Stripper: The Fringe, Book 4

by Anitra Lynn McLeod

  “I need you too.” Softening the moment with humor, Duster popped off, “As Kraft would say, ‘Tell you what, I can’t go anywhere without your say-so.’”

  “Indeed.” Michael laughed. Carefully he turned.

  “See? You didn’t burst into flames for hugging another man.”

  “Granted. But I feel funny.”

  “You’ll get over it.”

  “Want your old job back?”

  The very question rendered Duster damn near dumb for a second. “Are you serious?”

  “Very.”

  “You drunk?” Duster gave him a sniff, and Michael stood for inspection with that quirky little half grin on his face.

  “No. Don’t blame it on that prop.” Michael laughed. “It looked like whisky but was actually cold coffee.”

  “You sat and casually drank while you interrogated Diane, didn’t you?”

  “Of course I did. Cruel, condescending and ever conceited, I played the Commander.”

  “She knows you’re Overlord.”

  “Then I played the overbearing, officious and offensive Overlord to a faultless tee. Just like I always do.” Michael considered. “Odd. My act never seems to work on you.”

  “I know your tricks.”

  “Indeed.” Michael conceded the point with a nod. “With what’s coming with Mary, I need someone I can count on to run things. You’ve proved yourself to me again. For about the millionth time.”

  “And all it took was a hug.”

  Michael gave him a look.

  Duster offered out his arms again.

  “Please don’t start.” Michael took half a step back.

  “It felt really good. Especially since you’ve got your shirt off.”

  “Duster.” Michael said his name in a warning tone. “Proceeding with this joke will not end well for you.”

  Duster dropped his arms to his sides. “So, am I Master-of-Arms to Windmere or Prime Bastard?”

  “Since I still owe you the naming of this ball of rock, I guess we’re back to Windmere.” Michael paused. “Which reminds me, maybe now you’ll tell me the meaning of that name.”

  “Not today.” No, this was not the time for Michael to find out his planet was, in a roundabout way, named after Diane. “What about Diane?”

  “She’s your problem.” Michael shook his head. “I’ll stay out of it, but I insist she have limited security—”

  “I’m not about to give her the keys to the kingdom.” Duster felt as if he’d just been through the proverbial emotional wringer. His whole mind and body hurt in ways he’d never experienced. “Let’s go see how bad the damage to your hand is.”

  “Later. There’s something we need to do first.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Diane sat in a cell that was against Mary’s cell. Thick glass walls prevented them from talking, but it became increasingly obvious Mary was in a great deal of emotional pain. Desperately trying not to cry, Mary would dig her nails into her leg to try to stave off tears. When she succumbed to them anyway, she would pound her pillow, then kick it around her cell.

  Embarrassed by the intensity of her display, the two guards who had been watching them respectfully retreated to a room off to the far side of the cells. They looked over a few times, then turned their attention to a card game.

  Wanting to reach out and touch her and remove the pain from her, Diane sat inept, unable to offer so much as a word of comfort. Focusing on Mary’s pain made Diane forget her own.

  Where could Scott be? Or Duster? Diane felt alone in a poignant way. Alone with the dark thought that Michael could ruin any chance she had to start over with Duster.

  Had Michael really smelled something on her, something that indicated she would betray Duster again? Or was he just screwing with her? If anything happened, anything that Duster perceived as betrayal, she had no idea what he would do. Their relationship was tenuous at best. Working together to protect Scott had brought them closer, but how long would that last? She didn’t like the idea of living her life in fear of making an innocent mistake and being accused of deliberately hurting Duster.

  Diane looked once again to Mary, who rubbed her right leg with a comforting series of strokes. Mary looked up and smiled, then shrugged, almost as if she was apologizing.

  In return, Diane shook her head, shrugged, as if to say this wasn’t Mary’s fault.

  Grinning impishly, Mary checked the two guards, who made a point of ignoring them, then put her finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.

