“David?” Alexia shrank from the purple-faced tyrant, then gathered the bed sheet up to her neck. “Oh my God…”
“In my bed?” he bellowed, his pale-blue eyes blazing so bright, they echoed the silver of his balding head. “Get up before I drag you up with my bare hands.”
The biggest of the enforcers grinned. “Want me to do it, boss? I’ve been itching to get my hands on the little slut.”
“Shut up,” David advised grimly. He was wearing a dark wool overcoat and black gloves, and appeared larger and more powerful than ever before. She had hoped five years would have softened him, or at least aged him, but here he was, the cruel, judgmental figure who had come to her home a handful of times during her childhood, always scaring her to death.
In those days, her juvenile imagination had seen glowing coals where his eyes should have been, fangs in place of teeth and claw-like fingers on his giant, threatening hands.
Nothing had changed. And to her horror, she morphed back into that frightened little girl.
“We didn’t know you were coming,” she stammered. “I’ll pack up my things and move—”
“Move where? This is my world. My platform. Who do you think you are, coming here like this? Like you own the place.”
“This was supposed to be my brother’s penthouse,” she managed to retort. “I have just as much right—”
“I told you, get out of there,” he growled, then without waiting, he advanced on the bed and dragged her from under the covers and onto her feet.
She could feel the enforcers ogling her body through the thin nightgown, but David didn’t bother with such human behavior. And she knew why. He wasn’t human.
And in his evil eyes, she wasn’t human either. She was the traitorous malcontent who had publically proclaimed him a robber baron. Trashed his legacy. Mocked his cowardice and disloyalty at every opportunity. As much as she detested him for all he had done, she understood why he hated her in return.
And so she tried for a soothing tone. “I didn’t know you were coming, David. I’m really sorry. I can stay with TJ—”
“I’m surprised I didn’t find you in his bed. But you always were a tease, weren’t you?” His huge, gloved hands grabbed her by the shoulders. “I’m going to make your dreams come true, Alexia. Send you back through the sinkhole. And this time, if we’re lucky, you’ll join your brother permanently. In fact, I might just arrange for that to happen.”
She jerked free, confused. For one thing, she wasn’t quite clear what he was saying. Arrange it? Was he power-mad enough to murder her? And in the sinkhole no less? Was that even possible?
“Don’t bully me,” she managed to croak. “Like I said, I’m all packed. And we’re on the same page, because I’m happy to go back through the sinkhole—”
“Fuck the sinkhole. And fuck you.”
“Well, fuck you too,” she murmured.
To her shock, he slapped her across the face so hard she lost her balance and toppled back to the bed. She wanted to spring to her feet again, to spit in his eye, but cautioned herself to stay down. Be smart. Stay alive.
But David had other ideas. “Stand her up, Belker,” he growled.
A beefy hand grabbed the bodice of her nightgown and hauled her back to her feet. This guy—this Belker—had had it in for her from the start, not just in the confrontation with Rick at the space dock, but every day thereafter. Watching her from every possible vantage point, his eyes glowing with bloodlust.
Now he finally had his chance, and there was a joyful ugliness to his words when he hissed, “No rescue this time, slut. You’re all mine.”
Terrified, she tried to jerk free, but he swung on her, not in a slapping motion like David, but with a punch to her left eye that blinded her while reverberating through her skull. She screamed, got her footing, then tried to bolt past him, but the enforcer threw her down again as easily as a rag doll.
“What’s the meaning of this?” TJ’s voice roared from the bedroom doorway. “Goddammit, Dad, when the fuck did you get here? Call off your goons. Now.”
Alexia tried to stand. To run to him. But Belker shoved her back down.
“You let this bitch sleep in my bed?” David Seaton demanded, fixing his son with a cold glare. “I told you to deport her.”
“I had a better idea,” TJ said with a shrug. “I decided to marry her.”
“What?”
Alexia cowered again, certain David would now murder them both.
But for once, the son seemed as powerful as the father. Almost eerily so. They had the same stance. The same expression. And why hadn’t she ever noticed the similarities in their jawlines, their foreheads?
She had always focused on the eyes. David’s so pale and icy. TJ’s a completely different shade of blue, dark and warm and noble.
