by Susan Hayes
Alayna smiled. “You asked for it. Tell me when you’ve gotten tired of hearing about it. He believed I’d died in the crash with the others. Then, when I was fourteen, I got caught long enough to be tested and tattooed. The system matched my DNA, and I gather all hell broke loose when they told my father I wasn’t dead after all. He came looking for me, but by then I’d escaped custody and was on the run. Sam helped me disappear for two years. I stayed deep in the badlands and didn’t go anywhere near where they’d caught me.”
“He must have been out of his mind. Losing you, then finding out you were alive only to lose you again.” Ciara couldn’t imagine what that would be like. It had to have been brutal for him.
“He looked for months, but you know what it’s like out there. So many empty miles of land to hide in and no one trusted the Alliance enough to give him any clue where I was. Sam heard rumors the Alliance was looking for a young scroll who matched my description. There were even claims it was a father looking for his daughter, but Sam told everyone it was a ruse. He insisted they were after me because I was a scroll. I believed him. Everyone did. Why wouldn’t we? Every time he heard another rumor, he sent me deeper into the badlands. He thought he was protecting me.”
“Do you think Sam knew what he was doing?”
Alayna nodded. “He’s admitted he suspected that the stories were true, that a father was looking for his long lost daughter. He hid me anyway.”
“He loves you.”
“I know. That’s why I’ve forgiven him.”
“I’m sorry for all the time you and your father two missed out on,’ Ciara said.
“I am, too. I figure it wasn’t meant to happen that way. Fate had a different plan for us. I’m glad we found each other again, now.”
““When did you find out about him? When did he know you were back?”
“He contacted me a few days after my bonding ceremony. The first thing I got from him was a handwritten letter, delivered by one of his personal aides. I cried when I read it.” She glowered at Ciara. “And if you ever repeat that to anyone, I’ll deny it and then kick your ass.”
Ciara laughed. “Your secrets are safe with me. Always have been, always will be.”
Alayna gave her an approving smile. “I know. That’s one of the reasons I want you to stay in town. You’re the only person who knows the real me.”
“Your bonded do, too. And even if I don’t stay, I won’t be gone forever. I’ll come visit, I promise.”
Alayna pulled into a parking space and shut down the shuttle, but didn’t move to leave her seat. “The rest of the story is pretty simple. When I resurfaced, he was in some kind of hush-hush briefing, no incoming messages allowed, no contact with anyone outside. The notification about my reappearance didn’t get to him until he was on his way back to Capital City. One of his aides told me later that the night he found out I was back was the first time any of them had seen him get drunk. Ever.”
“I’d of done the same thing in his position.”
“The next morning, he got in touch, and he came to see me the following day. His arrival threw the whole base into an uproar. They don’t get high ranking visitors often. They wanted to do a big party, but my father only wanted to see me.” She gestured to the base around them. “Which is why we’re here. This time, we’re doing the big, formal party with all the bells and whistles. And stars save me, I’m the hostess! How the hell did this happen? I don’t know the first fucking thing about this kind of event.”
“Lucky for you, I do. I may have hated all my family’s social posturing, but I know my way around a formal event. I’ll do my best to help.”
“Thank you. My father says my mother was a natural at hosting parties and events. She even performed at some of them. She was a singer. Can you imagine? I can’t hold a note to save my life, and she sang for a living before she met my fathers.”
“I’ve heard you sing. I cannot believe your mom was a singer. That talent clearly skipped a generation. Maybe your kids will inherit her gift.”
Alayna’s head snapped around to stare at Ciara. “Do you think they might? That would be…I’d like that.”
Well that was new. In all the years Ciara had known her friend, she’d never been keen to have children. It would seem that was changing. Good. Alayna would make a great mother. “It’s possible. You’re thinking of having kids? Really? Because I’d love to see that.”
“Then you should plan on sticking around. If you do, I’ll name you their godmother.”
“Wait. Are you? Are you pregnant already?” Ciara asked.
“Not yet. But I’ve already decided that I’m going to have my birth control deactivated soon. I haven’t told the guys yet. I’m waiting until after Dad goes home.”
“That’s amazing news! I mean you thinking of having kids. And…holy nova, you’d name me as godmother? Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“About as good a one as my being Annie’s,” Alayna replied.
“I’m honored.”
“Well, it’s all hypothetical yet. I’m a little terrified at the thought, to be honest. Me, a mother. I’m not sure the world is ready for that.”
“I’m not sure Sam’s ready to be a foster grandfather, either. Can you imagine?”
“I can, actually. He’s going a little soft around the edges these days. He’d probably move to Fort Saken and drive me nuts if I got pregnant.”
“Has your father met Sam yet?” Ciara asked.
Alayna sputtered. “Are you crazy? Fuck no! I’m not putting my rebel foster father and my father, the Alliance regent, in the same room. Not for a long time, maybe not ever. Not when Sam’s the one who hid me from him all those years ago.”
“Oh, right. Forget I even asked that question.” Ciara turned to her friend. “I also think you’d be a great mom. I’ve seen you with Annie. You’re going to be amazing.”
