by Dylan Steel
Laughter on the other side of the wall caught her attention, but it was the officer’s tone of voice that chilled the blood in her veins. She sucked in a breath, not even realizing she was eavesdropping.
“I can’t believe he actually tried to charge you.”
“Well, he won’t do it again,” the second officer said. Disdain dripped from his voice. “Shoulda just let me have the stupid sandwich.”
“Another one bites the dust.”
“Aw, man, it was great. You should’ve seen the look on his face.” He wheezed, trying to control his laughter. “I’m sure he’s enjoying his upgraded accommodations now.”
“Beautification’s gonna have a throppin fit with you and all the bodies you’re sending their way, Ax,” the first officer said good-naturedly, something like admiration in his tone.
“They’ll deal. It’s like this every year. Gotta weed out the weakest links before they think they’ve actually got a chance.”
“Mercy, huh?”
“What else?”
Sage’s stomach clenched in protest. She pushed herself away from the wall, not wanting to hear any more. After a few moments, she managed to slow her breathing, but she couldn’t stop herself from shuddering.
The man had no conscience. He’d killed someone over nothing and was now bragging about it. And it didn’t even matter whether he’d been right or wrong—no one could stand up to him without suffering the same fate.
The light over the Quickport changed colors, indicating the charge was complete. Eager to put some distance between herself and the officers, she pulled the tablet back out and rushed back to Eric. She knew she had to act as normal as possible to avoid drawing attention to herself. The sooner they could leave, the better.
As she tried tapping on the screen one more time, the databook surged to life. It no longer showed any signs of resistance, but Sage pulled up the diagnostic report to be on the safe side.
For Eric’s sake, she didn’t try to suppress her eye roll. “If they’d just remember to put it in their ports…”
Eric glanced at the screen and snickered. “But they won’t. And that’s why they’ll always need us. I swear,” he grumbled, “this is ninety percent of our job…”
Both of them clammed up when they noticed a pair of officers walking in their direction. Sage had learned early on that it was far preferable to be invisible around officers—even if they were technically her coworkers—but she had more trouble achieving that anonymity than Eric did. Her feminine figure rarely went unnoticed, especially since she couldn’t wear a uniform to blend in.
“I’m tellin’ ya, Cree, you shoulda heard her—”
Sage stiffened as they passed behind her. She immediately recognized their voices as the same pair of officers who’d been talking on the other side of the wall a few moments ago. Curling her fingers around the edge of the desk until her knuckles turned white, she braced herself as she waited for them to pass.
A sudden swat on her butt made her wince. Everything inside her screamed at her to drop the man where he stood, but she knew that would be the last thing she ever did. Eric’s eyes followed her silently as she turned around to face the officer who’d just invaded her personal space.
“Can I help you?” she asked coolly.
The officer’s lips twisted into a sadistic smile. “I’d bet on it.”
She held up a hand, projecting a much calmer demeanor than she felt. “I’m afraid I’m just here to fix this tablet, and it’s in pretty rough shape. You’ll have to wait your turn.”
“Cree, do I like waiting?” The officer asked over his shoulder, not once taking his eyes off Sage.
“You know, Ax, I’ve never gotten the impression that you do.”
“That’s right,” Ax growled, inching closer to her. “I don’t like waiting.”
Sage crossed her arms as nonchalantly as she could, leaning back against the desk for the support she didn’t feel like her legs were capable of giving any longer.
“That’s unfortunate,” she said, tilting her head. Her mind raced through her options as his eyes remained locked on hers. She needed to give him a reason to forget about her and leave. Fast. “But if it’s all the same to you, would you mind being the one to explain to Ty why his databook couldn’t get fixed today? I’d rather not be on the receiving end of his wrath,” she said, trying not to hold her breath. Using his name was a gamble, but he’d been around for awhile and—she hoped—had probably earned a few promotions. With any luck, he outranked Ax and Cree, and they wouldn’t want to cross him. Plus, his name was the first one to pop into her head.
