Muscle twitching in his jaw, Kai said in a cold, toneless voice, “You move from that spot or try to bolt, and they'll have to take you to the infirmary before they lock you up. Understood?"
The man nodded without lifting his head. Kai then turned to the rest of the people, his attention going to the other man who'd been standing in the center of the circle. Del now saw that the man was actually little more than a kid, still carrying a gangly adolescent awkwardness, but his thin face was haggard and his eyes were sunken with care and worry.
"Manny, I swear I didn't take any. I swear!"
The small woman who'd been hollering at Pete stepped closer. “He didn't. I saw what happened and he didn't take anything."
"I know he didn't,” Kai murmured. “I can see it on his face. It's okay, Jinx."
The thin young man slumped against a slicer in obvious relief, and the small woman patted his arm soothingly. A young woman standing to Del's left let out a sudden sob and darted across the distance to Manakai.
"Manny!” she wailed in what seemed to Del like a fine bit of theatrics, but Kai seemed to take her at face value, folding her into his arms gently.
"It's all right, Bib. It's all over.” He rubbed a hand in soothing circles on her back as she cried in great wracking sobs against his chest.
That seemed to be the breaking point for the rest of them. Suddenly they were all crowding around Manakai, babbling an explanation of what had happened. From bits and pieces of what Del could hear, Pete had tried to sell Jinx a hit of the extremely addictive drug Blue, which Jinx was hooked on but trying to kick. The small woman had seen what was happening and interfered loudly enough to bring everyone else running. Including the twins.
Manakai nodded and murmured soothing comments to each of them, and Del got the disorienting impression that they saw him as a father figure. It was a difficult concept to grasp, considering what he'd seen so far of Kai's reckless nature. Even more disorienting was that they also seemed to see Sin as a mother figure. He got this impression when the girl Bib stopped crying long enough to say, “She was so mad!” in an aggrieved tone.
They all hushed and looked at Kai with identical anxious expressions. He patted Bib on the back and gave the rest of them a gentle smile. “You know she wasn't mad at you, right? She doesn't like being wrong about anyone."
Almost as one, their eyes turned to Pete with varying levels of hostility. Wisely, he kept his mouth shut and his head lowered.
"You can all give her a warm welcome home when she's calmed down some. In the meantime, we've got somebody joining our crew."
As a group they shifted around until they were facing Del, and he nodded with an uncomfortable smile, well aware that the timing of his arrival couldn't have been worse. They'd just been betrayed by one of their own, if he was getting his info right, and somebody new would be looked on with suspicion.
Kai seemed to sense this and broke away from the group, untangling himself from Bib gently. He approached Del with a crooked smile. “How ‘bout I introduce you later? If you head through that door over there and go up three levels, you'll come to our offices. Sin should be there. I'll be up just as soon as they come around for our enterprising friend.” His smile turned hard as he glanced over at Pete.
Del nodded and headed away from the group towards the door. Before he went through, he glanced over his shoulder to see the group crowding around Manakai again and shook his head. Weird. They were like some bizarre, dysfunctional family.
Chapter 4
Del left the maintenance bay, entering what looked like a service hallway, and found the lift. He keyed it to go up three levels and then stepped out into another hallway similar to the one below. There was only one door, so he opened it and stepped through, stopping short at the sight before him.
Kai had said offices, but Del had never seen such grand business surroundings. The room he'd entered was huge, with a glass wall showing other offices beyond. An enormous desk presided over the place on a stepped up elevation. Behind the desk, a viewer covered the entire wall, showing a beach scene as if they were at the edge of an ocean. On one side of the office was what looked like a fireplace flanked by overstuffed chairs. On the other side was a full bar. In the center of the room, a long, highly polished table with high backed chairs dominated.
As the door closed behind him, Del realized that he'd come into the Shay offices the back way. Feeling like an intruder, he edged further in and spotted Sin in the next office talking with a neatly dressed young man. The man nodded several times and then turned to go. She stepped up to the glass wall, and it seemed to melt out of her way as she walked into the room. There was still an edge to her movements, and she cast him a sharp glance before turning to the bar without a word.
"Uh, your brother sent me up here...” he started uncomfortably, but she waved a hand at him.
"Come on in. I don't stand on ceremony with my off-laners, so you're free to come and go as you please up here, unless Kai and I are in meetings."
He took a few more steps into the room, but then stopped in discomfort. This was the first time in her presence that he'd felt inadequate to the surroundings—her surroundings. He felt like some Fringe degenerate crashing his way into civilization for the first time.
She walked towards him carrying two glasses, and her lips quirked as she took in his expression. “You'll get used to it. It's just for show anyway. Intimidates the hell out of the competition."
He slowly took the glass she handed him and glanced down at the liquid there. It was clear, but that didn't reassure him. Maybe she'd just forgotten the juice this time.
"Water,” she murmured with a smirk and moved away with fluid grace.
He cleared his throat and followed her, taking a quick swallow of the cold water before saying, “Don't suppose you'll explain what happened down there."
She set her glass down on the bar with a click and leaned there, giving him a cool look. “Kai and I gave Pete a chance to make something of his life, to change his future to something much brighter than it was going to be. He screwed it up."
