by Susan Hayes
Both fathers stepped back and turned to the back wall, where a pair of raised beds with high sides were stashed. They leaned over the cribs, and a few minutes later they both returned, each carrying a tiny bundle cradled in their arms.
“We haven’t decided on names yet. These two were so convinced I was having boys that we didn’t even discuss girls names.”
“Not convinced, just hoping really hard.” Luke walked over to Royan and held out the sleeping babe.
“Honestly, I was hoping for boys, too. Boys are easy. Girls though…” Royan took his tiny niece and cradled her gently in his arms. “The first thing I need to teach you and your sister is to stay away from men like me.”
He peeled back just enough of the blanket to get a look at her tiny face. Her skin tone was the palest shade of blue, with faint stripes that marked her cheeks and forehead. What little hair she had was dark, but he thought he could see a hint of blue there, too. He leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “You are so precious.”
Then, he turned to Owen. “Isn’t she gorgeous?”
“Beautiful,” Owen agreed, stroking his finger across her cheek. “The first thing I’m going to teach you two is how to punch, so that when guys like your uncle come around, you know how to deal with them.”
Everyone laughed.
He handed his niece back to Luke and moved over to Kit to check on his second niece, who was as perfect and sweet as her sister. When he looked back, Tianna was standing by Luke, staring at the baby with such longing it made his heart hurt. A family had never been part of his plans before, but right now, holding his sister’s child and looking at Owen and Tianna, he could picture them doing this some day. Just…not yet. It took the better part of a year just to get Owen to sleep with him. Getting him to agree to start a family might take a few years, or maybe a decade. He wasn’t in a rush.
“Do you want to hold her?” Luke asked Tianna.
She shook her head “No. She’s beautiful, but I…no.”
Something in her voice caught Royan’s attention. Pain? Regret?
Owen must have heard it too, because he was at her side in seconds. “Tia?”
“I’m fine. Just tired.” He got the feeling it was more than that, but he didn’t push.
“Then we’re taking you home. Doc said we weren’t supposed to stay long, anyway.”
“And if we hog all the baby time, Cyn will break us into bits,” Royan added.
“Aunt Cynder is awesome, and you’re going to love her,” he told the sleepy baby, then leaned down to kiss her, too.
“You three make beautiful babies. Congratulations.”
“We’ll be back to visit again soon. Congrats mom and dads. They’re amazing,” Owen said.
“Thank you for letting me be part of this. When you’ve decided on their names, let me know. I’ll need them to start their trust funds.”
Everyone stared at Tianna.
“Trust fund?” Zura asked.
“So that your daughters will never be beholden to anyone, for anything. They’ll be free to follow their dreams.”
Royan saw the gleam of tears in his sweetheart’s eyes as she spoke. She was giving the twins the most precious gift she could imagine. The freedom to be whoever they wanted to be.
“Come on, lover. Let’s get you home.” He took her hand and they left the room, saying their goodbyes as they filed out.
Tianna walked in silence, but there were tears on her cheeks as they slipped out a side door and were whisked into a waiting Corp-Sec transport.
“I don’t want to go back to my place,” She said once they were inside. Corp-Sec had kept the media away from the medical center, but there would likely be a group of them staking out the Astek office. He and Owen had already talked about it, and they had another destination in mind.
“That’s not where we’re going,” Owen said as the transport took off, rising above the street and heading for the main promenade.
“Then where?” she asked.
“The safest place on the station. We’re going to the Nova Club. It’s all arranged.” Cynder had made a call and set things up. Everything they needed, including a hot meal, was waiting for them.
“That sounds good.” Tianna yawned. “I need a few hours of sleep before I have to face everything.”
“We all do. It’s been a long night, and I suspect it’s going to be an even longer day.” Royan leaned back and closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure how the things would unfold, but whatever happened, he wasn’t letting Tianna out of his sight. She needed them, and no matter what it took, he was going to be there for her.
He reached over, setting his hand on Owen’s thigh. Owen was going to need him, too. There had been no time to talk about Katy, yet, but they would. When they did, he’d make sure Owen had all the support he needed, too. After all, that’s what family did.
Tianna only managed a few hours of restless sleep before Royan had roused her with a mug of coffee and a kiss so hot it made her wish she could stay in bed and hide for the rest of the day. Cynder had arranged for them to have one of the simple but comfortable rooms the club offered to friends and staff members. It wasn’t large, or luxurious, but it was clean, and safe. Even more important, it wasn’t anywhere near Astek, or the bloody crime scene she’d created protecting herself last night. She’d have to go back there eventually, but not today.
Another advantage to staying at the Nova Club was the security. No one from the media could reach her here. She’d have to talk to them soon, but she could do it on her schedule without having to worry about running a gauntlet of shouted questions and photographers. Cynder had given her access to one of the meeting rooms, too, giving Tianna a secure, quiet place to come up with a plan.
