It wasn’t like they’d ever been a romantic item, or would ever be. They didn’t like each other that way. They were friends now and always, but they’d never be lovers. He cared for Clarissa. Still, under no circumstances did he want to marry her. He made a face at that, a half squint, half wince, while struggling to figure out her angle.
“Thanks,” she said, a tinge of hurt in her voice. “I’m not a hideous ogre, you know.”
“Sorry.” Dade wiped the wince off his face. His intention hadn’t been to hurt her feelings.
“It’s okay. I know it’s not personal.” Her face softened, and she added in a placating tone, “Besides, you know it’s not real. It’s not like I’d expect you to be faithful.”
“Then why get married in the first place?” It was the same question he’d asked ever since he’d first been forced to sit in on the contract negotiations. All the other relationships in his life—including the one with his parents—demanded something from him. The only exception was his friendship with Saben. Even his relationship with Clarissa had a sort of symbiosis that required him to keep their dynamic in place. When he married, he wanted it to be a real relationship. Based on the simple pleasure of being with the other person.
“You know why,” Clarissa said, apparently determined to make him see sense. “We’d get independence, and more important, it would provide the opportunity to make a play for power. If we ever want to stop living under our parents’ thumbs, we have to control things. I don’t know about you, but all I’ve ever wanted was the ability to make my own decisions.”
He wanted that too, but clearly they didn’t see eye to eye on how to make that happen. Committing his life to her didn’t seem like freedom. “I don’t see how marriage will solve that problem. We’re only allowing them to continue to treat us like we’re chattel. I am worth more than that, and so are you.”
“We could make it work for us.” She shrugged as though what she suggested weren’t life altering. “If I have to marry anyone to get what I want, I’d choose you for a partner. I trust you the most.”
That flattered him, yet there was no talk about love. Not that he expected her to reciprocate feelings he didn’t have. At the very least, he deserved to be with someone who cared about him romantically.
From the beginning, she’d been so much better at pretending this engagement was real. She hadn’t batted an eye when it had been suggested. When the gossip cams had hounded them, she leaned on him and smiled for pictures as if it had been the most natural thing in the world. What she asked for was a lifetime of that, or at least several years until they could extract themselves from their parents’ preordered destiny. Dade wasn’t so sure that would be possible, though. No matter how many plans they set into motion, anyone who went against the Solizen power would lose.
“Even if you don’t agree, now is not the time to call it off,” Clarissa said.
“I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do.” She tilted her head to the side and studied him. “Your father would be much more interested in how you spend your time if he thought you weren’t with me when you disappear.”
He couldn’t help a quick intake of breath at her very pointed observation. It hit him like a punch in the gut. How had she known? Had she had him followed? Knowing Clarissa, she probably had.
He recovered and nodded, understanding that lying was futile, yet still making an attempt to play it off. “What are you implying?”
She gave him a patronizing stare. “I’ve known you my whole life. I know when you’re up to things. Keeping secrets from me isn’t in your best interest. I can’t help you if you don’t trust me.”
“I do trust you.” He pulled her in for a long hug. “What I’m involved in right now, you can’t have anything to do with. It’s too risky.”
She slowly nodded. “Okay, I’ll let it go for now. It’s just that I worry about you.”
“I’ll be fine.” He squeezed her to emphasize that point, then kissed her forehead in silent thanks for caring for him and always having his back.
He heard the click-click-click of the camera’s shutter catching the moment and making him freeze.
“Yes, that is exactly what I want,” the photographer cheered.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Cocktail hour was already almost over when Dade and Clarissa stepped into his family’s apartment in Sky Tower Two. Clarissa had talked him into running errands after the photo shoot since they were already dressed and could then arrive at his house together. He agreed because it meant putting off going home, and therefore avoiding any questions. They entered arm in arm, already playing their role as a couple.
Dade’s father glanced his way with a frown. He looked pointedly at his watch to note the time, but he didn’t acknowledge Dade beyond that. Most of the guests wouldn’t have noticed his late arrival anyway. They were well on their way to being high on drugs or alcohol, or both.
His mother sat on the sunken circular couch in the center of the room. The cushions were deep, covered in blue velvet that popped against the plush white carpet. She sipped her pink-tinted, bubbled cocktail while gossiping with several women.
Dade’s home was high-gloss, made to show off. Everything was arranged to demonstrate wealth, from the polished indigenous stone shelves of blue and silver, to the 3-D pictures of Dade and his parents. Music floated through the space, a soft, slightly whiny sound from a stringed instrument. Above them, orbs of poloosh lit the room. Poloosh was a glow stone that could be carved into shapes. Fifty hand-sized stones were clustered together to create a chandelier that continuously emitted light.
Dade wandered the perimeter of the room to the far side. Clarissa stayed on his arm until a waiter passed them. She reached out to snag two glasses, offering him one as they took up position against the window.
He tipped his glass against hers. “Cheers.”
The Sky Towers had been constructed to allow for maximum sun coverage. Long sheets of glass made up the back wall with the balcony beyond. The other walls were painted in a pearlescent sheen to catch the light and reflect it back into the room.
