Primal Bargains

by Raleigh Davis

  “Was this such a good idea?” I ask Victoria.

  She raises her palms. “You’re having second thoughts now?”

  “I hope not.”

  We both turn at the sound of Cassian’s voice to find him watching us from a side entrance. The new clinic is in the Dogpatch neighborhood, and we ended up parking next to a self-storage place. We definitely look out of place next to the industrial units.

  “Gideon’s not here, is he?” I ask.

  “Of course not.” Cassian’s mouth quirks up. “But that’s all the more reason for you to come.” He offers an arm to Victoria.

  She looks as if she’d like to refuse but doesn’t want to be rude. And of course Cassian picks up on it.

  “I don’t bite.”

  Victoria raises an eyebrow. “Isn’t this the point where you add Unless you want me to.”

  “You want me to bite you?” Cassian wags a finger at her. “We’ve only just met.”

  Victoria’s cheeks go red. “No. I don’t. And I don’t need someone to lean on.”

  “That’s too bad,” Cassian murmurs. “Because I was looking forward to being your escort.”

  I can’t tell if Cassian is teasing her on purpose or if this is just how he is. The end result is the same: a very flustered Victoria. She hates charming men.

  “Okay.” I take a deep breath and throw my shoulders back. “We came all this way. We’re going in.”

  There’s an approving glint in Cassian’s eye as he offers me his arm. After I take it, Victoria reluctantly takes his other arm.

  The moment we walk in, we immediately attract attention. Since Gideon isn’t here, everyone seems to want to talk with anyone who’s connected with him.

  “Is he coming?” one woman comes up to ask Cassian.

  “Gideon does what he wants.” Cassian smiles blandly at her. “If you’ll excuse me, my dates need a drink.”

  “Dates?” Victoria hisses at him as we walk away.

  “A turn of phrase. No one in this crowd will even bat an eye.”

  They don’t, but many eyes are on us as we move through the main atrium. The entrance of the clinic is a large, airy space with an abundance of plants and trees and tiled paths snaking through them. I half expect a butterfly to land on my shoulders, attracted by the glitter of my golden capelet.

  “The architects really outdid themselves with this,” I say, reaching out to touch a flower drooping into the pathway.

  “It was Gideon’s idea,” Cassian says. “But he’d want you to see the surgery rooms.”

  The rooms are cordoned off so we can peer inside but not tramp through. Gideon would have been happy to see that. There are screens inside, playing a demo video, and someone from the development team is explaining how the surgery system works.

  A family is watching as the developer talks, the woman pointing out something to the little girl. “See? That’s what they had to do to Auntie to make her better.” The woman waves to the developer, and she waves back like they’re old friends. They must have gotten to know each other during the clinical trials or something.

  Gideon helped save someone these people love. I bet these aren’t the only people here who had loved ones go through the clinical trials.

  I swallow hard and look away from the family because it’s just too touching. Gideon should be here to see this. As I do, I catch sight of an older couple watching the demo video, their eyes narrowed as they take it all in. They look more like professionals at a conference than people enjoying a party.

  It hits me then: they’re Gideon’s parents. There’s nothing about them that particularly stands out, they don’t even really look like him, but somehow I know.

  When the woman catches my eye, recognition flashes over her face.

  She knows me. How does she know me?

  “You’re Tess.” She comes over with no hesitation.

  “Yes,” I say slowly. I notice that Cassian and Victoria have disappeared; I must have wandered away from them. “Have we met?”

  I know we haven’t, but I can’t just blurt out that she’s Gideon’s mother. And I can’t yell at her about messing him up so badly.

  “I’m Dr. Talisa Wolfe, Gideon’s mother. And this is his father, Jason.” She gestures to the man next to her, who nods his head. I still don’t see anything of Gideon in these people. “Gideon told us about you.” She doesn’t shake my hand, but she isn’t exactly combative either. Curious is what I’d say. “He said that you’d be here with him.”

  Gideon told his parents about me? I’m so shocked—and touched—that I’m speechless.

  Talisa looks around. “Where is he?”

  I make myself smile. “Something came up. Are you enjoying the party?”

  She sniffs. “When is he coming? I wanted to point out some things he needs to change.”

  “I couldn’t say.” I keep my smile plastered on. “Like I said, something came up. I’m so impressed that some of the patients and families are here—it’s lovely to see the people this has already helped.”

  “They really shouldn’t have people wandering through here,” Jason says. “It’s a clinic, not a ballroom.”

  Gideon said that exact same thing, but somehow it makes me grind my teeth coming from his dad. Maybe it’s because they’re his fricking parents and they should be over-the-moon proud, no matter what they think of the location.

  “But it is nice that everyone can see it before it officially opens.” I don’t know why I’m trying to shove sunshine up their rears, but I suppose it beats getting angry with them.

  Talisa gives me a look that says she suspects what I’m up to but isn’t quite sure what to do about it. “You’re not what I was expecting.”

  “Thanks,” I say brightly. “So I’ll tell Gideon that you really liked it then.”

  Her mouth flattens. Oh, she’s definitely on to me now. “Never mind. You’re exactly what I was expecting.”

