Hangman's Army: Lake Of Sins, #3

by L. S. O'Dea

“She’s twenty-one,” said Tim. “To Millie, that’s too old to be un-mated.” His green eyes landed on Hugh. “Your kind pair the Producers at thirteen.”

  “I didn’t have anything to do with that.” But it made sense. That’d give them the most breeding years. “For the record, I think it’s wrong. Let your daughter mate when she wants and with whom she wants. She shouldn’t marry the first guy she has sex with. There are plenty of males out there. She should sample...” Tim’s snarl made him shut his mouth.

  “That’s my daughter. I’d prefer that she never mate.”

  “Right. Sorry.” That’d be someone’s great loss. She had a body made for sex, but he wasn’t drunk or stupid enough to say that.

  “Are you going to side with Millie again?” Jackson’s voice was soft.

  Tim shrugged. “She’s my mate, so I have to, at least in public, but we’ll have a long talk about it.”

  “Trinity’s your daughter.” He felt bad for the brat. Someone should take her side, especially when she was right.

  “I know.” Tim took another long drink. “I won’t agree to pick her mate. I won’t.”

  Jackson snorted. “Like she’d listen to you if you did.”

  “I know. That’s why I won’t agree.” Tim grinned. “Never start a fight you can’t win.”

  Tim should’ve followed that advice before getting involved in the Allied Classes. He grabbed the bottle and took a drink to keep from saying the words out loud.

  “It’s hard, because I understand Millie’s concern.” Tim’s grinned faded. “The males have noticed Trinity and she flirts but—”

  “No one here would hurt her,” said Jackson. “These are all good Guards and Servants. And Producers.” He grinned. “And Grunts. Keep forgetting about them.”

  “How many total in the camps?” he asked.

  “We have fifty-seven at the other camp and thirty five here,” said Jackson.

  Ninety-two soldiers to fight a war. Unbelievable. He couldn’t command their army even if he wanted to because they didn’t have one. He took another drink, but only to ensure that his thoughts stayed in his head.

  “I know they’re all good guys but I worry. She’s always taking off by herself and”—Tim grabbed the bottle from Hugh, taking another drink—“I think she’s still waiting for Jethro.”

  Jackson nodded. “Me too.”

  They’d just handed him the perfect opening. He hadn’t had a chance to look at the reports that he’d taken from Conguise’s lab the night he’d freed Tim. He’d told his lawyer about them and she’d searched the evidence that’d been confiscated from his mother’s house, but they weren’t there. He’d start slow and work his way to the important questions. Jackson was his friend but the Guard’s first loyalty was to Kim and her family. “How are the Remore’s doing?”

  “They’re broke,” said Jackson. “Worse actually, they’re in debt.”

  “Did they take away the camps?” The job of running them should’ve gone to Jethro.

  “No. That would’ve been better.”

  “Not for the Producers,” mumbled Tim.

  Jackson ignored the Servant. “Martha and Kim refuse to send anyone to the Warehouse District.”

  “The Supreme Almighty must be thrilled about that.” He grinned, grabbing the bottle from Tim and taking another drink. This would be his last. He had to keep a clear head, but Jason’s unhappiness was cause for celebration.

  “No. I’m sure he isn’t and neither are a lot of Almightys. Meat prices have increased considerably because of it,” said Jackson.

  “Good for Martha and Kim.” Someone had to stand up for the Producers.

  “No, it’s not. It’s good for the Producers but not for them. Kim had to get a job to help support the camps.” Jackson snatched the bottle from Hugh and took another drink. “No one will hire a Guard. I told her to sell me, but she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t sell any of us.”

  “Is that why most of her Guards are here?” He’d wondered. With Benedictine gone and Martha and Kim in charge, living at the Remore house would be like a vacation for the Guards.

  “Yeah. I talked them into leaving. Less mouths for her to feed.”

  “Until she bought some replacements.” Tim’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Jackson. “Young, good looking Guards.”

  “What are you trying to say?” Jackson’s lips curled as he turned toward Tim.

  “Stop.” Hugh hit Tim on the shoulder. “Give the guy a break.”

