A Penny's Worth (The Cephas Bourdon Series) (34 page)

“As are you,” Dominic responded. I opened my eyes and instantly met Dominic's. The icy blackness there made me shiver and he grinned once more. He rubbed his cheek longingly against mine, taking in a breath of my hair. His cheek wasn't rough like
Cephas’
: it was freshly shaven. I shuddered and then felt his smirk against my skin.

“But I can see why,” Dominic continued. “This girl is quite lovely
. I
t's such a tragedy she's going to be spoiled for you.” His touch burned worse than the electric shock. Wherever he left his mark, it lingered, searing into my skin.

“Dominic,” Cephas mumbled. His voice was hopeless, and I began trembling violently. “Dominic, you don't have to do this.”

“You're right
—
I don't. But oh, how I want to,” Dominic whispered. I felt his hand move along my waist, fondling near the top of my jeans. His thumb touched the bare skin beneath my shirt. A tear slipped silently down my cheek and I tried to relax. I couldn't try to escape
—
a battery was attached to my fingers. Cephas couldn't save me without giving up his plan. There was nothing I could do, and Cephas had a more important thing to accomplish. Looking at him out of the corner of my eye, I saw the agony on his face. Neither worry nor anger frequented his brow; rather, it was the expression of decision. The excruciating torment of choosing between love and the greater good overcame his usually confident face. I knew by now he loved me, but it wouldn't be enough. It was me or the world
—
he had to choose, and I knew how it all would end.

“Dominic, stop,” Cephas ordered, lowering his gun. His voice wasn't sad anymore, but authoritative. Dominic's eyes flashed open and narrowed
. H
e smiled in victory.

“I'll transfer the money
—
alright?” Cephas promised.

“But the funds didn't transfer, and Thackar locked me out of the system.” Dominic's voice feigned ignorance and helplessness
.
I shook my head in disgust.

“I'll get you back in
. J
ust step away from Emmaline.”

“Just one more question,” Dominic continued. I saw his black eyes one more time before his face bowed toward me, moving his lips gently over mine. I closed my eyes again, trying to pretend I was somewhere else. I was back at the museum, and Cephas had never left. I imagined I was dancing
—
dancing with Cephas. We spun around and around and around. The incandescent lights illuminated the tall ceilings, and tall pillars encircled the dance floor. We laughed and joked as we danced to the live orchestra. Then the music slowed and Cephas pulled me close. I could smell his perfect scent, the scent you barely knew was there unless you were so very close to him. I leaned my head against his shoulder and his fingers moved gently along my back.

“Where did Emmaline fit into all of this?”

“Huh?” I muttered. I stopped dancing. My vision met a bright, fluorescent light and I remembered where I was. I shuddered at Dominic's close proximity. He licked his lips.

“Was my kiss that tantalizing, dear?” he whispered, moving his hand down my cheek and along the nape of my neck. I turned my head away.

“She didn't!” Cephas yelled, grabbing Dominic's attention.

“Temper, temper,” Dominic conceded, standing to take a step away from me.
Cephas’
gun was drawn again and he looked ready to shoot.

“She wasn't supposed to be in that room. I thought she was safest close to me, but I was wrong. You found her, and I had to deal with it.” He looked over at me. “I'm sorry, Em,” he whispered. His squinted eyes began to swirl with a turquoise color, glazing over with water.

“Yes, apologize, Cephas. But what are you sorry for, exactly? Are you sorry Em is being tortured for your insufficient planning? Or are you sorry that your plan is ruined?”

“Both,” Cephas breathed, taking another step toward us. “Move away from her now or I swear I'll shoot.” His teeth were grit and he pulled back the hammer on his gun. A low chuckle developed in Dominic's throat, gaining strength until he managed to speak through his laugh.

“You? Shoot me? You haven't got the nerve.” Stooping to pick up the battery, Dominic stood upright and yanked me by the arm.

A swift breeze brushed suddenly past the lines on my skin where Dominic's fingers had been. My eyes jolted upward as I took in the scene. A shot fired and Dominic grunted in pain as he squeezed his leg. Cephas cocked the gun again and I let out a short scream.

"Cephas, no!" I shouted impulsively. He glanced momentarily in my direction, then returned his gaze to meet Dominic's.

"Cephas, you need him! If he's dead, we have no access to the machine!"

"I don't care about that anymore," Cephas stated bitterly, shoving the cold, steel barrel against Dominic's head.

"Cephas, please!" I began. "Killing Dominic won't solve anything! This is bigger than him!"

"I think you should listen to your bonnie lass, boy," Dominic muttered slyly, slowly pushing himself up from the solid carpet. Placing one foot firmly on the ground, he stood halfway, all the while keeping one eye on Cephas, one eye on me.
Cephas’
anger softened, though his aim didn't
.
I could almost see his brain working as he realized the severity of such a rash decision. He allowed Dominic to move.

"It would seem you have quite the dilemma," Dominic coaxed, standing fully upright in front of Cephas
. H
e watched the gun that followed him as he stood. He winced, grabbing his leg with each movement. "But don't worry, I’ll make the decision for you." Dominic walked toward me, the familiar click of his shoes quickly approaching.

“I said stay away from Emmaline!” Cephas ordered, following Dominic's step with his gun.

Dominic ignored him and took a step toward me
. H
e pulled the chair carelessly across the room and shoved me into it, dropping the battery on the ground beside me.

“Dominic, I said
—
”

“I heard you,” Dominic responded in annoyance. “Now, if you wouldn't mind, we have some business to take care of.” Dominic gestured toward the machine. Cephas timidly lowered his weapon and walked carefully over to the desk to join Dominic. Dominic motioned gallantly toward the seat.

