Read Carnevale and Subterfuge for Free Online Page B

eyes and his face had thinned, his cheeks were so prominent they could cut something. Roberto wasn’t taking care of himself. The evidence before Diego made his stomach turn and his heart stutter in its rhythm.
    “Robbie, go out and do something fun. We’re going to have months where all we know is the role we’ll be stuck in. I don’t know what this con is that Mother is talking of, but I do know I have a job to do and so do you. Before we go, you should have fun. Pull a lovely woman, fuck until dawn, and then meet me at Nostalgia Café so we can discuss this mission. I’ll meet you for lunch tomorrow. We have one more day of weekend left. Let me enjoy spending it with Anarrae.”
    Diego was caught off guard by what he had just done. He had never mentioned a lover before. Ever. When he was younger, he didn’t tell his mother or brother about any of his girlfriends for fear his father would hear about her, seek her out and humiliate her.
    “She must be really special for you to want to be with her so badly,” said Roberto. “I see light in your eyes, brother. You let down your guard. I shouldn’t keep you. You’ve never had it easy, protecting me and Mother from father. Go have fun. Fai attenzione .” Roberto stepped away and went back to their mother’s room. The door closed softly behind him.
    “ Anche tu, fratello,” Diego murmured before leaving the house. He took another gondola home. On the way back, he resisted the urge to peek in the envelope his mother had given him. If one didn’t have all the knowledge for the job, one could not prepare for problems. He trusted his mother, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t a con at all, just a way to protect her old lover.
    When the gondola arrived near Diego’s home he jumped ashore. He was about to leave when the gondolier called out to him. In his hand, he held a Rose Ametista .
    “For the lady in your life. It is meant to bring good luck.” The robot gave him an awkward smile. Its silver lips were crooked as it tried to convey the human emotion of happiness, but fell short. The machine’s bright red eyes, unblinking, bore into Diego, almost as if it was willing him to take the proffered flowers. Diego couldn’t ignore that. He doubted the gesture was a genuine attempt to get him in good with his lady. The bot was probably low on credits and needed something to make up the difference.
    Robots didn’t have rights like AIs, since they couldn’t prove self-preservation or whatever humans and aliens were using as the test for sentient life. Sadness tugged at Diego’s heart. He dug into his pocket, took out a handful of credits, and poured the silver disks into the robot’s hand while taking the slightly wilted roses with the other.
    “Sir, this is too much. No, non ce la faccio piu .” The bot tried to give back half of what Diego had given him.
    Diego shook his head. “Take it, my friend. You work too hard for this city. You don’t get as much recognition as your AI brethren. Take it. Consider it a tip for a job well done.”
    Diego turned away, ignoring the protests of the robot and headed for his flat. He was just about to unlock his door when he heard voices, one male and one Ana’s. He pressed his ear to the door and listened.
    “Yes, sir, the weekend is going well. Um, yes, this is, um, an inn I’m at. The hotel wasn’t as safe as I thought,” Ana said.
    “Do I need to make a report?” the male voice asked.
    “No, no sir. Just a glitch in the security system. Nothing to worry about. I just felt it would be better to stay at an inn. I lost my GPS and didn’t think to report my change of lodgings.” Embarrassment colored her tone and Diego felt bad. Her captain was probably taking her to task for not checking in.
    “Well, make sure you’re at the transport pad to take you back to the ship. The ambassador’s people will be there as well. His guards will take him up to the ship in a separate vessel for privacy