"So you rolled on him."
"He rolled on himself,” she snarled and pushed away from the bar, pacing across the room with fierce strides. “He knew the deal. One chance only, his last chance! He had everything he could want, but he tossed it. He couldn't give up his old life. Can you, Del?"
She sent him a piercing look as she paced, and he settled onto a barstool, tilting his head at her.
"I didn't have a life,” he said quietly. “The Core took it from me."
She dropped her eyes, a small frown furrowing her brow, but she didn't stop pacing. Del drank his water and watched her, wondering about her agitation. And enjoying the smooth flex of her muscles and sway of her hips as she paced.
Silence filled the huge room, but Del didn't try to start a conversation. She didn't look like she wanted to talk. A few minutes later, the back door opened and Kai stepped through. Sin spun and lifted her eyebrows at her brother in question.
"He's gone,” he responded.
Her shoulders slumped a little and she rubbed a hand across her forehead, blocking Del's view of her face.
Kai made a rude noise and strode towards her as he said, “Cut it out, Sissa. Don't go blaming yourself for his decisions."
When he reached her, he wrapped her in his arms, and she went without protest, resting her head on his shoulder. Del looked away, feeling an acid burn at the back of his throat that took him a moment to recognize—jealousy. Sun's blood, I'm in so much trouble, he thought without even a trace of humor.
"How are the others?"
"A little freaked. But they'll get over it."
"I'll go down to see them in a little while. First though, let's get this call to the Core over with. Del?"
He glanced up to see Sin stepping out of her brother's arms and looking at him with an expectant expression. He rose to his feet as Kai frowned at his sister.
"You want him on the call?"
<
br /> "He requested it,” she answered absently and headed for the desk. “But I'm allowing it on one condition.” She paused and sent Del a hard look. “I do the talking. Is that clear?"
He shrugged as he crossed the room. “Whatever. I just wanna know what's said."
"Fair enough,” she responded, as they stepped up to the desk together. She didn't go around it, but leaned over and tapped on a control panel. “Systems control, connect me with Webster Griffin, please, visual on the viewer."
Del eyed her, half with alarm and half with disbelief, peripherally aware of Kai approaching to stand at his elbow. “The Webster Griffin?” he asked in a hoarse voice. “The CEO of Quasicore?"
"Who else did you want me to talk to?” she asked with wry amusement.
"You'll never get through—” he started to say, when the viewer flickered in its center and a face appeared against the beach scene. Del hadn't ever met the man, but he knew him on sight. Everyone did.
"Sinsudee, always a pleasure,” the gray-haired gentleman said in cultured tones. “What can I do for you?"
"Griff, I've got a bit of a problem,” she answered as calmly as if she wasn't talking to a man almost as powerful as the Planetary Alliance itself.
"Your problems are mine, of course. How may I help?"
Sitting on the edge of the desk, Sin made a casual flick of one hand at Del. “This man is an employee of yours. He was indebted to the Core for a fair sum of credit, but wishes to end his employment with you. He is a slicer pilot of some skill, which, as you know, comes in handy for my off-lane courier services.” She paused with a faint smile, which he returned.
"His name?"
"Del Tower."
If the man recognized the name, he gave no indication. “A moment, Sin. Let me check our records."
"Of course."
Griffin turned his head, looking at something out of their range of sight for a moment. Then he turned back, a slight sympathetic smile curling his thin lips but not warming his gray eyes. “I wish I could help you, dear, but he seems to have acquired several penalties and fines for not performing his duties, though he has recently paid a sizable sum on his debt."
"Yes, he paid that sum believing he was discharging his debt to the Core. I was his source of that credit,” she said as casually as if she were commenting on his choice of lapels, but it made an impression.
The smile disappeared from his mouth, and his cold eyes flickered to Del for the first time. Del said nothing, but he also didn't look away, folding his arms across his chest.
Griffin's attention returned to Sin, and his brow creased in an aggrieved frown. “You should have come to me first, dear. Perhaps Mr. Tower could have then avoided his penalties."
Del felt his stomach heave in disgust. He knew the man was referring to more than the debt that the Core insisted he still owed—he knew Brax and Trev had been sent after him to exact the Core's “penalties."
"Circumstances beyond my control did not allow for it,” Sin said in a smooth tone.
"Perhaps if he had managed to clear his account...” Griffin shook his head in solemn regret.
"Easily rectified, I'm sure you can agree."
"You would be willing to discharge this debt for him?"
"I would."
"He is fortunate to have such a generous benefactress,” he said, but there was a cynical glint in his eye.
Del could guess what he was thinking. The Core would never pay so much for a slicer pilot, but if he was going to be doing his flying in the bedroom ... Del felt a flush of humiliation heat his neck and wondered if Sin had known Griffin would make that assumption.
She seemed unaware of the implications in Griffin's tone, though, smiling coolly and tilting her head in agreement. “Just send my accountants the number. I would like a swift resolution to this if possible. I've got other things I need to attend to."
"It's already done."
"Wonderful,” she declared and rose to her feet. “Will I still see you at the luncheon, Griff?"
