by Charlie Hart
“Sal,” Giles warns.
“There’s a car on its way here, ready to take you into custody,” Salinger’s dark gaze bores into me. “It’s not a fucking joke, Tia. I don’t know what they have, but it’s enough to bring you in for questioning. If the Alaskan government starts digging and they find out you lied on your application, you’ll be deported. Immediately. And that’s if they can’t pin that mercenary’s death on you.”
Giles’ breathing quickens and so does my heart rate.
We all knew this was a possibility. But so much time has passed since the incident, I’d started to think that I’d caught a lucky break. I should have known that luck was never on my side.
But this is my mess. Straightening my spine and gritting my teeth, I look between my two husbands, and I know what I need to do.
“You’re better off not knowing anything,” I say. “That way you can claim deniability.”
Salinger narrows his eyes at me. “You’re going to give yourself up?”
It’s not what I want, but who gets what they want anymore? No woman I’ve ever known. And I need to be grateful for the time I’ve spent here in this compound. Even with all the heartache and strain in the house, this time here has been better than a lifetime with Lawson, the man to whom I was betrothed and within the clutches of my father.
It’s more than I deserve after what I’ve put my husbands through. “No,” Giles growls, shifting on the bed like he wants to physically restrain me. He lets out a frustrated sigh and I see the color drain from his face from the sudden movement. But he has enough strength to bark out another, “No fucking way, Tia.”
I place my hand on his and hold his gaze. “Do you see any other way?”
His jaw clenches and he gives a sharp shake of his head. “Anything but that.”
“Tell me who you are,” Salinger demands, taking another step into the room. Hands in the pockets of his slacks, his expression is pulled and strained. “Tell us the truth, and I’ll do everything in my power, even beg my fucking father, to make sure nothing happens to you.”
I know this is my only chance. But I’ve been holding onto this secret for so long, it’s hard to just blurt it out. Plus, my mind wars with what the right thing to do is. Keep my men protected or let them finally try to protect me. Try, being the keyword.
I swallow and glance down at Giles and my joined hands.
“Tia, please,” Giles begs. “Let us help you.”
One.
Two.
Three.
Each second beats wildly in my ear.
“Hypatia Curie isn’t my real name,” I finally admit.
“No shit,” Huxley says, coming into the room, arms crossed, blue eyes cold. I deserve the distrust I see there.
“My father is a powerful man.” I chew on the inside of my lip and meet Salinger’s dark gaze. “If he ever finds out that I’m here, there’ll be no stopping him from bringing me back. And hurting anyone who gets in his way.”
“We have laws here. Laws that protect you.” Salinger’s tone is hard.
“You and I both know they are not foolproof. There will always be men who will break the law.” I glance at Huxley. “For personal gain.”
Huxley grunts and the corners of his eyes crinkle as he glares at me.
“Then I guess you’re going to have to decide what the worse threat is.” Salinger’s jaw twitches. “The Alaskan government, on its way to interrogate you and all of us, or your father.”
“Which one are you more afraid of?” I shoot back, knowing the fear of our fathers is one thing we have in common.
Salinger doesn’t respond, just keeps his gaze locked on me.
“I’m not trying to be deceptive,” I say, wishing he could understand that. “I’m trying to protect you.”
“I believe you,” Salinger says. “But by trying to protect us, you’re just putting us more at risk.”
Huxley grumbles an agreement, and even Giles nods.
I’m starting to think they’re right.
“Why the hell is there a government car coming up our driveway?” Fallon yells, startling me as he storms into the room.
“They’re here already?” Salinger says, face a mask of composure, but I see the sliver of alarm that slices through his blue eyes. “Where are the others?”
“Banks and Emerson are downstairs,” Huxley says grimly. I look around the room and see faces taut with tension. Silent pleas for me to say more. For me to back down. For me to give them what they want.
But they don’t understand. My father is not merely a man. There are parts of him I admire, but other parts that leave me trembling in fear. My eyes well up with tears at the memory. So many women at Saint Augustine’s came for refuge and left in a casket. My father’s doing. I hadn’t wanted to believe the rumors. Hadn’t wanted to believe that the man I loved could really be the monster that people whispered about in shadowed corners.
He was a genius. A man that demanded respect. Who filled a room the moment he walked in. A man with a single purpose: to find a cure for the population crisis. But it was his mission that pushed him over the edge.
I don’t know everything that went on in his laboratories, but I know that there was some truth to the rumors. Even I wasn’t exempt from my father’s research. Even married to Lawson, I would have still been subjected to his experiments. I saw the contract. Knew what they both had planned.
It was enough for me to want to run for my life.
A cold shiver races down my spine, and my fingers go ice cold like all the blood has rushed from my body.
There is no way this will end well.
My husbands watch me, waiting. And my heart beats hard as I fight for the right words. But I’m lost. I’m no longer the strong woman who ran to the wilds of Alaska, searching for freedom.
Now I’m on the verge of losing everything I’ve grown to hold dear.
