Mortal Siege

by N. Isabelle Blanco

  Shit. Should’ve checked who it was before answering. “Hi, Mom. I’m good. I swear. Lexi isn’t ending me or anything.” The bitterness in my tone can’t be hidden, but after years of having to defend Lexi to my mother combined with our argument outside my office the other day, I’m on edge.

  “Andrew Drevlow, that is not how you should talk to your mother.”

  Entering the kitchen, I sigh and rub my forehead. “Mom, you can’t blame me. For years, you’ve attacked an innocent girl for shit that wasn’t her fault.”

  “I watched you self-destruct multiple times over her!”

  “And because you never worked up the strength to face society’s judgement of you divorcing your piece-of-shit husband that traumatized your son from the moment he developed conscious memory. Maybe even before. Own it, Mom,” I say softly, opening the fridge.

  Her silence breaks my heart, but I’m done coddling her. The only way forward for all of us is for her to drop this unwarranted animosity of Lexi.

  “Is it true Stephen Menahan used a special-tailored version of the AIDS virus to infect Eliana?” she suddenly asks in a small tone.

  My Uncle Richard must’ve spoken to her after that day in my office.

  Don’t know how I feel about that. “Yes, Mom. And that was only part of what he did to her while keeping her imprisoned.” I reach for the jug of orange juice.

  “It was hard as a mother, Andrew. Please understand that. Had she not run—”

  “Your husband showed her my confession video. After his betrayal of her father, what he drove the man to do in his weakness and heartbreak, how could you expect her to trust me? You allowed him to intimidate me into dropping my best friend for years. I was just a fucking kid and terrified of him. Lexi and I had just started talking a few months prior. I didn’t even have enough time to earn her trust!”

  “I understand that. I’m not calling to argue. I’m hoping you and Lexi can both understand why it’s been so hard for me as a mother. Now that I know about Eliana I’ll be visiting her today in the medical division . . . and I want you to bring Lexi over for dinner sometime this week.”

  I nearly drop the orange juice jug in my shock. “Are you serious? You’re finally ready to drop it?”

  “Andrew, you love that girl more than life. That’s been proven to me multiple times. Also, I can admit I’ve been unfair to her and would like to make amends. So figure out a day that works best for you.”

  Holy shit . . . “I love you, Mom.”

  Voice watery, she replies, “I love you, too, son. That’s why it’s time I begin making up for my own mistakes.”

  We end the call shortly after and I turn away from the fridge, closing the door—

  And nearly jump a foot in the air when I see Lexi on the other side, dressed in one of my t-shirts. Her eyes shimmer with sadness. “Is everything okay with your mom? I hate that you guys are fighting because of me.”

  Walking up to her, I tilt her head back for a kiss. “Actually, baby. Everything’s fine. Or at least, it’s going to be. She wants us to come over for dinner this week.”

  “Ah, fuck,” Lexi grumbles, snuggling up to my chest, and I can’t help but throw my head back, feeling light for the first time in days.

  chapter 44

  t he steps leading up to the entrance of Drelow Systems are crowded with media and news crews. Not the typical response to a tech-related reveal, but I did call it last minute and I just happen to be the infamous Andrew Drevlow that dominated the news cycle years ago after my first suicide attempt.

  The second one in rehab was kept quiet by my father, of course.

  “He’s going to try something today,” Uncle Richard comments as we ride the elevator down to the lobby, his security guard standing at the corner of the elevator.

  Everyone keeps insisting I need my own. Mateo has been assigned to Lexi 24/7, except when we’re together of course, and I refuse to bring in any more men.

  I’m already nervous, waiting to see if Mateo’s team can fully be trusted.

  “The bots throughout the building are geared and ready to go. We have extra security hidden among the crowd. Our own information hacked from his systems states he’s only perfect nanotech on a weapon’s scale, and even so he hasn’t perfected his own goggles since Lexi left the company. Without that, he’ll have a hard time getting more information from us.” Like I’m planning on stealing from him.