Ax narrowed his eyes at her. “Ty? Why not just get your friend here to fix it?” He nodded to Eric, whose face lost all its color the instant he was noticed.
Sage waved her hand in the air. “I would, but he’s in training. Can’t do a thing for himself yet. This is way beyond his skill level. Unless—” she batted her eyes slowly, innocently, “—you’d rather he assist you with whatever you needed. If it’s something simple, I’m sure we could arrange—”
“No.” Ax snarled. “I don’t want his help.”
“Ok.” She shrugged. “Well, fill out a req form, and we’ll be happy to assist you when we’re done here.” Smiling brightly, she added, “You two have a great day!”
Before they could say another word, Sage turned around and grabbed the databook again. Her eyebrows knitted together in feigned concentration as she fiddled with the tablet and reset its default codes, doing her best to make it appear broken. The officers wouldn’t know the difference anyway.
In her peripheral vision, she saw Ax and Cree exchange an uncertain glance. Ax’s eyes narrowed in silent deliberation, but he must not have wanted to cross Ty because a few moments later, he walked away. Cree didn’t need an invitation to follow, matching his pace.
Sage’s shoulders slumped forward in relief as soon as they exited the room. Clearing the tablet, she turned it off and set it back down on the desk, exhaling slowly.
“Did you have to drag me into that?” Eric frowned. His face had regained some of its color, but he was still looking a little pastier than usual.
“Sorry.” Sage cringed apologetically. “It was the first thing I could think of. And I wanted to walk out of here without a Beautification escort.”
“Me too.” Eric’s fists were clenched at his side. “That could’ve easily backfired on both of us. They should’ve known I wasn’t new.”
“Yeah, they should’ve,” she agreed. “But I was really hoping they wouldn’t. You do a good job blending in. And they don’t seem too concerned with anyone other than themselves, do they?”
“Not too much, no.” Eric stared at her, then muttered in a low voice, “Remind me never to cross you. Or bet against you.”
She gave him a weak smile. “You catch on quick, Havers,” she said, throwing his earlier statement back at him.
He shook his head. “C’mon. Let’s get out of here before your alibi shows up and ruins all your hard work.”
“Gladly.”
7. STATUS CHECK
The room was cold. Small. Sterile. It smelled of citrus antiseptic and steel.
She hated it.
Goosebumps covered Sage's legs as they swung lazily in front of her, hovering just off the floor. She thought her thighs might freeze to the table while she waited for the nurse to return. The plastic robe she was wearing didn’t offer much warmth or cover, and she wouldn’t get her clothes back until the end of her exam, so there was no real way to stave off the cold.
This was her fifth fertility visit since graduation, and it hadn’t gotten any better. The first time, she’d tried counting down the minutes until she could leave, but that had been futile. There was no clock in the room, and she didn’t know how long the visit was supposed to take. Besides, it wasn’t like she was allowed to walk out in the middle of it. Secretly, she thought that was the real reason they kept her clothes hostage.
At least she knew Ev
erett was going through similar misery in another room nearby. That was a small comfort. He hated it as much as she did—he was just more honest about it. She still had her suspicions about his true motives whenever he complained about Eprah’s rules, and she wasn’t about to give him anything to use against her if he was reporting to Mr. Gaztok.
Running her fingers over her arm, she felt two small residual bumps from her injections. The first ensured her hormones cycled properly for optimal fertility, and the second was some sort of protein and mineral cocktail that she was actually grateful for. It quelled most of the nausea brought on by the first injection.
“Sorry to make you wait so long today, dear,” the nurse said as soon as the door swung open. She stumbled, bumping into the doorway with her wide hips as she hurried inside. “We’re a bit short-staffed at the moment.”
“No problem at all.” Sage pasted a smile on her face, making it look as genuine as possible. She did that a lot these days. It seemed to help make people forget they could try to kill her anytime they pleased. “Everything ok?”
