by Terina Adams
Mum held up a finger. “One. And don’t touch anything.”
As expected, his office was bigger than our rental, with an expansive window, which made the room appear as though it flowed out onto the rooftops of the adjacent buildings.
“Wow, impressive.” I stepped into the room.
“Yes, wow. Now you’ve seen it, let’s go.”
“I’ll be a good girl. I promise.” I flashed her a smile as I continued into the room. If I moved in far enough, she’d stop pretending she could turn me around.
“I’m going to need Carter’s schedule for the launch tomorrow.” We both jumped at the sound of an intruding voice. A woman stood in the entrance, dwarfed by the shear size of the doors. Her deep green eyes settled on me even though she’d spoken to Mum. A quick shot of adrenaline burned its way through my stomach, igniting a tickle running along my skin. I forced myself not to look at my arms, though I was sure the skin would be rippling with the disturbance underneath. The woman’s long, straight hair hung forward over her shoulders, covering the skin behind her right ear, and a fitted jacket of deep green kept the secret on her wrist well hidden. If there was any secret to be found there.
“Oh…umm…sure.” Mum glanced at me, hesitant, then glanced back at the woman. “Sure.”
Attention back to me, she gave a small jerk of her head in the direction I should go, as in out the door.
“It’s fine, Mum, I don’t want to interfere with your work.”
I beamed another smile when two forks indented between her eyes, and held up my hands. “I’m a good girl.”
She flared her eyes and gave me a meaningful look, which said, We’ll be talking once I get rid of this woman, then hurried out of the office.
The numbers on the digital clock would be flipping down in rapid succession had I been in Dominus.
A horseshoe-shaped office desk with loads of draws, an imposing leather suite centered around a weirdly designed coffee table, a bookcase wall filled with volumes behind which you could hide a safe. A dozen places to look.
Holden had never mentioned a safe. I’d thought of it, and a good place to hide a safe was behind a painting, like the large one behind his desk. Large enough to make it immovable, but also to make it inconvenient to reach when you wanted to get inside.
The carpet muffled my hurried steps to the set of draws on the left. The first wouldn’t open. Something to hide? But I’d try the rest before I took up time busting in. I wrenched the next, expecting it locked as well, and the draw flew out, spilling its contents on the floor. “God dammit,” I hissed. The horror of what I’d done echoed through my chest.
I fell to the floor, scooping up handfuls of draw junk. Out of a short-lived habit, I flicked another glance to the right frame of my vision, then squeezed my eyes shut. Real world, Sable. Was there no clock in here anywhere? Not on the desk.
Forget the mess.
The rest opened to nothing interesting. Stepping over the mess, I yanked open every other draw, my thumping heart growing louder with each failed search. Before I could stop myself, I darted a look to the absent digital clock, no numbers counting me down, but time still disappeared.
I raced across the room to the shelving, shifting books aside as I skimmed along the rows. This was ridiculous. The top draw was the only logical place.
I crossed back to the desk. Treading on draw junk, I yanked the top draw a couple of times. Each time it caught on the lock, my frustration arced. On my knees, I searched through the mess on the floor and then the next draw down for anything that could act as a lock pick. Finding nothing, I sat back on my heels. A slither of destruction. That’s all it would take. A cry welled in my throat at the thought, as a greedy sensation filled my heart. But before I could caress the surface of my factional nature, my eyes settled on a thin seam, door sized, running down the wall adjacent to the desk.
The sniff of success gave me wings to cross the room in a nanosecond. Close up, I found a small square panel, colored white to blend with the wall.
The softest sound of fabric rubbing against fabric stilled my hand as I reached for the panel. Draw stuff all over the floor, me caught snooping, how did I explain this to Mum? I looked over my shoulder. But I didn’t find her.
Chapter 37
Resting on the corner of his desk, arms crossed over his chest, Carter looked like a school principal ready to delve out punishment. He’d closed the door behind him when he entered, shutting me in and Mum out. A captive, caged, forced to endure the dissection of his eyes, the malicious creep of his smile. “Predictable.”