  “He’s still going to try something. I know men like him, Drew.”

  “Yeah, I know. I was fathered by one of them.” As sick as that makes me to admit.

  The elevator opens to the lobby and the first person I spot is Lexi, standing with Mateo near the entrance.

  I didn’t have a chance to see her this morning, had to rush over here for final preparations, and the sight of her rips the breath right from my lungs.

  Her legs hypnotize me, enhanced by those light gray, six-inch heels. The matching skirt fits her like a second skin, with a sexy slit in the back that draws my eyes to the curve of her ass. The sleek blazer she’s wearing stops mid-back, in the same shade, but her curls fall to the curve of her ass.

  “You’re drooling.”

  My uncle’s wry comments snaps me out of it. “Oh come on, don’t tell me you’ve never had a woman cause the same effect in you.”

  “Oh, I did,” he replies, surprising the ever-living-fuck out of me. “Sadly, it didn’t end well.”

  I’ll have to unpack that comment later. Coming up behind Lexi, I resist the urge to tug her into my arms as I usually do. Not because I don’t want the world knowing about us, but because today must go off without a hitch.

  There’s already cameras flashing outside now that they’ve begun to catch sight of me.

  “Ready baby?”

  Lexi startles and whirls to face me. “Jesus. A little warning, will you?” She adjusts her eyeglasses, smirking playfully, then nods at my uncle. “The second-prototype is ready to go.” Motioning towards a red-head in a 1950s style dress, she reaches for the case the woman holds out to her and opens it.

  Within, an almost-identical pair of the Providence goggles sit in the cushioned-holder.

  Almost-identical because this unveiling is happening outdoors and there’s a chance someone might try to steal them.

  Also due to our need for secrecy. The full spectrum of what the goggles are capable of will be kept hidden for as long as possible. These are supposed to be for VR only and that’s how we want to keep it as far as the public is concerned.

  “Keep them in the case until we’re ready,” I tell the redhead, who nods and rushes to close the case once more. “Ready?” I ask my uncle and Lexi. They’re the only two I’m bringing along for this. Finn and Paul will get their due at the official unveiling ceremony held a week from now.

  This press conference is all about fucking with Menahan, throwing a kamikaze at him that he isn’t prepared for.

  We exit together, Mateo bringing up the rear.

  Once outside, I’m surprised to see my mother off to the side, maybe twenty feet from the podium, her group of guards surrounding us. She smiles proudly at me, hands clasped before her.

  My uncle must’ve told her.

  I haven’t even stepped foot up to the podium yet and already questions are firing off in our direction. Holding up a hand, I position myself in front of the mic with my uncle to my left and Lexi a few feet behind on my right. “Thank you all for coming today. I know it’s was a bit last minute and I made you all scramble here”—I pause, smiling at them for effect, and they most of them laugh at my joke—“but I promise to make it worth your while. As a matter of fact, I’ll get right to it instead of leaving you waiting.” I not at Lexi who turns to the woman holding the case and takes it from her.

  Smiling at her, and very aware the cameras recording can probably see what a fucking goner I am, I motion for her to open the case. “As you all know by now, Drevlow Systems has been at the forefront of technological innovation for nearly forty
-years. We pride ourselves on welcoming you into the future, one advancement at a time. And in the spirit of that, we’d like to bring you the perfected realm of Virtual Reality.” I lift the goggles off the cushion and at once the cameras begin flashing in rapid-fire succession, questions following almost as fast.

  I do my best to get them to calm down as I give them the modified breakdown of what the goggles are capable of.

  “When will we get a first-hand preview?” a man near the front shouts.

  “Next week at the official unveiling we’ll be giving everyone a presentation of the interface and what the user experience is like.”

  Another round of questions is thrown my way.

  I single out one of the women near the back, motioning to her—

  The first pop doesn’t seem real, yet my body engages before I even realize what’s happening. One moment I’m in front of the podium; the next I’m on top of Lexi on the ground, using my body to cover hers, as the next round of gunfire erupts.

  chapter 45

  s creams rent the air, reminding me of the day Menahan brought that building down.

