The Chaos of Luck

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The Chaos of Luck Page 29

by Catherine Cerveny


  “You look beautiful,” he said, kissing my cheek. “I can see I’ll have my hands full keeping all the fools away from my granddaughter tonight.”

  I laughed. “Don’t worry. I can handle fools so long as they’re not too persistent. Then, I might ask you to have them arrested.” I said the last bit gesturing to the hooahs.

  He grinned and, in a conspiratorial tone, said, “I’m worried they might be part of the problem.” Then in a more normal voice, he said, “Tonight my only interest is getting to know my granddaughter. This will be fun, I think.”

  I forced myself to return his grin. “I hope so. Today’s been incredible so far and now I’m wearing the dress of a lifetime. I love it, by the way. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, and I’m glad you liked both it and today. I admit to having help since I’m not entirely versed with what you might enjoy.”

  My grin faltered a little. There was only one person on Mars he could check with and that wasn’t something I was ready to acknowledge yet. “Well, thank you for taking me in and giving me time these past two weeks. I’m not thanking you for the bee stings in the rose garden, though. I could have done without those.”

  He smiled down at me, his green eyes crinkling at the corners, as he tucked my arm around his. “You’re welcome, bee stings excepted, of course. And I want to thank you for the card reading. I’ve already spoken to my staff. Evacuation will commence once word reaches the outpost in Ovda Regio. Probably within the next sol.”

  I blinked. “That fast?”

  “You said we only had a few weeks to act.”

  “But what if I’m wrong and those people are uprooted for nothing?” I protested, flabbergasted. My readings had never actually impacted so many people, so quickly. This was a level of influence I couldn’t even imagine.

  He arched an eyebrow. “And are you often wrong?”

  “Not really,” I admitted.

  “In that case, look at the lives you’ve saved. You’re just thrown off by the scale. When it comes to dealing with the tri-system, you need to think big.”

  “But…” I couldn’t think of a compelling argument to use against him, because I couldn’t wrap my head around the scope of what he was saying.

  “I know I said I was ashamed to ask you to use your gift this way, but consider what you could do for the tri-system. I think all of us, and One Gov in particular, could benefit from your skills. If you came to work for my office, you could influence billions of lives for the better.”

  I stared at him, not sure if I was horrified or amazed. “Are you offering me a job as part of One Gov?”

  He paused, considering. “I suppose when you put it that way, yes, I am.”

  “Doing what exactly? I’m just a Tarot card reader. I don’t have any MH Factor or t-mods. I barely fit into One Gov society as it is. I’m not qualified for whatever you’re suggesting.”

  “I disagree. With your gifts looking out for the fate of humanity, I don’t believe there’s anyone in the tri-system more qualified than you to guide One Gov into the future. The ideas behind One Gov are sound, but there are many who believe it needs fixing. Perhaps you might be the one who could do it.”

  The idea was so staggering, I could only nod mutely.

  “And if One Gov reached a compromise with Petriv and the Consortium over the future of the tri-system, it would be due to your influence. You would be what binds us together. You do realize that, don’t you?”

  “I never thought about it that way,” I admitted, or maybe I had but on a level so vague and nebulous, it didn’t count as a real thought. Yet now that he’d flung the idea out there, it seemed…exciting. Scary, but exciting. My gut seemed to agree.

  “Well, take some time and think about it. Helping to settle the unrest in the tri-system might not be such a bad way to use your talents.”

  Wow. I felt like I stood on the cusp of something so potentially huge and life-changing, I didn’t even know where to begin. Something that was so far beyond my current world of Tarot card readings for dogs and their idle-rich owners, it was like I was trying to look at the whole universe using only a magnifying glass. Could I do this? Did I even want to? Then again, how could I not? If there was a way to make things so that no one ever went through what I had because of One Gov, or ensure no one felt like a second-class citizen, I had to do it. If I could do more than tell people they were going to find love again or get that promotion at work…If I could actually, really help them…

  So I nodded—hard enough that I worried I might shake the sea foam roses out of my hair.

