Lie to Me (7 page)

“Mind your manners, Rog.”

At her warning, he tugged his hand free of Dezzy’s and crossed his arms over his chest, not giving up the glare. It was sweet he defended her, but giving Stone shit would land him in a barrel full of trouble.

She tossed her apple core into the trash bin. “Apologize or walk away.”

Mutiny flashed in his brown-eyed gaze when he shifted his glance to her for a millisecond.

Dezzy leaned against Rog’s large frame, sucking loudly on his thumb. The excitement of the other four kids dropped at their standoff.

Kella wouldn’t back down. “All you need to know is he’s an acquaintance. Now apologize.”

“Sorry,” the boy mumbled. It wasn’t the most gracious apology, but she hoped it would suffice. Spooners were to blame for his hardship, and he wasn’t likely to ever forgive them.

“You’re pretty.” Maddy tugged on Stone’s pants. Her mother was a worker at the bordello, so five-year-old Maddy spent a lot of time alone, but that was life in dreg society. The normally blonde-haired, little girl didn’t look like she’d had a bath in a week, and her matted hair hadn’t seen a brush either.

“So are you,” Stone said. Despite the little girl’s shabby appearance, he stunned Kella when he swung Maddy up into his arms. Maddy grinned at them like she was the queen of the square.

Deciding it was best to ignore the softening in her heart toward Stone, she dug in her bag and pulled out a handful of chocolates. “You know the drill. Chocolate for a correct answer.”

Schoolwork was important, but these kids didn’t attend school. An education was for spooners only. Dregs worked all their life. Child-labor laws of the twenty-first century were nothing but a history lesson.

The two oldest kids worked to help with the cost of living. Kella gave them lessons to learn and quizzed them when she saw them again. Often they ferreted her out just because they wanted the treats. It’d become a game, but they were learning, and that’s what mattered to her.

“What’s the name of the 2020 president that was impeached?” She held up a chocolate between her thumb and forefinger and waved it back and forth.

“Charles Monroe,” Stella squealed in a high-pitched voice.

“Close. Try again, Stella.”

“Umm...” she poked her tongue out of her mouth and closed her eyes as she thought. Everyone stared at her. She could see the answer in Rog’s eyes, but he wouldn’t speak up until Stella had a chance. It was the way the boy operated. “Charlie Monroe?”

“Correct.” Kella handed over the chocolate, and the candy was unwrapped and stuffed in her mouth a few seconds later.

They went on asking questions until each child, except Maddy, had a piece of candy. Four of them took off, and only Stella remained waiting on Maddy cuddled in Stone’s arm. Stella must be on babysitting duty today. As a group they’d worked out their own sitting assignments. The older kids always watched out for the younger kids. Kella liked that they stuck together that way.

“He’s pretty, Mack.” Maddy patted Stone’s chest. “Smells good too.”

Kella met Stone’s gaze. Amusement crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Yes, he knows he’s pretty,” she said. “For the final piece of chocolate, what’s the name of my new favorite song?”

They all knew that. And since Maddy couldn’t read yet, she wouldn’t leave her out by not giving her a treat.

Maddy grinned. “
Sweet Home Alabama
.”

“All of you are so bright.” She passed the treat to the little girl, and Stone settled her on her feet. “Be safe.”

Silence lingered between her and Stone. She could feel the intensity of his stare while she watched the girls walk away. Kella regretted the world wasn’t their oyster, but until society changed, fair chances weren’t a part of dreg-life.

“That was enlightening,” he said.

Uncomfortable with what that meant, Kella chose to ignore the comment.

––––––––

M
ack acted as if she hadn’t heard him or she chose to ignore his comment.

Watching her interact with the kids had been eye opening. They obviously loved her. And the one kid, Rog, had wanted to protect her. Adorable. The kid hadn’t stood a chance, but the boy’s aggression demonstrated the depth of his affection for Mack.

Commotion in the streets drew his attention. People dispersed, allowing for two guards chasing a civilian through the throng of citizens in the busy thoroughfare. The runner tripped, skidding forward from the momentum of his fall. Stone cringed at the scrapes the guy would receive.

The runner pushed up—and then was down again as the guards caught up and wailed on him. Kicking, punching, and whacking him with clubs, which resulted in the escapee curling into a ball, protecting himself as he screamed for a ceasefire. The guards just kept pummeling.

Next thing Stone knew, Mack stepped off the sidewalk and put herself in the middle of the fray. Great. She was a do-gooder.

“Stop!” she screamed, shoving one of the Regent’s men aside. The crowd hushed, and sudden alarm punched the mob. “You’ve got him, you asshole, he’s bleeding everywhere.”

Stone agreed with that assessment. The beating was excessive.