“The sooner you fix this, the sooner it will all be over,” Dominic offered. Cephas glared and sat in the oversized chair behind the desk. He moved his hands swiftly to the keys and began typing. Dominic's hand rested instantly on
Cephas’
shoulder.

“W
h
o
a
, w
h
o
a
, w
h
o
a
,” Dominic stopped him. “Let's lay down some rules first.” Cephas shoved himself away from the desk and spun to look up at Dominic. He raised his eyebrows in anticipation of Dominic's monologue, folding his arms in frustration.

“First, my people need this money within the next five minutes or this entire scheme is pointless.”

“Then why are you still talking?” Cephas asked bitterly. Dominic smirked.

“Second, I'll not be monitoring you, but rather your precious little angel over here. If you don't transfer the money to its proper destination, there will be nothing left of her for you.” He smirked his evil grin and Cephas pulled himself back to the desk, taking a deep breath before replacing his fingers on the keyboard.

I gasped in surprise as Dominic yanked me out of my chair.

“Wh
—
what are you doing?” I whispered. He pulled my body close to his.

“Making sure your little boyfriend does as he's told.” Dominic rubbed his cheek against mine and inhaled. I pulled my face back from his and he laughed.

“How's the transfer coming, Cephas?” Dominic asked in a raised voice.

“It would be going faster if you'd leave the girl alone
.
I'd be a lot less distracted,” Cephas said through gritted teeth.

“Not a chance,” Dominic laughed, pulling me against his body. I turned my face away from his again, unwilling to let his mouth capture mine ever again. I felt his hands go around my waist as the cold remote that he held grazed my skin. He could do with me as he pleased. After Cephas transferred the money, Dominic would kill me, even if he kept Cephas for his own uses. I looked over at Cephas. He glanced at me for half of a second, his fingers typing wildly on the computer. He winked at me. He winked . . . did he have a plan?

“Dominic, it's nearly done,” Cephas interrupted.

“How near?” Dominic asked, stroking his hands through my hair.

“I need only your password,” Cephas replied in spurious gallantry. Dominic shoved away from me, though he kept a hold on my arm.

Cephas pushed his chair away from the desk and stood, gesturing toward the computer screen. Dominic stooped to pick up the battery and thrust it into my hands. My head flung to the side as he dragged me over to the desk. He sat assertively in the chair and pulled me down onto his lap.

“Why don't you sit here, dear. You must be sick of standing,” he whispered into my ear, smiling cunningly. I rolled my eyes. His left hand rested on my leg, near my upper thigh. I scowled in disgust.

“So I just push enter?” Dominic asked timidly.

“That's right,” Cephas replied casually. He reached to his side and pulled out a gun, aiming it before Dominic realized what was going on. “And I know you won't let us live after you have your money, so why don't you hand over Emmaline.”

“I'm afraid I can't do that.”

“Then I'm afraid you'll die.”

“Have you forgotten your little girlfriend is still attached to a battery?”

“Have you forgotten I still have a gun to your head?”

“Stop!” I yelled suddenly. Both men turned their attention to me and my eyes widened. I didn't know what I was going to say
. T
heir arguing was hurting my throbbing head so I had yelled. I looked to Cephas, who raised his eyebrows in surprise at my sudden outburst. His focus was gone. Dominic pushed the 'enter' key and the computer screen flashed. Dominic pushed me out of his lap and stood, turning around to slam me against the wall. Pulling a gun from his side, he laid a bullet into
Cephas’
stomach. Cephas cried out in pain, crumpling on the ground. Cherry red blood soaked his white, button
-
up shirt. I screamed out in horror as Cephas attempted to lift himself from the ground
—
no success. He fell onto his back. Heavy breathing filled the stale air.

“You'd better hope the money goes to the right place or your little girlfriend is going to be a vegetable,” Dominic hissed, seething with anger. His face was inches from mine and I could feel his agitated breath on my face. Cephas moaned on the floor, unable to move.

“My name is Emmaline,” I hissed back. I glanced to the computer screen. A task bar popped up on the screen, notifying the user that the transfer was completed. Dominic held up a phone and pushed a button, scanning the contents of the screen. He shook his head in disgust and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

“Bad choice, Cephas,” Dominic muttered. He slammed his body against mine.

“I'd let you give your girlfriend one last kiss, but I think I'd rather do it,” he said, lowering his head toward mine. I spat angrily in his face and he laughed, laying a soft kiss on my neck. He kissed me behind my ear and lingered a moment.

“After I finish enjoying my spoils, you're going to die, and Cephas is going to agonize over you . . . until I tell him that you didn't care one ounce for him,” he whispered into my ear.

“That's not true,” I whispered in response, cringing as his hands ran the length of my side.

“What's not true?” Cephas demanded, attempting to pull his body toward us.

“Nothing,” Dominic said, dismissing the question. I took a deep breath. Dominic was going to kill me, but I couldn't die with Cephas thinking everything he did was in vain.

All at once silence surrounded my ears. I couldn’t hear
Cephas’
dull moaning from the floor, nor Dominic’s faint sadistic laugh near my ear. Burying my thoughts in the deepest cavern of my brain, I felt my heart pounding through my head.

Boom.

Boom, boom.

I listened to the pounding and allowed the movement to vibrate in and out of my thoughts.

Usually my heart pounded out of fear, and I consequently burst into tears.

But I didn’t.

Cephas had to know
—
he had to! I didn’t even care that I was going to die, or that I was going to feel pain. I thought of the unforgettable torture my body had endured when Dominic shocked me into compliance and mortified Cephas into hopelessness.

This couldn’t be hopeless.

Cephas couldn’t fail
—
the world would fail altogether if not for people like Cephas who would give up even love to save it.