Lie to Me (45 page)

“I gave you pros and cons. If you’re on my side, then just because I don’t want them in it is a good enough reason to vote no.”

“Great reason if your vote was cast on valid merits instead of an emotional one. And you’d be spitting mad if Stone attempted to squeeze you out the way you are them.” Creed sighed. “Sorry, babe, I vote yes.”

Kella closed her eyes for a brief moment as if absorbing the impact of the voting going Stone’s way, then rose from her seat and stalked out of the room. Reaper caught Stone’s arm when he would’ve gone after her. “Give her time,” he said. “Her vote’s not personal. She’s scared. If you’d just voted against her for the same reasons, she’d be throwing shit at your head. Frankly, I don’t understand why you’re so calm.”

Stone gave her friend a tight smile. “It is personal. Very personal. She’s fighting for me, and I love her for her. I know Kella. She’s not changed much in eight years, and I know the way she ticks. She protects everyone, but herself, believes her life isn’t as valuable as those she cares about.” He shoved his fingers through his hair. “When we were kids a boy at school picked on her. She didn’t want me to confront him because she didn’t want me to get in trouble. She constantly martyred herself for me, and I had to fight to protect her from others. This is no different.”

Dutch inclined her head. “She did volunteer to go into the X-gene clinics to set the charges. She was adamant she was the only choice because she is the smallest of us, but either of you could’ve fit through the venting system. What she does is riskier because I can’t always control who might be inside. You two are somewhat insulated from danger, but she’s not.”

Reaper nodded. “She told me her mother reminded her often of her status in life and discouraged her from having too-high aspirations. Her mother didn’t help her mindset. She’s been fed the devalued spiel for so long, Mack believes she’s expendable.”

Creed massaged the back of his neck and stared at the door Kella had exited through. “None of us would be here without her. Can she not see that? And let’s talk about how much she gives to the kids, or the expecting mothers. She hires as many from here as she can for her digs. She’s always looking out after everyone.”

“Everyone but herself,” James said.

“That’s why I’m not mad at her and why I’m going after her.” Stone walked out the door, and heard the gait of two footsteps behind him. He guessed it was Reaper and James.

Reaper verified he was one of his stalkers when he said, “I bet I know where she went.”

––––––––

K
ella took the tunnel to her right, pressed a code into a panel, and went through the door when it slid open. The soft whistle of it closing drowned out the noise from the common area. Silence lent her a sense of serenity. At least it gave her a chance to think. Too soon she’d have to face Stone and his censure. Too soon she’d have to worry when he entered the field.

She’d been prepared to walk away in order to protect Stone, but Reaper ruined that by inviting him in. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him to be a part of the team, because she did. And he was an asset, bringing so much to the table, but she knew he’d value her life over his. If he died protecting her, she couldn’t survive that.

Might as well put me in the grave with him.

The slim pathway she traversed halted at steps descending into a bowl-like stadium carved into the landscape. Above the arena the ceiling was open, only the sky visible from this position. The area flooded in the wet season, but was dry now. In the evening it was pitch-black inside, but the view of the starry sky was amazing. She’d spent many hours in here alone, thinking, and plotting.

Thanks to the open ceiling, animals fell into the pit. The door she used to access the area hindered any threat that thought to gain access to the silos through stealth. Anyone without an approved handprint would be electrocuted, and an alarm would sound in the war room to announce their visitor. Dutch had the whole place wired. Most would-be enemies would never make it close to the compound because of the satellite.

And now Dutch has a drone at her fingertips
. Kella sighed and leaned a shoulder against the wall, while staring at the clouds through the opening. If the universe was in tune with her moods, the sky would be thunderous, but instead blue and white dotted above.

With Stone on their side, their odds of success increased. Just the idea of him in danger resulted in her throat itching to screech with the unfairness of life. Her fingers twitched at her sides desperate to kill in advance the nameless faces of those who would threaten him.

For once in her life she wanted someone she loved to not be corrupted by the wickedness of people. She wanted him happy and safe and comfortable.