And even though he resembled his father now, he was rescuing her, and thus, still seemed noble in her eyes as he said, “Can’t you just see it, Dad? Seaton and Montoya again. Only this time, the Seatons hold all the cards.”
David licked his thin lips.
“It’s priceless,” TJ said forcefully. “Imagine the press. Especially once I get her pregnant. She might not be an intellectual giant like the other Montoyas but she carries their DNA. Your grandson will be the answer to everyone’s prayers. Including yours.”
“My grandson?” David’s voice was hushed. “Is it possible? Can we even trust her, after all her treachery and whoring?”
“Careful there,” TJ warned. “That’s my future bride you’re talking about. And yeah…” His tone turned cold. “It’s possible.”
“Because you’re in love?” David drawled.
“No. Because I’m not in love. And neither is she. We’ve got something even better. An insane devotion to the past. And hope for the future. It’s a match made in heaven.”
Alexia watched with fascinated sadness as TJ manipulated the evil tyrant. He had had years of practice, hadn’t he? And it showed. David had tormented, taunted, belittled. And TJ had learned to do the same.
Thank God.
“She’ll behave,” TJ assured him. Then he directed his cool gaze at Alexia. “Come over here, darling. Let’s see how much damage they did.”
She wanted to run to him, but didn’t dare. Not without checking with Belker and David for permission. It was the ultimate humiliation, but she was too terrified to care.
“Go ahead,” David told her gruffly.
She ran to TJ, throwing her arms around his chest but managing not to cry. Not yet. In private, she would thank him with tears and praise and gratitude, but for now, all she did was cling to him, praying for the madness to stop.
TJ’s voice had a masterful ring. “The feud ends today. I marry Alexia, and we have a Seaton-Montoya child. Preferably a boy so we can name him Trent—”
“You will name him David Roberto Seaton,” David corrected him sharply.
TJ hesitated, then clicked his tongue in approval. “Works for me. How about you, Lexie?”
Despite her terror and disgust, she had to admit, the Roberto tribute had a nice ring to it. But David? That made her cringe. Luckily, this child would never be conceived, never be born. Still, in an odd way, she would remember him as the one who saved her life. In that sense, the name was perfect.
Collecting herself, she told them, “As long as little David Roberto inherits one hundred percent of Sea-Mont ownership someday, I’m fine with it.”
With TJ’s arms around her, she felt safe. But she also knew this had been too easy, so she looked up at him and asked carefully, “Can we go back to Earth right away? Have the wedding in Los Altos? I don’t want to get married in New York. It may be company headquarters, but it’s not my home. And it’s not yours either.”
David’s hand landed on her shoulder, pulling her away from TJ. “Do you think I’m stupid? My son would agree to those tricks, but not me.”
“And not me either,” TJ drawled. “I may be stupid, but I catch on eventually. And I finally see her through your eyes, Dad. She’s a lying bitch, but she’s my lying bitch. And she’s our future. So how about this?” His blue eyes sparkled. “We get married right away. On this side of the sinkhole. And because it’s such a blissful union, she and I stay sequestered in my penthouse until she conceives a Seaton-Montoya heir. At that point, obviously, she and I would need to go E-side. I don’t want my son—your grandchild—born here. And we can’t take the chance of losing him in the goddamned sinkhole.”
Alexia felt a surge of admiration for TJ’s quick thinking. They could marry right away and hide in his penthouse while they planned her escape. They would fake some lab results, convincing his father she was pregnant. Or he’d find a way to sneak her through the sinkhole, maybe using a smuggler like Zeke Angelus. Thereafter, they could get the marriage annulled on the ground it hadn’t been consummated.
That part might be tough on him since he wanted a real marriage. But he’d never want it this way, so he’d do the right thing.
“That works for me too,” she said in a docile voice.
“The child will be born here,” David countered. “It’s not optimal, but I’m not a fool. We control her while she’s here. Back on Earth, she’ll rally support.”
Alexia took a deep breath, knowing it was time to do her part. TJ’s scheme couldn’t survive without her. “I’ve wanted to marry TJ since I was twelve years old. It broke my heart when he sided with you in court, but I forgive him because he’s the only other person in the world who loved Trent as much as I did. I want my family to survive. I want my father’s legacy to survive. And I want to be TJ’s wife. It’s all I’ve ever really wanted. And a baby? A son?” She didn’t have to fake the tears in her eyes, especially since her face radiated with pain. “I can picture him. TJ’s build, Dad’s eyes, Trent’s brain. And your wealth. How could I ever say no to that?”
