Space Wrangler (22 page)

Stealing a glance at TJ, she noted he was nodding, his smile muted but admiring. Now all she had to do was exit the stage without bursting into tears or tripping on the step.

Except of course, Lana wasn't having any of it. The angry bio-girl strode right up to the edge of the platform and said bluntly, “Is she dead?”

Alexia's heart stopped.

“We want to know,” Lana insisted, brushing at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Is there a chance she's still alive? You need to tell us, Alexia. You owe us that. Your
family
owes it to us. You go all over Earth, preaching hope. So give
us
some. Or if there's really no hope at all, tell us that. Just tell us the truth for once.”

A murmur arose among the mourners, but Alexia couldn't discern what they wanted. She wasn't even sure what Lana wanted her to say. Was there hope? What did that mean? Hope for a speedy death? Hope for rescue? Hope that somehow this sacrifice was worth it?

“There's always hope,” Alexia said without thinking it through. “We talk about science, but the sinkhole isn't pure science, is it? It's a phenomenon. Something that transcends our knowledge. But not forever. Every day, the scientists at Sea-Mont and Parameters and Crosse Enterprises make breakthroughs. Discover things that will one day explain the rip in space that brought us all here. And meanwhile they'll discover new and wondrous phenomena. That is the essence of discovery. Half risk, half hope. I don't have the answers, but I can promise you, people ten times smarter than me are working on them as we speak.”

“But what about Jamie?” a plaintive voice asked. It was Kai, the bio-girl with something extra to live for now that she had found true love in a hostile world. Until today, her biggest fear had been deportation.

Now she wondered if something infinitely worse lurked in her near future.

“Jamie is in the sinkhole,” Alexia replied with a sigh. “We might never see her again, but we know she's at peace. The sedative in the capsule makes sure we don't wake up unless it's safe, so—well…” Her voice faltered but she forced herself to insist, “She never felt a bit of pain, I can promise you that on my family's honor.”

The mourners whispered amongst themselves as though trying to glean some actual truth from Alexia's platitudes. It was just as TJ had predicted. The certainty that guided their lives, for better or worse, was crumbling all around them.

It was up to Alexia to salvage this, so she raised her voice and told them firmly, “Ask yourselves what Jamie would want from you. I didn't know her well, but I think I know the answer. She would want you to remember her fondly. To find peace with her circumstances—”

“But what
are
her circumstances?” a new voice demanded. “Is she alive?”

Alexia choked back a sob as she locked eyes with the speaker, a darling mechanic who had given her a crash course in computer relays just two days earlier. Something was pounding in her ears like waves against a rocky shore, and she raised her voice, speaking over the roar. “Yes, of
course
she's alive. Alive and well. And someday she'll come home. I
swear
that to you.”

She knew without looking at him that TJ was furious but she didn't care. Still, she looked past the stunned faces and focused on him, standing next to a grim-faced Dr. Meg, surrounded by enforcers who seemed to be instinctively closing in, protecting him from whatever might happen next.

But TJ wasn't scowling. Wasn't crying. Wasn't smiling.

TJ was visibly in shock.

And just when Alexia was sure things couldn't get worse, Lana shouted, “You believe she's alive? Good! Because I believe that too. I feel it in my bones.”

“I feel it too,” a strong voice announced, and Carlos the nurse raised his fist high in the air. “I feel it. And I believe it.”

“I feel it,” Kai's refiner boyfriend growled. “And I believe it.”

“I believe it!”

“I believe it! I
feel
it!”

The voices chorused, shouting over each other with the need to declare their allegiance to an ideal. An impossibility. A fact.

And most of all, to Jamie.

As the crowd erupted into an exuberant mob, the enforcers stepped forward, but TJ stopped them with a single wave of his hand. And he must have ordered them to leave, because most of them headed for the door.

And the ones who remained raised their fists high in the air and proudly joined the chorus of hope and tears.

Exhausted, bleary eyed, stuffed with hors d'oeuvres, and just a little bit inebriated, Alexia wandered back to Trent's penthouse with TJ's arm tight around her waist and her arms filled with white roses. When they reached the door, he spoke for the first time since the wake-turned-party had ended. “What part of ‘follow the party line' don't you understand?”

Alexia started to laugh, weakly at first, but it turned into a belly laugh. “You must have wanted to shoot me.
I
wanted to shoot me. I could hear myself speaking, saying crazy shit, but I just couldn't make myself stop.”