He looked over the clear purple sky, wanting the peace that usually came with it. The blood-orange sun was just beginning to set as their two moons rose in the distance. Far below, a blanket of gray static clouds cut off the view, making their Tower feel separate from the rest of the city.
“What are you daydreaming about?” Clarissa asked. They stood shoulder to shoulder, leaning into each other to ensure their conversation didn’t travel.
He shrugged.
“Well, get out of your head. We have work to do.”
He couldn’t shake his nervousness. Which was silly. He’d done things like this a hundred times. It was just that he tended not to do them directly in front of his father. It wasn’t like his dad was unobservant. Dade had a healthy respect for getting caught. If he did, it would ruin all his other endeavors.
Clarissa pulled out two small clear disks from her tiny purse. Both disks fit into the palm of her hand and appeared to be not much more than bits of stray plastic. She handed him one of the devices. “Bat your eyes, and she won’t see you coming. All the girls fall for it.”
“You don’t,” he pointed out.
“That’s because I’m smarter than most.” She turned toward the room. “Are you ready?”
“Why do we have to do this here?” This plan was insane, even for her.
“When else are we going to get the opportunity?”
“It’s like you’re trying to get caught.”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, but she just shrugged and coyly said, “Sometimes things hide in plain sight.”
That was the truth. The irony of the statement amused him as he slipped the disk into his pocket.
Dinner was announced, and the guests began to make their way into the dining room. Clarissa held up her empty glass, signaling to a waiter who hurried over to collect it. Dade followed suit, murmuring his thanks.
The dining room was surrounded by glass. In the distance, the sun had begun to set, sliding ever-darkening purple light filtering across the room. A long table ran down the center, seating up to fifty. Tonight every gold-leafed chair was filled while the servants buzzed in and out of the kitchen with trays piled with food.
Dade took a seat next to Clarissa halfway down the table near Chief Nakomzer. He didn’t fail to notice that his cousin, Rylick, sat at the head of the table closer to Dade’s father. In exactly the place Dade should have been. He would admit—to himself, at least—that it hurt that his father favored Rylick.
But then, Rylick was also watched more closely too. That was not something Dade could deal with.
Dade looked up, surprised, as Sophia took the empty seat next to him. It couldn’t have worked out any better if Clarissa had planned it. He looked to Clarissa, who offered him a wide grin. Almost like she could read his mind.
She winked.
Maybe she had planned it.
Clarissa turned her attention to chatting up Nakomzer, her target for the evening. Nakomzer was generally a cold guy, but around her he always softened up. In no time at all, she had him laughing and leaning closer to her.
Which left Dade with Sophia. Dade looked for an opening, but she kept her back turned toward him, talking with the gentleman to her other side. Dade shifted slightly to catch her attention, trying to get her to turn. “How are you this evening?”
Sophia slid her gaze sideways, leaving her body twisted away from him, so that she looked at him over her shoulder.
Dade cleared his throat and tried again, a little more hesitantly this time. He felt ridiculous, because she was making it obvious she didn’t want to speak to him. He wouldn’t want to talk to her either if he didn’t have to. “I heard that you just came back from one of the outer cities. Did you have a nice trip?”
Sophia sniffed.
Was that an answer?
Normally he could at least squeeze out one-word answers from her, even as rude as she usually was. The fact that he couldn’t even get that much tonight left him at a loss. He had no idea how he was going to pull this off. His attention slid to her purse. It sat in front of her plate, which meant that he could potentially drop in the disk when she wasn’t looking. Except that she kept placing her hand on top of it.
Clarissa had watched the exchange, and it was clear she was amused. She smothered a laugh behind her hand, then coughed gently into her napkin. She couldn’t hide the mirth in her eyes, though.
“It’s not funny,” he said, the words barely a whisper.
She lowered the napkin and agreed. “No, it’s not. You’re usually much better at this.”
“At flirting or getting the job done?”
This time a laugh did escape. “Both.”
Dade knew he was a constant source of amusement for her, so why would this situation be any different? He leaned back into his seat to let the waiter serve his first course, all the while eyeing Sophia’s purse. He ran his finger under his collar as he’d been doing for the last few hours. Wishing it wasn’t quite so hot in the room and that the high collar’s embroidery didn’t feel as if it choked off his air.
“Relax. You’re acting tense, and someone’s bound to notice,” Clarissa said.
“I’m always tense at these things.” That was true. He hated these forced niceties with his family, though it was also true that this time, his tension had more to do with Clarissa’s request.
“Are you saying you can’t do it?” she asked, her voice light and taunting. “I’ve already planted mine.”
Leave it to Clarissa to make this into some sort of dare. There was no way he’d let her show him up. Clarissa was right that he was fully capable of pulling this off. Why did he shut down around his family? Dade needed to get out of his own head. Though that was easier said than done.
He glanced again at his father to make sure Hernim wasn’t paying attention. Rylick watched him, though. Or maybe it was Clarissa he eyed. Either way, it meant Dade had to be cautious. His gaze slid back to the purse.
