Lie to Me (44 page)

“It sounds good, Stone, and I understand your need for global change, but it won’t work. You struggle in your Quad with the modifications you’ve made. Spooners buck the system, and you’re playing mediator between them and dregs.” Creed reached for his drink.

“You’ve got a spy in my Quad?”

“I have a satellite. It sees and hears everything. It’ll take generations to alter the mindset of spooners, maybe longer to convince the dregs to lose their prejudice. The division wasn’t made overnight, and it’ll take more than a generation to heal. We start by freeing all the X-genes. That’s the foundation that’ll bring down the house of cards. From there it’s up to the people.”

Stone knew Creed was right, but he couldn’t understand his beef in the fight. He’d been a model heir-apparent until his shocking death. “Why are you in the fight?”

Creed sighed and rubbed his eye sockets. “My guilt haunts me, but it’s not something that matters, and it isn’t something I want to put out there for others.”

“Doesn’t it matter?” He released his hold on Kella and sat forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “I bought Kella to save her, but my dad convinced her I was in it for only pussy and a super baby. My mom knew the truth of it all, even my dad’s vileness, but instead of coming to me, she helped Kella escape. For eight goddamn years I thought she was dead, mourned her. Losing her fucked me up worse than my parent’s wickedness. My beautiful wife has done things no woman should be forced to do in order to survive. Without Reaper, I don’t think she would’ve survived. I should’ve been the one protecting her, but my father took that privilege away from me. Even marked her against my will. Gave her to Jones as a gift without a stitch of guilt for betraying me. My reason for being here is very fucking personal. The greed and corruption I’ve seen among Regents and the privileged is abhorrent. They use women like my Kella for their sport, celebrate discovering a new X-gene so they can drive up her price and line their pockets, all in the name of saving humanity. I think it’s safe to say humanity has survived the pestilence and will continue to survive without subjecting future Xenos to their abuse. Somewhere along the way our society lost its way, displacing morals for survival. If I’m to trust you, I need to know why you’re in the fight.”

Creed lowered his hand from his eyes. “You’re assuming I trust you because of your speech?”

“No.” Stone relaxed into the seat, pulling Kella to his side. “I’m asking you to give me something to hang my hat on, so I’ll know you’re as committed to this revolt as the rest are.”

“I know about abhorrent behavior among the spooners.” Creed shook his head. “My dad used to pass Xeno’s around among his best friends. The ‘good ole boys club’ was what he called the sick motherfuckers. They’d gang bang her, initiate her into the lifestyle of submission, he said, before selling her off to the highest bidder. When I was sixteen, he bought me an X-gene even though I didn’t want her. She was sweet and terrified. I wanted to protect her because she was a goddamn baby. I disobeyed my father and didn’t fuck her immediately, and he punished the girl for my defiance.” A suspicious sheen entered his eyes, and he gave a hasty wipe to the corners, but he couldn’t eliminate the thickness that entered his voice. “I took her. I raped that girl. The next morning, I found her hanging in our bathroom. I did that. I killed her because I couldn’t stand up to my dad. We had a huge quarrel that morning. I punched him, pulled a gun on him. I wanted to kill him so bad, but I ended up walking out the door and swearing vengeance by bringing down his corrupt system and exposing him for the sick fuck he is. That was nine years ago, and not once have I regretted leaving.”

“You’re not to blame for that, Creed,” Kella said.

“It
is
my fault, Mack. I could’ve grown some balls and walked out a day earlier with her.”

“You were a kid. We don’t think rationally when we’re young. Had I given it any thought, I would’ve seen the lies in what Stone’s dad told me. You did the best you could to protect her.”

“You’re wrong, but I love you for trying to make me feel better.”

Kella went to him and hugged him. Her affection ripped more confessions from Creed.

“I hate him, Mack, but I hate myself more.”

Dutch left her chair and sat on Creed’s lap, encircling her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. Was there something going on between Creed and Dutch? Stone hadn’t gotten that sense and still didn’t read that level of intimacy into them.

“Want to know why I’m fighting the system?” Dutch’s gaze blamed Stone for Creed’s pain.

“Please do confess your sins, doll,” James stared at her, his interest clear.