My husbands.
Their love.
A future with them.
“Anything you want to tell us before we face these guys?” Salinger finally says when I don’t speak.
“We don’t have time for this,” Fallon says on an exasperated breath. “We all know our stories. Know what we have to do.”
Salinger’s nostrils flare, but he nods. “Fine.”
They’re angry with me, and I know they have every right to be. But things aren’t as black and white as they all seem to think.
The men leave the room, and I’m left alone with Giles.
The silence stretches between us.
“I promise you, after all this, I’ll tell you everything,” I say with tears in my eyes. “It’s not because I’m trying to hurt you… It’s the opposite. I’m trying to protect you.”
“Tia,” he says, stopping me when I start to leave. “Don’t do anything stupid or rash.”
I laugh, but it’s a high-pitched sound. “When have I been known to do either?”
He chuckles, but like my laugh, there’s no humor in it.
“I love you, Giles,” I say, going back to him and kissing him once more.
“I love you too,” he says with so much conviction my heart aches in my chest.
I walk downstairs solemnly, knowing if the guards ask me to go with them, I will. And I’ll say and do anything to keep my husbands safe.
Anything. Even face the past and the monsters that I ran from.
The men are all in the study when I walk downstairs, their angry voices fighting to be heard over one another.
In the living room, I glance out the front window and see two guards and one man in a suit approaching. I recognize the older man from the lottery, with his familiar face that looks like an older version of Salinger’s.
The Director.
I suck in a steadying breath as I watch them approach.
The man is legally my father-in-law, and if Salinger is on my side, which is slightly doubtful at this point, then maybe he can talk to him, help smooth everything over.
The guards use ke
y cards to get through the gate. And I frown, realizing that men, other than my husbands have access to our house. I wonder if the others know.
At least they knock when they get to the door.
One by one, my husbands come out of the study, faces pulled tight with strain.
Fallon is the one who answers the door. “Director Ward,” he says, allowing Salinger’s father and his guards to come in. “Is everything all right?”
The Director’s dark gaze scans the room, finally landing on me. His expression is hard and scrutinizing like Salinger’s was only moments before. But unlike Salinger, this man doesn’t have the same softer edges that make him approachable.
“Father,” Salinger says, walking towards him.
“I’m sure you’re already aware that we have some questions to ask your wife.”
“I’m sure whatever it is can be dealt with here.” Salinger juts his chin out, voice steady, unwavering.
I see the faintest twitch to Salinger’s jaw, but he holds himself with more control and authority than I’ve ever seen from him.
“I’m afraid that what we need to discuss is a greater matter than can be dealt with here. I can assure you that your...wife,” the Director bites out with nostrils flared, “will be treated fairly in accordance with our laws.”
There’s a threat in his words. I hear it. And I know the others do too because I see the way they shift nervously and give sideways glances.
“Can we speak in private?” Salinger asks.
His father gives him a hard look before nodding.
The two men disappear into the study, shutting the door behind them, while the guards stand rigid, not making eye contact with anyone.
No one speaks. There’s so much tension in the room that it makes it difficult to breathe.
Fallon approaches me and takes my hand. “It’s going to be okay. We’re on your side.”
I choke on my tears, wishing it were true. At my core, I know it’s not that simple.
This world is no longer about whose side you are on.
It’s about the living and the dead.
And I am the one who murdered a man. Not my husbands.
I steady my breath, wipe away my tears. I fled Saint Augustine’s, so I’d no longer be beholden to men who saw me as a commodity, something to barter and trade. I wanted more.
I wanted freedom.
I want that for my husbands, too.
There’s no way in hell I’m going to be the one who takes that away from them. I know my choice comes with risks. My father is powerful enough that he could already have made an agreement with the Director to return me if I’m found. At this point, I’m willing to take the risk, be sent back home, to a life with Lawson if it means keeping these men safe.
After all, it is exactly what they have vowed to do for me.
Lawson murdered my suitor. Even if he was cleared of that crime I know what he did. And I don’t doubt he will do it again, times six.
Clearing my throat, I know what I must do. “I need to speak with the Director.”
Chapter 19
Giles
Sweat drips down the side of my face as I shift out of bed. It’s driving me insane not knowing what’s going on downstairs.
My crutches lean against the wall, and it takes all my strength to get to them.
My body is so damn weak.
All I want to do is protect my wife. Keep her safe. But I can barely even get down the hallway.
I see the two guards by the front door. Tia stands speaking to Fallon, and whatever she’s said has caught the attention of all the men around the room. They’re turned, looking at her, but when Tia glances up, spotting me when I’m halfway down the stairs, everyone stops and turns to look in my direction.
Emerson is the first to speak as I reach the second last step. “Shit,” he mutters, as he starts towards me. “Get back upstairs.”
I grunt and push him away.
We planned for this. Knew an interrogation would come. We also know that they have no concrete evidence for anything. If they did, they would have come sooner, and it would have been for arrests, not just interrogations.
