All For One [Nuworld 3] (31 page)

his venomous glare at Syra.

Torgo reached behind Beel and pulled Syra to him, much to her and Darius’

surprise. “I sought her out and I’ll thank both of you to start getting along with each

other. Now Darius, where are we going to put Beel?”

“In a minute. Boy, you’ll explain what you just said.” Darius’ agitation was

apparent and the boy jumped at the harsh words.

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“My master’s new lady wanted to see me. I don’t know why. She looked like me

even though her hair was red. She wanted to know where I was from and who my

parents were.” Beel spoke uncertainly and hesitated once or twice.

Darius looked directly at Torgo. He didn’t say anything but studied his brother’s

face for a moment. Torgo returned the gaze with a blank expression.

Syra felt her heart race. She’d been so excited to throw this bastard in Darius’ face

that she’d forgotten one important thing. Darius was no fool. She’d tried to pull one

over on him before and spent the night in jail for it.

“You said her hair was red. Was she a member of the Barringswood tribe?” The

fury that was slowly appearing on Darius’ face would have scared many grown men.

He looked at the boy who stood almost as tall as Andru and could easily be called his

twin.

“Her hair was colored red. I could smell the dyes. She wasn’t from the

Barringswood tribe. I’d remember a girl as pretty as she was.” Beel cocked his head

when he spoke and a certain boldness seemed to come over him. He looked at Darius—

straight in the eye—then literally turned and looked up at Torgo. “I’d bet she’s a

member of your race.” He paused. “I’m a member of your race too, aren’t I?”

Darius didn’t answer the question but instead clenched his fists and turned his full

attention to Torgo.

“I won’t ask you to tell me if you saw Roth and this girl being described to me,” he

said. “I know there isn’t much that gets past you. What I do want to know is why in

Crator’s name did you bring this bastard to me and not my daughter?”

He didn’t wait for a response but instead grabbed his comm out of his coat pocket.

“Tara.” He looked down at Beel who seemed to study him curiously. “Roth has

Ana…yes, I’m positive. I want both of them brought here immediately.” He turned off

his comm not allowing his claim the opportunity to respond.

Darius turned and walked back to his glider. Torgo and Syra watched with

apprehension as he returned with a brown cloth. When he dropped one end of it they

realized it was a cloak. He wrapped the cloak around Beel’s shoulder then pulled the

hood over the boy’s head. Syra couldn’t hide her amazement when she realized Darius

had guessed why they’d called him out there in the middle of the night.

“Guards!” he yelled, and then Torgo and Syra did a double take when two of

Darius’ personal guards appeared out of the darkness. He scowled at both of them and

Syra quickly looked away but Torgo glared at his brother.

“I want this Runner escorted to her father’s trailer. Make sure she stays there until

you’re given further orders.” Darius stared right at her as he spoke. “Torgo will be

escorted to his home.”

“I’m not going home.” Torgo spoke up quickly.

“Would you like to go to the jail?”

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“About as much as I’d like to be the new Lord of Gothman,” Torgo hissed through

his teeth. “Which is what I’ll be if you try and put me in jail.”

Darius’ entire body tightened at his younger brother’s threat. The two guards

approached but stood awkwardly not knowing exactly what to do. Syra instinctively

tried to grab Torgo’s arm but he shoved her away. Beel didn’t need to know the two

men to see they were about ready to spring at each other. He stepped backwards until

he ran into Syra.

“Darius, if I’d grabbed Ana, then Roth would know we were in the Barringswood

tribal land without consent, he would. It wouldn’t have looked good for Gothman, I’ll

tell you that. You may think mud is being smeared in your face here, but if that’s how

you feel then I’m disappointed in your perception of me, yes. Now at least, you know

where your daughter is and she can be brought home through proper channels.

Gothman once again will be triumphant, it will.”

Syra was impressed by Torgo’s speech. Had that been his reasoning all along or

was he trying to get out of a nasty predicament with his brother?

Darius stared for a long minute at his younger brother. Torgo didn’t smile or frown.

His expression was solemn.

Finally, with a sigh, Torgo added, “I’ll go with you to deal with the child.”

Darius nodded and turned to his guards. “Escort Syra to her father’s trailer.”

“Darius,” Torgo said, but Darius raised his hand to silence his brother then

gestured to his guards to carry out his instructions.

Darius waited until Syra was out of sight then turned to Beel. He lowered the cape

that covered the boy’s head and sighed heavily. The boy stared up at him with wide

eyes, then turned and looked at Torgo. A small smile appeared on his face as he

continued to glance from one to the other.