  “I was kidding.” Tim frowned at him. “You’re no fun, never were.”

  “And you’re still an ass.” He faced Jackson. “Kim is in love with you. She has been for years. I used to wonder why she never gave any of the men who flirted with her a second glance but then I saw her with you and I knew.”

  “She shouldn’t love me.” Jackson stared at the bottle of whiskey. “It isn’t good for her. She needs to move on.”

  He felt for the Guard, he did, but talking about Kim wasn’t going to help and he needed to steer the conversation. “How is Jethro?”

  “He’s angry. He blames Trinity for his father’s death.”

  “What? She tried to stop it. He should blame me—”

  “He does.” Jackson smirked.

  Tim stood and slapped Hugh on the back. “See, not everyone loves High Hugh.”

  “Don’t call me that.” He was surprised Tim hadn’t been calling him by his title all along. Tim lived to annoy him.

  “I’m going to go take a piss and get us some food. Anyone want anything particular?”

  “Not hungry.” Jackson wrinkled his nose.

  “Surprise us, but bring water.” The Guard was going to need water. His eyes fell on the almost empty bottle of whiskey. They were all going to need a lot of water.

  Tim stumbled to the door.

  “Jethro wants to hate you, but you saved him and his sister from being arrested for their involvement in Viola’s death, so he’s a bit confused about you. Trinity?” Jackson shrugged. “The real problem is he feels guilty because he was attracted to her. His father didn’t tolerate interclass relationships.”

  “Benedictine was an ass and it sounds like his son is too.” Having a disapproving brother around couldn’t have made Jackson and Kim’s relationship easy.

  “Jethro is a confused kid and Benedictine was good to his family.”

  He sighed. “This makes my life look easy. At least my fath...the General was an ass to everyone. Makes it easier to hate him.”

  “I’m sorry about...” Jackson waved his hand in the air.

  “Discovering that I’m an orphan? That’s okay. I’m an adult. I’ll manage.” He was still trying to work through that revelation himself. He wasn’t ready to discuss it. “Have you noticed anything odd about Jethro?”

  “No. Why?”

  He shrugged. It was time for the important questions. He hadn’t been sure he’d wanted to mention his suspicions in front of Tim.

  “I’ve known the kid his entire life. He’s angry right now, has every right to be, but he’ll come around. He’s smart and kind. So tell me why you’re so interested in him? You already drilled Kim about her brother and now me.”

  Guards could be so protective. This wasn’t going to be easy but he had no choice. “I was there the night of his operation.”

  “I know. You freed Tim.”

  “Yeah, but what you don’t know is that we saw part of the surgery, if that’s what you want to call it.”

  “What do you mean by that?” The Guard’s eyes were cloudy with drink, but his tone was suspicious.

  “I saw Conguise inject something into Jethro’s spine. There was no cutting.”

  “They said it was non-invasive.”

  “I’ve never heard of non-invasive spinal surgery,” he said.

  Jackson shrugged. “It worked.”

  “Perhaps too well.”

  “Cut the crap and get to the point.”

  “Watch the attitude, Guard.”

  “I
no longer take orders from Almightys.” Jackson stood.

  He stood. “And I don’t take them from Guards.” He took a deep breath, running his hand through his hair as he sat back down. “This is why I shouldn’t drink. It can get my temper going.” He pushed the bottle away.

  Jackson grabbed it and sat down.

  He started to protest but telling a drunk that they’ve had enough didn’t make them do anything but drink more. “Conguise was performing genetic modification experiments. You saw Scar.”

  Jackson stared at the whiskey bottle and then his head snapped up, his eyes widening. “You don’t think...”

  “I don’t know. I had Jethro’s lab reports but they were stolen from my house before I had a chance to look them over.” He lowered his voice. “Conguise had them with other files, ones on Guards and Servants. He genetically modified Guards and Servants.”

  “He wouldn’t do that to an Almighty.” Jackson paled. “Would he?”

  “I’m not sure, but Jethro’s recovery was fast, miraculously fast.”

  “I thought that too. Even Guards and Servants don’t heal that quickly.”

  “So, I’ll ask again. Have you noticed anything odd about Jethro?”

