Valerie laughed and wiped the tears away before Hyka could see them. “You really know how to make a girl feel special.”
Hyka ruffled the hair on Caleb’s head, waved to August with no direct threats, and walked away.
“She’ll be all right. Hormones, you know,” Jack said. “But she’s serious. Stay out of trouble, kid.”
Valerie lost what little composure she held onto and buried her face into Jack’s shoulder. “Call me every day and keep us updated. We’ll be fine here. You’re the ones behind enemy lines.”
“Technically, it’s neutral.”
“Be safe.” The words came out of habit, words she had said to Scott every time he went out on the rail. Be safe was a prayer he would come back home after his trip. A prayer she would see him again.
Valerie retreated to August. Caleb waved goodbye enthusiastically to his pseudo aunt and uncle. They watched the jet taxi out to the runway, take off, and move out of sight.
“Don’t you dare count minutes,” August warned as they made their way back through the airport.
“168 hours.”
August pulled her close. “I’m sorry I got so angry. I know none of this fair. I’m glad you’re feeling more like yourself. I just hate I’m not the one to make you feel that way.”
Teresa looked back at them then whispered something to Duke. His brow lowered. He took Teresa by the arm and hustled ahead of the rest of the group.
“Duke has orders to keep an eye on her.”
“Hyka gives Duke orders?” Valerie laughed. “Should we wait on Kevin to come back?”
“You didn’t see? He motioned to me that he was walking over to the cemetery.”
“I think we should review Kevin’s surveillance soon. Is there audio outside?”
“Not outside. Too loud with the plane anyway.”
“Was it hard being back in the grand hall?” Teresa asked genuinely. “The video of what he did, or was going to do, to you in that dressing room is burned into everyone’s brain. I can’t imagine how hard being back in that place was for you.”
Valerie set aside the monthly orphanage report and looked at Teresa, gauging how much of the truth the woman could handle. Knowing Teresa’s past relationship, maybe this was the connection Valerie needed.
“Do you understand the effects of the DiaZem gene? Like how August and I are like magnets?”
“Yes. I know that much. Is there more to it?”
“It’s really like an involuntary attraction. When you see some incredibly attractive person, and they are equally attracted to you, the connection is so strong that very little can be done to keep your wits about you.”
“I see. So you and August struggle with wanting to rip each other’s clothes off every time you see each other. That would distract anyone from a shitty memory.”
“You know, Teresa, what messed me up most about the entire Lucas Jarrett event in the grand hall, because he and I had the same connection, is that a big part of me wanted him to succeed. How disgusting is that?” She waited for Teresa’s reaction. The woman was wide-eyed and nodded for her to continue. “I don’t trust my feelings around August, because Jarrett was so dementedly bent on taking everything I ever held dear, and I kissed him back. My body melted at his touch. His energy moved through me, was me, and I wanted him.”
“You think August will hurt you, too?”
“It’s always in the back of my mind.”
“I’m just trying to understand. I’m sorry if I’m prying. I know I’ve never seen you two together until now, but it seems like you two are fighting now. You both seemed so happy together.”
“Because my head knows the attraction isn’t real love and I have far more control over myself than he has over me. It’s causing some… tension.”
“When I was with my husband, not all the times were bad times. I loved him, because isn’t that what love is: staying through the bad times because they aren’t all bad times? I knew Lucas Jarrett in the beginning when I was in housekeeping. He was pure evil. My husband was a sick man, but nothing compared to Lucas. He never hurt me, but after seeing what he did to you, and finding out he killed all those people.” Teresa paused. “I’m glad I’m here with you.”
A bead of sweat formed on Valerie’s hairline. She had seen Teresa before, and now she vividly remembered the girl Jarrett ordered to wait in his room in a maid costume. She steadied her breath as to not give herself away.
“Did you ever take advantage of the Facility’s counseling services? To work through your abuse and such?” Valerie asked, changing the subject.
“No. Did you?”
Valerie let out a small laugh. “No. Hyka has been my therapist, really.”
“She’s very protective of you, too. I have so much respect for her, even if she doesn’t like me. I think she sees me as a threat to your friendship. It’s not my intention to take her place personally. Just professionally, and temporarily at that.”
“Well, I’m thankful to have you in her stead. And if nothing else, you’ve got a new friend in Kevin.”
“Duke, too,” Teresa said, smiling.
The two men in the entire city bent on making Valerie’s otherwise content life miserable had befriended her assistant.
“Oh yeah?” Valerie played cool. “There’s a hard nut to crack.”
“He’s actually really nice, once you figure out how to connect with him. You don’t really trust anyone? Not even the people who are trying to help you?”
“When people around me stop dying and organizations stop forming against me, maybe I can relax a little.”
“There are fewer people with access to the Facility now,” Teresa said, trying to reassure her but missing the mark.
“Fewer people in my family, too.” Valerie turned back to the logistical report from the orphanage.
“It’s warmer today; want me to take Caleb to the playground in the courtyard?” Teresa suggested.
Valerie smiled but didn’t agree.