“They loved it. And so did I.”

“Really? You were such a good sport at the party but I still wondered.”

“I loved every word. Of course…” His tone softened. “It's not over. In two weeks, when they know the oxygen in Jamie's capsule has run out, what then?”

“I know, I know.” She was miles ahead of him. “The consensus will break down for sure. But at least they'll have two weeks to grieve. To adjust to the loss. After that, some of them, like Lana, will keep the faith. And the rest will let her go.”

“And you won't try to talk them out of that?”

“I don't have the right,” she admitted. “There's no right way to grieve. I understand that now, thanks to you. I've got my research, you've got your photo array. And we've got each other. So…” She stifled a yawn. “Thus ends my wisdom for today. And hopefully for the rest of my life.”

“You're a born leader.'

“And you're a good liar.” She eyed him apologetically. “I'd invite you in, but I'll be snoring in about five seconds, and it's not a pretty sound.”

“Get some rest. You earned it.”

“You should sleep too.”

He shook his head. “I've been neglecting business, thanks to you. So I've got dozens of reports to skim and delete. Easy work, but it's gotta be done.”

“Want some help? I'm practically management these days,” she reminded him with a rueful smile.

“That's how it seems. Or at least, you've ceased hostilities against the company, right? That's amazing. But I don't need business help. I just need a beautiful, inspiring Montoya wife.”

She glared. “Puh-
lease
stop proposing to me. It's getting on my nerves.”

“I won't mention it again until breakfast. How's that?”

“Ugh.” She kissed his cheek a final time, then gave him a playful shove into the outside hall. “I plan to sleep late, so don't hound me. I'll message you when I'm up and showered. Probably around ten-ish.”

“The leisurely life of an heiress? You deserve that after tonight.” He stroked her jaw with his fingertip. “I love you, Lexie Montoya. And I know you love me too, so stop fighting it.” Backing away quickly, he added, “See you at ten.”

In two weeks, when they know the oxygen has run out, what then?

Alexia hadn't needed TJ to put that into words. She knew from bitter experience what would happen at that point. Hadn't she been through it once before? The whole world had kept the faith for Trent for fourteen days, fourteen nights. Vigils, rallies, talk shows, churches—every place where hope could thrive, it thrived for Trent.

On day fifteen, ninety percent of the hopeful had gone into full-fledged mourning. More church sermons, but this time, about God's plan. More talk shows about who would be the next stellar genius and inventor. Tributes to his final days, even though his sister and a few stragglers still insisted his best years were ahead of him.

It would happen this time too. Watching Jamie's friends rally had energized Alexia, but now it just depressed her. The chances of finding Jamie and Trent within the next fourteen days were slim now that the sentient had refused to play ball.

Which made her want to go home right away. To leave on this high note, rather than watch helplessly while hope crashed and burned again. But it would be cowardly. She had raised these people's hopes against TJ's advice, and needed to face the consequences two weeks hence.

A handful of D-siders would keep the faith beyond two weeks. Lana for sure. Maybe Carlos and Kai too. But even for them it would eventually fade because as much as they loved and believed, they had to get on with their lives. Either that, or they'd become full-fledged sinkhole-zealots, and to date, Alexia had never met such a fellow believer. Lorenzo Nolo had come close and she had appreciated him for it, but even Lorenzo hadn't really seen Trent's survival as scientifically possible. He just
wanted
it to be true because of his obsessive hero worship for the missing genius and a slight crush on the little sister.

Weary, she pulled a crystal-clear pitcher from a shelf, filled it with water and white roses, and set it in the middle of the dining table. It would be a lovely greeting in the morning, but for now, she needed sleep. She had developed a habit of using David Seaton's jar of bio-metal for a soft nightlight, enjoying the shimmer of blue, so she fetched it from under the floorboard and carried it into the bedroom, where she shed her business suit and replaced it with a lightweight nightgown.

But she couldn't sleep. Not yet at least. The morning would come quickly, and she needed a plan. Maybe she'd go down to the surface and introduce herself to the few employees she hadn't met yet. They could talk about Jamie and Trent, and maybe in return, she could ask a few more questions about computer relays made from bio-metal. TJ might insist on coming with her, and that would be fine, but alone would be better.