There was silence in the room, and it was clear David Seaton had doubts. But he also had eyes, and there before him was an unprecedented sight: the ultimate power couple. The E-side media would go crazy. And the folks on D-side? They would work their asses off, knowing that a better, stronger Sea-Mont had been born, figuratively, and in nine months or so, literally.
“You’re not falling for this, are you, boss?” Sergeant Belker demanded. “He’s her bitch, just like always.”
“That’s my son you’re talking about,” David snapped. “If he can pull this off, he deserves our respect. If not…” He let the threat trail in the air, then instructed Belker, “Take your men and wait in the other room.”
When the three bullies had departed, David arched a damning eyebrow. “The marriage takes place today. You’ll keep Alexia under wraps until she delivers my first grandson. If anything goes wrong—and I mean, anything—she’s dead. And you’re disowned.”
“That’s the plan,” TJ said cheerfully.
“Does she know about the will?” David asked.
Alexia winced. “What will?”
“Your will, darling.” TJ chuckled. “You probably don’t remember, since you were barely eighteen when you signed it. But you and Trent had joint and mutual wills, making each the other’s heir.”
“Oh right. I know about that.”
“But do you know what happens if both of you die? It’s divided equally among any children. If no children, then the surviving spouse or spouses get it. So if there’s only one spouse—a.k.a. yours truly—I get it all.”
She bit her bottom lip, remembering the lighthearted day when Trent had presented her with that document. She had been sure Trent would live for a thousand years. And while he had been twenty-six by then, and certainly wiser, she knew he hadn’t hesitated to sign his matching will either. Not because of the provisions TJ had just recited, but because of another clause.
If she and Trent both died without ever getting married or having children, everything went to TJ Seaton. It had been a while since she’d thought about that, but she wouldn’t have changed it in any case. If she died, the search for her brother died with her, but at least TJ would respect his memory. After that, either Trent would brainstorm his way back from the depths of the sinkhole or he wouldn’t. It would be out of Alexia’s hands either way.
Was it possible TJ didn’t know he was the heir no matter what? It would be just like Trent to keep an ace up his sleeve. Little had he suspected he was keeping her alive with that little secret, at least for a few hours.
So she assured TJ, “I wouldn’t change a word of that will, not even now.”
“Well, it’s moot anyway. Because once you marry me, it’s all mine. Right?”
She nodded, trying not to wince at the disrespectful tone. This was a show for his father, nothing more.
Wasn’t it?
David seemed to be having the opposite misgivings. “If you cross me, TJ—”
“I won’t, Dad.” The son’s voice grew harsh. “There was a time when I wanted your approval. And after that, I wanted Alexia’s love. But, if I get a Montoya-Seaton kid to love me, and I end up owning one hundred percent of Sea-Mont, well—let’s just say, that’ll be enough.”
Alexia held her breath while David thought it through one final time. Then he told his son, “I’m counting on you to make this happen.”
“Give me a few minutes alone with her. Then we’ll have the ceremony. And then the consummation. I’ve got to admit, I’ve been looking forward to that part.”
David chuckled. “You’ve got good taste in tail, that’s for sure. But remember, she’s a viper.”
“That’s my favorite part,” the son said with a conspiratorial wink.
Alexia held her breath as TJ and David worked out the details as though she had no say at all. And under the circumstances that made sense. So she remained silent, and finally, David consulted his pulse band, noted it was nine a.m., and set the time and place for the ceremony: two o’clock sharp in the courtroom on the second floor of the Sea-Mont building.
“I’ll do the honors myself,” he told them. “No need to involve that whiny chaplain. Belker and his sidekick Red can be the witnesses.”
“Sounds good,” TJ agreed. “We’ll need to bring in a few other folks eventually. Meg Bodin for one, since she’ll need to monitor the pregnancy. And Gabby for damage control. She’ll make sure the news sent to Earth is upbeat. And she’ll help control the platform residents too. A few of the bio-girls—Lana in particular—will try to make trouble, but we’ll threaten them with deportation and they’ll fall in line.”
“That sounds good. But can we trust Gabrielle with the details?”
“Are you kidding? She’s even more loyal than Meg.”