“It is now.” The nurse shook her head, sighing. “Some subversives were discovered on our staff. We had to call Beautification to deal with them.”
“Oh, that’s—” Sage paled a little, “—terrible.”
“I know.” The nurse applied a tourniquet and swabbed Sage’s arm before stabbing another needle into her vein. Sage winced, sucking in a sharp breath. “Just thinking about working side by side with Lawless sympathizers gives me the creeps. I mean, I know you’re young, but you have to have seen what they’re willing to do. And for what? Because they’re just not happy.” She clucked her tongue. “Their selfishness prevents so much greatness. I just don’t understand…”
As soon as the nurse finished drawing blood, she squirted a dab of gel where the needle had just been and capped the vial, inserting it into a box on the table. Sage absentmindedly rubbed the salve over her pricked skin while they both waited for the results.
“Do you think you’ve had any luck yet?” the nurse asked, a coy smile on her lips as she picked up a tablet, tapping the edge impatiently.
“Guess we’ll see,” Sage said, forcing enthusiasm into her tone. There was no chance she was pregnant, but she knew better than to mention that to the nurse. Everyone expected her to perform her pairing duty, and she wasn’t about to explain that she had no intention of complying until she was forced to.
A light flashed along the rim of the box. The nurse glanced at the databook in her hand, scanning over the information.
“Ah, I’m sorry, dear. This month isn’t looking so promising.”
“Oh.” Sage allowed her shoulders to slump a little to sell her false disappointment. Over the years, she’d learned that deceit was easier when she didn’t actually have to lie.
“Of course, there’s a chance it’s just too soon to tell,” the nurse added hopefully, withdrawing the vial. “Sometimes it takes a few more days. We’ll know for sure next week.”
“Ok,” Sage breathed. “Thanks.”
“Sure thing, dear. Now you hold tight while I have your clothes sent back.” The nurse paused with her hand on the door. “Will you need an escort out?”
“No, thanks, I’m good.”
“Alright, dear. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
As soon as the nurse disappeared down the hallway, Sage scooted off the edge of the table, letting her bare feet slap against the floor. She instantly regretted it. The floor was even colder than the table had been. Hopping from one foot to the other, she tried to remind herself that movement should be helpful.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long. A whooshing sound followed by a hollow pop echoed from the corner of the room. Sage scrambled toward the tube that was holding her clothes, yanking it open and dressing as quickly as she could.
Tugging her shoes on last, she spared a glance at the box that rendered her physical readings. She bit her lip. Maybe she could hack the system to show a false pregnancy? That could buy her some time, help her figure out what she wanted to do next. Maybe she’d figure out some way to escape the city, become a Rogue. She thought she could handle her duty when Nic had been her pair, but the thought of performing that same duty with Everett made her queasy. Besides, she didn’t want to be a part of making another person who’d ultimately be Eprah’s citizen. There was enough guilt in her life without adding that to the mix.
But how in Eprah’s name could she hack into the system? The only access she had to tech was while she was working at the Peace. Trying to get away with something of this magnitude under the noses of her coworkers and officers would be pretty much impossible. And she wouldn’t even know where to start.
Get a grip, she scolded herself, blinking back tears. Nic wasn’t an option anymore. They weren’t paired together, and he had clearly moved on. She needed to move on too—just not with Everett, and not because Eprah was forcing her into it.
Her fingers skimmed over her ear. She flinched. Nic’s cuff was still there, mocking her. It was a poignant reminder of what she no longer had, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to give it back to him yet. The idea of meeting with him again twisted her insides. She didn’t want to see him, to hear his excuses. He’d probably tell her it was all in the name of duty, and she didn’t think she could handle that. Not when he’d promised her that he wouldn’t so much as touch Carnabel.
Tugging the cuff from her ear, she shoved it in her pocket again. She knew she’d probably wind up putting it back on before she went to bed, but right now, she could be strong enough. Sighing, she pulled open the door.
