I looked at my feet. Crap. No sandals. “Still in the temple.”
He ran a distracted hand through his dark hair, leaving it a wonderful, sexy mess I wanted to touch no matter how upset with him I might be. I must have been doing just that because he caught my hand, and put it back in my lap. Then he sighed and shook his head. “For someone who claims to love shoes, how is it you keep losing them?”
I shrugged. “Does it matter so long as you keep finding them and bringing them back to me?”
He gave me a long look that made me squirm. It felt like a caress along my body, as much as if he’d run his hands over my skin. “Yes, I will keep bringing them back. Always,” he said, and I knew we were talking about more than just shoes.
“Alexei, I’m sorry you think being with me makes you weak or if I’ve dragged you into some mess with One Gov,” I whispered. “I wish I could—”
“Don’t,” he cut in harshly before I could blurt out any half-formed thoughts. “Do you think I want to turn off these feelings? I don’t, so don’t wish for things to be different between us. Don’t tell me you want anything to change.”
“I…Okay.”
“I know this trip didn’t turn out as planned, and for that, I’m sorry,” he murmured, brushing his lips over mine. “I promise once I determine what Vieira wants and we deal with this, we’ll come back and you can soak up all the hot springs you can handle.”
How could I stay mad when he looked at me like I was the most important person in his world? “I assume you’ll be at these hot springs with me?”
“Where else would I be?”
The grin he gave me was enough to make me want to tear his clothes off and straddle his hips. I sighed, annoyed I could be so shamelessly and easily cajoled. “Fine. Just don’t forget to bring back my shoes before you head off to intimidate your next victim.”
I caught his fleeting smile. “I’ll have someone locate them, and see you back at the resort.”
He slipped from the flight-limo and the door closed behind him. I found myself whisked back to the resort with little more than a pretty apology. I couldn’t tell if things were better with Alexei or not, and I had a worried feeling I was about to make things worse. In my hand, hidden under my dress so Alexei wouldn’t see, was the holo-adapter the hooah had given me.
I held it up, looking at it carefully. What Vieira really wanted, I didn’t know, but the hooah had been right: I was curious. Curious enough I hadn’t told Alexei because I knew he would stop me. He said he wanted to protect me, but I suspected this was one thing he couldn’t save me from, nor did I want him to. I only hoped my curiosity didn’t ruin us in the process.
Chapter Eight
An hour later found me packing, which mainly consisted of me hurling belongings into luggage, annoyed with everything and nothing. When I heard the knock on the door, I whipped it open in mindless irritation rather than have the room AI confirm the visitor’s identity. I was in the mood to vent and didn’t care who heard me. Except…
Brody lounged in the doorway, dangling my sandals from his fingers. “Seems you forgot something in your travels.”
“I…Thanks.” Definitely not the deliveryman I’d been expecting.
This close, it was easy to remember why I’d been attracted to him. The first time I met him, he was far and away the hottest guy I’d ever seen. His hair had been longer then, the brown full of golden highlights. He’d been wearing a dark suit and looked like he’d just gotten off work—something in business where he sat at a desk and ran the CN-net all day. Yet I could tell by the way he carried himself, there was something worth seeing under the clothes.
I’d been food shopping at the local market near where I lived in Nairobi. I’d wanted strawberries and we both found the last basket at the same time. We had argued until we noticed they were rotten. I stalked off in a huff because I didn’t get my strawberries, oddly intrigued by this stranger. He’d argued so passionately for that damned fruit, it made me laugh when I thought about it later. When he appeared at my shop the next day—with a basket of strawberries—and asked me out, I’d agreed. He was the first man I’d been remotely interested in since Dante. I wasn’t sure the relationship would go anywhere, but decided to give it a chance. Dante had left me convinced no man could possibly want me—after all, who would want someone blacklisted by One Gov? Being with Brody had taken away the agony of both rejections.
“Why do you have my shoes?”
“Seems you’re not an easy one to keep secure. Alexei has terrorized his people for not doing their jobs and now everyone’s avoiding you.”
“So Alexei gave you my shoes?”
“Well, I mostly helped myself,” he admitted. “However, the rest is true. You’re making their lives hell.”
“Seems to be my MO lately. It’s not like I go out of my way to be difficult.”
“I know. I remember what you’re like. Drama has a tendency to follow you around.” With a grin, he held out my sandals.
“I don’t get off on drama.”
“I never said that. Just that being around you was never boring.” He shook my sandals at me. “Now that I’ve made my delivery, I need to get back.”
Amused, I took them. “Did you want to come in?”
Brody leaned against the door and shook his head, laughing a little and rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I’d like to, but you look busy demolishing the room. Plus, you’re not really dressed for company. Maybe we can rehash old times when you’re wearing something a little less shiny.” The last part was said as he waved a hand in my general direction, taking in my glittery blue boy shorts and matching tank.
Shit. I was standing in the doorway, talking to my ex-boyfriend, wearing little more than my underwear. Maybe Lotus could wear ribbons in public, but I couldn’t. I blushed, and to my complete and utter horror, my nipples decided now was the perfect time to perk up. I could feel them tighten under his gaze and hurriedly I crossed my arms over my chest.
