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Category: Science Fiction/Romance
Description: Kelen Roaert is the proprietor of the most successful monopoly the Galaxy has ever seen. And keeper of its deadliest secret. Until his little empire comes under an attack that threatens on one hand to end his domination of the galactic marketplace or on the other to destroy it, and him. Neither of which strikes him as an appealing prospect. So he takes steps to eliminate both problems.
eBook Publisher: eXtasy eBooks/eXtasybooks, 2010 2010
eBookwise Release Date: October 2010

2 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [286 KB]
Words: 66975
Reading time: 191-267 min.

Once inside, he ordered them to the side away from the window and shouted, "Baler, you son of a bitch! I go to the john and you think you can slip in that quick!" While Baler and Simone looked at him incredulously, he pulled one of the tanks out of its berth under the bench.

Catching on, Baler shouted, "Aw man! She won't break! Besides I thought you could use the help."

Simone was insulted enough to slap him, even though she realized it was an act. Then she did, just to lend credence to his performance.

After a few seconds, Price kicked a trashcan over and shouted, "Look out you damn fool!" Motioning for them to follow as he turned to run, he fired his MPP into the tank. It ruptured at once sending fumes throughout the lab. As they left, he returned the grinder to its former position and left it again grinding on the table, throwing sparks out in an arc that encompassed most of the room.

From outside, Reyes listened intently, silently cursing whatever was slowing down the muscle he had called for. He had no intention of going in alone against Price because he knew his reputation. He'd sent a signal right after he'd heard the first mention of Dashon crystals, but he didn't mention them, deciding to keep that detail to himself. No one had showed yet.

He'd started to send a second signal just before they had started this little dust up and was about to go ahead when the windows of the lab on the third floor blew out in a fireball. As he dove for cover behind the tree, shards of glass rained down and stabbed at the ground. Several shards found their way into his leg and he screamed from the pain. A second explosion sent still more shards flying as the tank left under the bench went off from the heat and shattered everything that had survived the first blast by virtue of being in the cabinet above it.

Reyes could hear the wail of disaster crew vehicles and thought about ditching his listening gear. It wouldn't do to get caught with it. But he decided to risk it. He did cut the feed so there was no way to trace it to where it had been connected. Not that there was anything there to connect to anymore.

He cursed his luck. Now, not only did he lose the only lead they had to this mysterious asteroid, he was sure he would end up in front of Kelen Roaert to explain how. His leg throbbed in time with his heartbeat, which was rapidly increasing at the thought.

In the back of the building, Price and his charges had made their way again down the back stairs. This time they had not slowed and with the cover of the explosions, they were sure that their escape had gone unnoticed. Once in the garage, Price immediately looked around at the vehicles parked there.

Deciding on a rather worn looking cargo transport, he shattered the window with the butt of his gun and scrambled inside. As they crouched in the shadows beneath the door, Baler spoke up.

"You can't steal a truck! We'll have your people on us before we get a block away!"

Price almost smiled. Would have if he hadn't been holding the flashlight in his teeth. Finished, he snatched it out as he whispered fiercely, "Get in!"