Sage rubbed her arms as she made her way to an empty corner of the waiting room. She’d promised Everett she’d stay until his exam was over so that they could walk back to their apartment together. He’d insisted on it, saying it was safer that way. She stared at the exit while she debated whether it was annoyingly clingy or surprisingly sweet that he cared about protecting her.
Then again, maybe he was just looking out for himself. Fulfilling their duty did mean they both got some extra Chances, after all.
The door swung open, and Sage’s heart stopped beating for a moment when Carnabel breezed in through it. Anxiety squeezed across her chest in tight lines.
It was obvious Carnabel noticed her at the same time. A slow smile spread over her lips, but she didn’t say anything at first. Instead, she walked to the front desk and set her palm on the reader, letting the nurse know she was there.
Sage’s fists clenched at her sides involuntarily as she watched Carnabel take a seat. It wasn’t a matter of fear. Not really. Sage’s Chances were safe for the moment—she knew Carnabel wouldn’t risk the Kunbriat’s wrath with an outright attack.
“Good to see you, Sage,” Carnabel crooned. “It’s been awhile.”
“Has it?” Sage asked evenly, crossing her arms as she glanced toward the hall. She was starting to seriously rethink the promise she’d made to Everett about waiting for him. She wasn’t sure she could stay here another minute.
“Oh, no, that’s right. You were at the club the other night.” Carnabel cocked her head. “I thought for sure you’d come say hello.”
Sage’s eyebrow jerked up. “I’m surprised you noticed. Seemed like you were busy throwing yourself at Nic,” she snapped. She couldn’t help herself.
Carnabel’s eyes narrowed. “I think you have the two of us mixed up. He’s my pair. It’s our duty and privilege to be together. I don’t need to throw myself at him.” She raked her gaze over Sage deliberately. “Unlike some people.”
“I’ve never thrown myself at anyone,” Sage retorted. “And I never had to manipulate him or my circumstances to get him to be with me.”
“You think I did that?” Carnabel asked innocently. She leaned forward, her voice deepening in a threatening growl, “Prove it.”
Sage’s nostrils flared as she glared back at her. She shouldn’t be surprised by Carnabel’s audacity anymore, but somehow she still was.<
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“I’m ready to go if you are.” Everett’s voice cut through the silence, jerking Sage back to the present and halting her sudden fantasy of stripping all of Carnabel’s Chances on the spot.
“Fine,” Sage snapped, shooting one last icy look at her.
Everett’s hand went to her arm, gently coaxing her forward with him. Once they were out the door, Sage felt the tension in her shoulders slowly start to loosen.
“I take it things aren’t any better between the two of you,” Everett said quietly.
Sage snorted. “I don’t think they’ll ever get any better. She won’t be happy unless I’m—” She stopped.
Nic was standing right in front of them. He glanced between Sage and Everett, then looked over their shoulder at the clinic entrance. His brow twisted in indecision.
Desperation was plainly written across his face. But he’d hurt her. Deeply. He didn’t get to be apologetic or sweet.
Her heart beat wildly as she stared back at him. For a moment, she couldn’t decide whether her stomach was fluttering with excitement or revulsion. Maybe both. As much as she wished they would, her feelings for him hadn’t just disappeared the moment she’d seen his betrayal.
Straightening her shoulders, Sage tucked her hair behind her ear, giving Nic a clear view of the fact that she wasn’t wearing his cuff—not at the moment, anyway. He didn’t need to know she’d only just removed it a few minutes earlier.
His gaze traced the path up her shoulder to her naked ear. Pain glinted behind his golden eyes as soon as he realized what she was showing him. I’m not yours anymore. She was practically screaming it.
If she were bolder, she would’ve returned the cuff in that moment. It was the right thing to do—time to cut all remaining ties and walk away—she knew that. But her chest still ached. She couldn’t bring herself to do it.