“I saw that you don’t need me on Saturday or Sunday. Did you have something planned for those days? I want to make sure there wasn’t a mistake. Hyka didn’t mention days off.”
“Hyka and Jack are fairly permanent fixtures in our lives. I don’t ask Hyka to manage my weekends, no. But she’s always around, regardless. I wasn’t familiar with your routines, but it didn’t seem fair to make you work seven days a week.”
“But it’s only seven days, and then I’m back to managing the living area.”
“We’ll see as we get closer to the weekend. Play it by ear? Today was a good day, though. Thank you for your help in reviewing all this paperwork.”
“Oh, this is easy stuff. Keeping up with your schedule, though. I don’t know how you do it all.”
“With good help.” Valerie smiled, but she wanted Teresa far, far away from her and her family. She had six days to use Teresa to flesh Kevin out, and with the way Teresa admitted her connections, finding the truth might happen even sooner than anticipated.
“They’re late,” Valerie whispered to August. She sat on the couch in their apartment, eyes glued to the TV screen. Each second that ticked away caused Valerie’s heart to race. August had only just arrived in the apartment, and Valerie was far too anxious about talking to Hyka to tell him what she’d realized about Teresa earlier in the day. Then, nearly screaming at the flash of the television’s image changing, she pointed at the screen which was now populated with the images of Jack and Hyka.
“Hey!” Jack chimed with a huge grin.
Valerie covered her own smile in relief. They looked relaxed and well. She waved back at Hyka. “Well? How is sunny Florida?”
“It’s hot, and it pisses rain every five minutes,” Hyka complained.
“The East Coast never experienced Phase Two,” Jack said, wasting no time.
“What? The General Population is still alive?” August asked, leaning forward.
“We’ll call it a civil unrest. There are large numbers of Coun
cil sympathizers who are out here claiming to do their master’s work. They terrorize and murder the General Population. Martial law is basically every man for himself. There are havens for both Conductors and General Population, but without a DiaZem, there’s no real order.”
“So, why did the DiaZem leave the area open? Why didn’t they do Phase Two?” August pressed.
“That Elizabeth girl in the interview,” Valerie said to August. “She lied. She said she was in charge of the detail to clean it up.”
“No, she didn’t lie,” Jack answered her. “Kansas City and surrounding towns did experience a Phase Two on a smaller scale, much like Denver, within a few days after the Awakening.”
“This isn’t adding up. Is the East rebelling from the Council? Why haven’t they answered our requests for a treaty if they’re going against the genocide?”
“That much we don’t know,” Hyka said. “They don’t broadcast organizational messages like we do. The people are just left out here to fend for themselves. Securing a loyal team and extending your message to the East Coast is the only way to restore order here. August, I know the fleet’s important, but these people need help now.”
“Okay.” Valerie nodded to August, who met her eyes in agreement. “Any luck on leads?”
“The Council has done a sweep for DiaZem already. The one still here is in hiding, helping the community with bursts of power periodically but not on any set schedule or consistent time frame. Some say they’ve met him. Others say it’s a chick. It’s only been a day. Hopefully, we’ll have more leads soon.”
“I miss you,” Valerie said.
“Shut up. You’re fine. We’ll call back the same time tomorrow.”
Jack waved, and Hyka walked off of the screen.
“What do you think?” Valerie asked August.
“I think they have more time to get more answers. Maybe the DiaZem team in DC can be won over, but it’s too soon to tell.”
August stood, but Valerie pulled him back and he fell into the couch next to her.
“Since you took your time getting here, I didn’t get to tell you. I reviewed Kevin’s surveillance,” Valerie said. “You’re not going to believe this.”
“What?” August sat up with his full attention.
“The shower. They shower together, and that must be where he divulges his secrets and his information.” Valerie rolled her eyes. “He’s so gross.”
“What? Who showers together?”
“Kevin and Teresa.”
“Your assistant is sleeping with your brother?”
“Yeah, but I have a plan.”
“Valerie, she’s closer to you than anyone else. If Kevin was up to something, of course he’d use her to get to you. You’ve known about this? I mean before yesterday?”
“I know what I’m doing, Aug,” she teased.
He sat close to her but not close enough. Valerie kept her promise to leave the locket in her room when they were together. With as much pushing him away as she had done since getting the locket, she still needed him around, at least until Janie was born. Now, she needed to reel him back in. Valerie stood to walk past him, but purposefully caught her foot under his and gracefully fell into his arms.
“Are you alright?”
“Am I that good of an actress?” She kissed him and pressed her weight onto his chest. There was no going back. She wanted this man, and she would have him. Not because she needed to, but because in this playful moment, she wanted to.
His hands moved over her body as he met her appetite with his own—until his hands trailed over her abdomen. She tensed, and a wave of nausea came over her. She felt disgusted with herself. His presence helped her forget about the baby, but his touch reminded her of the very reason she never indulged in her desires to be with him. Then, like the old familiar switch, she stood up, walked to her bedroom, and shut and locked the door. What was she thinking, pursuing a man while she was pregnant? Valerie shuddered to shake off the lingering sensations of his touch. She pulled the necklace over her head and settled herself into bed.