  Curious, Diane watched as Mary fished a small disk from her boot. Holding it up proudly, Mary stood on her cell bed, slapped it to the wires that led out of her cell, then plopped down on the bed before the guards noticed. Not even half a second had elapsed.

  “Can you hear me?” Mary asked as if she already knew the answer.

  “Yes,” Diane whispered, delighted, yet she couldn’t quash a rush of guilt. This was exactly the kind of thing Michael would blame on her.

  “Don’t think the two guards can.” Mary breathed on her nails, then rubbed them briskly across her chest. “Sometimes it’s just too damn easy.” Mary caught her gaze and winked. “Neat, huh?”

  Diane could see why Duster called her Scary Mary and respected her ability to thwart security. Mary wore a crisp outfit that was all dark, royal purple—from her boots to her shirt. Yet her creamy coffee-brown eyes and hair and her clear, light skin brought the color to life. Purple Lady of Corona. Like Duster said, she didn’t look dangerous at all. Except for that wicked gleam in her eyes.

  “Turn your back to the guards.” Mary flopped back on her bunk as if she gave up. “Got a feeling they’d get a little peeved if they found out we’re chatting.”

  Diane kept her back to the guards as she reclined on her bunk. “Thank you for helping us.”

  “You’re so welcome that I got your son taken away and you tossed into lockdown.” Mary glared at the ceiling as she said it.

  “At least I’m still alive.” But for how long? “Do you know where Scott or Duster are?”

  “I’m sure Scott’s safe. Whatever Michael said to you, he won’t hurt a little boy. As for Duster?” Mary shrugged. “He’s probably in Michael’s office. They’re probably verbally dueling it out like always. Those two got a real knack for arguing with each other. It’s really kinda funny unless you happen to be the subject of it. At the moment, I’m quite sure you’re the subject of the verbal bashing fest rather than me.”

  “What’s going to happen to you?”

  “My oh-so-loving husband will let me out when he’s done being mad at me.” Mary looked around her cell. “Or I’ll break out.”

  Diane didn’t doubt for a moment that Mary could. “Why did you help us?”

  “Because I like Duster. I got a lot of newfound respect for a man who could tolerate Michael as a boss for seven years. I’ve been doing Duster’s job about seven days, and I’ve had enough.” Mary rolled her eyes, then smiled. “But I also found out Michael and I are going to be parents soon.”

  Mary touched her belly in a fond way that shot an instant pang of longing through Diane. To be pregnant again, this time with Duster around, would be incredible. But then memories of Scott’s birth spiked fear along her nerves. That night had been terrifying. She’d thought that both of them would die.

  “Congratulations.” Diane smiled at Mary through the glass.

  “Thanks. I think Michael’s still adjusting to the idea.” Mary bit her lip and shot Diane a worried frown. “What did you do to piss him off so bad?”

  Diane found herself at her first crossroads. She wanted to tell Mary the truth, but she didn’t want to be the one to tell Mary her husband was once a slaver.

  Tilting her head curiously, Mary said, “I know about Michael’s sordid past.”

  Diane’s eyes went wide. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “Got a knack. So, tell me.”

  After a long sigh, Diane summed it up in so many words about s
lavery, Network Thirteen and the shuttle. When she was done, Mary frowned.

  “Sounds like you didn’t have much of a choice.” Mary rubbed her leg, and Diane wondered if she’d bumped it when she’d rescued them.

  “I didn’t, but Michael didn’t seem to care.”

  “He’d never admit it, but he’s more mad you hurt Duster than him. Those two are like brothers. Twins, almost. If you hurt one, you hurt the other.”

  “How can you love a man so—” Diane cut herself off. What a rude thing to even ask.

  Mary laughed. “How can I love a man who comes across as the biggest, meanest, most massive bastard in the whole Void?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t put it quite like that.”

  “I’ve heard it put a lot worse.” Mary snickered. “I’ve called him a lot worse to his face.”

  “And he didn’t hurt you?”

  “Nope. He laughed. Let me guess—you had to face him in his office. You were bound hand and foot while he leaned against his big, important desk, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yeah-huh. He loves that power position. Michael’s a bit of a control freak. Sounds twisted, but it’s one of the reasons I love him.” Mary smiled up at the glass ceiling of her cell.