“Well, first off, I have nothing better to do than create mayhem.” That Stone believed, but it wasn’t the total excuse. Thankfully, she added to her reasons. “Three of my friends were Xenos, all sold off. One died in childbirth at the ripe, old age of twenty. It was her sixth pregnancy, one a year, and she was on her third owner.” The disregard for the girl’s health disgusted Stone. “The other two keep popping out babies without any hopes of being a part of the child’s life. They’re miserable, but no one cares because they’re less than human.”

There was truth to Dutch’s statement. Regents and the privileged cared about the health of cattle, but had shown a complete lack of care for the mother of their children. They were nothing more than pawns, but dregs weren’t treated much better.

“Are there classes here in the badlands?”

“Yeah. Some people are better off than others, but we take care of one another like you do your citizens.” Creed nudged Kella on the leg. “Go back to your man. He’s looking at me like he wants to run a sword through my heart.”

“Not true, sunshine. I was thinking of hacking off his dick instead.”

Creed chuckled, and Kella rolled her eyes at their tomfoolery. Stone liked the other man’s practicality, and that not only did he recognize the tension in the room, but knew how to relieve it too.

“Ooo...” Dutch drawled with a giggle. “A man that can threaten castration without flinching is a keeper. If you don’t want him, Mack, I’ll take him.”

“Good to know I have options,” Stone said, watching Kella.

“You wouldn’t know what to do with him if you had him, Dutch.” His woman strolled to the window overlooking the common area below. “He’s not a computer you can program.”

Dutch sat forward, her excitement evident in the way her eyes lit up. “I’m working on this chip that attaches to the brain stem, and I’ll be able to reprogram a person’s brain with it. Cool, huh?”

“Scary,” Reaper contradicted.

“Terrifying,” Creed said with a shiver.

“Intriguing,” James muttered.

Stone agreed with the scary and terrifying comments, but there was nothing intriguing about her idea.

“We’re having a celebration tonight.” Creed nudged Dutch from his lap and rose to pour a finger of liquor. “Why don’t Mack and Reaper show Stone and James to their living quarters, so you’ll have a chance to settle in before the party kicks off.”

“We should vote on Stone joining X-Diplomats.” Reaper studied Kella, but her focus remained on the public area below.

“All right.” Creed elevated his glass. “I officially nominate Stone as a candidate.”

“I officially nominate James as a candidate.” At Reaper and Creed’s startled glances Dutch clarified. “Can’t have one without the other, right?”

“Anyone want to list the cons of them joining us?”

Kella addressed Creed’s question first. “He has a Quad to run, people who would be harmed if something happens to him. He’s got no Regent heir-apparent, so the role would revert back to his dad.” She turned just enough to look at him. “If Peter is put back in charge, everyone loses.”

“That’s a good point. Could you appoint a Regent heir-apparent, someone that’s
not
your dad, and someone that reflects your mindset?” Reaper asked.

“Yeah,” Stone said. “Already done, so it’s not an issue. She shares the same values as me.”

“Any other
valid
cons, Mack?” A grin toyed at the corners of Creed’s mouth.

“Neither has proven they understand the climate required for change.” Kella folded her arms beneath her breasts. “Wanting change and doing it are two different things.

“Uh...Mack, baby, Stone changed the entire fucking dynamics of his Quad. That’s not easy. That gusty move creates instant enemies.” Creed ran his palm over his hair. “Equality for all is a big deal, especially when his very own spooners are against his changes.”

“They’re coming around.” Slowly, but some saw the benefits of an equal system and had profited from Stone’s changes.

Creed acknowledged him with a brief nod. “He shut down X-gene clinics, so no one could be tested for the gene. Quad13 spooners protested that move vehemently.”

“All Quads protested,” James added.

“I’m sure Dutch can find the newsfeeds.”

“They’re small changes, Creed, not global the way we’re going about it,” Kella argued.

“He’s out there, front and center in the public eye making a very public, unpopular statement. He’s not hiding in the shadows the way we are. Regents know the face behind his changes. James doesn’t stalk his every move because he gets a thrill out of it. Regents want him dead because he threatens their way of life.” Creed dragged in a breath. “So don’t pretend he doesn’t know the climate or what’s required to make this work. I’d say it’s very clear that he understands what’s at stake.”

