by Susan Hayes
He moved to an unoccupied corner of the room and leaned against the wall as Lance stripped off his shirt and sat down. Alyson went through the same process as before, though it went faster, now that she knew where the implant was. In less than ten minutes, the procedures were over.
“Thank you, Dr. Jefferies. We appreciate you doing this for us today,” Dirk said.
“You’re welcome. It means a lot that you trusted me to treat you. Especially since this was the first time you had something like this done.”
“There’s no one we trust more than you,” Lance said.
“No one,” Blade and Dirk confirmed, speaking at the same time.
Pink spots bloomed on Alyson’s cheeks, and her gray eyes brightened to the color of newly minted steel. “Thank you.”
For the first time in his life, Blade was struck speechless. Alyson’s beauty had captured his interest from the beginning, and he was drawn to her fire like an asteroid caught in a star’s gravitational field, but this was the first time he had seen her softer side. A hint of blush, the shine in her eyes, the shy smile that barely touched the corners of her mouth. She took his breath away.
“When do you get off shift, tonight?” The words were out of Blade’s mouth before he even knew he was going to speak.
Alyson’s guard was back up within seconds. “Officially, another hour. Unofficially, I’ll probably be working through the night. I’ve got a ton of paperwork to catch up on, and I need to touch base with an old friend and find out if she’s made any progress tracking down the source of the genetic material the cyborgs were created from.”
Blade had planned on asking her to join them for a drink, but it was clear she wasn’t going to give him an opening. Instead, he let her change the subject.
“You know a genetic expert?” he asked.
“Not exactly. I know someone who specializes in retrieving digital information and loves a challenge.”
Lance chuckled. “How did a nice girl like you cross paths with a cyber jockey? That is what you’re talking about, right?”
“Phaedra and I were roommates back in college. She dropped out eventually, but we stayed in touch. She’s the only person I know who could track down the information we’re after and retrieve it without getting caught.”
“She must be good,” Dirk said.
“She’s one of the best.”
No one knew where the DNA used to create the cyborgs had come from. That information was buried deep in the corporations’ vaults along with almost everything else known about the cyborg design and creation process. The corporations might have been forced to free their creations, but they would never give up the secret of how they were made.
Alyson glanced to toward the door. “I’ve got other patients waiting for me, and I should relay the message to Lieksa that her guys are waiting for her at home.”
They were being dismissed.
“We’ll talk outside and make a plan. This isn’t over.” Dirk said over their internal comm channel.
“Damn right, it’s not. She’s lying to us. Something’s wrong.” Blade replied.
“Cool your boosters. We’ll talk about it outside,” Lance shot back.
They said their goodbyes and left the med center, though he lingered in the hall long enough to see Alyson vanish into her office. Now he knew where to find her when he came back. And he had every intention of coming back, whether his brothers approved of the plan or not.
The main concourse of Astek space station was still full of beings from every species and corner of the galaxy, but everyone was walking with purpose. Astek was primarily a recreation platform, offering a host of pleasures and entertainments to the miners and workers who called the Drift home. Most of the crowd was looking for their next distraction and headed for the flashing lights and raucous noise that flowed out of the clubs further down the causeway.
Blade and his brothers claimed an empty bench across from the medical center. The second they were seated, Blade turned to the others. “So, what’s our next move?”
“One of us needs to talk to her and tell her we’re concerned something’s going on. She might not want our help, but she has to accept someone’s help. No one can do it all alone.” Lance bumped his fist into Dirk’s shoulder. “We’ve got each other, but Alyson is determined to do this on her own.”
“She hasn’t taken the boost Zale offered her, either,” Dirk said.
He was referring to the medi-bots all cyborgs carried. When Zale had joined their small cadre of rebels, the big half-Torski had revealed that he was one of the experts who originally created the microscopic technology. He had offered the human members of the group access to a modified version of the medi-bots which would give them accelerated healing, exceptional longevity, and a lifetime of near perfect health.
“You can’t be sure,” Lance said.
“Yeah, we can. She looked tired, and when she came into the room she was carrying a fresh mug of coffee. She wouldn’t need caffeine to stay on her feet if she were uh, boosted.” Blade drummed his fingers against his thigh. “I want to go back and talk to her about all of this.”
Dirk folded his arms over his chest. “The line forms behind me.”
“If we all go marching in there together, she’s going to shut down and deny anything is wrong. Since we all want to do it, there’s only one solution.” Lance held out his hand in a loose fist. “Best two out of three gets to go.”
Blade groaned. “I hate this fraxxing game. Why do we make decisions this way?”
“Because beating each other up takes too long and draws too much attention.”
“Yeah, but it’s a lot more fun.” Blade looked at Dirk. “You taking on the winner of round one?”
“I still don’t see how a piece of paper can possibly win against a chunk of rock. It’s illogical,” Dirk grumbled. “Yeah, I’ve got dibs on the winner. Once I beat them, I’ll go talk to Alyson.”