Did she want him or not? Valerie warred with herself, and her newfound independence. The locket was all fun and games, but she struggled between what was real and what was her genetic disposition. Was her liberation real, or was Jarrett’s energy still manipulating her? August never gave her any reason not to trust him, and here she was playing with his emotions, just because she wasn’t able to sort her own out.
For a long time, she thought about calling Hyka to give her a better perspective, but instead decided she would not give her friend another reason to worry.
The next morning, Valerie found August and Caleb already eating breakfast.
“I made you eggs over-easy. I know you’re not supposed to have under-cooked eggs, but under certain circumstances, like healing remarkably fast, I think the indulgence is worth the risk.”
“You could have brought it to me in bed,” Valerie joked.
“I didn’t know how you’d be after last night. Besides, I had an early morning with Duke. He confirmed Teresa’s a skank.”
Hearing August use the word “skank” made Valerie spit her orange juice. She playfully slapped at him while snatching a napkin to clear the dribble from her chin.
“Mommy, you made a mess,” Caleb said, handing her another napkin.
“Mr. August said a naughty word. We don’t say ‘skank’ at breakfast, do we?” She glared at him.
August threw his hands up in defense. “Sorry. She’s easy.”
“Like Pac-Man. Uncle Kev says Pac-Man is too easy,” Caleb said.
“Yes, baby, like Pac-Man,” Valerie said, raising her eyes at August.
“You have no competition for me, Val. Never will.”
“I have a few things going on today she can help me with. Then we have a baby appointment tomorrow and the DiaZem teleconference. I’ll dismiss her over the weekend. Hopefully, by then, Jack and Hyka will be on their way home.”
“What about her and your brother? That’s a dangerous combination,” August said, taking a bite of toast.
“If I told them not to, they would just hide it from me, which might prove to be more dangerous. He’s my older brother. He’s never taken well to me telling him what to do. At least she’s feeding me information we wouldn’t otherwise have. Besides, there is no access she has that he doesn’t already have.”
“A key to the apartment.”
“No, Hyka kept it. You haven’t noticed I have to let her in?”
August stopped chewing, his brow creased, and he wiped a few crumbs free from his trimmed beard. “She has a key.”
“Oh, I must just be used to anyone having full access to me. But are you sure?”
“She came back here to get something for you the other day. Just let herself in.”
“Did she say what she was after?”
“No. Said you’d forgotten something from your room.”
“How do I confront her about this? If she and Kevin are already in cahoots, any inclination of our suspicions could force their hand. But shouldn’t she have a key? If Hyka gave it to her, she should have it, right?”
“If she and your brother aren’t ready to do whatever they’re planning to do, then we can cut them off now.”
“What can we prove, August? I can’t throw them in prison based on a letter from my dead dad and her being a slut. That’s crazy.”
“Valerie, you have good reason to be paranoid. He’s been a complete dick to you since this started. He’s only just starting speaking to you again when…” August coughed to keep from saying the words.
The wounds were fresh. Valerie left her napkin on the table and escaped to her room. She wasn’t angry with August but wanted to shield Caleb from the mirage of emotions flooding over her constantly. She reached for the necklace and put it in her pocket. Once her emotions were under control, she returned to the table.
“What if you took him on an expedition for the Chicago DiaZem?” she suggested when
she returned to the table.
“And leave you here? Alone? With the hussy?”
Valerie raised her hands and dropped them. “I’m out of ideas.”
“What if you left for Chicago, Val?”
“You know I can’t do that. We would lose the power footprint.”
“You’ve spent months pushing me away. I’m just wondering if you blame me for things I’m unaware of.”
“That’s not fair, August.” She knew the locket was the true target for his anger. Not her.
“It’s not fair that I have done nothing but hold you up and support you through all of this, and with nearly every breath you breathe, you ask me to leave. Now that you have this locket, you don’t need me for anything. You play on my affections because it makes you feel less guilty for blaming me.”
“Please don’t talk like that in front of my son.” Her fists balled at her sides. Scott would never challenge her this way. He would never blindside her with allegations.
Caleb looked between the two adults. “Now you say ‘I’m sorry.’”
August stood up. “I’m sorry.” He left the apartment.
Teresa and Valerie walked in the warm light of the late morning. Not much was said as they sipped their coffees. Valerie reflected on the night before. She had been so close to giving in to August, and what if she had? Would anything really change? Who would even know to judge her about sleeping with someone while she was pregnant? They all likely assumed the worst anyway. Valerie’s thoughts strayed away from August when the cemetery came into view, because she noticed someone standing alone over the headstones. When she opened the wrought-iron gate, she realized who the visitor was. The black man with tired eyes turned to see who disturbed his vigil. Their eyes met.
He looked down before turning back to the graves. “I can leave, Your Majesty, if you wish.”
“It’s been a long time, Max.” Valerie slipped her shoes off. The grass was cold and wet under her bare feet. She let her excess energy release into the earth, took a deep, conscious breath, and continued into the yard to stand next to Max.
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