"Certainly. It would be my great pleasure to escort you."
"Ah, you flatter me, but sadly I'm saddled with my brother again."
Kai growled at Del's elbow, but said nothing.
Griffin acknowledged her brother's presence by sending him an amused look and a slight nod. “And I'm sure Manakai does not appreciate his enviable position."
"I'm sure,” she responded dryly. “Thank you for taking my call, Griff."
"I'm delighted that I was able to assist you. Please don't hesitate to call again."
"And if I can return the favor, you know how to reach me."
He tilted his head in a dignified nod before the viewer flickered and his face disappeared.
"Pedantic old goat,” Sin snarled and turned away from the desk.
Kai growled wordless agreement and followed her, as they headed towards the bar.
"That's it?” Del asked as he trailed after them.
"Yup, that's it. You are no longer Core—you are now an employee of Shay Enterprises,” Sin answered and stepped around the bar, mixing herself a drink.
Kai joined her, nudging her out of the way to grab a bottle. “Saddled?” he muttered in an irritated voice.
"Well damn it, I didn't expect the old lech to make a pass at me!” she retorted.
"He did, you said it, and now I have to go, too."
"Misery loves company, brother."
Del leaned on the bar and watched as the two of them made what looked like very strong drinks and took a long swallow together.
Sin lowered hers with a sigh and rolled her shoulders and neck. “I hate talking to that man. Makes me feel dirty."
Kai was still downing his drink. When it was empty, he lowered the glass, grunted in agreement, and then began making himself another. Del raised his eyebrows and looked from one to the other. Their reactions seemed a little strong, considering how cordial the conversation had been.
"You two planning on getting sloshed?"
The twins glanced at each other, and then started grinning. Raising their glasses, they clinked them together before Sin turned her attention to Del. “That's a great idea. I believe I will, but I need dinner first."
At the mention of food, Del's stomach clenched and then snarled urgently. “I think I'm headed there myself. I'm starving. If you could show me where I'm staying..."
"All in good time, Giv!” Kai exclaimed, coming around the bar to slap him on the shoulder. “First, come have dinner and get sloshed with us. We're moody drunks if left to ourselves."
Sin seemed to find that funny, snickering behind a hand as she picked up her glass and rounded the other end of the bar. “Yes, come to dinner. We've got a contract to discuss and you shouldn't eat alone your first night in a new place anyway."
He decided not to point out the obvious—he'd been eating alone in new places his whole life. “All right,” he murmured and silenced the warning voice in his head that told him he was just trying to spend more time with her. She had mentioned a contract, after all.
"Great!” Kai clapped him on the shoulder again and headed towards the back door. “We cook up a mean stir fry, don't we, Sissa?"
"Oh, yeah,” she agreed with a false edge, and then whispered to Del as they followed her brother, “but only when he's drunk."
"I heard that,” Kai growled over his shoulder.
Del exchanged a grin with her, but his gaze lingered after she looked away again. She had been dangerously beautiful the first time he'd seen her, all cold and menacing grace, but when she was relaxed as she was now, she took his breath away. Each smile seemed to pierce him clean through.
When he managed to pull his eyes away, it was to meet Kai's mocking gaze as he waited at the door for them.
"Or maybe we should put Giv to work,” he drawled.
Del clenched his jaw, staring him straight in the eye in challenge. He knew Kai wasn't talking about fixing dinner.
"We don't make guests work, Kai.” She paused, and
then shoved lightly at her brother. “Well? Are you gonna stand there all night?"
Kai grunted and moved aside, allowing his sister to pass through the doorway before following her. Del stepped through after them and followed them into the lift. Sin keyed the lift to go up several more floors.
When the doors opened, Del sighed dismally at the sight before him. He hadn't had much experience with luxury in his life, and on this scale it was almost surreal. The spacious area they entered was filled with plush furniture and expensive decoration, the extravagance enough to give him a headache. He guessed that just one of the paintings gracing the walls would have paid his debt ten times over.
He hadn't noticed that the twins had moved away until Sin called his name. She was eyeing him with amusement. “This is our entertainment suite. Again, just for show. I live in the attached suite and Kai has his apartments on the other side of the station. As far away from me as possible, I think.” She shot her brother an arch look, and he blinked innocence at her.
"What d'you mean?"
She snorted and led the way towards a short hall ending in a doorway hidden from the ostentatious rooms. The living quarters they entered were still large, but Del breathed a silent sigh of relief all the same. The furnishings were much simpler and welcoming, built for comfort rather than intimidation. The decorations, from sculpture to painting to plant life, were elegant and pleasing to the eye, a soothing serenity. And the entire place carried her scent. His head spun a little as he took another deep breath.
"Welcome home, Sinsudee,” a melodious feminine voice spoke, seemingly out of the walls.
"Thanks, Mina."
"Will you be requiring a bath first or would you like to see your schedule?"
"Neither. I have company tonight."
"So I see. Welcome, Mr. Givliani. Manakai, good of you to visit,” the voice sounded faintly reproaching.
Sunscapes Trilogy Book 1: Last Chance Page 6