  “Brilliant and beautiful and the perfect woman?” Gideon’s arm slides around my waist at the same moment he speaks those words.

  Words that leave me stunned and speechless. He came and he’s… saying that to his parents? I must be dreaming.

  But he’s so large, so solid, and I can smell his soap, which has never happened in my dreams before.

  He presses a kiss to my temple. “Hey. Sorry I’m late.”

  “Hey,” I say weakly. I’m glad he’s got his arm around me because my knees are wobbly with shock.

  “Mom. Dad.” His smile is so sharp I’m amazed his mouth isn’t bleeding. “So glad you could make it.”

  I lean into him to remind him that he doesn’t have to do this. He can be polite, distant, and not let them get to him.

  He glances down at me and his expression softens. “I’m so glad you already met Tess,” he says to his parents without looking away from me.

  “They were telling me how much they like the clinic.”

  Gideon looks like he wants to laugh at that obvious lie, but he appreciates it anyway. “Good. I’m glad it has the approval of two highly regarded surgeons.”

  As opposed to all the neurosurgeons his team worked with to develop the system and the ones who’ll be working in here day to day.

  “About that—” His dad holds up a finger, finally contributing to the conversation. “There’re things you need to change—”

  I clutch at Gideon’s arm. “Oh no, there’s Raven and she looks upset. I’m so sorry,” I say to his parents, “but we have to go deal with this. I hope we can chat later!”

  I then hustle Gideon away as fast as I can. He should see some of the good things happening here tonight before his parents go in on him. Or maybe we can avoid his parents altogether.

  “Is Raven here?” he asks, a faint note of hope in his tone.

  “I’m sorry,” I say. “She was the first person who came to mind.”

  He looks around, then ducks us both past a No Admittance sign into a deserted hallway. From there, he pulls us into an emp
ty office.

  “I don’t think we’re supposed to be here,” I say.

  His expression is amused. “My name’s on the building. Also, how much did that dress cost? Because whatever you paid for it wasn’t enough—you look fucking fantastic. Like a goddamn queen.”

  My face flushes as I look up at him. He slides a hand along my jaw, cupping my warm cheeks.

  “You came,” I say wonderingly.

  “I did. And I’m sorry I’m late. Without you around to tell me to pull my head out of my ass, it takes me a while to actually pull my head out of my ass.”

  He hasn’t said anything about the notebooks or the intruder or the car control system or Raven or Morgan. Which means none of that has been resolved.

  But he still came.

  “Why did you decide to come?” I ask.

  “It was you and your bravery.”

  “My bravery?” I frown. “But I didn’t do anything.”

  “About the past,” he says. “You didn’t let yourself obsess like I did. You went forward, built something that could help your family, help your friend. You didn’t hole yourself up in some compound.”

  “I didn’t have a compound to hole up in,” I point out. “And I did wallow a bit when I got back. And my parents helped me.”

  He shakes his head. “But you still did it. And when I tried to drag the past back into your life, you wouldn’t let me. You tried your damnedest to drag me out of my past.”

  “You’ve done great things.” I gesture to the clinic. “And awful ones too. I don’t want the awful ones to be all that defines you because…”

  I can’t finish. It’s too raw, always so raw with him. Maybe that’s why I love him—because he strips me down to my essence so easily. I mean, we’re in the middle of a massive black-tie event and having this intense, intimate confession. And it feels raw and right.

  “I don’t want them to be either.” His tone is quiet, serious. “Because I love you and want to be worthy of you.”

  Aww, jeez. I bite my lip. “I’m not…” I shake my head. “You are.”

  He kisses me then, soft and slow. “Don’t argue,” he says, his words full to the brim of affection. “Just kiss me.”

  I’m very tempted to. “Wait.” I put my hand in the middle of his chest. “Didn’t you just say that you love me?”

  He nods.

  “Don’t you need me to say it too?”

  “No. It’s enough that you’re here with me.” But something pained flickers deep in his eyes.

  Ah, my beautiful beast. He wants the words, but he loves me enough to be with me without them. He doesn’t have to choose though.

  “Too bad. Because I’m going to say it. I love you.”

  The expression that comes over his face… It’s like he can’t even believe emotions like he’s experiencing exist, but he’s so, so grateful they do.

  He kisses me again, deep and slow, and we breathe together. Live in this exquisite moment together.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he growls after a while.

  Reluctantly I shake my head. “Everyone is here to see you. And it would mean a lot to your team if you went and saw the demos.”

  “I gave them a bonus,” he grumbles. “A very generous one.”

  If the bonus he gave me is any measure, they got a super generous bonus. “You still need to say hi and show your face.”

  His scowl doesn’t let up.

  “The champagne is pretty good,” I say. “And I did get all dressed up.”

  That finally makes him give in. “Okay. Twenty minutes. And then we go home.”

  “Thirty. Literally every person here is here to see you.”

  He sighs as he takes my arm. “I love that you make me a better person, yet I also hate it.”

  I nestle close to him, savoring his nearness. “You’ll have the rest of your life to get used to it.”

  “God,” he says fervently, “that’s the best thing I’ve heard in forever.”

