by Kait Gamble
He settled back against the wall with her resting against his side, her head on his shoulder. She looked so peaceful when she was asleep. It was a huge difference from the semi-scowl she wore like a protective mask.
Keys couldn’t stop a finger from sweeping a wayward curl from her face. Like the woman, even her hair refused to be contained.
He’d heard the conversation Aurelia had with the girl and knew how much it hurt Auri to think about the past, much less talk about it. That she told the girl so much surprised him. Keys knew she would be implementing her plan now, but she’d never given up so much detail about her past to anyone outside the group.
As far as he could figure, she was working on gaining the girl’s sympathy and confidence to draw more information out of her.
He stared down at her angelic face. He could sit for hours just looking at her, marveling at the expressions her stubborn brow, long lashes, smooth skin and pouting mouth could execute. Who knew someone so delicate and petite could harbor such a devious mind?
Keys shifted slightly, knowing that doing so would make her grumble a little. It was lamentable how much joy it gave him just to hear that whisper of sound. His attraction to her had been almost immediate. It took him a while to get over the shock of finding a young lady near catatonic with grief in the middle of a prison break. Her gritty determination and guile quickly evaporated everything but respect and a glimmer of something else.
Over the years, as much as he denied it, he had fallen in love with Aurelia.
The others knew of his feelings, of course; the only one who didn’t was the object of his affection. And he would keep it that way as long as possible. After what she went through with the boy in the prison, he was sure she wasn’t interested in forging another relationship. Not that he could blame her. One of the most important men in her life destroyed the other. Something like that wasn’t easily forgotten.
Keys had weighed it over in his mind a million times. There were so many reasons why they’d be good together. Their age difference, barely nine years, was negligible compared to some of the other couples he’d seen. His station in life, while not as grand as hers, was nothing to sneeze at. He was wealthy enough. Nouveau riche, but rich nonetheless. Or at least, had been. What deterred him was the fact that he’d been branded a criminal. Stripped of everything. Tainted. Completely unworthy of a woman like Aurelia.
Wealth, he could easily regain. He’d done it once—he could do it again. But nothing would make up for taking a life, no matter how justified it had been at the time. He wanted to at least try to atone for his sins. Perhaps in time she could see him as someone she could share her life with. Until he was able to provide her with the home and family she’d spoken about earlier, he wouldn’t make a move.
Meanwhile, he would just remain a pathetic man who had to content himself with holding her while she slept.
* * *
Aurelia was gently nudged awake. She grudgingly forced her eyelids open to see Kateryn’s blond hair gleaming in the near darkness. “What is it?”
Her brows furrowed guiltily. “Sorry. I couldn’t sleep and wondered if you wouldn’t mind talking a bit.”
Auri felt Keys tense and knew he was awake, though his face gave no indication. She patted his shoulder gently. “We’d best get away from here then. How about we talk outside?” Aurelia mentioned where they’d be on purpose. Knowing where she was would keep Keys happy for the time being.
She got up and followed Kateryn down the stairs, trading a glance with Keys as she did.
Aurelia stopped at the door, motioning Kateryn to stay back. It was habit for Meri to add extra precautions to guard their location. Ones that weren’t exactly warm and fuzzy. She quickly found the trip wire and disabled it. They quietly exited the suite but once they were outside, Aurelia stopped walking. Kateryn paused to look questioningly at her.
“What’s this about, Kateryn?”
“I just wanted to talk, is all.” She shrugged. “All right. The truth is, I have a question.” Kateryn stepped closer to get a good look at Aurelia. “How did you take control of the men? They hardly seem like the type to blindly follow a woman.”
The question spiked ice through her system but she feigned a yawn then shrugged. “They just learned to follow my lead, I guess.”
“But how is that possible?”
Kateryn’s expression was a bit too bright. Auri figured this would be the perfect time to “share” a little more. “When I was in the office with the warden, I might have stolen a few things that would put the odds in my favor.” Aurelia thought back to her impulse to steal the files of all the inmates. She’d figured at the time that it would erase Alex’s presence from all the records. It made for some interesting bedtime reading for some weeks afterward. The other item stolen was a bit more deliberate.
Kateryn trembled with excitement. “Goodness! I can’t imagine what you could have that would put four men under your thumb.”
Aurelia leveled her gaze on the girl. “On the tour, my father took great pride in telling me how that particular prison was kept under control.” She fought from grimacing. “All the inmates were fitted with a device on the backs of their skulls.”
“A device?”
“All I’ll say is that if an inmate were to get a little too unruly, he would soon find himself without a head.”
Kateryn’s jaw dropped. “But that’s so cruel!”
“I thought we’d already come to the conclusion that my father wasn’t the coddling sort.”
Kateryn seemed to remember then what he’d done to Aurelia and the entire prison. “I see your point.” She contemplated the facts for a moment. “How was it triggered? Was there some sort of perimeter they couldn’t go beyond?”