“Good luck.” Blade touched his fist to Lance’s. Rock, paper, scissors wasn’t the most adult way to decide matters, but it worked.
CHAPTER THREE
Alyson sat at her desk and stared at the security footage projected over her desk. She had been staring at the blurred shape for the last five minutes, and she still had no better understanding of who it could be or how they had gotten her access codes. She had never felt so vulnerable. It was an unsettling sensation. She had managed to push the matter aside while she was busy working, but now she was back in her office she couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding. Her office wasn’t a sanctuary anymore.
Doubts nagged her. Maybe she should have told Dirk, Lance, and Blade what was going on. Their kind of help would be disruptive to everything she was doing, but was that a reasonable justification for lying to them?
She pinched the bridge of her nose and uttered a low groan of frustration. She already knew the answer. Her lie had less to do with any possible disruption, and everything to do with her attraction to the brothers. She was pushing them away because she was afraid of what would happen if she let them get too close. That excuse didn’t hold up as well now there was a greater threat.
“I’ve got too much on my plate already, and now I’ve got you lurking around, leaving me cryptic, threatening messages, you blurry bastard!” Frustrated, she hurled a stylus through the floating image at the same moment the door opened.
Lance caught the pen flying straight at his face. “Whoa. Okay, next time I’ll knock first.”
“Yes, knocking would be good. You know what else would be great? Telling me how you opened my office door without a passcode.”
Lance winked at her. “But I do have one.”
“No, you couldn’t have. The security system is brand new.”
“Then whoever installed it copied over the passcodes from the old system, including the one Corp-Sec gave to us when we were assigned to guard this place.” He frowned. “Which means you’re not as secure as you thought.”
“Apparently not. You st
ill shouldn’t have walked in without knocking. What if I was with a patient?”
“I checked with Anne. She said you were in your office alone.” He arched a dark brow at her. “Do you often talk to yourself and throw things when you’re alone?”
“Only when I’m as frustrated as I am at the moment.” She waved him inside. “Is there something I can do for you? You only left a few minutes ago.”
He moved into the room, and the door slid shut behind him. “I’m here because we know you weren't entirely honest with us before. We’re worried about you, Alyson.” His gaze fell on the security footage still projected above her desk. “Is that guy shielded? Where was this taken? When?”
“Shielded? What are you talking about?”
Lance pointed to the image. “I’m talking about that, right there.” His brow furrowed as he read the date stamped at the bottom. “Son of a starbeast, that was taken outside your office door today! What’s going on Alyson?”
“I’m not sure.”
Lance growled in frustration, and the next thing she knew he was leaning over her, his hands gripping the arms of her chair to cage her in. His green eyes were narrowed in frustration, and she could actually hear the chair creak in protest of the abuse he was inflicting with his grip.
“Is that what you didn’t want to tell us about before? Did someone sneak into the med center? Did he hurt you?”
“This is why I didn’t tell you. I knew you’d overreact. Well, to be honest, I thought it would be Blade or Dirk who’d go caveman first, but my point still stands.”
His nostrils flared. “If they were here, you would already be over their shoulder while they carried you somewhere safe. Like the bunkers below Corp-Sec HQ. Since I’m supposed to be the nice one, I’m trying to give you a moment to explain before I do that. So, explain. Fast.”
“You are definitely not the nice brother.”
He chuckled. It was a low rumble that rose up from his chest and washed over her like summer thunder. “The truth is, none of us is the nice one. We weren’t made that way. I’m quieter, but that’s not because I’m sweet. It’s because I’m watching, learning, and waiting to make my move.”
She was caged in by the solid bulk of his body, close enough she could feel his body heat and breathe in the subtle notes of sandalwood and citrus that clung to his skin. It was nearly impossible to think, but she managed to find her tongue.
“I’ll talk once you back off, mister making-a-move.” She shoved at his chest, which was like trying to push on the outer hull of the station and expecting the whole thing to move.
“Nope. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what the fraxx is going on.”
“Someone was in my office today. They used my new security code, came in, left me a note, and left without anyone seeing them. The security system didn’t even register their presence. I was trying to figure out who it was, so I called up the footage of the hallway at the time the office door was last opened. That’s what’s in the image. That’s all I know because after that I was called out to an emergency and left my office. I haven’t been back in here since.”
Lance glanced up at the projection, then lowered his head until he was looking into her eyes. “You should have told us.”
“After the way you three turned this place upside down the last time you had guard duty? I have too many people depending on me right now. There’s too much I need to do.” Even as she said the words, she heard how weak they sounded.
“And you can’t do any of it if you’re not here. Now, tell me about the note. What did it say?”
The rest of the story came out in a rush, and relief filled her the second she was done. “It was folded into this perfect little pyramid of red paper. There was a note written inside stating I was in danger and I needed to protect myself or I wouldn’t survive.”