David hesitated, then stuck out his hand toward his son. “After all these years, you’ve impressed me. So don’t let me down.”
“I’m doing this for myself. And my children. Not for you.”
“Your children are my grandchildren,” David said with a laugh. “It has a nice ring to it.”
Alexia kept her face expressionless, even though she wanted to roll her eyes at the creepy father-son love fest. Luckily, the socket surrounding her right eye was filled with agony, her cheek was so swollen she could see it without a mirror, and blood was dribbling from her nose, all of which helped maintain a somber demeanor.
“I’ll leave Belker with you,” David said. “If she gives you trouble, he’ll handle her. And if either of you tries anything stupid, he’ll kill you both.”
“Understood.”
He turned to Alexia. “Things are different here. There aren’t any courts to run to. No police. No FBI. No newspapers. If you cross me, I’ll charge you with sabotage, espionage, trespass, illegal transit, and trafficking with smugglers. Of conning my son into marrying you. Then I’ll interrogate you—or rather my men will. Then I’ll convict you and alert the authorities on Earth to expect your arrival for imprisonment. Sadly, your capsule will never emerge E-side. Can you imagine the headlines?” He paused for a pointed grin. “Alexia Montoya joins her brother in limbo, while the Montoya fortune passes to the Seatons.”
She wanted to grin back at him. To insist Earth authorities weren’t as gullible as he thought. There would be an investigation. People like Lana would testify, as would Rick.
Rick…
She couldn’t bear that thought. He had lost so many friends and loved ones. And had felt so responsible for those losses. The idea he might feel so responsible for Alexia, he might even castigate himself for leaving her in Seaton clutches—
“I get it,” she told David. “Even if I didn’t want to marry TJ, I’d do it to save my own life. Luckily, he’s the only guy I’ve ever wanted to have children with. So yes, I can do this. And I will.”
“Good. And remember, it’s not just your life on the line. It’s TJ’s too. Because if he crosses me—”
“I get it,” she repeated firmly. “We’ll be there at two o’clock sharp. You have my word on it.”
David hesitated, his expression growing angry again, and she realized he was looking over her shoulder. Then he strode past her and snatched up the bio-metal sample that had served as her nightlight. With an audible growl, he clutched it to his chest as though it were the one jar to rule them all.
Then with a final glare in her direction, he stormed out of the room, barking orders to Red and Sampson to accompany him, and leaving Belker behind, with instructions to shoot first and ask questions later.
As soon as David was gone, Alexia ran to the bedroom door, closed and locked it, then rushed back to TJ and hugged him gratefully. “You were amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I thought I was dead for sure.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Your father slapped me,” she added with a grimace.
“You probably deserved it,” he said, his attitude surprisingly aloof.
“Pardon?”
“I can’t really blame him.” TJ pushed her away and held her at arm’s length. “You raked him through the coals for years. Called him a heartless imperialist and worse. Schemed to destroy his life’s work. So…” He shrugged again. “One slap doesn’t seem out of line.”
His words didn’t make sense, but she decided to let them go, since the throbbing in her face didn’t allow for nuance. “He threatened to murder me. And you saved the day. Thanks for the quick thinking.” She licked her lips. “What’s the plan?”
He gave a harsh laugh. “I figure there are three possible scenarios. Either you’ll marry me at two o’clock and produce a Seaton grandson within nine months. That’s best for everyone, obviously. Or you’ll double cross me, in which case, I’ll turn you over to Dad—”
“What?”
He shoved her toward the bed. “Sit down and shut up.”
Shocked, she did as he asked, pulling a lightweight quilt over her nightgown.
“Don’t you want to hear the third possibility?” he goaded her. “It’ll be your favorite, I promise.”
“TJ…”
“Maybe your cowboy will ride in to save the day again. Then Dad can kill him too. That’s my second favorite option.”
The jealousy in his tone was thick and unmistakable. Why hadn’t she realized how bad it was? And not just on a sexual level. Hadn’t TJ seemed envious of Rick’s relationship with his FBI father? She exhaled slowly, then reminded him, “Rick’s in Sector Fourteen.”
“But the good news is, you gave him a first-class send-off.” TJ’s lip curled into a sneer. “Thanks for that, Lexie. It makes this a lot easier.”
