Breakaway: 1 (Verdant String)

Sofie lives in the shadow of Felicitos--the tethered way station built to funnel Garmens mineral wealth to the top of the atmosphere where its loaded onto space ships. Because Garmen is a breakaway planet not part of the Verdant String Coalition the companies that control it are free to run things as they see fit and Sofie is part of the resistance that wants to end their rule.Her main goal though is to get away from Garmen altogether and leave the drudgery and violence behind her. That goal is complicated by her involvement with Leo Gaudier a shadowy crime lord whose ability to cheat the companies that own Garmen is something she admires. And when she stumbles on a terrible new direction the companies are taking a secret alliance that will endanger everyone she cares about she sees her chances of escape slipping away.Leo is all too aware he doesnt know enough about Sofie something his own security detail is not slow to point out but he cant keep away. When Sofie reveals her links to the resistance and shows him those in control of Garmen have begun swimming in dangerous waters he realizeshis plan to overthrown them in a careful operation of a thousand cuts is no longer workable. The time has come for a single lethal strike--and that will not be without consequences . . .