Or you could just contact Rick and ask him to come back.

It was what she really wanted. What she really needed. He'd whisk her away and spend his days battling thugs while she and Sensie cracked the secret of the relays. It would take some time, and by then, well—

Either he'd deliver you to the edge of the sinkhole and say goodbye, and you'd be glad for the time you had together. Or he'd take you to Sector Fourteen. Or he'd come home with you.

This was a new thought. A dangerous one. But as she dozed off, she wanted it more than anything. The shimmering blue light from the jar of bio-metal beckoned to her as though it were actually the
Drifter
. As though there was actually a chance in hell that she'd see her lover again. Feel the strength of his arms, the warmth of his breath.

Then reality crashed into her brain, rousing her from a deep sleep with the rough sounds of heavy, booted footsteps and male voices raised in anger. A cacophony of violence punctuated by the sudden shattering of glass against a wall.

And even in her haze, she could imagine white roses flying through the air.

In an instant, the intruders were storming her bedroom, their lips curled into snarls of fury and anticipation. Three burly enforcers—the very ones who had menaced her more than once—wearing combat gear and laser guns. But they didn't bark orders at her now. Rather, they turned to the lone figure in the doorway and visibly awaited
his
orders.

Chapter Fifteen

“David?” Alexia shrank from the purple-faced tyrant, then gathered the bed sheet up to her neck. “Oh my God…”

“In my
bed
?” he bellowed, his pale-blue eyes blazing so bright, they echoed the silver of his balding head. “Get up before I
drag
you up with my bare hands.”

The biggest of the enforcers grinned. “Want me to do it, boss? I've been itching to get my hands on the little slut.”

“Shut up,” David advised grimly. He was wearing a dark wool overcoat and black gloves, and appeared larger and more powerful than ever before. She had hoped five years would have softened him, or at least aged him, but here he was, the cruel, judgmental figure who had come to her home a handful of times during her childhood, always scaring her to death.

In those days, her juvenile imagination had seen glowing coals where his eyes should have been, fangs in place of teeth and claw-like fingers on his giant, threatening hands.

Nothing had changed. And to her horror, she morphed back into that frightened little girl.

“We didn't know you were coming,” she stammered. “I'll pack up my things and move—”

“Move where? This is
my
world.
My
platform. Who do you think you are, coming here like this? Like you own the place.”

“This was supposed to be my brother's penthouse,” she managed to retort. “I have just as much right—”

“I told you, get
out
of there,” he growled, then without waiting, he advanced on the bed and dragged her from under the covers and onto her feet.

She could feel the enforcers ogling her body through the thin nightgown, but David didn't bother with such human behavior. And she knew why. He
wasn't
human.

And in his evil eyes, she
wasn't human either. She was the traitorous malcontent who had publically proclaimed him a robber baron. Trashed his legacy. Mocked his cowardice and disloyalty at every opportunity. As much as she detested him for all he had done, she understood why he hated her in return.

And so she tried for a soothing tone. “I didn't know you were coming, David. I'm really sorry. I can stay with TJ—”

“I'm surprised I didn't find you in
his
bed. But you always were a tease, weren't you?” His huge, gloved hands grabbed her by the shoulders. “I'm going to make your dreams come true, Alexia. Send you back through the sinkhole. And this time, if we're lucky, you'll join your brother permanently. In fact, I might just arrange for that to happen.”

She jerked free, confused. For one thing, she wasn't quite clear what he was saying. Arrange it? Was he power-mad enough to murder her? And in the sinkhole no less? Was that even possible?

“Don't bully me,” she managed to croak. “Like I said, I'm all packed. And we're on the same page, because I'm happy to go back through the sinkhole—”

“
Fuck
the sinkhole. And fuck you.”

“Well, fuck you too,” she murmured.

To her shock, he slapped her across the face so hard she lost her balance and toppled back to the bed. She wanted to spring to her feet again, to spit in his eye, but cautioned herself to stay down. Be smart. Stay alive.

But David had other ideas. “Stand her up, Belker,” he growled.

A beefy hand grabbed the bodice of her nightgown and hauled her back to her feet. This guy—this Belker—had had it in for her from the start, not just in the confrontation with Rick at the space dock, but every day thereafter. Watching her from every possible vantage point, his eyes glowing with bloodlust.