She stared at him, dumbfounded. How had he found out? When had he found out?
Her stomach was knotting with pain-induced nausea, and she knew better than to try and stand. She also knew better than to speak, much less to approach him physically. Things had apparently gone to seed, and she had learned from painful experience she didn’t want to be in striking distance of a Seaton when the worst happened.
Or at least, not if the Seaton was wearing TJ’s current expression.
He arched a damning eyebrow. “You thought I wouldn’t find out? I almost didn’t. I trusted you. I trusted him. My good buddy Rick.” He laughed harshly. “You were playing me, trying to get to the sentient, but sleeping with him—”
“One night. And not during the trip to the Titans, I promise. It just happened, and I’m sorry. I feel awful, TJ. I know it sounds—well, convenient—but up until then I really thought I was in love with you despite everything. I really thought I’d marry you. Have children with you—”
“Then you found true love with a cowboy? Yeah, that really was convenient.”
“No, no. That’s not what I mean. I just realized I didn’t want to manipulate you—”
“Stop lying to me!” He grabbed her again but this time, she was ready for him. The moment her feet hit the ground she yanked free, then stumbled to the other side of the room and glared.
“I’m sorry, TJ, but it happened. It was over within hours, and I’ll never see him again.”
“Well, you’ve got that part right.” He grinned with malevolent glee. “By the time he gets back, you’ll be pregnant, and he’ll throw you over for a bio-girl, assuming I let him step foot on this platform.”
Her stomach clenched again. “I know you’re angry—”
“I’m not angry. I’m free. For the first time since Trent died, actually. I’ve been beating myself up for betraying you. Betraying him. When all the time—” He caught himself and glared again. “What’s it going to be, Lex? Are you on board or not? Because Belker’s right outside, and trust me, he can’t wait to get his hands on you.”
“Stop talking like that.” She stepped closer to him and tried for a firm tone. “You’re angry. I get it. Maybe I should have told you about that night, and I probably would have, but I didn’t want to get Rick into trouble. You guys had a good working relationship and I didn’t want to ruin that.”
“Always thinking of others. You’re practically a saint.”
She forced herself to stay cool. “I know you, TJ Seaton. You’re not going to let your father kill me in the sinkhole, so stop pretending it’s an option. We’ll work this out—”
“You’ll marry me or you’ll deal with Belker. Try to keep up, Lex. It’s not that complicated.”
She locked gazes with him, searching for a hint of the old TJ. He had changed. She’d known that for weeks. The sunny guy who held things together had grown bitter and weary. But until this moment, the harsh eruptions had been momentary. Her old hero—Trent’s best friend—had always reemerged.
Now there was nothing left. Not one trace. And maybe that worked for her. She could never intentionally hurt the old TJ, but this new one? And his old man?
She would find the strength to kick their asses. Humiliate and ruin them. Or at least outwit them. And she’d better do it soon.
Fighting off another bout of nausea, she showered and put on fresh jeans and a T-shirt while an unapologetic TJ watched every movement. He didn’t seem to care about her misery. And she didn’t care that he was eyeing her body. In fact, it helped her depersonalize him, seeing him simply as a cold-hearted creep. And at least he hadn’t invited Belker to see her as well.
He probably just didn’t think of it.
David’s medicine chest was equipped with several freez-paks, so she activated one and let the instant cold and penetrating painkillers work their magic on her eye socket and cheek. As she pressed it against her face, she told TJ quietly, “I’ve been thinking.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
Pretending to be hurt by the abrupt tone, she continued. “I know you think I’m selfish, but this isn’t for me. Or for you. It’s for our daughter.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You and David are so sure I’ll have a boy. But what if you’re wrong? Or what if we have lots of kids, and some are girls? I always wanted a bunch of them, you know.”
“I remember,” he said, nodding. “You wanted our sons to look like me, and the girls to look like your mother. The other disloyal whore.”
The accusation stung, but Alexia didn’t react. Instead, she set the medi-pack on the bedside table, then sat down and sighed. “Do you remember how I used to watch the holovid of my parents’ wedding? Over and over again?”
His face softened slightly. “Yeah, I remember. What about it?”
