Carnevale and Subterfuge (12 page)

“But—”

Diego smiled. “We have a security breach going on. Tell me.” He moved closer to Rena, keeping an eye on Drogan’s reaction. His instincts were on full alert. His reasoning told him that a Chameleon Cyborg couldn’t replicate a sense of loyalty, duty, or deep attraction. Right now, all those emotions were in play. His gut told him that this was a woman he could trust. As he expected, Drogan frowned. The displeasure lasted for a second before it was replaced by an unemotional mask. “How well you do you know the crew?”

“Ambassador—”

“Very well. I know everything about everyone.” She glared at Drogan, which made Diego smile. “Excellent. You can help us.”

“Ambassador—”

Diego ignored him. “We need to figure out who among the crew could be a Chameleon Cyborg. Ideas?”

He gestured to a visitor’s chair. “Well,” Rena started. “That’s a hard question. What would their mission be?”

“That’s a need to know—”

“To kill me.” Diego glanced at Drogan, whose face had turned an interesting shade of red.

“The person should pose as a lower-level officer, someone nondescript, maybe even new to the crew.” Rena relaxed and looked between him and Drogan.

“They’ve done that. Failed.”

“All right, so now they’ll pose as a known member of the crew, someone who everyone knows. Jason Mercy, for example. He has a weakness—women.”

“So, we put security on him. Who else?”

Rena’s nose crinkled as she thought. A glance at Drogan showed he was enthralled with the woman sitting across from him. In that moment, Diego wanted to be with Anarrae, hold her, make sure she was all right. Bile rose up, almost choking him at the thought of Ana injured and vulnerable. It took a great deal of effort to regain control. Rena began to rattle off a list of crewmembers. Drogan got to work putting together a list.

Once she was done, Diego asked, “And after that, who would you impersonate? We need a list of all possible.”

“I’d go with someone close to the ambassador. It’s the last thing I’d do. If that fails, I’d impersonate the captain.”

Diego thought it all over. She made several good points. He nodded. “OK, we’re going to have to approach this differently. For one thing, that’s too long a list and too many possibilities.”

Diego slumped in his seat. “There has to be a way to keep eyes on all of them without causing suspicion. The blood screening will take time. For all the technological advancements, we haven’t made a lot on the medical front.”

Drogan sighed and tilted his head up to the ceiling. “What would you do when you get stuck?”

“I don’t get stuck. There’s just too much going on. Anarrae, my role, all these people…you have so many mines. One wrong move and it all goes to hell.”

“Why are you so interested in Ana?” This from Rena.

“I think I love her.” He snapped his mouth shut and swore. Diego sat up and leaned forward. He ran his hands through his hair and then dragged his palm over his face. Exhaustion tugged at his shoulder and he shook his head. A glance up at Drogan showed no surprise.

“I figured that’s why you stayed with her for all that time,” the captain said. “Not to mention how pissed you were when you found out she had been attacked, but you still have to keep your distance.”

Diego’s hands clenched in restrained anger. He didn’t want to keep his distance. Every fiber of his being demanded that he see her, make sure she was physically fine before he found the person who hurt her.

Drogan continued. “It’s been a long night. Tigress should have the extra security dispersed around the ship. I’ll have one of my most trusted tech guys looking over the AI mainframe as well as the ship’s system. I can assure it can’t be infiltrated. Other than that, go back to your quarters, deal with your entourage, and let me figure things out.” Drogan slid a glance over to Rena.

“Fine. Have fun.” Diego rose and left Drogan’s office, not even taking in the bridge of the ship. He was determined to check on Ana.

Chapter Nine

Ana tossed and turned. Her head throbbed and her arm tingled. She opened her eyes and groaned. When she tried to move her arm it just continued to lie there on the mattress. A glance around reassured her she was in her quarters, which was a relief. With great care, she sat up and slid off the bed. It was a chore making her way to the bathroom. She kept wavering to and fro, crashing into a wall twice.

Once she was in the bathroom, she stripped her clothes off and stepped into the shower stall. Warm water trailed over her skin. She groaned in pleasure. It felt as if a hundred pounds of grime was just melting off of her. After a few minutes she reached out and found the faucets for the warming body wash.