One word backed with a punch, which hit me square in the gut.
How fast could I harness my factional nature? How fast could Carter harness his? If I acted too fast, I’d lose control of destruction. Mum. She was on the other side of the door. Too close. And what if the grafter wasn’t even behind this door?
“I’m waiting.”
Sweet Jesus. I was screwed.
“Your mother said you were here to apologize.”
“You’re not going to play that game?”
“Only because it seems you are.”
He slid off his desk and headed around to his chair. “I’m flattered you should care so much about my feelings.” He gazed down at the draw discarded and the mess on the floor.
Eyebrows arched, he glanced up at me. “You have been a naughty girl. I’d expect no less from Nixon’s offspring.” He waved a hand toward one of the seats on my side of the desk. “Please sit. There’s something I want to talk about.”
“I can hear it standing.”
He didn’t bother to disguise the smirk. “Suit yourself,” he said as he slid down into his seat.
Elbows on armrests, he entwined his fingers, rested them on his stomach, and leaned back into his chair. “I’m curious. What does it feel like to kill?”
So unexpected, the question slammed into me. “You’re such an asshole.” Restless energy roiled within, feeling like a wild sea. A powerful wave surged over the top. I could end him now. A nudge, an open stream and I could feed what he’d wanted from me into him. I could win.
It would be so easy. “You’re a lying cheat.” It would feel so good to let destruction free.
“Harsh words from a girl who never knew what her father was for seventeen years.”
It would end the suffering.
“You would know what it’s like, so why don’t you tell me?”
“You’re mistaking me for your father.”
It would end me.
Killing once could be an accident. Killing twice was a pattern. There would be no finish to what I began.
I closed my eyes as I sunk inward, funneling down into the deep pit now forming at the well of my soul. There was no more left of me to strip bare. I was already raw.
“You have a fair amount of innate skill. Has Jax told you that? Few would make it through level five without the necessary skill. Recruits take years to train. Level seven, now that’s impressive. I thought we’d lose you. Instead you lost someone else.”
Every moment spent with him forced me closer to who I was. But every word he spoke reminded me of who I’d become. A barb speared into my soul.
Carter swept out of his seat. “Don’t shut down, Sable, thrive.” He approached, the eagerness lengthening his strides. “You have what it takes. It’s instinct, yet more. A will of steel, uncompromising.”
“You want weapons.”
“I want soldiers. Selfless service, duty, honor, loyalty, the belief in what is right, the courage to see it through.”
“Mindless determination, soulless decisions, heartless actions.”
He pulled back, slipped his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “There is only one way to win.”
“You’re so willing to destroy so many.”
“Nixon did wrong by you. He should’ve told you the truth. Opened your eyes, then maybe you wouldn’t be so naive. You can’t bring change by playing nice.”
“And you won’
t create loyalty by ruthless control.”
“No, you create fear, which is more powerful.”
“You should’ve read our history books. They’re full of people like you who spent the rest of their lives growing insane with paranoia. You’ll only breed hatred amongst the people of your world.”
“That is not something I need be concerned about.”
I stepped back as he continued closer, then to the side when I realized he was heading for the concealed door. One press of the white panel and it opened to reveal a drinks cabinet inside.
“Talking is thirsty work. You want one?” He didn’t stop to see if I nodded, instead grabbed the scotch and poured himself a shot. Drink in hand, he returned to his desk, leaving the concealed door wide open to show how stupid I’d been. Stupid, Stupid imbecile. Did I really think I stood a chance? That I could’ve outsmarted him? If Dad had told the truth all along, I would be smarter, stronger, better able to face him, defeat him, but I would also be like him.
“Jax and Holden know what your real plan is.”