  My grandfather regarded me quizzically. “Is that a yes?”

  I nodded again. Breathless. Excited. Not really caring about the details because I knew they’d work themselves out later. Only really knowing that I had to do this or I would regret missing this opportunity forever.

  “Yes, it’s a yes.”

  He grinned at me. “Good. Then let’s celebrate and enjoy ourselves tonight.”

  With that, I was whisked away to the gala in much the same way I’m sure Cinderella was taken to the ball, except I had a lot more to think about. And I was pretty sure I had nicer shoes.

  Our flight-limo was part of a multi-vehicle escort. When we arrived at Red Angel Center, hooahs surrounded us to the point where I barely saw where we were. I didn’t even get a chance to see the famed Elysium light display bouncing out over the water, and only caught the signal lights of the space elevator in the distance. Vieira took my arm and kept me stepping along purposefully when I preferred to gawk.

  Red Angel Center was the premier venue in Elysium City, hosting big money events for the Martian jet-setters, charity galas, some religious ceremonies, and Mars founding sol celebrations. I’d only been there once—when Mrs. Larken had thrown a “Welcome to Mars” party for her dog Puddles and cemented my unenviable status as the psychic dog whisperer. It was located on the edge of the Waterfront District, overlooking Isidis Bay, and surrounded by golf courses that boasted the longest fairways in the tri-system and numerous high-end hotels.

  Inside the center, the hooahs kept a bubble of protection between us and the crowd. We were directed through a lobby with massive chandeliers dripping with ruby-colored crystals, in keeping with the red theme. The glossy-tiled floor alternated between red and white circular pattern blocks. Some of our hooahs dropped back, partially eliminating the wall between us and the rest of the world. I clung to Felipe’s arm, afraid I’d be swept away by the crowd if I let go. I found myself with a glass of red wine in my hand courtesy of a glamorous woman in a skintight, floor-length red gown with what looked like angel’s wings grafted to her back. She walked through the crush of people carrying a tray of glasses. I saw other such “angels” working the crowd, each carrying trays.

  “Watch,” Felipe murmured, his mouth close to my ear so he didn’t have to raise his voice. “This is where things become interesting. Stay close. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “Don’t worry,” I assured him, awed by the sheer number of people. “If I was any closer, I’d be in your pocket.”

  He laughed and I sipped my wine, which turned out to be the smoothest, most flavorful wine I’d ever tasted—so good, I knew there would be trouble if I didn’t eat something.

  “If anyone proposes marriage to you, tell them they must go through me first. I have to approve all potential suitors,” he said.

  I nearly choked on my wine. “No one’s going to ask me to marry them. You can’t be serious.”

  But there was no chance to say more because at that point, the crowd descended on us and I realized I was with the most powerful man in the room, if not the entire planet.

  I lost track of how many people I was introduced to or how many men kissed my poor right hand. Wisely, I gripped my wineglass firmly in the other hand, preventing anyone from kissing it as well. Some slobbered. Some licked. Some had dry lips. Some were sweaty. After a while, all I wanted to do was wash my hand. I was examined like prized live
stock. My breasts were ogled, the color of my eyes commented on, and my beauty praised until I think I threw up a little in my mouth. And I had no doubt they were all over my CN-net flat-file avatar, tagging it so they could harass me at their leisure. I received no less than six offers of marriage, and couldn’t even count the offers to “date” me and show me the sights of Mars.

  And while everyone I met had the same basic level of physical attractiveness thanks to One Gov’s genetic standards, most of them repulsed me. I hated how they fawned over me or sidled up to Felipe, clearly hoping to gain his attention. They were so obvious, it was nauseating. I knew few were interested in me. I was just a means to gaining access to the Under-Secretary. Actually, the same happened with Alexei, but to a lesser degree. He’d made it clear from the outset I was off-limits and no one was to approach me. I had to make the first move. This smarmy group were so obvious, my intelligence felt insulted and I wanted to scream.

