“Basically put, the church was trying to kill Newbin. Not the council. Council was trying to kill the assassin trying to kill Newbin. Council bought Newbin. Chances are if you dig through her computer, notes, or anything like that, you’ll find the evidence of that.”
“Fat chance of that. Newbin’s house just caught fire and went up in a ball of flame that’s not likely to be put out anytime soon,” Mark said. “But that makes a lot more sense now. Fuck.
“This is all fucked up.”
“Kinda,” Gus said with a shrug. “It also isn’t. Makes sense.
“So, I killed Newbin because I felt like it was the only option. For all I know, she would have gone underground till election day and then delivered a victory speech that included ‘oh hey, by the way, there’s Paras out there. Hop to, everyone,’ and rang the bell that can’t be unrung,” Gus said.
“I mean… that’s a lot to assume, but… it also kinda sounds right,” Mark said with a sigh. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “I mean… it’s probably what I’d do in the same situation. So I can’t fault you for that.”
“It’s a bit worse, though,” Gus said. “There were Fed agents in there that I didn’t know, who were all pretty much guaranteed to be working for the council.
“Given orders over the phone that they didn’t question or even bother to learn more of. Just to do it.”
“Really,” Mark said flatly.
“Uh huh. Like the fact that I had an agent who wanted to do a GSR test on me. Then they wanted me to be interviewed. One of them even suggested bringing in a psyker.
“I can’t imagine you or Fin authorizing that.”
“Fuck no we didn’t,” Mark said, now looking angry. “Fin heard there was some strange shit going on that now just… ugh. It makes sense.
“On top of that, people have been trying very hard to push Fin out of this one and take it over. I should give her a call and tell her it’s time we bow out. Doesn’t seem like a fight we want.”
Gus shrugged.
“Tell who you trust, because I think this is just… it’s not over. Not over by a long shot,” Gus said.
“No… it’s clearly not. If you think about it… this has all been one long plan,” Mark said. “If the game had gone off perfectly, Newbin could have positioned herself perfectly to lead the government straight into a Para awareness cycle.
“No… you’re right. This is a very long con. A long con that… probably has more elements down the road.”
Mark frowned, looking thoughtful. His eyes dipped down to the ground as he clearly considered what he would need to do next.
“If she made the presidency… what would be next?” he asked.
“Dunno,” Gus said, shrugging his shoulders. “Not really my area of expertise. Probably something presidents could do?”
“Yeah. Fin will know which way to get moving. She’s a lot more savvy with this kind of thing,” Mark said, nodding his head.
He’s really fallen in with Fin.
In a deep way.
I wonder… did he marry Kelly for the wrong reasons? They always seemed happy.
Maybe I missed something.
“On top of that, I have to give you some really bad news,” Gus said.
Mark frowned, looking up at Gus.
“Really? More? What now?” he asked.
“I’m quitting,” Gus said with a shrug. “It’s obvious I’m being targeted now. I mean, I told you about the fact that they were sending people to watch my parents.
“I don’t… I don’t want to put myself in those crosshairs anymore. I’m not a hero, and I really can’t say I want to endanger my family for this.”
Mark looked absolutely shocked. Shocked, defeated, and lost.
He’d taken everything else in equal measure without a concern. But apparently this was too much for him.
“Gussy, no,” Mark said. “You can’t leave me.”
Grinning, Gus looked down at the ground.
“Durh, if it was just me, I’d be fine with it. But they’re looking into my parents. Probably my sister, too,” he said. “I’m too much of a target right now. I’ve made way too many waves in a public way. They’re just going to keep focusing on me. This isn’t going to stop. It’s going to get worse.”
Mark shook his head, as if he wanted to disagree.
Gus didn’t reply. He just stood there, staring at Mark.
Slowly, Mark’s head stopped moving, and then he looked away.
“Yeah… yeah,” Mark said. “You’re not wrong. To the council I’m just an inconvenient political piece in charge of you. You, though… you’re everything that’s gotten in their way.
“On top of that, you were at the scene of their politician getting merced. They’re… definitely going to focus on you.”
“Yep,” Gus said. “So I’ve… I’ve gotta get out.”
“Okay,” Mark said. “Got it. Mel’s gone too, I bet?”
“Yeah. Probably Vanessa and Trish, too,” Gus said. “Mel’s talking to them now. I can’t imagine them working without us.”
Mark grumbled but nodded. “Yeah, me neither.”
“Can you take care of Chloe for me?” Gus asked. “She’s… she’s actually a good agent. She’s a murderer, don’t get me wrong, but—but I think she’s redeemable.”
“Meh, I already got her a release,” Mark said, flicking a hand. “Mel told me she’s contracting to her and you next week, so I just took care of it. You’ll have to tell me if she can suck you as sweetly as I bet she can.”
“I… I swear to god, Durh,” Gus said with a laugh. He couldn’t complain, though. Mark had done him a favor without anything for himself.