Carter downed the scotch in one gulp, then sat heavily in his seat. Once he slammed his glass down on his desk, he said, “Of course they do. But they understand the significance of Dominus. Unlike you, they know what it means to live as we do.” He sat forward. “Don’t ever think you have an ally in Jax. It’s one thing you must learn, my girl, if you are to survive in my world. You can trust no one. Do you think Jax is your friend? That he really cares for you, a Persal? That in all of this, he will stand by you?” He eased himself back. “As for Holden, I’m not worried about Nixon’s dog. He is one against many. Besides, Nixon keeps the leash tight because he knows what I will do if Holden interferes with my plans. But you’re a rogue. Someone I’ve kept an eye on. I’m afraid you’ve chosen the wrong man to betray.” His feet went up onto the desk, elbows back on the armrests, fingers entwined. “Did you think you would succeed with this ridiculous plan of yours?”
He could not have known. Which could only mean… I didn’t want to believe it. Holden would not have betrayed me, which left Jax, the only other person besides Dad and Holden I had told.
“One day you will learn to trust no one but yourself. It’s the only way to get things done. It’s the only way to survive.”
The door clicked open. A solid guy in a pinstriped suit led Ajay inside. Sweet Jesus, Ajay. My heart thumped so hard I swore it would punch out of my rib cage. He knew everything, which was why he’d brought him here. I searched the pinstriped guy for the telltale sign. Sure enough, it was there behind his right ear. Aris, easy to see with his short-cropped hair. He was from my world but had tattooed himself a loyal supporter of Aris, of Carter.
Carter lowered his feet from his desk. “Here he is. Sable and I were just having a conversation about you. Weren’t we, Sable?”
“Hey, buddy.” I threw open my arms to draw him near, meeting him halfway across the room.
“What are you doing here?”
I snagged him close for a hug, ignoring his question, and stared over the top of his head to Carter. There was so much hatred inside of me, amplified by the ever-restless desire of destruction, but the strength that gave was not enough to overcome my emptiness. My glare would’ve been hateful if I’d not felt cored out and defeated by deceit.
“Now all we need is the mother and it’s one happy family. If you come here, Ajay, I may have something for you.”
He unlocked the top draw with a key from his pocket and motioned for Ajay to come and look inside. I kept my hand on Ajay’s shoulder and squeezed it tight when he went to move.
“Ouch.” Ajay yanked his shoulder from under my hold.
“You don’t need anything from Carter, Ajay.”
“Why not?” He was already walking away as he asked the question.
A pressure built within my head, pushed against my rib cage and down along my arms. I couldn’t, not now, not with Ajay here. If I released destruction, I could lose everything. Carter would win. He could shift; Ajay couldn’t.
Carter watched me while Ajay came around to his side of his desk. The eyes of the shark were back, the ultimate predator. They glistened with triumph, gloating over my defeat.
“Oh, cool.” Ajay drew the last word out and all but dived into the draw to retrieve whatever Carter hid in there.
My heart exploded in my chest when Ajay pulled out what looked like a gun—a fat, bulky gun. Carter took it gently from Ajay’s hand and placed it on the desk.
“I believe, Sable, you were looking for this.”
The grafter. I stared at it like it was the holy grail while swallowing my heart back down.
“What is it?” Ajay’s enthusiasm made Carter laugh.
“It’s not a toy, I’m afraid. It’s a valuable piece of equipment. Priceless beyond measure. You could say it’s the secret weapon the bad guys are after. That’s why it’s so important we keep it safe.” He winked at me.
Standing beside Carter, eyes saucered as he stared at the grafter, Ajay looked innocent, vulnerable, blackmail for my good behavior, an example of my failure. It was too much. My anger burned a hole through my heart right down to my stomach. The acid then poured out to liquefy my muscles; I couldn’t move.
I shredded Carter with my stare while my mind zinged about, wildly thinking up plans. No tri-blade at my belt, destruction was my only weapon, but it was too risky with Ajay in the room and the way I felt. Death for Carter was too good. Please don’t let it be because of me. I had a kill quota of one in real life. I’d trade my soul for success if I reached two.
If I could shift, I would grab Ajay and launch for the grafter, but that left Mum behind. Holden waited down below, which didn’t help because I had no way of alerting him that Carter wouldn’t see.