A slip. Auri wondered where a “sheltered” girl like her would have come up with that idea. She shook her head. “Not sure if there was a perimeter, but there was a remote control.” Auri reached into her blouse and pulled out a heavy gold chain. On the end of it was an amulet as pretty as any other. Cradled in the center of the filigreed gold nested a large aqua-colored stone the size of her thumb. It glinted tauntingly in the light as she turned it to show the girl. “All it takes is one press of the stone.”
“This is it? It’s beautiful! Hardly looks lethal.” She reached for it, but Auri kept it away from her grasping fingers.
“Well, it is. Very.” Auri carefully replaced it in her blouse. “And there you have it, the secret of how I took over. With the threat of having their heads blown off, if they so much as look at me wrong, learning to follow my orders became second nature.” She raised her brows at the blonde. “Any reason for the sudden curiosity?”
Kateryn’s lips curved wide, revealing a perfect row of teeth. “I admire you. You’re so smart and strong. I wish I could be like you.”
Auri laughed at the flattery, since she assumed that’s what the words were designed to do. “There’s still time yet. All you have to do is find your own group of criminals to exploit.”
Kateryn’s tinkling laugh joined Auri’s. “Maybe I will.”
The girl digested the information. Auri could see the glee on her face. The calculation. Aurelia was free of fatigue but forced a yawn. She needed time to think. To wait and see what the girl would do with the details she’d just been fed. “If you’ve quite finished with the questions then?”
The younger girl put a tentative hand on her arm but quickly removed it again. “Thanks for putting up with me.”
Smiling, Aurelia turned and led the way back to the apartment. Once Kateryn was inside and the trip wire was back in place, she went straight back to where Keys was still feigning sleep.
He opened a sleepy eye when she flopped down next to him. “That was quick. Still can’t get to grips with girl talk?”
Auri tapped her ear. It was possible the girl w
as still listening.
Keys smirked.
“You weren’t kidding when you said she was a chatterbox.” Auri sighed and laid back to stare out the window. “She’s curious about you and the men. Asked how I managed to control you all.”
He chuckled. “And how did the little lady like that one?”
“She seemed to be more taken by the jewelry than by what it actually does.”
Keys chuckled. “So, what’s it to be? Try to get a few more hours of fake sleep?”
She felt his hand close over her shoulder as he tried to get her to lie back down. Aurelia pushed it away. “I’m fine. I just want her out of our lives so we can get back to some degree of normalcy.”
“You mean, this isn’t?” He laughed outright when she punched his shoulder. “I agree.” Keys fell back until he was flat on his back. “I suppose you’re wide awake now?”
“Yeah.” She worked a kink out of her neck. “I was going to take a look at Meri’s handiwork and see if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“I’ll join you. It’s a bit odd, isn’t it, that he hasn’t finished yet.”
It was. When Meri put his mind to something, it was sorted as soon as he could put the pieces together. Something as simple as a communicator should be child’s play for him. It never should have taken him more than a few hours to make one, even with the meager supplies and equipment. He’d been able to manage some amazing feats in the past.
“Thinking about the time Meri made that laser scalpel from the antenna?” Keys got up and offered his hand.
Auri stood without taking it. She’d forgotten about that. “I was actually thinking about when he fashioned the bomb from the things he found in that abandoned diner.”
Laughing quietly, they descended the stairs. Kateryn was out of sight and the rest of the men were, presumably, still sleeping. Even Meri had apparently given up for the night.
Auri raked her wayward hair from her face and attempted to smooth it back into the braid. “Why don’t I make us something to eat? You can check on Meri’s progress.”
He shook his head and moved her bodily out of his path toward the kitchen. “No. You go check on Meri’s new toy, and I’ll go make us something to eat.”
She rolled her eyes. “I undercook one meal and everyone treats me like I’m out to poison you all.”
Keys’ crooked smile made her mouth curve in turn. Even as he shoved her along. “No arguments.”
“Fine. Have it your way.” She headed to the front room that was now serving as Meri’s temporary workshop.
The machine parts scattered around the room and the strange mass of metal and wires assembled in the middle was pure Meriwether L. Prior, Jr. At one time it would have been almost incomprehensible to Auri, but she’d learned enough from him over the years to learn what was what. As far as she could tell, it all looked fine. She circled it again, admiring the handiwork. As always, Meri’s work was above and beyond all expectations.
It wasn’t until she looked at the underside that she noticed anything amiss.
“What are you doing over here?” Auri murmured to the transistor. It was dangling off a wire as if it had fallen out of its place. She placed it in her pocket to ask Meri about it later.
The creaking of his mechanical arm heralded Bam’s entrance. “I knew I heard voices.”
Auri winced at the nerve-plucking sound that came from his arm when he tried to scratch his head. “Where’s your oil? Meri’s going to be apoplectic if he has to make you another new arm.”
Bam sheepishly rubbed the back of his head with his good hand. “Thank you, miss. I’ll get it.”
Keys brushed passed Bam. “Morning, Bam.”
Bam gave Keys a wolfish grin. “Yer both up awful early. Not doing your job right, Keys.”
Keys feigned a head-butt at him, laughing all the while. “Shut it, haftik.”