  Jackson paused, thinking. “No. He seems fine.”

  “Good.” He relaxed against the back of his chair. “Hopefully, I’m worried about nothing.” His eyes met the Guard’s. “But I’d like a sample of his DNA to make sure everything looks normal.”

  “We can’t ask Kim.”

  “You can’t,” he clarified.

  “Neither can you. She’ll get suspicious and I don’t want her worried about that. She has enough on her mind.”

  “Trinity said that Casper and Carla stayed with Martha and Kim. Can you get a message to them and have one of them get his toothbrush or hairbrush?”

  “Yeah. I’ll talk to them,” said Jackson. “I pray you’re wrong about this.”

  “Me too.” He was pretty sure that he wasn’t.

  CHAPTER 24: TRINITY

  TRINITY STOPPED IN THE doorway of her parents’ tent. Mom sat on the cot by Kim and Arthur was sleeping in the corner. She hesitated, not sure if she was welcome after her fight with her mother.

  “Jackson should’ve told me about what they were planning to do.” Kim wiped the last of the tears from her eyes. “He’s so stubborn and closed-mouthed and so, so, stupid.”

  “Males often are. Especially, when they’re doing something they know we won’t like,” said Mom.

  “I just don’t understand. We were getting along so well and now...” Kim started crying again.

  “It’ll be all right. You’ll get through this.” Mom put her arm around Kim and looked over her shoulder at Trinity. “Get her some water.”

  That was all the invitation she needed. She hurried into the tent and over to the bucket next to Arthur. He was a cute baby with brown curls and a chubby face. He was quieter than Adam had been, not as outgoing. She filled a cup and carried it to the bed, handing it to Kim.

  “Thanks.” Kim took a sip and said, “I’m not sorry that you saved Hugh. He didn’t deserve to die. He didn’t deserve to be in prison, but...” She looked at Mom. “I love Jackson. I always have. I don’t care that he’s a Guard.”

  “Maybe, it’s for the best. Interclass relationships aren’t easy.” Mom glanced at Trinity.

  It wasn’t like she had a choice in the matter. She was mixed. Anyone she picked as a mate would be an interclass relationship in some way.

  “That’s what Jackson says but he won’t accept that I don’t care. It’s not like the authorities perform corporal punishment or executions for the crime anymore. The worst that will happen is that I’m shunned by my friends and if they don’t like that we’re together then they weren’t really my friends anyway.” Kim took a big drink of water. “But, now it’s over.”

  “Why is it over?” She didn’t understand what the problem was. Kim was mad because Jackson hadn’t told her about their plan to free Hugh, but that shouldn’t end their relationship.

  “They know he was involved in Hugh’s rescue. Curtis too. They came to our house looking for him.”

  It was like a slap in the head by Mirra. She’d never considered that by helping them Jackson would sacrifice his life with Kim. As a fugitive he couldn’t live or visit Kim and her family. “I wouldn’t have asked him to help if I’d known.”

  “I’m not mad at you. He would’ve helped no matter what.” Kim’s eyes were filled with tears again. “How did you decide on what day to free Hugh?”

  She stalled, not wanting to get Jackson in any more trouble. He’d chosen the date. She’d thought that they were cutting it a bit close to Hugh’s execution day, but the Guard had insisted.

  “He picked the date didn’t he?” asked Kim.

  She nodded. She wouldn’t lie. Kim was her friend too.

  “We were out of town that day. He made sure we couldn’t be implicated.” Kim laughed a little, but it was without humor. “We were at an event honoring those who lost their lives on the Night of the Trackers. There were a lot of powerful people there. No one can lie and say we helped.” She wiped her eyes. “We wanted to go to the jail to let Hugh know that everyone didn’t hate him, but Jackson said it’d look suspicious.”

  “He protected you. That proves he loves you.”

  “No. He lied to me. He kept secrets from me. If he loved me he wouldn’t have done that. I would never have done that to him.” Kim started crying again.

  “You’re young. You’ll find someone else. Someone in your own class.” Mom patted Kim’s hand but her eyes were on her daughter.