  I didn’t, which should have earned me karmic brownie points. Instead I smiled, made sympathetic noises, asked polite questions, and laughed when it was appropriate. Some were One Gov ministers of one department or another. Some owned industries that manufactured either agricultural goods or medical materials; it was hard to keep track of who owned what. However, what I did see was the influence and power Felipe wielded. I saw how he worked a crowd and turned on the charisma. The world rotated around him. No, three worlds actually, and this was the man Alexei needed to replace: my grandfather.

  In that moment, I understood how caught in the middle I really was and how true Felipe’s words were. My boyfriend needed my grandfather out of the way in order to take power. But I didn’t want my grandfather out of the way, and I didn’t want my boyfriend to be the one who did it. And now that I’d agreed to work for Felipe, I had been maneuvered into a position so confusing, I’d need an AI flowchart to decipher it.

  I gulped my wine, my second glass of the evening. Not smart, and I could already feel it. I had two al-effect tablets in my clutch purse I could take to neutralize the alcohol. Maybe it was time I used them.

  I set my glass down on a passing tray, plucked my other hand away from whoever’s lips were kissing it, and announced I needed to refresh myself because, damn it, I needed to pee! That last bit I cleverly kept to myself.

  “Forgive me, Felicia,” Felipe said, looking amused as I cut the latest hand-kisser off mid-compliment. “We haven’t even found our places. Some of my people will escort you and bring you back once you’ve finished. After, we can look over the auction items.” He leaned in, kissed my cheek, and in my ear murmured, “Your grandmother would be thrilled to see you here, almost as thrilled as I am.”

  He then patted my cheek in the most paternal touch I’d ever received before sending me on my way. I turned, dazed, my hand going to my cheek as if I could somehow hold on to that touch. Wow. How the hell had I been affected by him so quickly? But the feeling was unlike anything else I’d experienced since saying good-bye to everyone I had ever known and coming to Mars. This was finding a grounded center in the middle of all the whirling chaos around me. In its own way, being with Felipe Vieira felt like I was with Granny G again. Different obviously, but so similar it made my heart ache. This was family. And family lasted. It mattered. I couldn’t walk away from him. Whatever happened, this was one relationship I couldn’t leave behind.

  Three One Gov hooahs took positions around me—one in front, one in back, one on my left. The one to my left was a woman. I hoped she wasn’t going stand watch over me while I peed. My shy bladder wasn’t down with that level of closeness.

  From previous experience, I knew the facilities were down a floor, close to the banquet hall. We headed in that direction, my hooahs effectively pushing back the crowd. No one stepped on my foot or jammed an elbow into my ribs. I also had enough space that even though I was weaving a little, I wasn’t tripping over anyone.

  We finally reached the top of the massive escalator that led down to the actual banquet hall. It was wide and quite long, with multiple handrails spaced throughout depending on where you stood. I paused, catching myself so I didn’t plunge headlong to the bottom. My hooahs paused with me, waiting until I pulled myself together.

  And that was when I saw him, in a place he had absolutely no business being—a One Gov–sponsored charity event—waiting for me at the bottom of the escalator. Alexei Petriv.

  He wore a suit, but more fitted and formal than anything I’d ever seen him in before. It showcased his utter physical perfection from the broad shoulders, deep chest, and lean waist. The jacket was longer, hitting just above his knees, but couldn’t hide the muscular thighs or the hint that there might be something else spectacular going on down there. But while everyone else wore light colors, he wore black. It made him looked predatory and dangerous, like a wolf standing in the midst of a flock of sheep. With his thick black hair slicked back from his face and his head tilted to watch me, I couldn’t help but admire those sculpted cheekbones or the eyes a blue so vivid, I felt pinned in place.

  Women walked by him, staring as they passed. He paid no attention, his eyes fixed on me, his hands behind his back. Time stopped and I shivered under the intensity and the weight in that gaze. I knew he could track my every movement through my c-tex once I turned it on, but how had he known I would be at the gala? Felipe must have told him. It was the only explanation that made sense.