Dashing back into the room, I dropped the sandals, found a resort bathrobe in the closet, and threw it on. Behind me, I heard Brody laughing.
“Not funny!” I shouted at him.
“I’m not the one who opened the door without checking,” he called from the doorway. “Still, it’s nice to know the real thing still holds up against my memories.”
I think I blushed harder and I willed myself to calm down before heading back to him. “Are you coming in or not?” I demanded, sounding bitchy even to me.
“Only if you promise not to jump me.”
“You’re hilarious,” I muttered as I slammed the door behind him. “Gods, you’re in rare form today.”
“All part of my charm. You’d be surprised how far you can coast. I never go anywhere without it.”
I laughed despite myself then had another brilliant moment as I realized I probably shouldn’t have invited him inside. Well, it was too late to kick him out now. He looked around with interest. Gods, were any of my panties in sight? That’d be all I needed. And what if Alexei came back and saw the two of us? Not that I should have to explain, but still…
“Nice to see what you can afford with unlimited gold notes,” he said mildly. “Leading the Consortium is a better gig than I imagined. I wouldn’t want the headaches or have to deal with the bullshit, but the perks look pretty good.”
“This doesn’t happen as often as you might think,” I said, gesturing around the room. “Alexei is away on business a lot, which is why I’m annoyed we’re leaving. I guess this isn’t really the trip I’d hoped it would be.”
I regretted the words the instant they were out of my mouth. I shouldn’t be complaining about Alexei to Brody, of all people. He didn’t need to know about any issues we might have.
“That’s why the Consortium hired me. I’m here to pick up the slack,” Brody said. “At least he knows he can’t do everything himself. Some in his position wouldn’t dream of bringing in a consultant.”
Which reminded me�
��Alexei had hired Brody on Konstantin Belikov’s recommendation. Why did Belikov want Brody in a role so potentially important? Not only was Brody my ex, but he was an outsider to the Consortium, and gods knew the Consortium wasn’t big on involving strangers in its business. Had Belikov really wanted to cause trouble between Alexei and me, or was there more going on than I knew?
“Does the name Konstantin Belikov ring any bells?” I asked.
That made him pause. “Everyone knows Konstantin Belikov. The man’s a terrifying legend in certain circles.”
“Have you ever spoken with him? Did you know I was with Alexei when you took this job?”
“What are you getting at, Felicia?” he asked, studying me.
“I don’t know. Nothing, maybe.” I shrugged. “I guess it’s just weird seeing you like this after all these years.”
“I could say the same. I never pictured you with the leader of the Tsarist Consortium.”
“What did you picture?”
He shook his head, smiling ruefully. “I don’t really know what I expected if I ever saw you again. I didn’t think you would be with someone like Alexei, though.”
“Why not? We have more in common than you might think. Besides, he gets who I am.”
“And can you say the same about him?”
I gave him a level look. “I know exactly who he is and what I’ve gotten myself into. We’ve been through things that forced us to accept who the other person is, and right now, I’m comfortable with that.”
“Doesn’t sound like you’re thinking long-term with him. What happens tomorrow? Or six months from now? I’d say you have more work on your hands than it’s worth. You know there’s something to be said for easy.”
His meaning couldn’t be any clearer, so I decided to ignore it. “Are you seeing anyone?” I asked instead.
“Me? No one. No wife. No kid either, just in case that was your next question. These last few years, well…Let’s just say relationships had to sit on the back burner.”
“What have you been up to then? Working on your consulting business?”
“Mostly. It’s hard starting from scratch, especially on a new world. It feels like I’m always hustling, trying to make a name for myself and looking to land the next big contract. Seems like it’s either feast or famine.”
I nodded, understanding perfectly. “Yeah, I know what’s that like. It sucks.”
“Yes, it does. So when the Consortium approached me, I jumped at the chance. This opportunity could lead to more.”
It sounded harmless enough. If Belikov was working an angle aside from driving Alexei and me apart, I couldn’t see it. “What are you doing for the Consortium?”
“I manage their assets and workload by handling negotiations with One Gov’s queenmind. The Consortium are smart enough to know when they need help. The One Gov issues they’re having on Mars are fairly complex, such as the Phobos problem.”
Phobos? I was instantly alert. “What problem?”
Brody gave me a look. “Honestly, it isn’t that exciting. With the best geologists all employed by the Consortium through the off-world mines, One Gov is asking if they could look into the stability of the chasm created by the penal colony explosion. That’s a bit of a red-tape nightmare to maneuver through, what with getting the correct permits and permissions from the AI queenmind. It’s a wonder One Gov manages to function and doesn’t choke on its own bureaucracy.”
“Oh, I never thought of that, but I guess it makes sense,” I said.
“You almost sound disappointed,” Brody teased. “Were you expecting something more cloak-and-dagger?”
“No. I don’t know. Never mind. It’s stupid.”
“Well, if there is something more, you’ll have to ask Alexei. I’m not sure what’s supposed to be kept confidential from you and what isn’t.”