  Chapter 37

  When we arrive at the house, I go immediately to my office. Yeah, I know I’m turning over a new leaf and leaving the past behind—and Tess was so happy when I told her what I’d done—but I still need to see what’s happened.

  The notebook is still there, right where I left it.

  The tension leaves me in a rush. I’m not exactly happy to see the notebook still there, although I suppose I am relieved.

  Tess comes in behind me, in her gorgeous dress. I’ve been dreaming of tearing it off her the entire car ride. I’d leave the shoulder-jewelry thing though.

  Her mouth compresses when she sees the notebook. “I was hoping it would be gone.”

  “Me too,” I confess. I shake my head. “I thought… I guess I was wrong though.”

  “Maybe you should put it back. Just in case.”

  She’s right. It feels heavier than usual when I pick it up, but that’s just an illusion. It’s the psychic weight of it that’s gotten to me, not the physical weight.

  “I can just take it from you now.”

  I spin at the strange voice, putting Tess behind me.

  The thief is there. Her mask is off, her hair loose over her shoulders. She’s all in black again and looking very, very relaxed.

  “The cameras are on,” I warn her.

  She shrugs. “The mask is a precaution, but I have others. I doubt you found anything from the last picture you got.” Her expression turns smug. “Actually, I know you didn’t.”

  “Who’s paying you?” Tess asks. “We could negotiate something.”

  Smart Tess, offering to pay more. I don’t think this person will take it, but it’s worth a shot.

  “It’s not about the money.” A touch of anger threads through the thief’s tone. “I only want the notebook.”

  “Why? Can you read it?”

  Surprise flickers through her before she can catch it. “It’s not for me. And who’s paying me isn’t your business. You can hand it to me now, or we can keep playing this game. Your system is good, but you have to be lucky all the time. I only have to be lucky once.”

  My stance hardens. That sounds suspiciously like a threat. “And what happens to me once you have the notebook? You keep coming for… I don’t even know what.”

  “Once I have the notebook and deliver it safely, we’re done.”

  I narrow my eyes. “And the computer?”

  Again, she can’t quite catch her confusion in time. “I’m only here for the notebook.”

  She doesn’t know about the computer sent to Cassian, and she doesn’t know the notebook’s in code. We could try harder to get the name of her client out of her, but I’m beginning to suspect she might not know that either.

  But she did get mad when Tess made the offer of more money…

  I hand over the notebook, keeping my expression hard and still. “It’s useless to me.”

  Tess’s hands reach for me, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. “Are you sure?” she whispers.

  I keep holding out the notebook. I’m not sure actually, but it’s time to move forward. The past—and this fucking notebook—aren’t going to chain me down anymore.

  The intruder comes forward slowly, cautiously. She’s not quite as certain about this as she pretends to be. But she takes hold of the notebook as soon as she’s close enough.

  I don’t let go right away. “Gage is going to find you.”

  That brings back some of her bravado. “Good luck to him then.” She pulls the notebook out of my grip. “Thanks.”

  “Tell him…” My voice falters. I hadn’t really prepared what I wanted to say and my thoughts are scrambled. “Tell him we’re waiting for him.”

  “I don’t know who you’re talking about.” This time the intruder’s not surprised.

  And then she’s gone.

  I reach behind me for Tess’s arm, wrap it around my waist. I sure as shit hope I did the right thing. But having Tess here helps with the guilt and second-guessing. And every
thing, really.

  “Why did you do that?” Tess asks. “After everything, you just… let it go.” She sounded horrified and impressed in equal measures.

  I take her hand and lead her toward the door. We have to get to the security room, run the new pictures we’ve got just in case. “One, Archer has a copy now. Two, I put a nanotracker inside it, in the binding.”

  “When did you do that?”

  “When I first got the thing. I didn’t want to lose it.”

  She blinks up at me as we move through the hallway. “I have a feeling there’s a three.”

  “Oh yeah. There’s a three.” I stop dead when I see Rustem in the hallway, going toward the kitchen. He lifts his chin and grunts in greeting, which is the most effusive welcome he’s ever given me.

  I’m happy to see him too.

  Tess waves to him and gets a smile.

  “I texted him while we were at the gala,” she says. “You know you wanted him to come back.”

  I did, and it would have taken me forever to figure out how to approach him without losing face. And Tess just up and texted him and here he is.

  I kiss her forehead because I’m so goddamn lucky she’s here. “I’m going to enjoy you turning my life inside out, aren’t I?”

  “I’m definitely going to enjoy doing it.” Her smile fades. “Wait, what was number three?”

  Oh yeah, number three. Can’t forget that one.

  “I think Tynan’s alive,” I say. “And he’s the one who hired her to take the book.”

  Chapter 38

  “He can’t be alive.”

  Bishop looks as stunned as the rest of them, but only he says out loud what they all must be thinking.

  Except for maybe Archer. I don’t know him that well, but he seems not as surprised.

  “It’s the simplest explanation,” Gideon says. He’s called them all to his office, Raven and Morgan included, to tell them about what happened last night.

  “Yes, someone coming back from the dead is very simple,” Gage says.