Cornered (The Corded Saga #2)

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  “He is the only man I’ve lain with.” I saw no reason to lie about that, and I didn’t understand why it mattered at all.

  “So there is zero possibility you have ever borne a child?”

  “I think I would remember that experience.” I still remembered when Quinn went through labor. She had Bailey at home with absolutely no medication. She had to stay largely silent for fear of us getting caught, but I’d seen the pain wracking her face.

  Dr. Morton smiled ever so slightly. I didn’t look over to see Mason’s reaction. “You are being honest? I need to know the truth?”

  “Why would you doubt her?” Mason snapped. “I know you are desperate to find breeders, but she was untouched when I had her.”

  “It is impossible for you to know that for sure. Even if she bled—”

  I jumped off the couch. “Stop it. Stop talking about me like I’m not here or am not being truthful. I was untouched as he said.”

  “Then please answer this next question.”

  “Okay.” I tried to calm down. If I screamed again I might end up bringing one of the other doctors in, and I didn’t want that. Dr. Morton seemed less intense than the the rest.

  “Once again I need complete honesty. If you lie about this one, I will have no choice but to assume your first answer was a lie and keep you here at Central.”

  “Ask the question.” Mason put an arm around you. “We don’t have time for your games.”

  Dr. Morton walked toward us. “Do you have any siblings, Kayla?”

  I closed my eyes. Here it went. Here was my chance. What did I do? Why had he asked the first question? Unless he was trying to figure out more about Bailey. I debated what would be best for everyone.

  “Tell him, Kayla. We don’t want to stay here longer than we have to. I want to take you home.” Mason traced small circles on my back.

  He was right. Not that we should leave right away, but that telling the truth would probably get us the right information. I looked up at Dr. Morton. “Yes.”

  “Are we being recorded?” Mason interrupted.

  “Not in here.” Dr. Morton shook his head. “And yes? You admitted your mother bore more than one child?”

  “Yes. She had three.”

  Dr. Morton paled. “Are you the only girl?”

  “No. I have one sister.” It felt empowering to say it out loud, but I also knew how dangerous my admission could be.

  Dr. Morton smiled. “Unbelievable. This whole thing is unbelievable.”

  “Excuse me?” Mason bristled. “Would you care to explain your reaction?”

  Dr. Morton turned to Mason. “Have you met her sister?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “Why not?” Dr. Morton pressed.

  “Because Kayla came to my club alone.”

  “Did she tell you where her sister was?” He was looking at me again. I was looking at the test tubes and machines. I had to get Quinn and Bailey out of there.

  “Not at first.”

  “But eventually?” He put a hand in the pocket of his coat. “She told you eventually?”

  Mason nodded. “Yes.”

  “And where is she?” Dr. Morton pulled a small vial out of his pocket and then put it back in.

  “She’s here.” I answered before Mason could. “I know she’s here. And you know it too. Stop trying to deny it.”

  “Who said I’m going to deny it? As I said we are not being recorded here.”

  “Why do you want this private?’ Mason asked. “What concern would you have if your bosses knew?”

  “Oh, they know. Once you see her sister you’ll understand. The two look so similar…” he trailed off. It was obvious his mind momentarily went elsewhere.

  “Then why not talk in her room?”

  “Because my bosses don’t realize why Kayla came here. That changes everything.”

  “And why, pray tell us, did Kayla come here?” Mason pulled me tight against his side.

  “To reunite with her sister and someone else.”

  “They are both here?” I started to get up.

  Mason wrapped his arm around my waist and kept me seated. He was right, getting in the doctor’s face wouldn’t help us at all.

  Dr. Morton nodded. “Yes.”

  “That still doesn’t answer my question. Why don’t you want your bosses to know?”

  “Because…” He trailed off.

  “What aren’t you saying?”

  “Who is the father?” Dr. Morton gazed down on me. “Do you know?”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “It matters. I need to know.”

  “How could it matter? She had a child. That is all you need to know.”

  “Technically not. A man able to participate in a successful act of reproduction is worthy of testing.”

  “An act of reproduction?” Mason raised an eyebrow. “You still believe the theory that men might be part of the problem?”

  “Still believe? Are you somehow knowledgeable about the research we do in Central.”

  “I’m from the system. Same as you.”

  Dr. Morton froze.

  “I remember everyone I’ve ever met.” Mason moved so I was wrapped in both of his arms with my back pressed against him.

  “You were here?”

  “Yes.” Mason nodded. “We knew each other. I see they’ve messed with some of your memories.”

  Dr. Morton rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s impossible. They don’t do memory research here anymore.”

  “How would you know?” Mason rested his chin on my head.

  I tried to follow the implications of the conversation. “There is something other than reproductive research happening at Central?”

  “There is a whole lot of research being done.” Mason’s arms tightened around me.

  “Why would I believe you?” Dr. Morton narrowed his eyes.

  “Because I have no reason to lie, Maverick.”

  Dr. Morton looked down at his name tag. It didn’t have his first name. “How did you know?”