  “Maybe, she won’t. You didn’t.” She didn’t care if Mom made her leave. She couldn’t take any more of the hypocrisy.

  Mom’s and Kim’s heads snapped toward her.

  “This is not the time, Trinity,” said Mom.

  It was never the time when she had valid points. “You and Dad chose to stay together no matter the cost, even at the expense of your children.”

  “That was different.” Mom’s voice was sharp with anger. “If Remy hadn’t been the way he was, I would’ve obeyed and bred with my assigned mate.”

  She studied her mom. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Believe what you want.” Mom turned back to Kim. “I have to ask. Could you be with child?” Mom’s brown eyes were soft with worry. “If the answer is yes, there may be time to do...something. You have options.”

  Kim blushed and shook her head.

  “Are you sure?” asked Mom. “You never...”

  Kim’s face grew redder. “Yes. I mean...it’s possible but unlikely. We used protection.”

  She stopped breathing. Kim and Jackson had mated. He was a bigger jerk than she’d thought. What was wrong with him? They loved each other and they’d paired. They should be together.

  “What do you mean by protection?” Mom’s brow wrinkled.

  Kim’s face turned bright red. “I’d never considered that your kind didn’t know, but it makes sense. I’m surprised that Tim hasn’t said something. He has to know about contraceptives.”

  “Trust me. I’ll be speaking with him about this, but please tell me everything you know.”

  Kim glanced at Trinity.

  “If there’s a way to mate and not get pregnant, then by all means speak in front of my daughter.” Mom looked at Trinity and raised her eyebrow. “She refuses to choose a male for pairing. Yet, she’s getting older and I’m sure curious. Her father and I’d prefer that she be bonded first, but...I’m not a fool. She’ll either pair soon or experiment.” Her eyes gleamed. “She does have Servant in her blood.”

  “I would never.” This was payback for their argument earlier. She wasn’t like the Servants and Mom knew that. She was curious about mating but she had no intention of doing anything about it until she found a mate for life. It’d be hard enough to raise offspring with a partner; she wasn’t going to try to do it alone.

  “You may believe tha
t, but as time passes you’ll become more and more curious.” Mom turned back to Kim. “Please, explain about this protection.”

  “There are things that the male can wear and things that the female can take that prevent pregnancy.” Kim’s eyes darted to them and then back to her hands.

  Trinity had to stop herself from moving closer. Perhaps Mom was right about this. She was really curious and if she didn’t have to worry about getting pregnant...

  “It’s impossible to conceive when you use these things?” Mom glanced at Trinity.

  “No. They aren’t one-hundred percent, but it does make it unlikely.” Kim’s hand touched her stomach.

  So much for that. What good was protection if it didn’t work all the time? She wouldn’t risk bringing a child into this world, especially without a bonded mate.

  “So, you could be pregnant?” Mom’s voice was soft.

  “Yes.” Kim swallowed visibly. “It’s possible. I’ll know in a week. My courses are due.”

  “Let’s hope for the best then. A pregnancy would complicate things.” Mom patted Kim’s hand again.

  That was an understatement, especially a pregnancy between an Almighty and a Guard.

  Kim nodded, but her hand lingered on her stomach.

  “Come and see me, if you find that you’re pregnant,” said Mom.

  “If you’re pregnant, you’ll have to tell Jackson.” She almost hoped Kim was with child. Then the two of them would have to get back together.

  “Kim will do what she decides is best,” said Mom.

  “You think that not telling the father would be the best thing to do?” Her mother was unbelievable.

  “You don’t understand about these things,”—Mom’s voice cracked and her hand touched her stomach—“but if you continue to refuse to choose a mate, you will one day.”

  “Are you pregnant again?” Her eyes never left her mother’s stomach.

  “No, but I worry about it. Arthur was a surprise.” Mom looked at the sleeping baby in the corner. “A blessing, but I can’t have another one. Not now. Not living like this.”

  “Then don’t mate with Dad.”

  “It’s not that simple.” Mom blushed.

  Her parents were disgusting. She headed toward the door. “Kim, maybe you should tell Mom more about the things you can use to not get pregnant. She obviously needs guidance on that more than I do.”