Again.
“Shit, I’m going to lose Indali, Janelle, and Serafina too,” Mark said. “Hailey might stay though.”
“Huh?” Gus asked.
“Janelle, your Elven wife? You know, the one Mel is going to make you bed next week in your orgy for Chloe? That one?” Mark asked. “Janelle’s going to get her commission resigned. Probably manage an honorable discharge. Watch.”
“I mean… pretty sure you can’t just quit,” Gus said. “And what does Sera have to do with this?”
“She’ll quit, too,” Mark said. “She really was just interested in you in the end. Apparently, she finds you fascinating.
“And Mel said she wants to ride her face but has to talk you into riding her first, so… eh… damn. And we both know Indali is… well—”
Mark pointed to the revolver that was Indali. Sitting in her holster against Gus’s chest.
“Of course I’m going with you,” Indali said.
“That pretty much guts your department,” Mark groused. “Fine. Whatever. It sucks, really sucks, but I get it. You’ll still help me if I need it. Just not on the books.”
“Obviously,” Gus said with a chuckle. “I’ll do everything I can to help you with the case as well. So long as I can stay out of the visible part.”
That went without saying in Gus’s book.
Mark was Mark, but he was Gus’s Mark. If Mark had a need, Gus would do his best to fulfill it.
“Alright, I’m gonna… get going,” Gus said.
“’Kay,” Mark said. “Still on for dinner this weekend? Fin wants to get closer to you and your family. I guess she figured out that to be with me, she has to be with you, to a degree.”
“That’s fine,” Gus said with a grin. “See you then.”
“See you then, Gussy-poo. Smooches,” Mark said. Then he turned away from Gus and pulled his phone out.
Going to call Fin and fill her in.
Mm. Suppose it’s time for me to do the same with Mel.
***
Panting, Mel fanned at her face lightly.
“Okay, I could definitely get used to not working,” she said as Gus collapsed into the bed next to her naked body. “Though we’ll have to keep trying to break my bed. Clearly not broken yet.”
Gus laughed to himself as he st
retched out, enjoying the pleasant empty feeling.
Melody reached over and patted him on the stomach several times with her other hand.
“Good boy,” she said. “Be sure to perform equally as well when Trish picks you up in ten minutes.”
“Uh huh, sure,” Gus said, rolling his eyes.
They’d been home for the last five days. Without anywhere to go or anything to do now that they’d both officially quit from the Fed.
Vanessa, Trish, Chloe, and Indali had all quit the same day.
Serafina had put in her notice that it was her last week.
She’d told Gus that she wanted to stay just so she could make sure she closed everything up behind them and cleared the data.
Apparently, she viewed herself as part of the “family” even though he barely knew her at all.
Melody was already calling Serafina Violet, despite not being officially contracted.
They were all home most of the day, and they all seemed to be enjoying doing much of nothing.
Although that would end eventually. Gus wasn’t going to be able to stay at home and play “spin-the-bottle” forever, so to speak.
“Whew,” Melody said, still fanning her face. “Indigo, you really know how to make my motor hum. It’ll be a shame when Jan gets her discharge and we have to go back to work.”
“Jan?” Gus asked.
“Yep! Janelle. She’s officially listed as married to you now,” Melody said, laying the hand she was using to fan herself on her sweaty brow. “Janelle Hellström. Your net worth is considerable, you know. Especially when we include mine with yours.
“All I had to do was take your IRS statements and mine, apply them with Janelle’s marriage license, and put in a ‘convenience to the government’ form. I just claimed it would be piss-all for morale for her to keep showing up now that she was a wealthy woman who just married.
“That and she’ll be spewing out Royal Elven children non-stop. Did they really want someone who was pregnant all year round? That sort of thing.”
“I… what?” Gus asked.
“Oh, she won’t actually be pregnant, obviously. But we just bent a few Elven cultural laws to make that fit and boom, they were pretty eager to drop her. Should go through soon.”
“Huh,” Gus said. He’d heard the term once or twice, but he’d never actually bothered to dig into it. “Wait, Janelle Hellström?”
“Uh huh. I’m Melody Hellström. Patricia Hellström. Vanessa Hellström. Chloe Hellström. Indali Hellström. Serafina Hellström.
“We’re all Hellströms.”
“Uh… I mean… I don’t remember…” Gus said, turning to look at his naked Contractor wife.
“Don’t worry, they’re only wives on paper. They’re going to be our Contracted, which is essentially a wife. We just won’t be sleeping together,” Melody said. “Well, that’s not true. You’ll probably be riding Janelle for all she’s worth when we contract Chloe.
“And before you try to fight it, can you honestly tell me you don’t want to? She’s so pretty.”
Gus opened his mouth and then closed it.
He realized any answer was the wrong answer. Instead, he decided to just not discuss it. He could avoid it completely if he never addressed it.
Melody’s phone began to chime softly on the bedside table.
Groaning, she looked over at it.