“You are both Gothman?” He spoke quietly but not timidly.

“Yes.” Darius didn’t return the smile but Beel didn’t appear threatened.

“I’m Gothman, too. That’s why you brought me here, isn’t it?” Beel’s smile grew

and Torgo’s heart went out to the child.

“You’re half Gothman and half Runner,” Darius said simply.

“Gothman must be powerful,” Beel said as he looked over their muscular bodies

and the weapons on Darius’ glider. “Are Runners powerful too?”

Torgo and Darius gave each other a quick glance both allowing certain women to

enter their thoughts. “Yes, they are powerful,” Darius admitted.

Beel seemed pleased.

“Where will we take him?” Torgo looked at Beel who had a permanent smile on his

face now. All humility seemed to be gone from the child and he stood tall, seemingly

trying to imitate Darius. His brother didn’t seem to notice.

“I have an idea, I do.”

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Torgo and Beel followed Darius in the Tree People’s glider. Darius had given no

indication that he wanted the child to ride with him. Torgo decided Darius still didn’t

know what to think of the boy. He hadn’t told him he was his papa, but Torgo would be

surprised if he did. Beel didn’t seem to suspect that he was related to them. The boy

simply assumed all Gothman had curly blond hair and gray eyes. It made sense. All the

Barringswood tribe had red hair and green eyes.

Darius couldn’t keep his thoughts in order. Those two had sure pulled one over on

him, they had. He could hardly maintain composure in front of the boy. He was glad to

have the opportunity to be alone in the glider for a few minutes simply to sort his

thoughts. Unfortunately, there was only one thought that kept coming back like a

recurring nightmare.

Tara was going to kill him…kill the boy…kill Torgo…kill Syra. There would be no

handling the temper that would be unleashed if she found out. The simple fact was she

couldn’t find out. That wouldn’t be easy. How could he keep this from her? He knew

Torgo and Syra wouldn’t tell her. They weren’t stupid. But there was only one place he

could think to take the boy. And it wasn’t a foolproof idea.

Torgo flipped on his comm. “Darius, are you a damn fool?”

“No, it will work, I say. Reena has been protected most of her life by our papa and

by me. I daresay she’ll do this, she will.” Darius lowered his glider into the large yard

that surrounded Reena’s small cabin.

“She’s Tara’s mama. She’ll contact her the second we leave, she will.”

“Then we’ll make sure Reena has no way of contacting her, yes.”

Beel looked at both men curiously as he got out of the glider and stood in the yard

with the cloak covering his head and hanging down his body. It was a chilly night so

the long cape could easily be explained. Beel had his arms underneath the material and

wrapped it around his chest.

His face was easily visible and blond curls fell in ringlets down his forehead to his

eyebrows. His eyes were a large gray, however, and Darius couldn’t help but think how

much he looked like Andru. Was there any sign of Tasha in him? Why did the boy have

to look so much like him and not his mama?

Darius walked to the cabin door and knocked loudly. The cabin was outside the city

limits of Bryton and surrounded by woods. A long gravel road led to the cabin, and

unless someone walked through the thick foliage of the surrounding trees, it was the

only way to come and go. The yard was cleared a good fifty feet before the trees began.

An oil lamp sat on the small table on the front porch. It was dark enough that it

wouldn’t be noticed but Darius knew the old woman kept it there so she could see at

night if she went outside. He grabbed the box of wooden matches next to it and lit the

lamp providing a small amount of natural light on the porch.

He knocked again. Torgo and Beel stood behind him on the porch as he continued

to survey the surroundings. He knew Reena’s eyes weren’t as good as they used to be

and for that reason she’d given up practicing medicine. He assumed she didn’t have as

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many visitors as a result. He looked toward the gravel road and decided several guards

placed there would ensure no traffic. He would have to make sure Tara stayed away.

“Reena! Wake up!” he yelled into the wooden door and finally heard movement on

the other side. “Come on, old woman. Open your door, I say.”

“Oh, my lord, it’s you, it is!” Reena’s long gray hair fell wildly down her sides and a

wool bathrobe covered a floor-length cotton nightgown. She looked small and feeble,

and for a moment he regretted what he was about to do. “What’s wrong? Tara! Is she all

right? Has something happened to Ana?” The old woman looked frantic.

“Calm down and step aside, damnit. I’ve come here to talk to you, I have.” He

gently placed a hand on her arm and guided her back into her cabin as he entered.

She squinted at the three figures that entered her living room and then reached for