“What happens when Stone becomes the face of the cause? We know he will because he’s got more to lose and he’s putting himself on the frontlines. So do we just watch him die the way we did Brandt?” Kella glowered at Creed, before turning her gaze on Dutch and Reaper. Stone wondered who Brandt was. “He died protecting us, protecting the mission. My guilt cannot take a sacrifice like that again. It’d be safer for Stone and James to stabilize changes in the Quads rather than putting themselves in unwarranted danger.”

“Ah...we finally get to the heart of your objections.” She frowned at Creed, but he kept talking. “If Stone objected to you putting yourself out there for the greater good, what would you say? Wanted you to stop going into clinics to plant the EMP blasts, how would you react?”

“I’d tell him to go fuck himself. I make my own choices.” She glanced at Stone, but didn’t hold his gaze long.

“Exactly.” Creed elevated his eyebrows. “And yet he’s borne your insults without defending himself. What does that say about him?”

Kella flinched. “That tells me he knows I’m right. It’s nothing personal.”

It was very personal, but they’d get into that later. “Who’s Brandt?” Stone asked, glancing among the members.

“One of the original founders.” Kella sat in the windowsill’s chamber. “He was the face of our cause. He lasted one week, was caught, and marched up to the gallows. Jones gave us the option to out ourselves or Brandt would be hanged. The four of us said nothing, stood there, and watched him die.”

“It was my fault he got caught on video,” Dutch said. “I’m to blame, and it’s why I’m overly cautious now.”

“It was no one’s fault.” Reaper leaned his hip against the bar set off to the side of the room, and folded his arms over his chest. “Like the rest of us, Brandt knew the danger, and we’d all agreed if we ever got caught we said nothing.”

Dead silence lingered among the group. Kella turned in the seat and stared out at the crowd below.

“Is everyone forgetting I have Stone’s back?” James eyed the group.

“No offense, Satan, but you’re as killable as Stone.”

“Pros,” Dutch piped up, eliminating the tension in the room. “He’s got position, power, influential friends, he’s already re-mastered his Quad to reflect our values, and, this is the big one, he’s pretty on the eyes.”

“I’m not feeling your humor right now, Dutch.” Kella shot the webmistress an edgy glare. “The decisions we make right now could have a direct impact on not just their lives but others’ lives too.”

“Another pro, he owns a drone.” Reaper continued to watch Kella, but she’d gone back to surveying the throng below.

“Oh, shit, dude, I
need
my fingers on it.” Dutch waggled her digits at him. “We’ll have world domination in one second flat.”

“Good to know you’re on Kella’s side if she ever inherits my Quad.” He counted his lucky stars that Dutch was on the X-Ds side.

Kella whipped around at that, her eyes narrowed, but before she could say anything, Creed asked, “Any other pros or cons anyone wants to list before we vote?”

His sunshine sighed. “So I won’t feel guilty...pros as I see them are Stone’s dependable, stubborn, and he genuinely cares about people. He’s mostly untouchable, and we know he brings a drone and teleport machine to the table. Both highly valuable assets. James is the second-best known assassin. I don’t believe I have to go into the pros of that rank. James has also trained Stone, so I guess that means Stone could hold his own in a fight if he had to because James was kissing dirt somewhere.”

“Correction, holy terror, I’m number one, and no one makes me kiss dirt.”

“From what I hear,” his wife disputed, “Reaper made you kiss dirt, so that makes you number two.”

“Damn, Mack,” Creed conveyed a bemused expression. “After the detailed pros and cons you listed, I don’t know how Stone’s going to decide if he should spank your ass or fuck you crazy.”

“Both,” James said. “They go together well.”

Kella shook her head, clearly not in the mood for their silliness.

“I open the voting with a
yes
to add them into the X-Diplomats.” Reaper sent Kella a challenging stare.

His wife shifted her gaze from Reaper to stare Stone straight in the eyes. “No.”

Unsure if that answer was to their admittance or her listed as the Regent heir-apparent, he figured there had to be at least a ‘fuck you’ to go along with her ‘no’.

“I vote yes,” Dutch said. “Sorry, Mack, I gotta do what’s best for the X-Diplomats.”

Creed scratched the back of his head. “Mack, I’m loyal to you, babe. Give me one reason to say no, and I’ll vote your way. A tie vote makes it a negative vote.”