  “Because I knew you once, as I explained to you already. I can tell you more about that at another time. We were discussing why the father of Kayla’s niece was at all relevant to our current situation.”

  “I already told you…”

  “He’s dead.” I might as well get the conversation moving. “He was killed by traders when he tried to protect his family. They killed my father too. There’s no one left out there.”

  “What about the third sibling?”

  “He isn’t there. Why would he have stayed? What would have been there for him?”

  “He might have returned.”

  “No.” I refused to believe anything evil had befallen Thomas, but I knew the traders might have found him. Until I was proven otherwise, I’d fantasize he was okay. Bolton was okay too. I couldn’t pretend my father or Benjamin were alive, I’d seen their cold, dead eyes, but I’d cling to the hope the others had made it.

  “Why would Quinn think you were more capable of caring for her child?” Dr. Morton pulled out a stool and sat down.

  “She wouldn’t.” I tried to understand what he was getting it.

  “She seems to think you are. She figured out you were here and asked me to get you and her child out.” He had large bags under his eyes, and he looked about ready to collapse.

  “No.” I shook my head. “That’s not how this will work.”

  “Why would she try to make that bargain?” Dr. Morton, or Maverick, whatever his name was, asked.

  “Because she cares. She’d do anything for the ones she loves, including me.” Which was why I’d put her first. But right now there were other questions to address. “Will you do what she asked? Let us go?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know yet.”

  “But you are considering it?” Was that even possible?

  “I’m not considering anything.” He stood and walked across the room.

  �
�Where is my sister? Her child?”

  “I assume you know her name?” Maverick glanced at me over his shoulder. He was adjusting some sort of microscope.

  “Of course. But that’s not information I’m going to give you if you don’t have it.”

  He turned from the microscope. “I discovered Bailey’s name the first night.”

  “How?” Would Quinn have revealed that information so easily?

  “When Quinn called out her name.”

  I shuddered. I couldn’t even imagine how those first few days had to have been for my sister. Not that it would have gotten much easier now. Still in the beginning when she didn’t even know how Bailey was doing. I couldn’t even go there. I couldn’t take myself down that line of thought.

  “Are you going to run tests on me now?” If Quinn got through testing while worried about Bailey I could handle it.

  “I already know what I’m going to find from your blood test. But let’s keep that between us.”

  I assumed he meant about my being a possible breeder. It usually ran in families, and that would be enough of a reason to keep me in Central.

  “Can I see Quinn? Or Bailey?” I already knew what his answer would be, but I had to ask.

  “Not yet.” He shook his head. “But I will make it happen.”

  “Make it happen soon.” Mason barked. “She’s been waiting long enough.”

  “You are lucky I am even speaking with you like this.”

  “But you are.” I called him out. “That means something.”

  “Yes, it means I’m out of my mind.”

  “We will wait a few days. No more.” Mason adjusted his arms. I appreciated his willingness to push. I wanted to, but the events of the day were starting to catch up with me—or more like the events of the past weeks. I’d barely let myself think about anything else other than finding Quinn and Bailey. I hadn’t seen them yet, but I was close. I knew I was close. I could feel Quinn. I remember my mother telling me about twins having a special relationship—we weren’t twins, but maybe it was our rarity that made us closer.

  “You need to go back to your room now.” Dr. Morton stood.

  “Thank you, Dr. Morton.” I would go along with him for the time being.

  “You are welcome. My name is Maverick, but I would appreciate if you used my title—”

  “I understand.” Using his last name was the least I could do. If he got caught trying to help us, we would be in a far worse position.

  “I will be staying in Kayla’s room.” Mason released me from his arms.

  “I assumed as much. Tardale didn’t seem to have any trouble with you being around. I don’t know who you really are, but you are important.”

  “I have earned respect.” Mason raised his chin.

  “I have no memory of you at all.”

  “Like I said, we can discuss that at another time.”

  “Yeah, another time.” Maverick unlocked the door.

  “Should we show ourselves back to her room or…”

  “I will escort you. I have to set the alarm.”

  “The alarm?” Mason wrapped his hand around mine as we followed Maverick into the hallway.

  “The room is alarmed. If either of you get out of bed it will go off.”

  “I learned that the hard way.” But at least I’d come up with an excuse quickly enough.

  “You were out of bed in the middle of the night?” Mason gave me a quizzical look.

  “To use the bathroom.”

  “She can’t use the bathroom alone?” His eyes flashed with anger.

  “She can. She just has to call me.”

  “We will go before you leave.”

  “Very well.” We reached the room. Maverick waited while we used the restroom. “By the way, you will have privacy tonight.”

  “What happened to the surveillance?” I asked suspiciously.

  “You aren’t going to hurt yourself with Mason here. I’ll lock the door still, of course.”

  “Fine.” Mason nodded.

  Maverick stepped out, closing and locking the door behind him.

  The room was illuminated by two faint lights in the ceiling. I had no idea how to turn them off, and in truth I preferred not being left completely in the dark.