  He’s responsible for this, too. Knew it before I hit the ground on top of Lexi.

  Lexi’s trembling between me.

  Mateo slams to the ground next to us, gun aimed at the crowd. “We need to get you both in the building!”

  Another gunshot.

  “Oh my God.” Lexi tucks her face into my neck, holding on for dear life. “Drew, your mom!”

  I glimpse to where my mother was only to see her being flanked by her five bodyguards as they rush her inside Drevlow Systems.

  Terror tears at me. Not for myself, but for Lexi. Menahan wouldn’t go as far as fucking killing her to ruin me, would he? The only thing I can bank on is his obsession of her, as sick as that makes me.

  Tires squeal, followed by yet more gunshots.

  People scream, running.

  If I’m not mistaken, I hear cameras continue to go off and what sounds like reporters going live even though their lives are in danger.

  “Watch our backs!” I command Mateo. Taking the risk makes me break out in a cold sweat, but I can’t protect Lexi on this ground if a bullet happens to pierce through me to her. “Lexi stay behind me!”

  Fierce gray eyes glare up at me, sans her glasses, which must’ve fallen off. “I’m not letting you risk your life for me!” Her statement is punctuated by gunfire.

  “The hell you’re not!” Jumping to my feet, I drag her with me, forcing her in front of me. More gunfire. Ducking, curling over her, I use my much larger size to push her forward.

  Lexi screams my name the entire way, furious with me, but she’s smart enough not to fight me.

  We break past the glass doors leading into the lobby and I see my mom and uncle by one of the entrances to the stairwell.

  Smart move. If they happen to follow us in here, we can end up cornered in the elevator before it even leaves.

  Then again, they can follow us up the stairs, too.

  Fuck.

  “Go! Just go!” I wave at my mom and uncle wildly, deciding to risk the elevator with Lexi. We just need to get inside and get the doors closed. Once we do it’s a matter of seconds to the top floor.

  No. They’ll be expecting us to go there.

  I rush past people huddled around, frightened, staring at me for direction as CEO.

  Too bad for them, Lexi’s the only thing I care about.

  An elevator opens as we get before it. “Stay inside!” I yell at the people preparing to exit, ushering Lexi in as well. I slam the button for the top floor and the one to slide the doors closed. They’re an inch from closing when a hand slams between, activating the sensors.

  I tense, preparing to fight for our lives—

  Mateo forces his way in and hits the button to close the doors once more. He throws me a glance that speaks volumes, but I shake my head, aware of the employees currently eyeing us as if we’re crazy.

  “An apparent gun fight broke out,” I tell them by way of explanation.

  A few of them have their phones in their hands, so they’re probably watching the live broadcasts as they happen. One person turns the volume up and the voice of a woman leaks through.

  “. . . the unveiling was interrupted by an apparent assassination attempt. On who? We can’t confirm yet, but many are already assuming that Mr. Drevlow, CEO of the company, was the main target. The vehicles, what appeared to be three black SUVs, circled the area multiple times, unleashing rounds of gunfire. Injuries have been reported and what might be two possible deaths. The police and paramedics have just arrived on scene—”

  The elevator arrives on the top floor and I wrap my hand around Lexi’s arm as I head out. Mateo follows us and I turn to address the people left behind. “Return to your offices. Remain there until we announce it’s safe to leave the premises.” Before anyone can say anything, I press the button on the outside to close the doors, hoping no one will try exiting to ask more questions.

  Can’t deal with them. Not at this moment.

  Especially with Lexi shaking as hard as she is beside me.

  “I hate him,” she rasps, hands fisted, face pink with fury. “I hate him so fucking much.”

  “I know, baby. We’re going to get him. Come.”

  We make it inside my office, past Ms. Rhine’s empty desk.

  Another elevator slides open and my mom’s voice carries towards us. “Andrew? Andrew!”