They were there now, Royan pacing while Owen scanned countless news and entertainment channels, looking for any mention of Astek, her father, or her. He was using headphones so that she couldn’t hear what was said, but she could tell by his thunderous expression that it wasn’t good news. Not that they’d had any of that since waking up. Her father was still ignoring her messages, and no one at Astek had been able to reach him. She was terrified something had happened to him. Had they both been targets? If he was alive, why wasn’t he answering her? Astek needed him, and as much as she hated him right now, so did she.
She was running things as best she could, but Astek’s stocks were dropping and the board’s demands for action were getting louder. She had to set aside her personal issues with her father and deal with the crisis that was threatening the company, but she didn’t have the authority to do what had to be done. Only her father did.
A sharp knock on the door startled them all. Owen stood. Royan stopped pacing, and Tianna braced for more bad news.
Royan dropped a hand to his sidearm and went to the door, not relaxing until he saw who was there. Dash and Mack were outside, both wearing their Corp-Sec uniforms and grim expressions.
“Come on in. You’re here in person, so I’m guessing this isn’t something you wanted to send over comms.” Royan gestured for them both to come in.
“This kind of news gets delivered in person,” Mack said.
Dash nodded. “We wanted to be sure you heard it from us before it breaks on the news, which should happen any time now.”
“What happened?” Tianna’s got to her feet as an icy draft of dread washed over her. News delivered in person was rarely good.
“Official notification just came to our office. It’s protocol in situations like this.” Mack squared his shoulders and spoke again. “I’m sorry, Miss Astor. Your father’s vehicle was involved in some kind of accident. It happened on the route he takes to work each day. The wreckage has been searched, and we have confirmation that your father was inside. He did not survive.”
“Who else knows?” She asked, her mind racing as her heart went into freefall. Her father was dead. She’d never get to confront him. Never get to hear his explanations. For better or worse, Astek was hers, now. She’d
have to navigate this craziness without him.
“The media have already learned of the accident, but no details have been released until the next of kin could be notified.” Dash inclined his head. “I’m sorry, Tianna.”
She nodded and forced herself to keep moving, keep reacting. There was too much to do to get swept up in emotions. “Thank you. Is there anything else I need to know?”
Mack sighed. “About your father, no. Details about what happened to him are sparse right now.”
“What about Katy?” Owen asked. “Did she give you anything?”
“She refused to cooperate at first, but once we explained the alternatives to her, she gave us everything she knew.”
“Alternatives?” Tianna asked, desperate for any kind of distraction.
“Pharma enhanced interrogation. Forced memory extraction. Very unpleasant ways to get to the truth, with or without the subject’s compliance,” Dash explained.
“What did she tell you?” Owen asked.
“We got the names of the people she works with. Most of them are former cartel operatives. We have the coordinates for her ship, too. They used an unmarked shuttle to get here, and they managed to defeat the facial recognition software using disguises and a couple of cheap and dirty personal shield generators.”
“How the hell did she get her hands on tech like that?” Royan asked, stunned. The personal shield generators were new tech, and very expensive.
Mack looked dour. “Apparently someone with deep pockets is financing the cartels.”
“Wonderful,” Royan commented.
“My sister really got herself in deep with the wrong people.” Owen sounded pained, and she shook off her own grief to go to him, taking his hand and holding it tight.
“We’re looking into it,” Mack said.
“I still don’t understand why a bunch of smugglers and criminals would want me dead, or how they managed to get access to the Alacrity.”
“It’s too soon to know anything. We’ll follow up on the information Valentine gave us, keep investigating, and hopefully find out who paid them to try and kill you,” Dash said.
“Whoever it is, they might be the ones behind my father’s death, too.” She held up a hand. “I’m not saying it was murder, but he’s traveled that route hundreds of times. Maybe thousands. His vehicle is fully automated. The odds of him being involved in an accident…” She shook her head.
“It’s going to take time, but we’ll find out who was behind this. We’ll keep you in the loop about the investigation, and the officers assigned your father’s case will be contacting you directly from now on. Notification fell to us, but as next of kin, you’ll be kept apprised of everything they find.”
“Thank you.” She walked them both to the door and saw them out, then turned to Royan and Owen and tried to muster a brave face. “This day just went from bad to worse. Better break out the ja’kreesh, we’re going to need it.
“Whatever you need, sweetheart.”
“I have what I need. You and Owen. If you’re with me, then I know I’ll get through this…somehow.” This was what she’d been trained for since birth. Every lesson and lecture had shaped her thinking and prepared her for this day. It just wasn’t supposed to come yet.
“What happens now?” Owen asked.
She flicked her braid back over her shoulder, took a breath, and moved so she was standing directly in front of the monitor. “Now I tell the board my father’s gone and I’m taking over. Then, we tell them everything else. Buckle up, boys. This ride is about to get rough.”
Royan flashed her a grin. “You know that’s the way I like it.”
“I know.” She blew them both a kiss, grateful beyond words that the universe had brought them into her life. The first time they’d met, they’d saved her life, and now, if she was lucky, they were going to stick around to help her rebuild it.
Chapter Nineteen
Their day didn’t end until deep into the night cycle. It had been long, trying, and occasionally downright chaotic, but Tianna had taken it all in stride. Owen knew she was smart and capable, but today she’d stepped into the middle of a crisis and handled everything the universe had thrown at her without missing a step.
