Rebel Heart (37 page)

Tori didn't move. Nessa stepped forward to help.

Tori walked to the window. A southerly breeze floated in through it, and she could feel the tension radiating from the City and the forests. The people were still afraid. Disease was still a threat. "I will fight him, Nessa. I must have my work. I have no idea what he'll do. If he tries to keep me from my research then..."

"Tori, it will be all right. Truly it will. Think about it for a minute. Our father handpicked him. He would not have shackled you to some chauvinistic bore. Cameron cannot be such a bad man, and I've heard that he is brilliant and devoted to his work."

"I've heard the same things. He moved his laboratory to the hills so he could search out my white flower."

The white flower was no longer the issue. The genetic transplant surgery was. She had stumbled across the information on her computer screen. She had assumed Cameron would stay in the mountains until he discovered what she already knew. Even in that he surprised her, because he didn't stay there. Within days of his arrival in the mountains, he'd assumed the identity of The Phantom and rescued her from the hands of Morray.

She whirled from the window and swiftly strode to the bookshelves, to the secret gate, and started to pull books from the shelves with a fury. Morray, Sheridan, The Phantom--Savage! They were all the same. She wanted nothing to do with any of them. She wanted to be left alone with her work.

But Savage would not allow her to be alone.

No, no, no, there had to be a way out of this mess.

Panting from the exertion, she slumped against the wall, her eyes closed. For a moment, she didn't move then she opened her eyes. Nessa was staring at her, face pale as death and even from Tori's position on the floor she could see the trembling of her legs.

"I'm sorry, Nessa. I didn't mean to frighten you. It's just that I don't know what to do. I promised him and I'm so afraid."

"Tori." Nessa stepped forward, holding her hand out to her sister. Tori grasped them and Nessa helped her stand. Then Nessa pulled her into her arms. When Tori pushed away, she saw that Nessa was sobbing quietly, tears filling her eyes. "You are always so strong, fearless. You have so much courage. I wish I knew the right things to say--"

"You're wonderful," Tori replied warmly, reaching up to brush the tears from Nessa cheeks. "And I'm sorry I put you through this. I didn't mean to..." She broke off then stared at Nessa. She reached quickly for her robe and wrapped it around herself as she stepped toward the bookshelves once again. "I'll find it...I just don't remember..."

She pulled down more books, this time more carefully searching behind them and through them.

Nessa gasped. "What on earth?"

"I intend to have the upper hand in this marriage. I will find a way to come and go as I please." Tori said, and then she paused. Yes! She pulled out a flat disc. After looking at it for a second, she reverently slipped it back into its holder then into the book.

This must not be discovered. She turned to Nessa then and said softly, "This is the original copy. The information I found in the archives. Besides the pin with my own calculations, this is the only existing copy."

"Then you will keep this from him?" Nessa questioned.

Tori didn't need to reply. She was carefully putting all the books back, dusting the shelves as she went. It had taken hours of hard work to make the pins that Savage had, but she could do it again. Her memory would serve her well. It would not take as long this time.

She stepped back, surveying her handiwork. Perfect. No one would ever guess she hid such important work in the old volume of Romeo and Juliet.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Nessa said, her voice calm and steady.

Tori turned to her, very determined. "Oh, Nessa, I do know what I'm doing. I know exactly what this means. I know just how angry he'll be if he finds out. But I have to do this. I have to know my work is safe and that I'll have access to it."

"I understand," Nessa said. "I think we'd best get ready for the wedding."

Tori hurried to her sister, holding Nessa's hands in her own. "You don't have to be part of this. If we're discovered, I'll tell him you didn't know."

"I'm not afraid. We can keep this from him." She smiled now. "Sit down and I'll fix your hair."

Tori sat down, but then she looked into the mirror and saw behind her the reflection of her twin. Nessa had changed so very much in the last few years, she hardly recognized her. Tori's hands froze for a moment. She remembered her vows to Nessa and her vows to Savage. She was not very good at keeping them no matter how hard she tried. She remembered how comforting it felt when The Phantom's hands had touched her, and she knew she'd have no trouble coming to Savage willingly.

"How will we hide the data from him? Once you begin working with it, it will be on the computer system and will be almost impossible to keep it secret. We have to hide it in plain sight. The man isn't stupid, Tori."

"I trust you--you're a genius."

"You exaggerate, and I've heard tell that Dr. Savage is a genius."

"So he's a genius now, is he?" she interrupted irritably, throwing her brush down on the dressing table. "Trust me, he's only a barbarian."

"A handsome one, Tori. You must take care."

"And I will," Tori said flatly. "I'll have his protection. But you better than anyone knows that I never wanted to marry."

"You are in love with him," Nessa accused.

"Never!" Tori proclaimed a bit too vehemently, not wanting to voice the words.

Nessa smiled. She was staring at her sister then, waiting as if she might say more.

"I don't have time for this," Tori said sternly. Then she gave Nessa a fierce hug. "My bridegroom awaits, and what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

"Oh, Tori," Nessa said, her eyes worried. "It might all come back to haunt you. Deceit never does any good. We were supposed to have learned that lesson a long time ago."

"What lesson is that?" Savage's deep masculine voice rose on the intercom. "Deceit?"

"Damn..."

Nessa swiftly leapt to the computer, flipping off the intercom. "Damn..." Nessa echoed.

Tori closed her eyes and said a silent prayer. "What do you suppose he heard?"