  And after two weeks apart, he’d come for me at the first opportunity—right in the middle of a One Gov event. He wasn’t stupid, but he was arrogant. Maybe he wanted to prove he could get to me whenever he wanted. Yet I could also see how he stood at the bottom of the escalator, making no move to approach.

  It took a minute for my drunken thoughts to process it as I watched him, waiting. If I still wanted him, I had to go to him. He wanted me, but it couldn’t be all him. No doubt that was why he’d let me run in the first place. I’d asked him to let me go, so he had. Now I had to decide if I wanted this. I had to make a move too, even if it was a single step in his direction.

  He was a liar, a killer, and probably worse. But seeing him there, waiting for me to come to him…Gods, he was beautiful. He took my breath away and made me ache with longing. Had he really lied, or had he held back the truth because he’d been afraid to tell me, as Felipe suggested. Had his fear of losing me brought us to this? And was Felipe right? Could I have everything I wanted with Alexei? I used to be so certain of that. Certain he could give me everything I would ever want or need, despite who he was. How had I veered so far off course? How could my gut so willfully lead me away from what it had once wanted so badly? Was it possible to get that feeling back?

  I reached out a steadying hand to the railing, using it so I could get my drunk and uncoordinated legs to cooperate with my brain. Tentatively, I put one foot on the moving step, afraid I’d lose my balance if I went too quickly but also worried I’d miss the second step if I took too long. I bit my lip and put my other hand on the railing until I clung to it like it was the only stable thing in the tri-system. Then miracle of miracles, my feet caught up to each other. Both were on the same step at the same time, moving in the same direction—down to Alexei. My eyes met his and I shrugged, embarrassed at my predicament. His expression softened and he took a step forward, no doubt to save me from falling on my face when I reached the bottom.

  Except I didn’t. A second later, the One Gov hooahs shifted around me. The rear hooah grabbed my arm and plucked me off the steps. I stumbled backward and nearly fell. One of the other hooahs set me back on my feet away from the escalator.

  “Ms. Sevigny, we have reports of violence outside the Center. We need to move you and Under-Secretary Vieira to a secure location,” the female hooah informed me.

  I gawked at her. “What’s happening?”

  The hooah looked momentarily blank, presumably receiving intel of some kind. “Militants,” she said. “We believe it’s dissatisfied miners protesting the Consortium and One Gov crackdown after
the bombing a few weeks ago.”

  I looked at her, confused. Crackdown? What was going on?

  Before I could puzzle it out, I heard someone calling for me. My eyes flew to Alexei, but he was gone. My name was shouted again, more insistent this time. I turned to see Brody striding toward me, a determined look on his face.

  He moved quickly, not quite at a jog, but something close to it. He also wasn’t dressed for a charity gala. In fact, he looked like he was there for a straight-up break-and-enter. As he strode closer, I saw something in his right hand. Now I regretted my two glasses of wine; I had trouble following his movements.

  When he was almost on top of me, I saw the stun wand. He caught two of my hooahs in the chest, hitting them with the wand. The woman and one of the men went down immediately as a bolt of electricity zapped through them, frying their t-mods along with most of their brains.

  He spared the wand a brief glance before dropping it. Instead he took out my third hooah with a handful of punches to the stomach, too fast for me to see. The man crumpled, moaning in pain. Brody moved past, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me after him. When I stumbled in my platform heels, he jerked me mercilessly upright.

  “Brody, what are you doing?”

  “Don’t fight me on this, Felicia,” he threw over his shoulder. “Resist and you’re a dead woman. Come with me and maybe you’ll live.”

  “My shoes!” I protested. “I can’t run in these things!”

  But he said nothing, just dragged me after him and hauled me up when I fell. In seconds, my arm was on fire and felt like he might wrench it from its socket. He pulled us through the crowd, shoving aside anyone in his way. I tried to keep up, but my shoes and dress made it impossible. And it was all happening so fast, my brain couldn’t process it. At least I was sobering up now that fear had adrenaline pumping through me. But I wanted him to stop and I wanted Alexei. And I wanted to know what the hell was going on.

 

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