himself to sit upright, stretching out a tension in the muscles across his shoulders.
The Man rested his elbow on the desk and leaned his chin into his palm. "The impact on the guild has been extensive," he said. "Losing Mendhel and taking Quinn out of Acquisitions severely depletes your stable of handlers, NG. We cannot afford to stagnate. But amid these scandals of betrayal, should we really be recruiting? It will be difficult for our people to accept outsiders."
"It's always difficult for us to welcome newcomers. Look at me, everyone still calls me the New Guy. But how else do we bring in new blood and expand our talent pool. It will be hard in the circumstances but we need to and there are good people out there."
"Find them," the Man said. "War is inevitable and I fear the pace to implement my plans must be hastened. We must strengthen our position amongst these splintered factions of man."
The last vapours of the remaining wine hung above the jug, slowly dissipating. Only a few candles remained lit. The Man looked at him with hooded eyes. "I ask again, where is Luka now?"
"We don't know."
"Find him."
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Also available from C.G. Hatton in paperback and eBook:
Residual Belligerence
(Thieves' Guild: Book One)
Blatant Disregard
(Thieves' Guild: Book Two)
Harsh Realities
(Thieves' Guild: Book Three)
Wilful Defiance
(Thieves' Guild: Book Four)
Darkest Fears
(Thieves' Guild: Book Five)
is due out in 2017
Kheris Burning
(Thieves' Guild Origins: LC Book One)
Beyond Redemption
(Thieves' Guild Origins: LC Book Two)
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Twitter: @cghatton
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Blatant Disregard
(Thieves' Guild: Book Two)
by C.G. Hatton
The piece of junk in geostationary orbit around Sten's World was not the nicest of places to be running from a determined bounty hunter. LC fumbled another magazine into his pistol as he ran along the walkway between sectors. The incident in the bar had shaken his nerves more than he realised. He'd thought they were close again but not that close.
He ducked into the half cover of a doorway to catch a breath and let Thom, an acquaintance of only a few hours, catch up with him.
"This is crazy," Thom said, dropping in alongside him. "Have we lost them?"
"I don't think so," LC said, grinning. "These guys are some of the best. We should make it back to the ship though. Don't look so worried, kiddo."
Thom scowled. "I'm not that young."
LC smiled.
"Why is he after you anyway?" Thom said.
LC looked up from checking the charge on the pistol and shrugged. "Gambling debts. Don't ever play poker with the Gadini brothers." He nudged Thom with his elbow and snatched a glance back down the corridor. "C'mon."
As they left the alcove, LC walked backwards for a few steps. The walkway was empty but something didn't feel right. He stopped and edged against the bulkhead, motioning Thom to do the same. He stared at the access stairs where a tangle of pipes were hissing steam. A shadow moved where it shouldn't have done. Metal glinted in the light of the stairway lamp.
He cursed silently and lifted his pistol, aiming towards the stairs. He was greeted by a hollow metallic clatter and saw a small object tumbling towards them. He blinked, then yelled, shoving Thom off to one side, trying to get down himself as the blast threw him into the wall.
He almost laughed as sparks of sheer agony flared behind his eyes and his cheek and left arm crunched into the cold metal of the bulkhead. He staggered around.
It was a strange feeling to be looking down the wrong end of a gun barrel through the effects of a concussion blast and he couldn't focus, either on the end of the barrel aimed at him or the figure standing half in shadow behind it.
So this was it after all. He began to lift his hands in grudging surrender and flinched back, his knees almost buckling as a shot resounded in the narrow space. The gun and its owner dropped. LC took a step back, swaying, blotting blood from his cheek with the back of his hand, waiting for the second shot, not quite trusting that this was a reprieve.
The corridor remained quiet, his guardian angel anonymous.
LC stumbled backwards and stooped quickly to help the kid to his feet.
Thom was closer on his heels this time as they ran on towards the docks.
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Blatant Disregard (Thieves' Guild: Book Two) is available now in eBook and paperback.
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