Alayna gave her a knowing look. “I’ve seen you with Annie, too. She adores you. I’m not the only one who might be good at this mothering thing.”
“Point taken. Now, tell me more about what you’ve learned about your parents while we go shopping. Maybe it will distract me from horror of it all.”
“You make it sound like torture. It’s fun!” Alayna declared.
“What happened to the woman who lived out of a knapsack and never owned more than she could carry?” Ciara asked.
Alayna laughed as she hopped out. “I’ve gone legit. Shopping is way more fun now I get to do it during daylight hours.”
“When you do it at night and don’t pay for things, it’s not called shopping, it’s called theft,” she said as she joined Alayna on the street and they headed for the stores.
* * * *
Shopping did turn out to be fun, and Ciara enjoyed getting out of the house and spending time with Alayna. They arrived at the gates of the base right on time, and both women waited patiently as the officers checked their IDs and waved them through. Ciara’s was only a temporary pass, but that was fine by her. For now, temporary was how she wanted things.
“I’m so glad you’re going to help me with these last minute details. I have no idea what I’m doing, but since I’m the guest of honor’s daughter, and I’m the chosen of the men who run the base, I’m supposed to be the hostess and be part of the planning process.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Ciara said with more confidence than she felt. The truth was, she’d been to plenty of parties, but her mother had never trusted her to do anything to help plan them. Still, she had to know more about it than Alayna, whose life didn’t include these types of events at all before she’d been claimed.
Alayna unbuckled her belt and threw her door open. “Thank the stars. C’mon, let’s get this over with. The sooner we finish here, the sooner we can meet up with my guys…and yours.”
“They’re not mine.”
“You sure about that?” Alayna asked.
Ciara started to say yes
but found herself hesitating. Vance and Dane were definitely something to her, but were they hers? “Okay, I might be borrowing them for a bit. I don’t know if it’s permanent, though. So they’re not mine, per se.”
Alayna laughed. “You keep telling yourself that.”
“Shut up and show me where this party is going to be.”
“This way. And while we’re doing this, you’re going to tell me every wicked, delectable detail of what you and your ‘borrowed’ boys have been up to since they took you home.”
An hour later, Ciara remembered all too well why she hated her parents’ parties. There were so many rules and requirements to be addressed, along with a never ending list of details to be overseen.
“Shoot me,” Alayna groaned. “Please, shoot me and end this misery.”
Ciara snorted with laughter. “Not happening. If I shot you, then there’d be no one to end my suffering. Though at least it would mean an end to your questions about Vance and Dane. I swear you missed your calling. You should have been an interrogator, not a thief.”
“I’m only nosy because I care. Besides, I had a bet going with my guys about how long it would take their buddies to fall for you. As soon as my dad is gone, I intend to collect my winnings, now you’ve confirmed I won.”
“I do not want to hear the details of what your winnings are, thank you. And I can’t believe you bet on…on…that!”
Alayna laughed, entirely unrepentant. “I can’t believe they bet against me. I’d have thought they’d learned better by now.”
Ciara looked around the currently barren room. Normally, it was the officer’s club, but everything had been cleared away in preparation for the party. It was so empty their footsteps actually echoed on the wooden floors. It didn’t look like much yet, but one thing she’d come to realize was that her mother had nothing on the Alliance when it came to hosting a party. By tomorrow night, this place would be transformed. “Speaking of your bonded, I think we’re done here. Why don’t you escape outside to call them and let them know we’re finished? I’m going to do one last walk through.”
“You’re my hero, Ciara. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Well, you’re the chosen of the base’s leaders, so get used to it. I suspect you’re going to be called on to do this sort of thing from time to time.”
“Yet another reason I hope you stick around. You might hate it, but you’re pretty good at this shit. I’ll go call the guys and tell them to meet us outside the main doors in five minutes. Then we can go for lunch.”
With the room finally silent and empty, Ciara took a last stroll around. She made a few more notes about seating and table placement as she toured the space, her mind on the task at hand. When she was done she found herself near the back exit, so she took that way out. It was only a brief walk around to where Alayna would be waiting for her.
There was someone else using the walkway. She spun around in surprise and found herself looking at a face out of her past. Will Aster.
He gave her a nasty little smile. “Son of a bitch, it is you, Ciara. What’s it been, ten years? You turned me down. Took off for parts unknown, and now, here you are back in my life again.”
Ciara forced herself to inhale, expanding her lungs despite the iron bands that seemed to have locked around her ribs. William Aster was here in Fort Saken. His blond hair was thinning a little, but otherwise, he was exactly the same as she remembered him from the night of her twenty-first birthday party.
“Nothing to say to an old friend after all this time?” he asked with a sneer.
“We’re not old friends, Will.”
He licked his thin lips and leered at her. “We could have been friends. We could be friends now if you wanted to be. I know you’re in a tough spot, Ciara. No clinic. No home. No job. I could help you with that.”
“I’m doing fine, thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to meet some friends for lunch.” Ciara couldn’t believe this was happening to her again. Will hadn’t changed much physically, and clearly he was as deluded as the last time they’d seen each other.
He caught hold of her wrist, holding it so tight it hurt. “We’re not done talking yet. It would be rude of you to go before you hear what I have to say.”