He doesn’t have that now.

Shut up
, she groused at the mouthy voice of wisdom in her head.

The X-Ds lifestyle would provide him with excitement, danger, and intrigue. In other words, an early grave. She’d seen enough death.

But
...the fucked-up devil on her shoulder prodded.
If Stone is an X-Ds member, I don’t have to leave him.

Excitement swirled through her, giving her hope of a future with him, didn’t matter how much danger came with the future because in the end they’d be together, and she had no valid reason to push him away.

Wanting him safe and out of harm’s way had been the one reason she held on to ditching him in favor of the rebellion, because claiming he was untrustworthy was a hollow excuse, even to her. She could fool others, but not herself. Despite believing she’d died, he’d executed their visions in his Quad. No one would’ve blamed him if he’d chosen to forget their dreams in favor of the status quo. Yet, he’d held true to his word and followed through, making every effort to forge a better future. Even without her in his life, their dreams had been important enough to him to complete their ideals. That was an intoxicating reality.

Since reentering her life, his actions had proved him an honorable man. He’d granted her freedom less than twelve hours after her capture. Believed her when she told him two tales of his father, when she had absolutely no tangible evidence of his dad’s guilt. He’d forgiven his mother, and even forgave Kella when he should’ve been so furious by her defection he made her life a living hell. Instead, he plied her with clothes and food and a deal that’d stunned her.

The moment he’d offered her that eight-month contract
after
granting her freedom, she’d known he was foolproof. By granting her independence first, he’d risked the likelihood of her snubbing his offer and walking away that very moment. If Stone hadn’t been reliable, she would’ve kissed his ass goodbye without a backward glance. But bad people didn’t extend those types of deals, so she’d hung around to determine the depth of the guy he’d become.

Neither could she dismiss the biggest evidence of all. Kella would have never fucked him if she hadn’t trusted him. She’d fancied him on her terms, refusing to give even a little of herself, preferring to horde her independence, while shunning his wants and needs.

Selfish again
.

Kella jammed her fingers into her hair and squatted. He already had her heart and trust, there wasn’t much more she could give him...
except for total acceptance into my world
. She pressed her mouth against her thigh and screamed, the noise nothing but the muffled echo of her frustration and fear for the man she loved.

Footsteps behind her startled her, and she stood quickly, running her fingers through her hair. After a moment, she identified the intruder as Stone. Isolating the way one person’s stride sounded against another’s had become a game of hers during the first few months she’d been on her own in the Quad. Homeless and scared, she’d slept beneath the establishments near the tavern and named people according to the distinct sound of their steps.

She’d demanded his trust, while giving none in return. He hadn’t even flinched when she admitted her X-Ds involvement. Nope, instead he’d offered tolerance and support. How much more did Stone have to prove to her that he knew his mind and the course of his future?

Kella sighed. What was wrong with her? Stone was a good man, and he loved her. She loved him, so what was she running from?

Holding her breath, she offered her hand to Stone when he drew closer. After the harsh words she’d uttered about him and James, dismissing them as assets to the X-Diplomats, he could choose to decline her request for touch.

He laced his fingers with hers, and she breathed a mental sigh of relief. When he halted close enough to her she could feel his body heat and his breath on her hair, she squeezed his fingers, thankful for the comfort of his presence. Odd how he’d been back in her life less than a month, and he’d already become more important to her than he had been as a kid.

“I love coming here,” she said, staring up. “Especially right at dusk, watching the shadows deepen into pitch-black, and the stars come alive. It’s like a spiritual experience.” Just not as profound as the ones she’d discovered beneath Stone’s tutelage.

“You’ll have to show me sometime.”

He didn’t sound angry with her, which confused her. “I often wonder about our ancestors on Mars.” Mars had been in the beginning stages of colonization when the pestilence spread like fire across the planet. “When I first came to the Quad, I would fantasize they survived, and I got a free pass to join them. Their world was peaceful and everyone mattered.”