"Everything--nothing. But you can be sure he's curious and he's going to make sure he finds out why the intercom suddenly went dead."

"He will think it was an electronic failure."

"I doubt that."

"He'll believe it. It's a reasonable enough explanation."

"I suppose you're right," Tori agreed. The silence that followed was all that was needed. They both understood. They understood because Cameron Savage should not have been able to tap into the top-level security unannounced, and somehow he had.

Cameron

"Electronic failure. Deceit. Betrayal. What next?" Cameron muttered from his post at the main computer terminal. He hadn't meant to spy on them. He'd meant only to find out how much longer it would take her to get ready. The minister was pacing and looking at his watch every other second. Cameron had thought it expedient to hurry the wedding along. But when he'd heard the first few words through the intercom, he'd been reminded of Aisling's prophecy. He couldn't help himself. He listened, yet like a fool, he'd declared himself before he learned anything.

Cameron stood. He paused a moment then rubbed his aching back before walking to the door of the visitor center then back to the computer. The box was not large nor was it exceptional in any way, yet he knew that within it there was a wealth of information just waiting to be unleashed on the unsuspecting world. As if entranced by the knowledge within, he reverently opened it. Computer pins seemed to stare back at him and he thought that perhaps they were taunting him.

There were five pins all together. He picked out the first one, pulling it from its case. Testing it as he would a fine wine, he held it to the light then turned it over in his hands, brought it to his nose as if smelling the bouquet. He laughed at his own curiosity while he slipped it into the computer.

The screen froze, but Cameron was not fooled into thinking the pin was corrupted. So she rigged the computer too. The little devil knew I was going to check out the pins.

"She booby-trapped the system," he said aloud, restating his thoughts. Cameron crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair, a smug look on his face. He hadn't expected this, but then it didn't surprise him either. The question now was how long should he wait for Tori to appear. After several long seconds of staring at a blank screen, he rose and left the computer.

So be it. This was war. She might win a few battles, but in a day, he determined, perhaps less, he would have access to the pins in her little box.

Still, he was impressed that Tori knew enough about computers to block access. He suspected that either there was a key combination that had to be pressed before he inserted a pin, or else the pin had to be loaded with a separate program to keep it from freezing the computer. And he had no doubt his attempt at loading the pin had already alerted her. Clever. He'd had no idea that Victoria DeMontville knew anything about computers.

And then it occurred to him. Nessa did. He nodded, smiling once more. This place was an incredible prize. He had been lucky to acquire it. The tower laboratory would facilitate his own research perhaps better than his lab in the mountains.

Yes, he had given up the mountains, the haunting sounds, the fresh air, the freedom of the village for this, but perhaps it had not been such a bad trade. With his own computer system and now this one waiting to be tapped into, he had vast and extensive information at his fingertips. Between the two libraries, he would have the knowledge and the power he needed to keep Sheridan in check and Morray from ferreting out the cure. He had no doubts Sheridan meant to keep any newly discovered serums for his own use.

All he had to do was keep Victoria under control and true to her promise.

The thought perturbed him once more. It was time. He had been admiring his new holdings long enough. Now he needed to go secure them.

Despite himself, despite his absolute resolve to remember his loyalty to the cause and to his own people and the power he would gain from this marriage, he felt the tempest of emotion flare into his heart--and soul--once again.

"I do not want to change you, lady!" he whispered aloud through clenched teeth.

Perhaps that was not the truth. She'd been willing to barter herself to escape him, even her innocence as well as her honor. He'd been surprised she still pretended to hold on to her virtue, yet she'd so easily cast it aside. Cast it away, knowing full well that nothing would come of the union except maybe a child.

She might well betray him again. If it suited her purpose, she might bargain herself to any lost soul if she would gain by it. Damn!

She'd had ample time in her life to cast her virtue aside and she hadn't done it. She had wanted The Phantom. Perhaps she would learn to crave The Phantom's alter ego--it almost amused him to think of himself that way--to hunger for him in the night, just as she had The Phantom. She was so very passionate about her work and the people she loved, Nessa and Jonathan. She was dedicated to them, determined, and had so much courage. He admired her courage.

She was finding a way into his heart. Oh, yes, she was loyal, she was beautiful, she could fight like a she bear defending her cubs. She was far more than he expected.

Until her banishment, she'd had everything her way. Her father had spoiled her and the nuns had done the same thing. She had a way about her, a way of winding even the staunchest opponent around her little finger. He would not allow that to happen to him. There were things she would just have to learn, and if she insisted on doing it the hard way, he'd try to find a way ease the path she trod.

And that would inevitably put them close together, very close, he determined. Even when he longed to shake some sense into her, when he had nothing in mind but teaching her her place in all this, it seemed he had to control the raging tempest inside himself.

He ached for her. Like some untried youth, he had sampled the goods and he longed to try them again.

His wedding was soon to start. Just how long was it going to take his wayward bride to appear?

Perhaps she was waiting for him to come to her.

What did she want? He would discover her intentions very soon. He headed for the back stairs, the door automatically locked against the intruder, against him. He swore. Even as he yanked on the door, searching for another way to conquer the high-tech security system, he narrowed his eyes. A technician was coming toward him, key-card in hand. It was the head of his botany lab and his very loyal assistant, Luke Stratford.

Knowing that as head of the center he should have been given a key out of courtesy and barely controlling his temper, he watched Luke unlock the door.