“Your daughter will want that too. She’ll ask us a million questions about the proposal, and my dress, and the flowers, and our vows, and—and…” She didn’t have to feign the sob in her chest, but it worked for her, so she went with it, allowing her whole body to shudder. Then she rallied, as though trying to be brave. “How can we do this to her? She’ll want romance. The flowing white gown, the smiling bride, the bridesmaids. The knowledge her parents were deeply, truly in love. How can we give her giant, sadistic enforcers as witnesses? And a bride with a black eye? Or worse, we won’t have a holovid at all, which will break her heart.”
“We’ll have a holovid,” he muttered. “The freez-paks will keep the swelling down and makeup will take care of the bruises. And we won’t show Belker in any of the vid frames.” He cleared his throat. “What are you really saying? You want a wedding dress? I figured we’d have to drug you or something. But you’ll actually smile for the camera? Pretend you’re happy about it?”
“Pretend?” Tears streamed down her cheeks, again without much effort. “From the day I first met you, I planned our wedding. I wanted it to be perfect, and obviously, that’s not possible. But maybe we can pretend for our kids. Something nicer than the truth. And maybe in time…” She covered her face with her hands and burst into sobs.
“Maybe you should have thought of this before you fucked a wrangler.”
She wanted to strangle him, but instead, just gave him a proud, hurt-filled glare. “I want a perfect wedding for my daughter’s sake. Your daughter’s sake. And just for the record, we’d already be married by now if it wasn’t for you. I begged you to elope with me on my eighteenth birthday. Whisk me away and get it done as quickly as possible, so we could start living our life together. Remember? So don’t talk to me about hurtful conduct, because you hurt me too.” Composing herself, she said with a wistful sigh, “If we had just eloped that night, we’d have two or three children by now. And I never, ever would have looked at another man. You believe that at least, don’t you?”
His expression stayed grim, but she was sure she saw a hint of something in his eyes. Maybe not affection. Probably just guilt. Or regret. She’d take any of those at this point.
“So you want a dress,” he repeated. “And someone else as a witness so we can make a fucking holovid? And in exchange you’ll cooperate fully?”
She nodded.
“Okay, then. We need to involve Meg anyway, since your cheek might be cracked. So she can be your bridesmaid.”
“Ugh. She’s too old and bossy. I know it can’t be Lana,” she added quickly, as though desperate to please him. “But how about Barbara? She’s amazingly loyal to you, so maybe you can trust her. Or Gabrielle? You said we’ll have to bring her in eventually anyway, to control the press coverage.”
“Gabby?”
“Everyone says how nice she is. And you can order her to come back from the surface right away, can’t you? Even if we have to postpone for a day or two for her to get up here—”
“Nice try,” he growled. “But the wedding happens as planned. Luckily, Gabby was due back this morning. She’s probably at her desk by now, so…” He seemed almost pleased at the thought. “If you want a beautiful wedding video, she’s your girl.”
Alexia rolled her eyes and paid for it with a sharp pain. “Ow!”
He almost laughed at that. “She can find you a dress too. Probably not what you have in mind, since we’ve never had a wedding on D-side. But something reasonably nice.”
“I’d love if she could help me with my hair too. And makeup. So I don’t look like Bride of Cyclops.”
His wary expression returned. “You’re actually going along with this?”
“You want a son to remind you of Trent. David wants a Sea-Mont grandson. Is it so hard to believe I want that baby too? The baby I always dreamed of having? The sons, the daughters…” She dared to touch his jaw. “I wish it wasn’t happening this way. And I honestly don’t know if things can ever be right between us. But we can try. And we can make beautiful babies together, and raise them with love. I’ve always known that. And I think it’s what Dad and Trent would have wanted.”
“Don’t con me, Alexia,” he warned.
“I’m not conning you. I’m conning myself. So just go along with it, please?”
He cleared his throat again, then hefted her mesh duffel bag off the bed and said gruffly, “Let’s get out of this dump. And no tricks. Or I’ll hand you over to Belker.”
The pain in her eye socket returned more quickly than expected, and she wanted to pop one of the pain pills Dr. Meg had given her for the fake D-side poisoning, but she needed all her wits and smarts if she hoped to get off the platform alive. So she insisted to TJ, and to herself as well, that she couldn’t rest until the wedding plans had been perfected.