  “Did he do that to you? I mean, bind you and make you stand for inspection like that?”

  “I was bound, gagged and blindfolded. I, unfortunately, got caught stealing from him. Not a whole lot of stuff, nothing worth a whole lot, but enough to piss him off because I’d been getting away with it for years before he finally caught me. Or, rather, his triple-platinum Runner caught me.” Mary rolled to her side. “When my blindfold came off and I got a look at him, I thought I’d died and gone to some twisted version of heaven where the guy in charge turns out to be the sexiest devil in the universe.” Mary waggled her eyebrows. “I wanted to be all over him the second I saw him.”

  Diane had to admit Michael wasn’t hard on the eyes. “But weren’t you afraid?”

  “Of course, but I stood up to him anyway. He offered me a deal. To fight.”

  Diane’s mouth dropped open. “You’re less than half his size!”

  “Yeah. I think he thought I wouldn’t dare take him on in a fight.”

  “But you did.”

  “I had to. If I won, he’d let me go.”

  “And if you lost?”

  “I had to tell him why I was stealing from him, which I really didn’t want to tell him.”

  “What happened?”

  “I lost.” Mary nodded without shame. “But I still wouldn’t tell him. Not sure even now if I impressed him so much as I shocked him.” Mary laughed. “Eventually, he worked the truth out of me, but by that time, I’d already stolen his heart.”

  “You really love him.” Diane couldn’t imagine anyone loving Michael.

  “It’s mutual. And everything was great until Duster left. When Duster left, it’s like Michael lost his right arm.” Mary shot Diane a cool, speculative gaze. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way since we’ve been getting chummy here, but, word to the wise. If you hurt Michael or Duster or cause any problems for security, I will come after you myself.”

  “I won’t.” Diane lifted her hands in surrender. For all his massive, masculine power, Michael did not even come close to the threat that Mary implied with pointed words and her intense gaze. Mary made it clear that to cross her or any she held dear would be a grave mistake to make. Like Duster said, Mary didn’t look like much, but she hid an arsenal in her skull. Mary made a greater threat with her eyes alone than Michael could with an army behind him. “I don’t want to hurt Duster, Michael, or you or anyone. I just want a safe place for Scott.”

  “Good.” Mary nodded. “You and I got no problem, then.” Mary settled her hands behind her head. “Windmere’s a great place for kids. Good schools and there’s lots of stuff for kids to do, like fishing and hiking and camping and tons of waterways to explore. And it’s safe here. Between what Duster’s done with security and the little bit I’ve added, the IWOG couldn’t invade with a billion soldiers. They’ve pretty much given up and moved on to other, more easily civilized worlds.”

  “I’m glad. I’d been contemplating leaving Dahank because I’d heard rumors the IWOG wanted to civilize it.” She couldn’t bear the thought of Scott growing up in such a rigidly controlled world. On an IWOG world, Scott would have to spend at least four years in the military when he came of age. Worse, the entire populace would be bombarded by constant and invasive advertising.

  “Can you do anything?” Mary frowned at her own question. “I mean, like what kind of work can you do?” Casting a curious gaze to Diane’s diaphanous, green gown, she added, “What’s your skill?”

  “You think I’m a courtesan, don’t you?”

  “Given your ship and the way you’re dressed, the thought has crossed my mind.”

  “I’m a stripper.”

  Mary’s eyes went wide. “Oh, I get it. You’re the stripper Duster sought out. What a funny little co-inky-dink.” Mary rolled over. “You didn’t strip him, did you?”

  “I can’t strip someone I know. Memories that involve… It’s complicated. I didn’t even start on him.”

  “Thank God. There’s a lot of good stuff in Duster’s head. Would be a shame to have it stripped away.” Mary considered the glass ceiling above her. “Tell me why you love him.”

  “He’s the most kind and trusting soul I’ve ever met.”