“And you thought you could deal with that on your own? Dammit, Alyson. What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that if I told you and your brothers about all this, you were going to turn my life inside out again.” She blew out a soft breath before finishing her confession. “And if that happened, I knew I’d end up doing something a lot crazier than taking on the corporations and some unknown threat. In case you haven’t noticed, my schedule is rather full right now. I don’t really have room for any more insane decisions.”
“Yeah, like what?” Lance asked, moving in so close his breath fanned across her face.
Do I dare admit the truth? She hesitated, afraid of what would happen if she uttered the words out loud. In her experience, admitting you cared about someone gave them the power to disappoint you. “Something really stupid, like let myself get involved with three cyborg brothers who aren’t good at taking no for an answer.”
He cocked his head to one side. “Why would that be a stupid idea? You’ve probably noticed we’re on board. And before you tell me you have too much to do, and too much riding on your shoulders, I’m going to say one thing. You are exhausting yourself taking care of everyone else and making sure they have what they need. That’s admirable. Hell, it’s part of why I like you so damned much, but the thing is, you don’t have anyone taking care of you. Dirk, Blade, and I would like to be the ones to do that.”
There was probably a logical counterargument to Lance’s offer, but she couldn’t think of one. She wasn’t really thinking logically at all. If she were, she would have never admitted to any of the things she’d just confessed to. “It’s still probably a bad idea. But…”
“But nothing. You’re in danger. We want to protect you. Let us. Say yes, Alyson.”
“You promise not to turn this place into an armed fortress? I’ll still be able to see my patients? All of them, not just the ones you deem safe?”
“I’m not promising any such thing. We’ll do whatever we must to protect you. And I’m taking that as a yes.”
“But I didn’t agree yet.” She protested, glaring at him.
“You’re negotiating, which means you will agree, eventually. I’ve already told Dirk and Blade. They’re on their way back, which means we have less than a minute before they come through that door.”
“You’re assuming an awful lot.”
“It’s part of my charm.” He leaned in and brushed a surprisingly tender kiss to her cheek. “We’re going to take care of you, sunshine. I promise.”
He moved away before she could react to his promise or the kiss. Not that she was sure how to react to either one. All she knew was that at some point in the last few minutes, her life had taken an unexpected turn. Now she was on a new trajectory with no idea where she would wind up, if she even survived the trip.
*
Moving away from Alyson wasn’t what Lance wanted to do. He wanted to gather her into his arms and kiss her until she was soft and pliant and had forgotten about all the pressure she was under. It wasn’t the time for that, though. Not yet. “Show me the note. You’re the only one to touch it, right? We should keep it that way in case there’s DNA or fingerprints or something on it.”
“It’s on the desk. Do you think there would be fingerprints? That would be a big mistake for someone to make.”
“I doubt it, but I don’t want Mack and Dash kicking my ass for messing with evidence, so, let's err on the side of caution.”
“That’s a good idea.”
The compliment surprised him. He was used to being dismissed as all brawn, no brains, or even as something less than human. “Thanks.”
He barely had time to scan the note before the thunder of boots announced the arrival of his siblings. “We’ve got incoming. You might want to unlock the door before they start putting dents in it.”
“Won’t they just use the same code you did?”
He shook his head. “They know someone threatened your life. Do you think they’re going to stop to punch in an access code?” If she thought a door would slow them down, then their lovely doctor had a lot to learn. She was in danger, which meant there was nothin
g in the galaxy that would keep them away. She was too important to the cause, and even more important to the three of them.
“Good point. Computer, activate open door setting.”
The footsteps barely slowed as the door opened and Dirk and Blade fought to get through the doorway first. As entrances went, it wasn’t ideal, though it certainly demonstrated their enthusiasm.
“Why didn’t you tell us someone threatened you?” Blade demanded as he elbowed his way past Dirk.
“Because I thought you’d overreact.” Alyson raised a blonde brow. “Like charging down the hallway of a medical center and nearly coming to blows getting through the door. You know, something like that.”
Lance snickered. “She has a point, guys. You knew I was with her. Did you really need to charge in like a pair of enraged Torskis?”
“Yes,” Dirk replied.
Alyson sighed. “I’m already regretting this. You can’t disrupt the med-center like that. My patients need a safe, quiet place, and the rest of the staff deserve to be able to work in peace. If you can’t agree to that, then this isn’t going to work.”
“We’ll make it work,” Lance interjected before his brothers could respond. He wasn’t sure how the hell he’d become the voice of reason, but if that’s what it took to stay close to Alyson then he’d deal with it.
“I see the footage of our suspect, but where’s the note?” Blade asked.
Alyson pointed to a dark red piece of paper on her desk. “It’s there. But I’m not sure if whoever left it is a suspect, or an ally. Think about it, if he could get in here without being seen, he could have waited for me to come back and attacked. Instead, he left a note warning me to watch my back. That makes him a friend, not a foe. Right?”
Dirk scowled. “Maybe. Maybe not. We don’t know enough to make that call. Hell, we can’t be sure the figure in the image is a man. I’m not assuming anything right now. All we know for certain is someone got in here and left you a warning.”