He remained suspicious, but didn’t really protest. And so with the sadistic enforcer trailing a few feet behind them, they made their way to the Sea-Mont building to find Gabrielle Rousseau. Alexia knew she was taking a chance trusting this stranger, especially given TJ’s statement to David that they could trust her to cover up their wrongdoings. The bio-girls had painted TJ’s ex as slavishly devoted to the guy, almost pathetic in her loyalty when one considered how he had thrown her over. But at the same time, everyone praised “Gabby” for her intelligence and good humor. And of course, for her beauty.
It all made for an unlikely co-conspirator. But Rick had vouched for her, and at this moment, Rick was the only person in the known universe Alexia could trust. He had been so sure the communications director could get a message to Zeke Angelus, with whom she was supposedly having sex. Surely TJ didn’t know about the affair, and thus, it seemed Gabrielle could keep a good-sized secret from her boss despite her claims of undying devotion.
Plus, she was the only game in town. If Alexia had more time, she’d try to get a message to the smugglers—or to Rick himself—in a different way. But it was almost ten o’clock, and she needed to take this chance. If it didn’t work, she’d try Plan B—throwing herself on TJ’s mercy, begging him to remember his love for Trent, his hatred for David. She actually hadn’t tried begging or pleading, shaming or crying, or at least, hadn’t pulled out the stops.
But from what she’d seen of the new TJ, it probably wouldn’t work anyway.
Everyone they met along the way wanted to reminisce about last night’s memorial-turned-celebration, but Alexia had donned dark glasses and insisted she had a brutal hangover. TJ seemed pleased that she didn’t scream “help!” or even “rape”. Maybe he hadn’t yet thought it through to that extent. She was cooperating, getting into the wedding details, even talking about children. But had it occurred to him that at some point, if she didn’t cooperate, he’d have to force himself on her?
She tried not to think about his earlier statement: “I thought we’d have to drug you.”
Lovely.
Still, he had been referring to the ceremony, hadn’t he? Nothing sexual, at least, not the first night. On the other hand, she didn’t actually know this monster-in-training, so she had to be ready for Plan C, which basically consisted of hitting him over the head with a bottle of Cointreau and running for her life.
“Aren’t you curious how I found out you were screwing Rick?” he asked as they approached the Sea-Mont building.
Startled, and feeling guilty despite the absurdity of it, she murmured, “Does it matter? I mean, obviously it matters. But…” She exhaled in defeat. “Okay, tell me. How did you find out?”
TJ’s tone grew melancholy. “I’ve had evidence for a while that he’s been selling bio-metal on the black market, but of course I didn’t believe it.”
“He’d never do that.”
“Spoken like a woman in love,” he drawled. Then he admitted, “I had the same reaction. That he was better than that. But just to be sure, I got the ops team to track him. To see if he really went to Sector Fourteen. They keep records of everyone’s whereabouts using the chip in the pulse bands. And guess what?” His voice lowered ominously. “The records are monthly, so even though I only asked about the past twelve days, they went back another week. I was tired, and really just skimming, so I glanced at the entire month. And a familiar set of coordinates jumped out at me. Dad’s penthouse, to be precise.”
“We didn’t plan it—”
“Would you kindly shut the fuck up?” He gave an angry chuckle. “When Dad’s here, I track him for my own protection, so I have those coordinates memorized. And if Rick had just visited you for an hour, or even two, I would have assumed he was checking on your headache. Remember that? The one that kept you from sleeping with me?”
She gripped his arm. “You have every right to be furious. I lied about the headache as a strategy. So I wouldn’t give you what you wanted before I got access to the sentient. But it didn’t have anything to do with Rick—”
“It had everything to do with him,” TJ roared, moving in so close she could feel his hot breath on her aching face.
“You’re wrong.” She took off her glasses and stared into his eyes. “The headache was strategy. Nothing more, nothing less. And when Rick stopped by later, well—that was something else. It didn’t have anything to do with you. It was all about…”
“Love?”
“No. That was the last thing I needed. And the last thing he needed, to be honest. We felt an attraction. We didn’t want it to fester. So we dealt with it. Lust, not love.”
She held her breath, praying TJ would hear the sincerity in her voice. It was true, wasn’t it? Rick had made his intentions, or lack thereof, clear: No matter what, I’m leaving you in the morning.
And she had echoed that sentiment, assuring him: No matter what, I’m sleeping with TJ after you leave.