“Why is Ajay here?”
“Ajay’s here for instructional purposes.” Carter ruffled his hair. My hand itched to slap his away. Ajay’s nose wrinkled but he kept still.
“Is this the surprise you were talking about?” Ajay said, once Carter stopped messing with his hair.
I frowned at him, meaning shut up, but I doubted he got the message. I wanted him over here with me. “No. That was something else. Where’s Mum?” I said to Carter.
“Running an errand for me. She won’t be long, but it’s not necessary for her to be here. I think we can come to an understanding without involving your mother.” He quirked an eyebrow as if that added extra weight to his threat. “Close to eighteen years I’ve been here, in between reinforcing my presence in my own world, of course. That’s how long it’s taken for me to reach this far. In the meantime, I’ve built a successful empire. This world has been good to me. But I have never lost sight of my goal. It means too much.” He rose from his seat and came around to lean back on the front of his desk. “Did you really think I would let anyone prevent me from succeeding? I will forgive your little stunt because of your naivety. You cannot understand the importance of what I hope to achieve.”
“The only people who will benefit from this are Aris.”
“You say that because you do not know the laws of our world, what the senate have done to the people.”
I looked to Ajay when Carter said world. At least he might think Carter was nuts.
No one, no matter how young, would miss the tension brewing in the room. “Ajay, come here.” I waved him over because the tension was strumming my nerves. I needed Ajay near me.
“When’s Mum coming?”
Carter looked over his shoulder. “Soon, my little buddy.”
“You’ve proved your point. It’s time he left.”
In my periphery, the pinstriped guy flexed. I glanced over to see him position himself in front of the door, a show of force. Carter wanted Ajay to stay.
“I’m sure Ajay would like to hear the parts of the conversation that involve him.”
“You’ve got nothing to say that’s worth him hearing.”
“On the contrary─”
We all glanced toward the
door as it opened, bumping Carter’s man aside. I expected Mum, or someone else from the building. Instead my eyes met Jax.
My emotions jumbled up into pieces. A burst of relief, but someone had betrayed my plans to Carter. Please let it not be Jax, but there was no one else. I wanted to have hope, but I couldn’t keep lying to myself. Had his vulnerability on the rooftop the other night been a lie?
“Jax. What a pleasant surprise, and what perfect timing.”
Ajay shifted his eyes from Jax to me to Carter, no doubt trying to connect the dots.
Jax sauntered over. He flicked a glance at the grafter, then at Carter; he’d yet to look at me. Could it be guilt kept his eyes from meeting mine?
“I was unaware of any meetings.” Was this him playing a game for my benefit? If he’d orchestrated the deceit, why play around like this?
“An impromptu one. But I’m glad you’ve arrived. There are a few issues I wish to clear up.”
The way Carter spoke, he didn’t sound like he was expecting Jax either. I glared at Jax, hoping the intensity would travel the distance to him and irritate him enough to look my way. Perhaps naïve, but I believed if I could look in his eyes, I would know if he was the one who betrayed me. But if not him, who else? Elva had been around when I’d disappeared upstairs to the roof. Maybe she’d overheard.
Jax refused to meet my glare; instead he sat in the chair opposite Carter and slouched back like a rebellious child. He pulled some coins from his pocket. “Ajay, there’s a vending machine on the ground floor. Perhaps you could get me something to drink.”
He flipped Ajay a coin.
“Ajay doesn’t need to go that far. I’ve got plenty here. Besides, I think it best he’s involved in the conversation. I see no point in keeping Dominus a secret any more. We’re all one big family.”
“What’s Dominus?” Ajay asked with keen interest.
“It’s nothing. Something for adults.” My legs twitched to move.
I glanced at Jax. He tapped his steepled fingers on his chin, reminding me of a lethal predator biding its time before it struck. Seeing him galvanized the fight within me. I wanted to scratch out Carter’s eyes, see if he retained his smug smile.