  “Let’s assume we are still being watched or listened to.” Mason ran his hand down my cheek.

  “I agree.” I curled up into his chest.

  “I am so glad you are okay.”

  “I’m sorry…”

  “Don’t apologize. Just don’t.”

  “Why not? I didn’t want to hurt you.” But I hadn’t thought I had another choice. Maybe I’d underestimated him.

  “I know, and that’s enough for right now.” He ran his lips over my forehead.

  I closed my eyes savoring his touch. How did I ever think I could live without him?

  Eleven

  Mason

  Kayla was back in my arms where she belonged. For a few blissful hours, I would let myself believe all was right in the world. I would pretend we were somewhere other than Central, and we weren’t in grave danger.

  “Mason?” She whispered my name.

  “Yes?” I would never tire of the sound of my name on her lips.

  “You came after me.” She lifted her head, and her hair brushed against my neck.

  “Did you really doubt I would?”

  She said nothing.

  “Kayla?” I looked at her face in the dim light.

  “Yes?” She settled her head back down again.

  “Please answer me. Did you really doubt it?”

  “I didn’t know…”

  “What you need to know is I will always follow you. I could never let you go, especially not to a place like this. If I truly believed you were happier and safer without me, I could make myself leave you, but even that wouldn’t be easy.”

  “I wouldn’t be happier without you.” Her voice was strong and certain.

  “I know I would be miserable without you.” I couldn’t even entertain the thought of losing Kayla without spiraling down to a bad place.

  “You aren’t who I thought you were at first.”

  “Who did you think I was?” I didn’t even know who I was anymore. So much had changed so quickly, and the wisps of memories I’d never realized I had were at the edge of my mind.

  “Not this.” She touched the spot over my heart.

  “You are so much more than I imagined.”

  “Only because I’m rare.” There was a deep sadness buried in her voice.

  “No.” I hated that she thought that; she didn’t understand it was her as a person that I loved. “That has nothing to do with it. It’s you. It’s your heart. You are right, your heart is rare, but it would have been rare even before everything changed.”

  “Do you ever imagine what life would be like if we lived back then? If we lived before?”

  “I never did.” My thoughts before had been centered on survival and staying as close to the top of society as I could.

  “Did? As in past tense?”

  “I have since knowing you. I’ve thought about what it would be like if we could actually live together without fear.”

  “I didn’t let myself imagine it before, but now I can. I can picture having a life with you. Maybe one day we can all settle somewhere.”

  “That would be nice.”

  “There is so much I wish I could say, so much I wish we could discuss.”

  “I know.” I kissed her head. “For now that will have to wait.”

  “Okay.” She ran her hand up and down my chest.

  My lips found hers, and I savored her sweetness. I cradled her head in my hand, pulling her on top of me. I needed her closer. I cared nothing for whether we were being recorded or watched. I needed to express feelings my words couldn’t possibly achieve.

  “Mason.” She moaned my name against my lips.

  Her nightgown rode up, exposing much of her body to me. I pulled the blanket up to
cover her; I refused to let anyone else see an inch of her. No matter what the doctor said, someone could be watching. I slipped my hand under the thin nightgown, cupping her breast. She moaned lightly, until she started to push me away.

  I released her. “What is it?”

  “We can’t do this here. Not now.”

  “I understand.” I did, but that didn’t make it easy to resist her. I’d been so afraid, terrified of losing her.

  “Once we leave. Once we have a chance to start over.” She yawned softly.

  I gently eased her nightgown down her body, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart and my impossible to hide arousal. “Go to sleep, my love. You are safe with me.” I rolled her to the side so she could sleep the way she preferred.

  “I know I am.” She rested her head on my chest. “Thank you for that.”

  “You don’t have to thank me.”

  “Yes I do.”

  I dropped the argument as I heard her breathing even out. I pulled her tightly against me. Kayla was back in my arms, and it’s where she would spend every other night from now on.

  Twelve

  Quinn

  I held Bailey tightly. Making it twenty-four hours without her was torture, and I was still sobbing. Seeing her once a day wasn’t enough, but it put me at ease for a few moments and reminded me there was still a reason to hold on. As long as Bailey was living and breathing, I would never give up.

  “Mama.” The word startled me. She hadn’t uttered a sound since the traders took us from our home. She’d fallen so silent on the ride to Central that I checked her breathing every few minutes.

  “Bailey? Are you okay?” I brushed some of her light hair away from her face. It had been brown when she was born, but it was lightening. My mother said the same thing happened with Kayla and me, the opposite of how it usual was with babies, or so she said. My memories of my mother were starting to fade as the years wore on. I hated that. I hated knowing that someone so important might one day only be a faint whisper in the back of my mind, but with all my worry and panic it was hard to make room for thoughts of anything else.

  “Mama.” Bailey wrapped her arms around my neck. She held on tighter than usual, and my initial relief at hearing her name disappeared as worry took over.