The heated jell slipped into her palm, and she started to rub her hands over her body and moaned aloud. Azure eyes flashed in her mind. They darkened. Twin blue fires burned into her. “Dodger,” she whispered.

Ana wanted him to be there with her. She wanted his hands on her body helping her wash off the imagined dirt of travel and sickness. The ghost of his hands traveled over her stomach. Her skin tingled with yearning.

In her mind, she felt his fingers slipping between her thighs. She could feel the calluses brushing against her sensitive skin with teasing touches. A ripple of pleasure moved up her spine. Fire slid into her veins as the arousal grew. She lifted her chin and allowed the water to pelt her face.

“Dodger.” His name slipped out in a husky whisper. Her sex filled with wet heat as she yearned for his cock moving inside of her. She could feel his thick shaft rubbing against her sensitive vaginal walls. Her stomach clenched as the pressure increased. Her fingers slipped into her tight, wet heat. She pumped them slowly. Her vaginal muscles rippled as the orgasm built.

Ana pressed her palm against her clit, rocking back and forth. “Dodger.” She reached up and tweaked a nipple. Sparks of heat shot straight to her core. In her mind, he pushed her against the wall, fucking her harder. His hand squeezed her hips as he took her higher. She cursed the mask that obscured his features. He dipped his head and took her lips in a hard, biting kiss while he rocked into her, fucking her faster. Small cries fell from her lips as she was pushed closer to the edge.

“Please,” she begged. Ana didn’t just want to come. She needed to come. But she also needed Dodger there with her. Just the thought of him being with her, taking her, his body pressed against hers, made the desire spiral higher. His voice rolled around her head: “
You’re safe now,
Tesoro,
always. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

Just hearing those words, the first tremors of climax shuddered through her body. Her vaginal walls rippled around her fingers before clamping down. With each wave, it grew bigger and bigger until she couldn’t hold it off. Ana cried out. “Dodger!”

Her juices slipped over her hand and joined the warm water. Breathing hard, she sagged against the wall and sighed. “I need you, Dodger.”

* * *

Diego’s mind tossed and turned the problem over and over again. It all came down to Anarrae. Something about the situation wasn’t right.

He entered his quarters to find Roberto pacing.

“Where have you been? I’ve been worried.” Roberto rushed up to him but Diego moved out of his reach.

“Whoa, geez, are you Mama now? I was talking with Drogan and Tigress about things. Something isn’t right, bro, and I don’t know what it is. Something feels
off
.” Diego sidestepped his brother and sat in a nearby chair.

“What?” Roberto sat across from him.

“I’m not sure. But it all leads to Ana.”

“Do you think she’s not who she says she is? Maybe the attack was planned?”

Diego rose and shook his head. He stroked his chin. “No, no, she’s too…
ingenuo
. That’s not it. It’s something else.” He let out a growl of frustration and raked his fingers through his hair. “This is driving me crazy. I need to go for a walk.”

Diego grabbed his AI wrist com and pushed a few buttons before hooking it into his cerebral interface on the back of his neck. A gentle buzzing sound hummed in his brain. “Good evening, Ambassador,” whispered a voice in his mind.

Diego’s lips curled into a smile. His AI was getting in on the act. “Cut the crap. It’s just us. You’re hooked into my interface.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I thought I was going to have to be polite with you. What’s up?”

“I need hologlamour. And for you to hack into the system to add an Ensign Castilleja into the records. Just transferred in from the Battle Hawk.” Diego waited for the protest.

“Done.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What, no admonishments or whining?”

“Nope, none. Soon I’ll get my own body, right? After this job is over, a new top-of-the-line body.” The buzzing increased and Diego winced.

“Yes, yes, body. Top of the line. Jesus.” Diego turned to his brother. “I’m going for a walk. How does the hologlamour look?”

“Is your hair supposed to be bright blue? Jesus, your eyes are huge!” Roberto recoiled, horror on his face.

Diego chuckled. “I’m from the planet Helantis Five, so of course my hair is this color and as for the eyes—creative license.”

Roberto frowned. “Couldn’t change your features?”

Diego shook his head. “Too painful. My body is still recovering from the last time. Besides, it puts too much of a strain on me.” His muscles and tendons continued to pop as heat flared and then died down to a gentle pulse.