Now he finally had his chance, and there was a joyful ugliness to his words when he hissed, “No rescue this time, slut. You're all mine.”

Terrified, she tried to jerk free, but he swung on her, not in a slapping motion like David, but with a punch to her left eye that blinded her while reverberating through her skull. She screamed, got her footing, then tried to bolt past him, but the enforcer threw her down again as easily as a rag doll.

“What's the meaning of this?” TJ's voice roared from the bedroom doorway. “Goddammit, Dad, when the fuck did you get here? Call off your goons.
Now.
”

Alexia tried to stand. To run to him. But Belker shoved her back down.

“You let this bitch sleep in
my
bed?” David Seaton demanded, fixing his son with a cold glare. “I told you to deport her.”

“I had a better idea,” TJ said with a shrug. “I decided to marry her.”

“
What?
”

Alexia cowered again, certain David would now murder them both.

But for once, the son seemed as powerful as the father. Almost eerily so. They had the same stance. The same expression. And why hadn't she ever noticed the similarities in their jawlines, their foreheads?

She had always focused on the eyes. David's so pale and icy. TJ's a completely different shade of blue, dark and warm and noble.

And even though he resembled his father now, he was rescuing her, and thus, still seemed noble in her eyes as he said, “Can't you just see it, Dad? Seaton and Montoya again. Only this time, the Seatons hold all the cards.”

David licked his thin lips.

“It's priceless,” TJ said forcefully. “Imagine the press. Especially once I get her pregnant. She might not be an intellectual giant like the other Montoyas but she carries their DNA. Your grandson will be the answer to everyone's prayers. Including yours.”

“My grandson?” David's voice was hushed. “Is it possible? Can we even trust her, after all her treachery and whoring?”

“Careful there,” TJ warned. “That's my future bride you're talking about. And yeah…” His tone turned cold. “It's possible.”

“Because you're in love?” David drawled.

“No. Because I'm
not
in love. And neither is she. We've got something even better. An insane devotion to the past. And hope for the future. It's a match made in heaven.”

Alexia watched with fascinated sadness as TJ manipulated the evil tyrant. He had had years of practice, hadn't he? And it showed. David had tormented, taunted, belittled. And TJ had learned to do the same.

Thank God
.

“She'll behave,” TJ assured him. Then he directed his cool gaze at Alexia. “Come over here, darling. Let's see how much damage they did.”

She wanted to run to him, but didn't dare. Not without checking with Belker and David for permission. It was the ultimate humiliation, but she was too terrified to care.

“Go ahead,” David told her gruffly.

She ran to TJ, throwing her arms around his chest but managing not to cry. Not yet. In private, she would thank him with tears and praise and gratitude, but for now, all she did was cling to him, praying for the madness to stop.

TJ's voice had a masterful ring. “The feud ends today. I marry Alexia, and we have a Seaton-Montoya child. Preferably a boy so we can name him Trent—”

“You will name him David Roberto Seaton,” David corrected him sharply.

TJ hesitated, then clicked his tongue in approval. “Works for me. How about you, Lexie?”

Despite her terror and disgust, she had to admit, the Roberto tribute had a nice ring to it. But
David
?
That
made her cringe. Luckily, this child would never be conceived, never be born. Still, in an odd way, she would remember him as the one who saved her life. In that sense, the name was perfect.

Collecting herself, she told them, “As long as little David Roberto inherits one hundred percent of Sea-Mont ownership someday, I'm fine with it.”

With TJ's arms around her, she felt safe. But she also knew this had been too easy, so she looked up at him and asked carefully, “Can we go back to Earth right away? Have the wedding in Los Altos? I don't want to get married in New York. It may be company headquarters, but it's not my home. And it's not yours either.”

David's hand landed on her shoulder, pulling her away from TJ. “Do you think I'm stupid? My son would agree to those tricks, but not me.”

“And not me either,” TJ drawled. “I may be stupid, but I catch on eventually. And I finally see her through
your
eyes, Dad. She's a lying bitch, but she's
my
lying bitch. And she's our future. So how about this?” His blue eyes sparkled. “We get married right away. On
this
side of the sinkhole. And because it's such a blissful union, she and I stay sequestered in my penthouse until she conceives a Seaton-Montoya heir. At that point, obviously, she and I would need to go E-side. I don't want my son—your grandchild—born here. And we can't take the chance of losing him in the goddamned sinkhole.”