“In case I haven’t mentioned it enough, you were fraxxing amazing today,” he told her as they finally returned to their room.
“And in related news, whatever you’re paying yourself, it’s not enough.” Royan started undoing the buttons of his dress shirt, then gave up and pulled it over his head without finishing. As much as Owen had enjoyed seeing Royan dressed like a corporate executive on the fast track, right now all he wanted was to enjoy some quality time with both his lovers, preferably without any clothes at all.
“I haven’t had time to negotiate my salary. My new boss has been keeping me busy.” Tianna was struggling to undo the fastenings on the back of her dress and Owen moved in behind her to help.
“I’ve got this.” He undid the clasp, then leaned in to plant an open-mouthed kiss to the back of her neck. She uttered a low, contented moan and leaned back, rocking her hips against his cock, which went hard in seconds.
“Oh, yeah. You ready to put this day behind us and unwind, sweetheart?” Royan stepped in front of her, bare chested and smiling.
“If by unwind you mean make each other orgasm until we all pass out, then yes, that’s exactly my plan. My head hurts and my heart aches, and I want it all to go away for a little while.” She laid a hand on Royan’s chest, then tipped her head back to look up at him. “Can you do that for me?”
“With pleasure,” Owen said, watching them.
“So much pleasure,” Royan was almost purring now.
They undressed hurriedly, helping each other out of their clothes, teasing and caressing every bit of bare skin they could reach. It had been days. As much as he had enjoyed his time alone with Tianna, there was something special when they were all together like this. Every emotion, every sensation was amplified, and each time was better than the last. He knew why, too. It was because they loved each other. Tianna hadn’t said the words yet, but he didn’t need to hear it to know it was the truth.
He kicked off his pants and stole Tianna for a kiss while Royan headed over to their bed, trailing his hand over Owen’s hip as he walked by.
“Don’t be long, baby,” Royan said as he knelt on the bed and took his cock into his hand, stroking it slowly.
Tianna leaned to one side to smile at Royan. “Ladies, first.”
“So, that’s how it’s going to be?” Royan huffed.
“Uh huh,” Tianna gripped Owen’s shoulders and hopped up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. He caught her easily and turned to press her up against the nearest wall, his tongue tangling with hers as he ground his cock against the soft mound of her mons. She tasted sweet, with a hint of peppermint from the lip balm she wore. It was fast becoming his favorite flavor.
“And to think, all this time we were worried about wearing you out. You realize what this means, sweetheart? It means we don’t stop until you wear us out.”
She laughed, the sound buzzing against his lips as he kissed her. Veth, he loved hearing her laugh. It was a rare sound right now – for both of them. Katy was a lost cause, but she was his sister and he’d still do what he could for her. He pushed aside all thoughts of his sister and focused on the good things in his life: Tianna and Royan. He planted both hands on the lush curve of Tianna’s ass, lifting her higher before moving back from the wall and toward the bed where Royan waited for them.
Owen handed her to Royan, who drew her into his arms with a low groan of need. “Finally.”
“I missed you, too,” she whispered, one arm twining around his neck as she reached back for Owen. “I need this. Us. Together. I’m greedy. I want you both.”
“You’re not greedy.” Owen took her hand and let her pull him onto the bed and into their embrace.
“Maybe a little bit crazy, but we like your kind of crazy. It fits
so well with ours.” Royan turned his head and kissed Owen, their mouths mating for a short but passionate kiss that made all three of them groan.
“I’m just grateful you’ve both forgiven me for lying to you.”
“You did what you had to do. I get that.” Owen had thought it through, and he understood why she’d done it. She wasn’t just protecting herself, she was trying to protect her father. He’d lied for lesser reasons, so how could he blame her?
“You told us you couldn’t tell us all your secrets back on the Sun Sprite.” Royan pointed out.
“Still. Thank you. And thank you for accepting me even though I’m not what you thought I was.”
Owen kissed her softly. They didn’t care that she was a cyborg, or that she couldn’t have children. She’d confessed that to them earlier. It was yet another thing her father had stolen from her, but it didn’t matter. Nothing was going to change how they felt about her. “You’re our Tia. That’s all that matters.”
Soft fingers wrapped around his dick, pumping his shaft gently. Royan shuddered, and Owen guessed Tianna was stroking them both. When he started to move, her hand stopped.
“Not yet. You two kiss more. I like watching you, and I know that you’ve both been focused on me lately.”
Her words made his cock turn to steel and his balls tighten. She really was their kind of crazy. He speared a hand into Royan’s hair and pulled him closer, kissing him the same way he’d kissed her only a few seconds ago. Long, hard, and deep enough to let him drink in Royan’s taste, the way his beard felt against his skin, the subtle spice of the soap he used.
Tianna’s fingers tightened, her movements getting hard, faster. She twisted her hand just a little on each tug, just the way he liked it.
The three of them shifted, rearranging themselves without letting go of one another. Now they were all kneeling, Tianna guiding their movements until he was almost chest to chest with Royan. She brought their cocks together, stroking them both with her hands as they thrust and ground against her, and each other.