  “I’m here, Mom!” I shout back.

  She rushes out of the elevator banks and runs straight for me, the terror on her face the kind only a mother can experience. “Oh God, he’s trying to kill you!” Her delicate hands frame my face, tugging me down. “That fucking bastard is trying to kill my son!”

  Holy shit. Damn. If I wasn’t so caught up with the multiple angles of damage control I need to handle, I’d probably fall over in shock at my mother of all people cursing like that.

  “Evelyn, breathe,” my uncle urges softly, grabbing her arms to lead her away from me. “The police are already here and probably on their way up.”

  Sonofabitch. I need to get in touch with Shell before speaking with them.

  “Pretend I’m helping Lexi!” I order whoever happens to hear, lifting her into my arms and heading straight into the bathroom on the right side of my office.

  “Drew?”

  “Shhh, baby. Give me a sec,” I say once we’re inside, rushing to dial the number Shell gave me. He answers on the first ring, which should be my first clue to the fact he’s already aware.

  “There’s been an incident—”

  “Of course there’s been a fucking incident. Just speak to the cops. Play it off as if you have no idea which of your rivals, if any, is the blame. The last thing we need is the cops sniffing through Menahan’s life after what I just found out today.”

  I rub the spot between my eyebrows as Lexi watches. “What the fuck did he do now?”

  “Just deal with the cops. I’ll be there later to touch base.” And he hangs up the call, as usual, without so much of a goodbye.

  chapter 46

  t he funeral procession is like something straight out of a movie. Not only is the sky overcast, a light drizzle falling, but the attendants huddle near the grave with their umbrellas lined up to protect them from the rain.

  Next to me, Lexi watches on as well, her delicate features hardened by rage.

  She’s been like that the last three days. Ever since the shootout in front of my building.

  I’m worried about her.

  I’m always worried about her.

  Yet I have no choice but to trust in her strength to get through this without breaking. Without becoming too much of a monster. Or even worse, without letting the damage sink in so deep she’s never the same again.

  I feel everything she’s feeling, though. Can’t even pretend I don’t. If I have to trust myself to survive this war with at least some parts of the old me in tact—if I have the fai
th that I will now that she’s by my side once more—I owe that same trust to her.

  “We’re going to get him, Lexi.” Lauren Rhines, Adriana Rhines’ mother, collapses as begin lowering the coffin into the ground, her cries tearing at what’s left of the human part of me.

  Lexi blinks back tears, small jaw twitching.

  I reach for her hand, slipping my fingers through hers. “I mean it, baby.”

  “Less than two weeks, Drew. She worked with us less than two weeks and he did that to her because of me.”

  “Because of us, baby. He hates us both because you love me and not him.”

  “How could I ever fucking love him?” she spits, watching Sean Rhines, Adriana’s father, attempting to hold his wife up. “Then again, for years I thought you were a monster, too, and I never stopped loving you. No matter what I told myself.”

  “He’s going to pay for all of this, Lexi. Now that we’re together, we’re unstoppable, baby. Thanks to you we were able to perfect the Providence software—”

  “Yeah, but it’s thanks to Finn that the nanotech software was ready to go to shrink it that fast.”

  “Exactly. We have the new surveillance batch ready. Tonight, we’ll infiltrate Kaylee’s life, begin to dismantle the pieces as publicly as possible. Once she’s gone down, Menahan won’t have any allies left.”

  Lexi finally tightens her hold around my hand, a tear slipping down her face. In the background, Lauren Rhines’ cries are gaining volume with each shovel of dirt thrown on her dead daughter’s coffin.

  Only a mother could let loose that type of wail.

  When I think of what I put my mom through before, of what Stephen is threatening to put her through now either by killing me directly, or succeeding at killing me by taking Lexi, that psychotic fire reignites in my cells.

  Thumping.

  Throbbing.

  Mutating.

  Multiplying.

  A contorted mass of change that neither Lexi or I asked for.

  Now all we can do is aim it at those responsible.