Hammer Down: Children of the Undying: Book 2 Read Free

going to make it through their trouble?”
    A snarl worked its way free, unbidden and unwelcome. He couldn’t afford to waste his concern on a trucker, one whose very willingness to do business with him proved she had something to hide. Upstanding haulers took their contracts from city leaders and followed the rules; the ones who smuggled people and property to outcasts were usually little better than criminals themselves. Hardhearted opportunists taking advantage of desperation, or the kind of sick vultures who preyed on those with no recourse in human law.
    And yet… Memory summoned the image of tawny skin and wild curls, hair that seemed to defy gravity and breasts that might as well have. No weak, fragile woman—her clothes hadn’t hidden her muscled frame, and he doubted she was any softer in reality. Not with a reputation for running a tight, disciplined crew.
    Devi was a hot, tempting package, and Zel had the sinking feeling he was about to drop back into a body with a raging hard-on just from watching the dim light play over her curves.
    Sweet fuck, he needed to get laid.
    He stepped through the exit and endured the miserable plunge out of the network, a jittery moment where his makeshift office superimposed itself over the bar he’d left behind. His stomach flipped, but the nausea faded under a wave of relief as the persistent pain from the Global’s anti-demon signal vanished.
    By the time he blinked away the blurry remains of his disorientation, Trip was banging away at one of the computer terminals, a look of gleeful concentration on his face. “You wanted me to track them, right? I mean, I figured you did.”
    “I wasn’t sure if you could.”
    “Mmm. The techie has a messy chip. All kinds of completely traceable signal interference. You know, if you’re awesome like me.”
    “Messy like black market?”
    “It’s sure the hell not government-issue.”
    There were only a few reasons for a supposedly legitimate human to have a black-market chip, and any of them would go a long way toward explaining Devi’s off-the-book missions. “You’ve run into her before, haven’t you? The techie. What’s her story?”
    Trip spun in his chair and shrugged. “Never checked her out beyond the basics. I could figure it out, but it might take me a few hours.”
    It was an inexcusable breach of trust against someone he was trying to forge a business relationship with, but that wouldn’t stop Zel. Not if he was going to entrust Devi’s crew with the life and well-being of his sister’s eldest child. “First find out where they are. Then find out everything you can about why that girl’s got a black-market chip. Hell, find out everything you can about all of them.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Zel snagged his handheld from his desk and shoved it into his pocket as he rose. “Ping me when you have their location. I’m going to gather Lorenzo and a few soldiers. They’ve got relatives of three of our people on board those trucks, and if there is trouble…” It was Zel’s responsibility to see them safe.
    Trip had already turned back to his task, but there was a smile in his voice when he spoke. “I’ll find them for you, boss.”
    He’d find them because he was the best, but Zel couldn’t resist prodding him as he strode toward the door. “You’d better. No letting an uppity kid with purple hair outwit you.”
    “Hey, you just make sure the diesel queen doesn’t dazzle you stupid with her big baby blues.”
    Zel walked backward toward the door so he could flip Trip his middle finger. “Less talk, more walk, buddy.”
    Trip took the rude gesture with another broad smile. “Your heart rate and blood pressure skyrocketed.” He nodded to the desk. “Telemetry doesn’t lie.”
    Figured Trip would get pushy. “Get your nose out of my vitals and track down your little playmate.”
    “Got five searches running right now. You’re the one making small talk.”
    As soon as he was out into the narrow hallway,