“Oh, come on, I just got laid,” Melody said in a huff. “I don’t want to move.”
Lifting her head up with a grunt, she seemed to be trying to look at the screen without moving.
“Fuck, what?” she said. Reaching over, she picked up the phone and tapped the accept button.
“Lark,” she said.
There was a response on the other end.
“One second, could you repeat that?” Melody asked, tapping a button on her screen.
“Certainly,” said a woman on the other end of the line. It sounded vaguely familiar, but Gus couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
“I understand you and your… cadre… are recently unaffiliated with the Fed?” asked the woman.
“That we are, Mrs. Campbell,” Melody said, then looked at Gus with a wide smile. She mouthed the word ‘Leanne’ as well.
Oh! Leanne Campbell. C&C.
Lily.
“Wonderful,” said Leanne. “I’d like to hire you and your team. I have a number of things I need taken care of discreetly.”
“I think I’d certainly be willing to discuss business of that nature,” Melody said. “We don’t come cheap, though. I’ve expanded my operations and have a number of very well-trained employees now.”
“Yes, I’m aware,” Leanne said with a chuckle. “I do hope that would include Mr. Hellström?”
“Indeed, it would. He’s my husband, after all,” Melody said.
“Is he? Good! There was some definite chemistry between you two,” Leanne said. “Alright. Great. Could you drop by the office next week? We can go over details, contract negotiation, and some mission briefs.”
“Got it,” Melody said. “Will this include wet work?”
“More than likely,” Leanne said. “I… honestly, I got news from a source I’d never expected. I need to start planning now and get things ready. At least, as best as I can.”
“That sounds ominous,” Melody said, scratching at her breasts.
“My husband is coming,” Leanne said with a laugh. “He knows where I am, and he’s coming for me. His brother, too. It’s going to get messy. Very messy.”
“Oh, happy to be on the winning side,” Melody said. “Alright, I’ll pop over later on. Just forward me all the details for the meeting and what you need from me. [email protected].”
“I can do that. See you soon,” Leanne said, then disconnected the line.
“Well, looks like we’ll have an employer soon,” Melody said. “At least with those jobs, it’s a lot easier to get things done. I’ll have to be more careful this time. I can’t just leave a laundry list of broken laws behind me. I have a family now.
“The Hellström family. My family.”
Gus let out a slow breath, then laughed softly.
“Yeah. Our family,” Gus said.
There was a soft tap on the door, and then it opened.
Standing in the doorway was Trish.
Her eyes glowed as if lit from the inside. It was the way they glowed when she’d turned on her Dryad nature and allowed it to run freely.
Stepping into Melody’s room, Trish closed the door behind her. Her eyes took in both Gus and Melody at the same time.
“Are you ready for me, my loves?” Trish asked in a purr.
Gus almost involuntarily nodded his head. Melody nodded much quicker and more energetically, however.
“Indigo, Rainbow, I’ve decided you’re both going to service me and my needs. I need some attention.
“And when I’m satisfied, one of you is going to go collect Yellow. Then we’re going to start again, and all three of you will service and satisfy me. Like the good little Dryad harem you all are,” Trish said.
There was no room for argument in her statement.
And honestly, no one disagreed with Trish when it came to sex. She was their orgy master and mistress. She was the focal point when it came to their marriage-wide sex-play.
Trish started to undress, a wide smile for both Gus and Melody.
“First, though, ready yourself for me Indigo,” Trish said, coming over to the bed. “I’m going to satiate you, and then you’re going to take care of me for a while. That way you’re well pleased and must return the favor.”
Gus didn’t argue.
He never did.
No one did, actually.
With Trish, it was always whatever she wanted for him. And he always enjoyed it
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If you enjoyed this book, try out the books of some of my close friends. I can heartily recommend them.
Blaise Corvin- A close and dear friend of mine. He’s been there for me since I was nothing but a rookie with a single book to my name. He told me from the start that it was clear I had talent and had to keep writing. His background in European martial arts creates an accurate and detail driven action segments as well as his world building.
https://www.amazon.com/Blaise-Corvin/e/B01LYK8VG5
John Van Stry- John was an author I read, and re-read, and re-read again, before I was an author. In a world of books written for everything except harems, I found that not only did I truly enjoy his writing, but his concepts as well.
In discovering he was an indie author, I realized that there was nothing separating me from being just like him. I attribute him as an influence in my own work.
He now has two pen names, and both are great.
https://www.amazon.com/John-Van-Stry/e/B004U7JY8I
Jan Stryvant-
https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Stryvant/e/B06ZY7L62L
Daniel Schinhofen- Daniel was another one of those early adopters of my work who encouraged and pushed me along. He’s almost as introverted as I am, so we get along famously. He recently released a new book, and by all accounts including mine, is a well written author with interesting storylines.
https://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Schinhofen/e/B01LXQWPZA
Swing Shift: Book 2 Page 39