Alexia felt a surge of admiration for TJ's quick thinking. They could marry right away and hide in his penthouse while they planned her escape. They would fake some lab results, convincing his father she was pregnant. Or he'd find a way to sneak her through the sinkhole, maybe using a smuggler like Zeke Angelus. Thereafter, they could get the marriage annulled on the ground it hadn't been consummated.

That part might be tough on him since he wanted a real marriage. But he'd never want it this way, so he'd do the right thing.

“That works for me too,” she said in a docile voice.

“The child will be born
here
,” David countered. “It's not optimal, but I'm not a fool. We control her while she's here. Back on Earth, she'll rally support.”

Alexia took a deep breath, knowing it was time to do her part. TJ's scheme couldn't survive without her. “I've wanted to marry TJ since I was twelve years old. It broke my heart when he sided with you in court, but I forgive him because he's the only other person in the world who loved Trent as much as I did. I want my family to survive. I want my father's legacy to survive. And I want to be TJ's wife. It's all I've ever really wanted. And a baby? A son?” She didn't have to fake the tears in her eyes, especially since her face radiated with pain. “I can picture him. TJ's build, Dad's eyes, Trent's brain. And
your
wealth. How could I ever say no to that?”

There was silence in the room, and it was clear David Seaton had doubts. But he also had eyes, and there before him was an unprecedented sight: the ultimate power couple. The E-side media would go crazy. And the folks on D-side? They would work their asses off, knowing that a better, stronger Sea-Mont had been born, figuratively, and in nine months or so, literally.

“You're not falling for this, are you, boss?” Sergeant Belker demanded. “He's her bitch, just like always.”

“That's my son you're talking about,” David snapped. “If he can pull this off, he deserves our respect. If not…” He let the threat trail in the air, then instructed Belker, “Take your men and wait in the other room.”

When the three bullies had departed, David arched a damning eyebrow. “The marriage takes place today. You'll keep Alexia under wraps until she delivers my first grandson. If anything goes wrong—and I mean, anything—she's dead. And you're disowned.”

“That's the plan,” TJ said cheerfully.

“Does she know about the will?” David asked.

Alexia winced. “What will?”

“
Your
will, darling.” TJ chuckled. “You probably don't remember, since you were barely eighteen when you signed it. But you and Trent had joint and mutual wills, making each the other's heir.”

“Oh right. I know about that.”

“But do you know what happens if both of you die? It's divided equally among any children. If no children, then the surviving spouse or spouses get it. So if there's only one spouse—a.k.a. yours truly—I get it all.”

She bit her bottom lip, remembering the lighthearted day when Trent had presented her with that document. She had been sure Trent would live for a thousand years. And while he had been twenty-six by then, and certainly wiser, she knew he hadn't hesitated to sign his matching will either. Not because of the provisions TJ had just recited, but because of another clause.

If she and Trent both died without ever getting married or having children, everything went to TJ Seaton. It had been a while since she'd thought about that, but she wouldn't have changed it in any case. If she died, the search for her brother died with her, but at least TJ would respect his memory. After that, either Trent would brainstorm his way back from the depths of the sinkhole or he wouldn't. It would be out of Alexia's hands either way.

Was it possible TJ didn't know he was the heir no matter what? It would be just like Trent to keep an ace up his sleeve. Little had he suspected he was keeping her alive with that little secret, at least for a few hours.

So she assured TJ, “I wouldn't change a word of that will, not even now.”

“Well, it's moot anyway. Because once you marry me, it's all mine. Right?”

She nodded, trying not to wince at the disrespectful tone. This was a show for his father, nothing more.

Wasn't it?

David seemed to be having the opposite misgivings. “If you cross me, TJ—”

“I won't, Dad.” The son's voice grew harsh. “There was a time when I wanted your approval. And after that, I wanted Alexia's love. But, if I get a Montoya-Seaton kid to love me, and I end up owning one hundred percent of Sea-Mont, well—let's just say, that'll be enough.”

Alexia held her breath while David thought it through one final time. Then he told his son, “I'm counting on you to make this happen.”

“Give me a few minutes alone with her. Then we'll have the ceremony. And then the consummation. I've got to admit, I've been looking forward to
that
part.”

David chuckled. “You've got good taste in tail, that's for sure. But remember, she's a viper.”