Oddly enough, she had believed it at the time, only realizing after he left that morning that she wouldn’t be able to sleep with TJ now, much less marry him. Telling Rick about her change of heart would have been cruel. Telling TJ would have been crueler. But for herself? She had been honest.
And look where it had gotten her. She was a prisoner with no hope of rescue except from a smuggler she had never actually met. And her path to that smuggler? A woman whose ultimate loyalty belonged to the bad guys.
By the time they arrived at the communications department on the fourth floor, she was second-guessing her plan, and probably would have turned back had TJ not been such a willing participant. He even instructed the ever-present Belker, “Stay out here in the hall. And guard Alexia’s bag.” Dropping the mesh duffle to the ground, he added, “I’ll call you if I need you.”
“Mr. Seaton ordered me to stick close, so that’s what I’m gonna do,” the enforcer told him with a disrespectful snarl.
“If you arouse suspicion by sticking too close, you’ll ruin everything. When that happens, you’ll lose my father’s support, and a fucking mob will tear you limb from limb. They all hate you, you fucking asshole. And so do I. So stay in the fucking hallway. And guard the fucking bag.”
Alexia turned away, glad for her dark glasses. If her eyes were twinkling it would set Belker off for sure.
TJ took her by the arm and led her to the threshold, then paused to remind her, “No tricks. I know what you think. That I won’t let Dad hurt you. But it’s you or me at this point, and I intend to survive.”
“But if I cooperate you’ll protect me? And we’ll make the best of it?”
He nodded curtly, then ushered her into “communications”, where all eyes turned in their direction. A handful of workers sat in cubicles in the center of the giant room with a row of window offices along one edge. Every cubicle had an oversized monitor, with one additional, gigantic screen dominating the far wall within view of everyone, showing a complex, ever-changing grid of green, yellow and red lines.
Alexia had met each and every one of these folks during interviews and again at Jamie’s memorial. They smiled at her. Some even grinned as though they shared a secret. And then an unfamiliar person appeared in an office doorway. She was tall and shapely and had thick ash-blonde hair pulled into a loose knot at the nape of her neck. She wore a prim expression, a pleated white skirt, and a scrumptiously soft and fuzzy pink sweater.
Alexia recognized her instinctively, or rather, remembered her “type’ from the silly porn videos she had watched with Barbary. Busty, innocent, occasionally slutty.
The Naughty Librarian.
At any other time, she would have burst out laughing. But this morning, all she did was stare, completely impressed.
And Gabrielle Rousseau seemed to have a similar reaction, hurrying over to them and exclaiming. “You’re Alexia! I’ve always wanted to meet you.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you too.”
“Really?” The blonde’s forehead creased. “Are you hurt? What’s wrong with your eye?”
“She’s fine,” TJ muttered. “Just a minor accident.”
Alexia intervened. “We got drunk last night at the memorial, and I tripped over a bench on the way home. It looks worse than it is.”
TJ sent her a grateful glance, but Gabrielle Rousseau didn’t seem convinced. “Have you seen Dr. Meg?”
“Once too often,” Alexia drawled. “She gave me pain pills and I’m on the mend.”
Gabrielle turned her skeptical gaze to TJ, who said reassuringly, “Everything’s fine. Great, in fact. Alexia and I are getting married, and we need your help getting the word out. Here and on E-side. Plus, Alexia wants you to be her bridesmaid, which entails some extra duties, or so I’m told. Can you handle that?”
When Gabrielle’s face fell, Alexia wanted to give her a hug. It was so clear this woman had hoped TJ would realize his mistake and come to her on his knees. Which meant she really was as naïve as everyone portrayed her. And clearly as sweet and loving.
I’m so, so sorry, Gabrielle.
But the blonde recovered quickly, and pulled Alexia into a welcoming embrace. “This is such good news. Mr. Seaton has always loved you, you know. You can’t believe how many stories he’s told me about you and your brother. And about how he should have married you years ago.”
Alexia turned to TJ and asked softly, “Is that true?”
“Of course, darling. I thought you knew.”
She studied his face, certain she would finally see the beast recede, replaced by her old friend. But his eyes were so empty, so completely blank, he might as well have been a sociopath, devoid of human feelings.
“It’s just the best news ever,” Gabrielle was insisting. Then she added in an efficient tone, “What can I do to make this happen?”