Suddenly I was annoyed, not liking the implication that Alexei might be keeping secrets from me. That may have been the case once, but we’d learned from our mistakes. I also didn’t like that an ex-boyfriend was pointing out the flaws of the current boyfriend, especially when said boyfriend was irrationally jealous. I needed this conversation to end—earlier gut feeling be damned.
“Well, I guess we’re done here. You’ve brought my sandals, so thanks. I’ve got them now and you can go back to your consulting. See you later.”
Brody looked hurt. “Look, I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but I don’t know what the rules are between us. I work for the Consortium and we…I don’t know what we are, but I assumed we could be friends.”
“Yes, we can be friends. I just don’t like you implying Alexei and I are temporary or I don’t really know him.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again, then he looked pained. “I know I’m not entitled to an opinion, but Alexei Petriv? Of all the men in the tri-system, he’s the one you end up with?”
“You’re going too far, Brody,” I warned.
“It’s only because I care what happens to you. I always regretted pushing you for more when you obviously weren’t ready. Except now that you’re ready, it’s with him—someone who could hurt you worse than I ever could.”
“You’re wrong. Alexei knows better.”
“Then he’s smarter than I am. I guess I was afraid I’d left you worse off than when I found you. I wanted you to come with me to Mars, you turned me down, so I got angry and walked out. Time passed, I realized I was an idiot, and I told myself if I ever saw you again, I’d make it up to you. Do you think if I hadn’t rushed you, it could have been different?”
I hadn’t expected this outpouring from him. “I don’t know. I still had to get my life together. I probably would have driven you away with how irrational I became later.”
“Or maybe I could have helped.”
“I became obsessed with my blacklisted status until it took over my life. I did some pretty stupid things thinking I could get around the system.”
“And did you?”
“Eventually, but it gave me some emotional scars I’m not sure I’ll ever get over.”
“Then I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I’m guessing Alexei was and now you’re committed to him.”
“Yes. Completely.”
I expected some reply from him, but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. His eyes had landed on something I’d meant to put away but forgotten in the midst of packing and the emotional upheaval of the past few sols. The holo-adapter from Vieira. Shit.
Brody strode over to the dresser as if the room was his, and scooped up the adapter. “Felicia, what’s going on?” he asked, One Gov’s emblem clearly visible. His tone sounded like he hoped a reasonable explanation was forthcoming, but didn’t expect it. “What are you doing with this?”
“It’s kind of a long story.”
“I’m sure it is. Does Alexei know?”
“I haven’t mentioned it yet.”
Brody frowned. “Are you feeding Consortium secrets to One Gov?”
“Of course not! I’m not a spy and I certainly wouldn’t help One Gov after it almost ruined my life.”
“Then get rid of it. Having this is dangerous.”
Just what I wanted to hear. Why couldn’t I have simple conversations about easy things like the weather? “I can’t. It’s more complicated than flushing the adaptor down the toilet. I don’t think I can avoid him. Even if I get rid of that, he’ll just find another way.”
“Avoid who? Are you in some kind of trouble with One Gov? Do you need help?”
I choked back a laugh, stopping it before it could get out. Help? I doubted there was enough help in the tri-system. “Felipe Vieira wants to see me.”
“Why? What are you to the Under-Secretary?”
I swallowed. “I think I might be his granddaughter.”
He froze, his green eyes widening. “What does he want?”
“I don’t know. I’m supposed to contact him through the holo-adapter.”
“You know you can’t do that. A
lexei wouldn’t let you. Hell, I wouldn’t let you. Felipe Vieira is dangerous and makes Alexei look like a choirboy. Whatever he wants, even if it’s just a fireside chat with tea and cookies, forget it.”
He began listing the reasons why seeing Vieira was a horrible idea until I stopped listening. My gut started in, a silent counterargument to every statement Brody made. And that was weird because I hadn’t even realized how much I wanted to talk to Vieira until Brody tried to convince me I shouldn’t.
“You know I’m going, right?” I said when he paused for breath.
“Then you’re delusional. Alexei would physically lock you in a cage if he thought it would keep you safe.”
“That’s ridiculous. He’s protective, but he won’t lock me up,” I scoffed.
“No? I was with him five sols ago when he learned his girlfriend was missing. For one hour no one could locate her. He. Lost. It. Even when she’d been found and he’d been assured she was alright, there was no dealing with him. Of course, now that I see you’re involved, I’m not surprised. If I were in his position, I could justify that behavior too.”
“What did he do?” I asked, both mesmerized and worried.
Brody shook his head, indicating the topic was off-limits. “Just know he’d do whatever he thought necessary to protect you.”
“I’m still going to see Vieira.”
He sighed. “I know you are. No one can stop you when your mind is made up. I’d advise you not to say anything until after you meet with him then.”
“That was kind of the plan,” I said, not even realizing I had a plan until now. Brody was right. Obviously I couldn’t tell Alexei, and subconsciously I think I knew that. I wouldn’t have hidden the adapter otherwise.
“Someone should know what you’re up to in case it all goes wrong. Care to fill in the unenlightened?”
The Chaos of Luck Page 11