“They live still, but neither of us has the technology to return them home.” The rockets had been accidently destroyed during the chaos of the plague’s initial outbreak, stranding the test colony. “We hear from them every five to ten years. They’ve managed to eke out a living on the red planet, grown to about ten thousand. Their society is different, more advanced than ours, and yes, all members are valuable, but their small numbers demand equality. Their technology hasn’t advanced the way ours has though.”

His thumb stroked against the back of her hand, the movement reassuring her of his love. He wouldn’t have accepted her touch or applied his own caress if she’d angered him to the point of giving up on her. Right? Momma had warned her often about her outspoken ways because spooners preferred coddling.

But not my Stone, he wants the truth
.
Respects the truth
.

She pivoted and hugged him, burying her face in his chest, loving the feel of him and the smell of him. Without a stitch of hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her, enfolding her into his embrace.

I’m so in love with him I don’t know how to deal with the emotion in a real-world scenario.
“I won’t apologize for speaking my mind.”

“Wasn’t expecting one.”

“I stand by what I said.” She rubbed her face against his chest because he felt too damn good to resist the temptation. “As much as I hate to admit it, you’ll be a benefit to the X-Ds, but I’ll worry every second of every mission.”

Stone cupped her face and slanted her head back. “I swear I’ll take extra care and no unnecessary risks, but
only
if you agree to the same.”

“I promise.” He kissed her, a soft and sweet smooch that revved up her desire. “I worry about Reaper, Dutch, and Creed, but nothing like I worry about your life. I feel guilty about that.”

A slight smile surfaced on his lips, and he slid his nose along hers. “It’s the same way I feel, sunshine.”

“We’ll be each other’s Achilles’ heel.” She snuggled back against him, finding contentment in the steady heartbeat against her ear.

“Then we can’t get caught.” He kissed the top of her head. “They’ll kill me before they catch me. I’m above the law, so they can’t try me for any crime.”

“You join us, the rules will change for you, pretty boy.” She looked up at him. “Other Regents won’t care who you are. They’ll enact new laws to deal with you.”

“I’m aware. You know your world, and I have no delusions about mine. They’re all a bunch of vipers. But you also know you need someone like me to make this revolt successful.”

“Yeah.” Stone and his power could represent the change in the war. “Thank you for forgiving me again.”

“Nothing to forgive. I know you were fighting to protect me, and I love you more for it.”

“Welcome to
our
revolution, Stone.”

He squeezed her a little tighter. “Who knew when we first dreamed it up, we’d make it this far.”

“Not me. I thought I’d be an archeologist and nothing more.” She pulled out of his embrace and clasped his hand. “The party to honor you and James will begin soon. I want to shower before we go.”

“Is that an invite to conserve water and bathe with you?” He halted her exit by grasping her nape.

Gooseflesh erupted along her body at his manhandling. That one touch had her entire body electrified and ready for his lovemaking. “How dirty are you going to get me
before
you wash me?”

“Very,” he growled, nudging her forward.

––––––––

B
y the time they reached Kella and Reaper’s chamber, Stone was so lost he contemplated the wise decision of leaving breadcrumbs when he went out alone. Their home was a chamber off of one of the tunnels, but it was teched-out. No one was getting in that baby without one of them, requiring voice recognition, an eye scan, fingerprint verification, and a prick of blood for DNA authentication.

“And you called
me
paranoid?” James smirked at them, his chuckle deep. “Tell me about Dutch.”

“Leave her alone.” Kella gave him a pointed stare.

“Fuck with her, and I’ll kill you,” Reaper added.

She chucked James’s chin. “That’s all you need to know about her, Satan.”

Stone laughed.

James grinned at him. “Yeah, I love how no one’s worried about my virtue.”

They entered the chamber, and the door automatically closed behind them. Nice pad, fitted with the necessary items, even a T.V. panel hung on the wall. “You get television reception here?”

“Dutch hacked the feed. She’s a lifesaver. Living quarters and kitchen, obviously. Bathroom.” She pointed to a door on the right. “The door on the left is Reaper’s bedroom, and mine’s the one there. Sorry, Satan, you get the sofa.”