B Clones (Clones #1) - Laurann Dohner Page 0,80

in the hall, watching her. “How much do you know about robots and androids? We have an abundance of both here.” He glanced at Blade. “They scared Gemma at first. We can deactivated them if it will make you more comfortable.”

Hailey appreciated that Big seemed concerned for her. “I’m good with both. We have a lot of robots transporting goods to and from work sites on my planet. I know they have good safety sensors. There’s never been an accident where one of them rolled into someone or anything.”

“Good.” Big turned and strode forward.

This corridor wasn’t like other. There were no shops, but large doors were spaced out on both sides. The walls weren’t metal, either. They were a pale gray.

Big placed his hand on a pad at a set of double doors, and one side opened.

He went in first. “Welcome home.”

It was a spacious open living room with nice furnishings. A kitchen sat to the right, with a long island and stools. A pretty woman slipped off one. She looked to be about twenty, with shoulder-length blonde hair and pale blue eyes. Big went immediately to her side and they held hands.

“Gemma, I’d like you to meet Blade and Hailey.” He beamed.

“It’s so good to finally meet you, Blade. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She turned her attention to Hailey. “I hope you don’t mind that I was waiting in your home. Big said it would be alright. I ordered your silver lady to stay in the closet.”

“Silver lady?” Hailey asked, confused.

“It’s an android that lives in your kitchen.” Gemma lowered her voice to a whisper. “Apparently, they’re all called Magna. If you say their name, they roll out of the closet in there, ready to ask you what you want to eat. They’re great cooks, but super freaky.”

“We have an android that cooks?” Hailey thought that was pretty cool, actually.

Gemma nodded. “Wild, right? It also cleans the kitchen and does dishes.”

Big cleared his throat. “Hailey knows about those advancements.”

“I don’t have an android at home,” Hailey admitted. “We’re a pretty poor colony. The mining company has them, but not regular people. I’m used to doing all the chores with my mom.”

Blade gave Gemma a nod of his head. “I’m very glad you came into Big’s life, Gemma. I’ve never seen him this happy before.”

“Thanks. It wasn’t like I planned any of this, but…” Gemma shot Big a loving look. “It’s turning out pretty great for me. All because of my sexy pirate. I’m so lucky that he stole me and brought me here.”

“Pirate?” Hailey spun away from Blade, alarmed. “I thought you weren’t really a pirate, just forced to just stay with them? Did you lie to me? If he’s one—”

Blade reached for her and lightly gripped both of her hands. “I’ve never lied to you. Those pirates did force me to work with them. And they attack people. We only steal clone plasma, because we need it to survive. The transports we go after are completely automated and all sent by JDJ Clone Corp.”

She studied his features. He seemed sincere.

“Baby, I’ve told you the truth.”

“Big took me off a spaceship that had this stupid robot in charge. There was no one else on it. Just me,” Gemma added. “And he was super surprised that I was there. But I’m illegal, so that’s why I was hidden away with a bunch of blood bags in crates.”

“Plasma,” Big corrected.

Hailey relaxed and let Blade pull her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest. “I’m sorry. I know I can trust you. I do.”

He hugged her. “It’s fine. You’ve been through a lot.”

“It’s not fine,” she murmured into his shirt. “I just panicked a little because if you had lied, you might have not meant what you said about my parents.”

“Your parents?”

Hailey turned her head and opened her eyes to look at Gemma. “Blade promised to let me call them so they know I’m alive, and to find a safe way to get me home to them.”

Gemma appeared stunned. “Your parents think you’re dead?”

She nodded. “I was grabbed off the street and kidnapped on my way home from school.”

“How old are you?” Gemma released Big and rushed forward, pausing a couple feet away.

“Twenty-six. I’m a schoolteacher.”

“You look like an adult, but the school thing confused me.” Gemma lifted her chin to stare up at Blade. “Did you let her call them?”

“It wasn’t possible until we got here.”

Gemma turned on her. “How long ago was it that you