The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(39)

“We lost a lot of good people that day, Lindsey.”

“We did.” Lindsey remembered Ryan sacrificing himself so that she and Maria could survive.

Torran continued: “And we lost a lot of good people afterward. I don’t want to see that happen again.”

Blinking against the sun reflecting off the glass and metal of the towering government buildings, Lindsey asked in a soft voice, “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I like you. And I know that the SWD is not everyone’s favorite organization. Especially right now.” Torran gazed directly into her eyes. “I don’t approve of using people’s injuries as propaganda, I don’t approve of altering people without their consent even if it’s to save humanity, and I want to be a part of a positive change. I meant what I said over our meal earlier.”

“I admit you’re not a dick like most of the SWD personnel.”

“Blame my Constabulary roots,” Torran said with a laugh, then sobered. “The people working for the SWD want to save humanity, too. Maybe not the Admiral Kirkpatricks, but the rest of us.”

“You sound like you’re trying to sell me something,” Lindsey decided, placing one hand on her cocked hip.

“I am,” Torran admitted. “A chance to make you a taco.”

That elicited a giggle from her. “You’re doing okay so far.”

Torran grinned. “Excellent.”

Continuing on their trek home, Lindsey tucked her hands into the pockets of her coat. It had been a long time since she’d simply hung out with someone that wasn’t Vaja. She recognized now how much she had leaned on her ex after Maria had departed on her secret mission. Though she had been fine with throwing Vaja out, the emptiness that had suddenly filled her life after he abandoned her had been more depressing than she’d anticipated. The smattering of conversation with Torran during the rest of their journey to the Central Sector of the city was mostly small talk, but it was comforting.

The shortcut deposited them close to the alley where her small flat was located. Lindsey again cast a thoughtful look at sun the dipping below the mountain range. The streets weren’t as busy now that the citizens were sitting down to evening meals or watching shows on the vids.

“I’m over this way,” Lindsey said, and pointed to the rectangular box of a building she called home.

“Ah, okay. Well, thank you for the company on our long walk.”

“Did you really walk all that way for tortillas?”

“Well, not just tortillas.” Torran gave her a sheepish smile, and opened the bag again. Shoving the tortillas aside, he revealed a bottle filled with clear liquid. “Tequila. Very rare. Very expensive. The same ladies who make the tortillas also grow agave.”

“That’s real tequila?” Lindsey marveled at his connections. “Wow.”

Torran gave her a wide cocky grin. “I have refined tastes.”

Glancing at the door of her flat just a block away, Lindsey twisted her mouth to one side while pondering her next move. Not one to play games or be coy, she made up her mind. “Want to come home with me?”

“Eh?” Torran regarded her as if he wasn’t quite sure what she was asking of him.

“Want to come home with me? Get naked? Have sex?” Lindsey raised her eyebrows, awaiting an answer.

“You’re after my tortillas and tequila,” Torran said, teasing her, but clearly interested.

“Maybe. But it was nice spending time with someone today and I don’t want it to end. Plus, you’re handsome and sexy with that gorgeous floppy hair which is completely not regulation, and you have cute freckles.”

“I do have cute freckles,” Torran agreed with a nod.

“No strings. Just... fun. I don’t have four sisters and I don’t want babies.”

“And I’m not looking to add a fourth girlfriend to my roster.”

“So... a shag... tequila... and tacos?”

“Yeah,” Torran said, with a toe-curling charming grin. “Yeah.”





Chapter 11


The flat was colder than Lindsey expected and she shivered upon entering. With the rolling blackouts there was no point in leaving the heat on anyway. The lights flicked on, revealing her small space, and Torran glanced around with interest.

“Do you have a flat outside the SWD Facility?” she asked shrugging off her coat.

“I had one, but lost it after the divorce. But that was also before the big push. I could have applied for a flat, but that’s when I decided to go ahead and retire, then enlist with the SWD.”

“So... divorced?” Lindsey hung up her coat in her small locker, then took Torran’s as he handed it over.

“Yeah. She decided she was the female Vaja.” Torran shrugged. “We were young, stupid, and got married far too young and far too fast. And also: the whole idea of a family flat was very appealing.”

“It’s how they get you to breed,” Lindsey commented with a smirk.

“It really is. Have a family. Get a bigger place. Sheer bribery.” Torran set his bag on her narrow counter. “So... tacos.”

“I don’t know if I have anything we can put in them.” Lindsey crouched to examine the contents of a small refrigerator.