“Let go of me!” Ciara yelled, hoping her voice carried far enough for Alayna to hear her.
“Well, this seems terribly familiar. You needing my help but too stubborn to accept it. You going to slap me again? I liked when you did that last time.”
“If you don’t let me go, my friends are going to come looking for me and you’re going to be in trouble.” She moved in closer and tried to knee him in the balls, but he blocked her knee with his free hand.
“We already did that, too. That part, I didn’t enjoy so much.” He let go of her wrist and grabbed her by the jacket, shoving her back into the wall of the building.
“I was out there the day you and your director friend visited Black Springs. I saw you kissing him. He’s the one taking care of you right now, isn’t he? Yeah, I bet he is. You fucking him so you’re not out on the street?”
“No! Get away from me!” Ciara fought back, using every skill she’d learned since leaving home, but she was no match for Will. He was an enhanced elite, trained to defend himself. He swatted aside her attempts to hurt him with ease.
“I’m trying to help you out here. When the director gets tired of you, come see me. I’ll take care of you. That’s how it works, baby. People like you need people like me.”
“No! Never! Help!” Alayna screamed.
“Stupid bitch. Why do you think you’re too good for me?” he yelled at her.
“Because I am.”
He let go of her jacket, and for a moment she thought he was letting her go. Instead, he backhanded her hard enough that stars filled her vision.
Even before her vision cleared, Ciara knew help was coming. She could hear several people running toward them, their footsteps getting louder every second.
She looked up to see Vance and Dane charging toward her.
“Ciara!” Dane shouted.
“Get away from her!” Vance bellowed.
Will shoved her toward the oncoming men and turned to run, but he had no chance of getting away. Vance flew past her and grabbed Will by the front of his jacket. He threw Will to the ground, driving his fist into the other man’s face on the way down.
Dane arrived a split second later, lifting Ciara into his arms and holding her tight.
Alayna and the others were right behind them, Nikolai and Colin doing their best to keep Alayna behind them and out of harm’s way.
“Tell me you’re okay,” Dane said.
“I’m okay. He only hit me once.”
“Son of a bitch! Why? Who is he?”
“I’ll explain in a minute.” Ciara looked over at Vance. Right now she was more concerned about him. She didn’t want Vance getting hurt on her behalf, but it looked like she had nothing to worry about. Will was on his back on the ground, his face bloodied, his eyes closed, and his body limp. The fight was already over.
Vance felt cheated. The bastard beneath him had fallen hard enough that his head had bounced like a ball when he hit the ground. Vance had gotten in one good punch before the guy passed out. As angry as he was, Vance was a doctor and he couldn’t bring himself to beat on an unconscious man.
Nikolai appeared beside them and toed Bridger’s shoulder, but the bastard didn’t so much as twitch.
“Nice moves, Doc. I’ll secure this sorry pile of shit while you go see to Ciara.”
Vance was on his feet in a second and ran over to where Dane was still holding Ciara cradled in his arms.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“He smacked me once in the face, but that’s it. I’ll live. What about you? Are you okay?” Ciara asked, concern filling her eyes.
“I’m fine. Right now I need to see what he did to you.” Dane lift
ed her higher in his arms as Ciara tipped her head back to show him her already swelling cheek. The bastard had hit Ciara. Damn it. He should have slugged him a few more times before getting up.
Alayna popped up beside Ciara, worry etched into every line of her face. “What the hell happened?”
Ciara looked down at the still unconscious soldier lying on the path. “Remember me telling you about the guy who attacked me at my birthday party? The one who offered to set me up as his mistress? That’s him. That’s Will Aster.”
Dane growled under his breath, and Vance agreed with the unspoken sentiment. That son of a bitch was never getting near their woman again.
***
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dane watched as his two favorite people fretted over each other. They had finished giving their statements and signing what seemed like a stack of paperwork, and now they were standing in the hall outside Nikolai’s office, deciding what to do next.
“For the last time, I don’t need a check-up. I put an ice pack on my cheek and the swelling is almost gone already. If anyone needs to get looked over, it’s you, Doc, or do you think I don’t see those busted up knuckles you’re trying to hide from me?” Ciara pointed to Vance’s hand.
Vance tugged his sleeve lower, covering his bloodied knuckles. “It’s nothing. They’ll be healed up by tomorrow. Enhanced healing, remember? It’s too bad Aster heals quickly, too. I’d like for him to suffer a bit for what he did to you.”
“He isn’t worth it. You’re sure you’re not going to be in trouble?” Ciara asked, clearly worried despite the reassurances she’d already been given.
Vance shook his head. “I’m not going to be in trouble. Nikolai’s in charge of base security. He saw you being attacked and he saw me come to your aid. We all gave our statements. There will be an investigation, but we all saw Aster shove you. He’s going to be charged with assault, and I have no doubt he’s going to serve time for it. Attacking a civilian visitor on-base, and a female at that? That bastard has a lot to answer for.
“He’s nothing but a bully and a manipulator. I’m sorry for any woman who fell for his lies. I’m glad he won’t be able to hurt anyone else, now.”