What they’re looking for is a scapegoat, someone to appease the Universal Court for the deaths of the mercenaries. They’ll never be able to pin anything on Tia. But they will dig into her past and that’s what worries me.
I also know my wife. She’ll do anything to protect us. Even sacrifice herself. And I won’t let that happen. Can’t let her do something reckless that will be irreversible.
“What are you doing?” Emerson whispers harshly as I take a step, feeling like I might topple over.
“Not going to let them take her,” I grit out.
Fallon storms toward me, fire burning in his eyes. But I know he has every intention of doing exactly what I plan to do. So, he can save his judgmental look.
“Neither are we.” Emerson grabs my arm, but I push him away and take another step. “We know what we have to do.”
“Tia, though, has other ideas,” I say, only for his ears as my gaze lands on our wife.
“I hope you’re not planning on playing hero,” Fallon says as he steps into my line of view.
“Better than our wife doing the same, don’t you think?” I hold his gaze and an inaudible war begins between us. But we don’t have a chance to resolve anything before the door to the office opens and Salinger and his father come out.
Both men share the same stoic glances as they look up at me.
“Commander Knight,” the Director says, pursing his lips as his gaze drifts down to my bandaged leg, then back up to my face.
Tia starts to move toward the Director, but I see Banks grip her arm so tightly she winces.
Good.
They plan to protect her. Even from herself. Which isn’t an easy job, considering she seems hell-bent on sacrificing herself.
“Sir,” I nod at him, wiping the sweat from my brow. The world shifts slightly, but I manage to hold myself upright and salute him.
“You’re injured.” It’s an accusation.
“I had an accident while hunting. A run-in with a pack of wolves.”
I hear the murmurs from the other men. I know they did their best to keep my injury a secret, not wanting to draw attention to us. But it’s too late. There’s a big, red target on my wife’s head and I’ll be the fucking diversion if I have to be.
“You should be in bed,” Salinger says, giving me a look of warning.
Ignoring him, I keep my gaze latched onto the Director. “I want to know what evidence you have for taking our wife into custody.”
“That’s confidential,” he says, one brow raised at me like he’s surprised by my insubordination. But he doesn’t reprimand me, just states, “We only want to talk with her.”
Bullshit. If he only wanted to talk, he’d do it here.
“The mercenaries had files on a woman they were looking for,” Salinger says quickly, despite the harsh glare his father gives him. “My father thinks they may have been after one of the women who came here recently. They’re all being taken into custody.”
“Kate and Lilah,” I hear Tia whisper. From the corner of my eye, I see her hand go to her mouth. She already feels guilty for my injuries and fears for her husbands’ safety. I can’t imagine the turmoil she’ll go through if anything happened to her friends because of her actions.
“You really think a female killed them?” I scoff. “Three trained mercenaries.” I shake my head at him like it’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. Which if I didn’t know Tia pulled the trigger, it would be.
Those men were born, bred, trained to be killing machines.
“No,” the Director says, glancing over at Tia, then back to me. “But I think they might lead us to the man or men who did.”
“And if you knew who the person was?” I ask.
There’s a moment of pause, and I hear Fallon make a sound beside me like a growl.
“Then we would have
no reason to interrogate them.” The Director holds my gaze.
I nod, and stand at full attention, despite the way the room spins around me, and bright lights flash in front of my eyes. There’s no question in my mind what I must do.
For Tia.
For our family.
“Then I make a formal admission here,” I say, refusing to meet the eyes of any of the men. “I’m the man responsible for their deaths.”
“No,” Tia yells, but Banks pulls her back, draws her to his chest, whispers in her ear. She thrashes against him, trying to break free.
Fallon curses beside me. And I hear the sharp intake of breath from a few of the others.
Tia keeps fighting Banks, and a sob breaks from her chest. “No. He’s lying. It’s not true.”
The Director looks over at her and I can practically hear what he’s thinking - she’s nothing but an emotional woman who doesn’t have a clue.
They don’t know Tia, though. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met. And my heart swells with pride that she is my wife.
She wants to fight for me but I can’t let her go to battle. She means too much to all of us. I am only one of six husbands. She is the only wife any of us have.
The only one any of us want. Even if some of her husbands haven’t admitted that aloud, I see the way they look at her, care for her, need her.
I know because I have the same primal desire to protect her at all costs.
Giving up my life for her is the least I can fucking do, and I’d do it repeatedly. She means everything to me.
I’ve been through hell and back, lost the woman I loved once. This time I can make things right. This time I can make the ultimate sacrifice.
I keep my gaze directed at Salinger’s father, but from the corner of my eye, I see the way everyone in our family struggles with my decision.
Fallon is talking to Tia now. I can’t hear what he says, but his words are harsh, and she finally stops fighting, but the tears don’t stop streaming down her cheeks.
The Director finally nods, his gaze unwavering as he begins to read me my rights, and the guards walk towards me, placing me in handcuffs.
Chapter 20