Auri always marveled at how Keys could make the derogatory term sound almost like an endearment. The younger man didn’t seem to take any offense as he waggled his brow and disappeared into his room.
Auri laughed as Keys handed her a steaming mug of coffee. “He’s got a one-track mind.”
Keys sipped from his mug. “And he’s not too subtle either.”
“Who has time for subtlety?” Bam reappeared with an oilcan and handed it to Aurelia. “The way you two are goin’ about things, I’m never goin’ t’be an uncle.”
“Bam, we’ve told you many times.” Keys waved a hand between himself and Aurelia. “No romance. No romantic feelings.” He wagged a finger at Bam when he opened his mouth to retort. “No.”
“I’m just saying. If I spent as much time with a woman as you do, she’d know everything about me. If you know what I mean.”
Auri banged Bam’s head lightly with the oilcan. “We always know what you mean. Now, drop it. No matter how much you want to live vicariously through Keys, it’s not going to happen.” Keys’ little speech was clear. There was no interest on his part. Nothing that she didn’t already get, but hearing him articulate his non-interest felt like a punch to the heart.
“Who said anything ’bout vicarious, miss?” He leaned close and pursed his lips at her. “Say the word, and we’ll leave these jokers in the dust. I saw an asteroid a while back that we could drop ’em off on.”
Leave it to Bam to make her snicker. Her laughter mingled with the sound of her adjusting his prosthetic so that she could reach all the joints. “Sorry, but Everhard is the one for me.”
“Glad to hear you finally admit it.” The aforementioned sauntered into the room, tucking his shirt into his trousers. “Not many ladies have the willpower to stay away from this for so long.” He winked. “It was only a matter of time.” He leaned in for a kiss, only to be thwarted by Keys tugging her out of the way at the last moment.
“Hey!” Everhard threw a fist that missed Keys completely but managed to catch Bam, who needed little provocation to jump into any fight.
Meri walked in and narrowly missed catching an elbow in the face. “I leave you children for a moment and this is what I come back to. Honestly.”
Auri laughed along with the men. She was taking a sip of her coffee when Kateryn caught her eye. The girl was observing them from the hall, looking almost amused by their antics.
“Morning, Kateryn. Come in. Have some coffee.” She waved the girl into the room.
The group noticeably straightened and sobered. They reacted to Kateryn’s approach as if she were a bomb about to go off.
Auri could barely hear her whispered, “Thank you,” when Keys handed her a mug.
The men’s mood shifted and they soon found something else to occupy them. Meri and Bam went back to work on the communicator. Everhard shoved Keys out of the kitchen to prepare the meal, while Keys decided to take a shower.
Left alone again, the two women regarded each other silently over their coffees.
Kateryn took a sip and grimaced. After a long moment she hazarded the first word. “I’m sorry if I bothered you earlier.”
“Not at all.”
The girl grimaced again; this time it had nothing to do with the coffee. “I’m grateful to you all, you especially, for saving my life.”
All the fatigue Aurelia thought was gone came back in an avalanche. “Please, just stop. Don’t be grateful. Don’t be frightened. Just be you.” Auri held her gaze until Kateryn nodded. “Good. Now. Do you have any useful skills?”
“Why?”
“Well, unless we can get word to your father, I’m planning on keeping you with us. So it would be a good thing if you can do something other than staring gormlessly into space.”
“But wouldn’t it be easier to just drop me off? We’re on a well-populated colony now.”
“I’d rather make sure you got to your father in
one piece.” The truth was, Auri didn’t want her out of her sight. The girl had too much information on them and she’d proven herself to be a liar. A combination that didn’t sit well with her. She was going to find out what the hell was going on.
“Of course. I can do anything you like. I’m a fast learner. Tell me once and it’s stuck.” She tapped her temple.
Auri stared at her. “That’s all well and good. But you must be able to do something specific.”
Kateryn pouted. “I grew up among nobility. I wasn’t taught how to do anything except catch a suitable husband. And I failed at that. Surely, you must remember what it’s like.”
She did, but that hadn’t stopped her from learning skills her father would have deemed unladylike.
Keys walked past at that moment and caught Auri’s eye. The look on his face made it quite apparent that he’d heard every word and wasn’t impressed. “You said you were a fast learner. That’s something.”
The starry-eyed look from Kateryn had Auri’s teeth grinding.
“Observe what we do,” Auri said. “Just don’t get in the way.”
Kateryn squealed in excitement as she flung her arms out to give Aurelia a hug. An arch of her brow froze the girl to the spot.
“Don’t make me regret keeping you onboard.”
Her arms dropped and the smile was replaced by a serious mask. “I won’t, miss.”
“Good.”
Chapter Five
“Eureka!”
Aurelia walked into the living area to witness Meri and Kateryn performing a little jig of triumph around the radio.
“I take it you got it working?”
“We did!” Kateryn continued bouncing. “I managed to send Father a message. You won’t have trouble with him anymore.”
“That’s wonderful.” Auri fought a grimace as whole muscle groups bunched at the announcement. She wondered who her “father” was.