“Fine, just be careful.” Roberto shook his head.

“I always am.” Diego left the suite of rooms. He had no particular place in mind to go. There was no way he’d go see Anarrae. Security was too high, and to see her would only make him want to stay with her and make sure she was safe. So he wandered.

As he took in the dark gray hallways, Diego suppressed a shudder. He loathed being on ships of any kind. Too claustrophobic. Not enough room to breathe, to stretch, to live. The walls were too close, the thin lights up on the walls too dim, and the soft thud of carpet too padded for his ears. He yearned for the click-clack of boots hitting cobblestone. Goose bumps rose on his skin. Sweat beaded his brow and upper lip. A single droplet traced a path along his spine. He resisted the urge to reach around and bat it away. The air was too heavy and sterile. Diego felt paranoia sifting through his brain, raising fears about his inability to escape.

“Your heart rate is elevated and your brain waves are all over the place,” said his AI’s gentle, feminine voice. “Would you like me to send a relaxer into your system?”

Diego shook his head and combed his fingers through his hair. “No, I’m fine. Just need to focus and relax. I want you to access Anarrae’s files again, especially in connection to her vacation on Il Doge and the sexual guide she hired. There has to be something I missed.”

Diego stopped short as a small, glossy black ball floated toward him. A security probe. He’d seen the like in only the most guarded of palaces and places of government.

“State your name and rank, please.” The robot’s dull, unemotional voice came through a hidden speaker.

The security probe’s high, tinny voice grated on Diego’s nerves. He gnashed his teeth with each word. With a deep breath, he replied. “Ragnor Castilleja, Ensign.”

The probe fell silent, floating in midair. Diego smiled as he studied the smooth round ball, about the size of his chest, with long, spindly arms and two long thin bars for fingers.

“Identity confirmed. Thank you.” The probe remained in place.

Diego sidestepped the object and continued on his way. When he arrived at the lifts he glanced behind his shoulder to see the single red eye staring at him before it turned and floated along the hallway.

“Computer, what floor is Anarrae on?” He still didn’t know the whole layout of the ship.

“Third floor, room 3-B. I thought you weren’t going to see her?” There was curiosity in the AI’s voice.

“I have questions only she can answer. Switch my identity to a member of the ambassador’s entourage, official security.” Diego ordered.

“Understood. Changed. Don’t you think they’ll get suspicious with all the changes?” This time his AI was worried.

Diego tilted his head to the side and pushed the lift call button. “They could but I’d just fess up to it. I need to figure this all out. This is driving me crazy.”

The lift arrived and Diego stepped in. He pushed the number three and the doors closed with a whoosh. The lights flickered as the cab moved. His mind continued to turn over the problem until he found a tangle.

“Fucking hell.” He punched the metallic wall. “I’m so stupid. Damn it to hell.”

Everything became clear to him in one moment. As soon as the doors opened he dashed down the hall, keeping an eye on the numbers. He skidded to a stop at 3-B. Guards stood on the other side of the hallway. Diego introduced himself.

“My name is Ragnor Castilleja. I’m with the ambassador’s entourage. I need to speak with Anarrae Lavender. It’s urgent. Call Chief Tigress if you need to, but I’m going to talk to Ms. Lavender.” With that, he turned to the door and pressed the intercom. “Ms. Lavender, I’m with the ambassador’s entourage. I need to speak with you. It’s urgent.”

The doors swished open and he swore. Ana’s hair was tousled, her body wrapped in a silky black robe that stopped mid-thigh. He had to keep himself from staring. He swallowed hard as he watched her shift from one foot to the other. The outline of her nipples stood out clearly against the material. His body tightened and heated as his cock hardened to half-mast. He licked his lips and opened his mouth. For a moment all thought of the current situation faded away as the need for sex took its place.

“Say something stupid
.” the AI said.

Diego gave himself a mental shake and tried to focus. “Ms. Lavender, I have a few questions that I need to ask you pertaining to your visit to Il Doge and Zero Branco.”

She blinked and fear filled her large brown eyes. Diego wanted to reach out, hold her, and assure her that it was going to be OK. Instead, he waited for her to invite him in. Ana stepped aside.