Dade’s first opportunity happened after the second course, a soup made from indigenous icca greens. Sophia opened her purse and took out her datapad. She turned away, leaving the bag open. Now was his chance to make his move. Just as he reached forward to drop the disk into her purse, his father stood and tapped his glass with a fork.
The ringing of silver against crystal had Dade pulling back.
Hernim Croix cleared his throat. “Thank you for joining us to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of my son and Clarissa Hemstock.”
The guests politely clapped.
Dade’s hand closed around the disk as they became the center of attention. The mention of their engagement soured Dade’s mood.
Clarissa leaned into him. She petted his arm and then gave him a pinch. “Smile.”
Mr. and Mrs. Hemstock, Clarissa’s parents, sat across from them. They accepted the praise for brokering such an advantageous match for their daughter by preening and thanking the other guests, as if they were the ones to be married. Mrs. Hemstock was short, her Asian heritage strongly evident in her coloring and features, whereas Clarissa’s father was tall and willowy, and quite pale. An oddity for one of the Solizen, who were usually golden with tanned skin, a source of pride. The Hemstocks weren’t warm people. There was always a rigidity that struck Dade as off-putting. He didn’t trust anyone he couldn’t read. The fact that they were a rival Solizen family was less significant.
The spotlight didn’t leave Dade or Clarissa for several minutes. Various toasts were offered. Dade maintained a strained smile throughout, with the disk pressed into his palm. He felt every second of the stares trained on him. A light sweat started across his brow, but he didn’t move to wipe it away. That would show weakness.
“Tonight isn’t all about our children,” Hernim said, taking his seat. The waiters moved forward to serve the main course as Hernim moved the discussion to the true reason they were there: the thefts they were experiencing.
“The gangs are becoming more aggressive. I’ve lost three shipments in the last five weeks,” said a woman with tightly curled gray hair. She wore yellowed pearls around her throat, a demonstration of her power to own a priceless artifact from the Old Planet. The necklace moved against her neck as she spoke.
This was the part Dade found hypocritical. To the outside world, these high-ranking members of society made their money from legitimate prescription drugs. They did this by jacking up the prices and driving down the supply so that they could profit the most from it. They weren’t trying to help people. Behind closed doors, they lamented the loss of their drug capital. As if they didn’t collectively own 85 percent of the city’s income. How were they different than the street gangs?
“Lasair,” Hernim agreed, naming the biggest Undercity gang, and a thorn in their side. It wasn’t the only gang that stole from them, but they were the loudest. They liked to taunt, to let the Solizen know that they were causing havoc. “They’ve increased their hits on Croix Industries as well. It’s time someone took control of the streets and flushed them out.”
“We have some leads on where they’re meeting,” Chief Nakomzer said. “But we’re getting stalled by the lack of cameras that still work in Undercity.”
Dade squeezed his hand. The disk tucked inside pressed into his flesh, reminding him that he still had a job to do no matter how distracted he was by the conversation. Talk of Lasair made him think of Arden. She hadn’t said where she was from, yet his gut instinct told him she was from Undercity in spite of the fact that she shouldn’t be able to travel to Above. If she were a member of Lasair, she’d have a way to do that, though. She’d been too capable with the knife, in a way only the streets could teach a person. And she had that desperate, determined look of someone with nothing to lose.
The need to se
e her again washed over him, making him both excited and anxious. He had to keep those feelings locked down, and instead come up with a way to plant the bug. He shouldn’t be daydreaming of a girl he’d met only once and instead should pay attention to the danger he was in right now.
“If the government can’t contain the city gangs, we need to look into other options,” Hernim said.
“Now wait a minute.” Chief Nakomzer held up his hand in an attempt to stop Dade’s father from going where he was headed with that insinuation. “We can’t condone vigilantism. Doing so would cause a widespread panic.”
No one looked impressed.
Chief Nakomzer sputtered. “We have more than your internal thefts to worry about. The citizens in the Lower Levels are showing signs of mobilization. This is the greater threat at the moment.”
“To whom?” the lady with the pearls asked.
Nakomzer frowned. “To all of us.”
Sometimes Dade couldn’t believe the things that were said at these parties. If it wasn’t about money, the Solizen didn’t seem to care. To them there wasn’t an outside world that existed beyond their enclosed Towers. Public unrest wasn’t on their radar. Only when it cut into their profits would it become a problem.
Sophia watched the reactions of the Solizen to Nakomzer’s words, probably to discuss and analyze them with Nakomzer after the dinner. Her open purse was closer to him now. This could be the opportunity he needed, but her body was pivoted too far his way. Dade would definitely be in her peripheral vision. Which made it tricky, but maybe he should just go for it. Dade leaned forward, moving his body in slow increments to see if she noticed. If she indicated in any way that she did, he’d back off.
Meanwhile Nakomzer tried to convince the assembled Solizen that they had a far greater problem on their hands. “The civil unrest is far outweighing the peacekeeping corps. If this continues, you’ll have a much worse problem than distribution. You’ll lose your client base.”
“There’s always someone who will buy our products. There is no sun, after all,” Dade’s father said. “They need us.”
The Breaking Light (Split City Book 1) Page 5