  “Probably doesn’t hurt that he’s damn cute too.” Mary grinned.

  Diane smiled. “It doesn’t hurt, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s the inside of him I find so compelling. As soon as I told him about Scott, his whole attitude changed. He doesn’t trust me fully yet, and I don’t blame him, but he’d give up anything for his son.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me in the least. Duster has always taken an interest in the kids here. He worked his butt off to bring in some of the best and brightest teachers you’ll ever meet.”

  “Why?”

  “I always figured in anticipation of having his own kids someday.”

  “Did he date?”

  “Not from what I’ve seen or heard, but I’ve been here less than a year. I just thought he wanted everything ready for when the day came. Duster’s a planner. Methodical that way, you know?”

  “Yes.” The thought cheered and depressed her all at once.

  “Wait till you see his house! Blew my socks off first time I saw it. I’ve been keeping an eye on the place because I had this feeling he’d come back. I knew Duster wouldn’t stay away. He’d never be happy anywhere but here. Listen to me!” Mary laughed. “Hormones have turned me into a babble box.”

  “I don’t mind. I’m glad to have someone to talk to.” Diane fought down the urge to roll over and check the guards. She had a feeling if there was a problem, Mary would know about it long before she would. “Tell me more about Duster.”

  “Can’t tell you how happy I am he has come back.”

  “Will Michael forgive him?”

  Mary nodded. “He’s probably gonna have to go through some hell to get back in solid with Michael, though. And I tell ya, I wouldn’t want to be in the room to watch that go down.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “We really should see Murphy or Jynx about your hand.” Duster yanked on his boots. All four of his blades were there, and that spoke volumes of trust. He couldn’t believe he got back in Michael’s good graces by reducing him to tears. Even after seven years together, Michael could still surprise the hell out of him.

  “It’ll keep.” Michael unwrapped his shirt from his hand. “It already stopped bleeding.” He tossed the ruined shirt aside, then handed Duster his old belt full of weapons.

  “Aw, you kept it.” Everything was exactly where he’d left it, even his favorite epanel.

  “I was hoping you’d come back.”

  “I must have really pushed your buttons to get you to crush a glass with your bare hand.” Just t
he thought of it reminded Duster of how strong Michael was.

  “No one can push my buttons like you. Hell, not even Mary can infuriate me like you manage to do.” Michael tossed him his old wrist com. “You keep me grounded.”

  “One of my special skills. And I’m good at it because I know you better than she does, even though she shares your bed.” Duster slapped his wrist com on and laughed.

  “What?”

  “Felt weird to not have that on, kinda like I was naked.” Duster checked all the functions. “I kept looking at my wrist and wondering what the hell happened to it.”

  “You don’t know how many times I put out a call to you and got angry when you didn’t answer. Worse, I was furious when Mary answered in your stead. She kept having to remind me that you were gone.”

  “Aw, how sweet. I missed you too.” Duster slapped Michael’s back. “Gonna get all mushy and hug me again?”

  “I might wrap you in a bear hug and squeeze the breath out of you if you bring that hug up again.” Michael looked darkly serious, then laughed. “Damn, I really did miss you.”

  “Likewise.”

  “Did you really think I wasn’t eventually going to be happy to see you?”

  “Gee, let me think about it—yeah! The way you were acting scared the crap out of me. I thought you were going to string me up and flay me alive.”

  “I just couldn’t believe you came back with her.” The face Michael made was one Duster hoped to never see again.

  “Diane’s my wife.”

  “Let’s not get into that again.” Michael tossed him two plastimetal bracelets. “Little one’s for Scott. Other one’s for Diane. And no”—Michael held up his hands—“no backup drugs in either one.”

  “Or mine?”

  “There aren’t any chemicals in any of them.”

  “Good.” When Michael was containing prisoners, he put various drugs inside the bracelets so that if all else failed, he could inject and incapacitate a rowdy captive.

  “Now, even though I’m trusting you to a point, you can’t change the security access on either bracelet. Only I can. None of you can get off-world without my direct permission.”