The man she’d attacked kicked the runner in the gut. “You’re under arrest, Mack, for violating Regent business.”

Mack blanched at that threat, but she pushed on. “You’re going to kill him.”

From the corner of his eye, Stone spied one of the girls from earlier take off. This wouldn’t end well if the altercation terrified her enough to run away.

Stone stepped off the curb to diffuse the situation, but before he could reach them, Mack pulled on the soldier’s arm to stop him from abusing the guy further, and he backhanded her. The crowd shrieked. Mack managed to deflect his next blows, ramming her knee into his crotch. With a wail, he went down, the crowd cheering. But the other asshole guard was on her then, curling his hand in her hair and yanking her back. Mack fell on her ass, swiped her leg out, and took the Regent’s man with her.

Before she could get her footing, the asshole straddled her, smacked her once, and had balled up his fist to strike her when Stone stepped up and pressed the barrel of his gun to the guard’s forehead. Seeing him smack Mack had flooded him with rage. Fury struck so hard, it was a wonder his hands weren’t shaking.

I would react the same if he hit any woman
.

Wouldn’t he? Stone wasn’t so sure. There was something unidentifiable that attracted him to Mack.

The man went still, lifting his hands in the universal sign of surrender. “Regent Jones will see you dead for violating weapon’s law.”

“Stupid fucker. You threaten me while I hold a gun to your head?” James weaved into the crowd, maintaining the neutralization of the other guard as Stone spoke. “I could off you right now, and not a goddamn thing would be done about it.”

“You have a high opinion of yourself, dreg.”

Stone couldn’t understand why the idiot mistook him for a civilian, a low-class one at that by his slur. His shirt alone cost more than the stupid fuck’s entire yearly salary. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Regent Stone Emmerson, and I’m well within my legal right to weaponize myself and to put a bullet in your head. Start talking, and I demand—”

“Stone,” James warned. “You’ve crossed the line.”

“—a good fucking reason for your abuse of a defenseless woman. Shut up, James.” Now was not the time to scold him. The asshole had hit Mack, and he wanted reparations for the assault, didn’t matter that she wasn’t his citizen and he didn’t hold any rights toward her. Somewhere along the way, his brain had claimed her. Yeah, he’d fucked up big time.

“She started it!” the guy with the relocated balls choked out.

The one straddling Mack maintained his calm. “It’s Regent business. He’s a thief. She interfered. You understand protocol and that I must now bring them both in.”

Stone nodded, and lowered his weapon. “Let’s all of us have a chat with your Regent.”

James cursed, but jerked Blueballs to his feet. “You’re a goddamn fool.”

No shit. He’d ousted himself for a woman he had no business protecting, much less desiring.

“You’re an idiot,” Mack said, the ungrateful chit. “You should’ve stayed out of it.”

Seriously? He’d expected a little more gratitude. “He’d have beaten the fuck out of you too. You’re welcome.”

“Looked like she was holding her own pretty good to me.” James stepped up beside him as the guards secured the guy with a set of electric cuffs.

“Thanks, Satan.”

Pain radiated along Stone’s neck when he jerked his attention to her. No one had ever called James Satan except Kella.

She glared at Stone and said, “I’d say sorry for blowing your cover, but I didn’t ask for your help.”

Still reeling from her nickname for James, Stone found himself strangely speechless. He looked at his buddy, but James ogled her, frown lines scoring his forehead.

“Is that necessary?” Stone demanded when Stupid Fuck spun Mack around and cuffed her with zip-ties. Tight enough she winced as they indented her skin.

“She committed a felony attacking government representatives on official business.”

“Is that how you’re going to spin it?” James gave Stone his ‘I can’t believe this bullshit’ glower. “From what I could see, you two attacked her first, and she defended herself.”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling Regent Jones.” Stone didn’t bother commanding the jerk to loosen her restraints. Instead he lifted his foot, slid his blade out of his ankle strap, and slit through the plastic ties.

“She interfered with our commands.” Stupid Fuck’s face mottled when Stone released her.

“That’s different from attacking you.” Stone rubbed her wrists, and his cock took interest thanks to the soft texture of her skin. If Mack Ellason interested him, Missy wasn’t doing her job, and he needed to get laid again. Mack was no beauty, cute, yes, but all his women were refined or whores. He didn’t peg her as a whore, but she was far from refined.

“You have no jurisdiction here,” Blueballs squeaked out.

Stone released his grip on Mack’s wrists. He curled his fingers in Blueball’s shirt and yanked him closer. “Come again?”

“You’re scaring the piss out of the guy.” James gestured low.

Stone shoved Blueballs away. “You lead, we’ll follow.” He motioned to Stupid Fuck, who showed his displeasure by grinding his teeth hard enough his pinched lips turned white.

As they walked the streets, a crowd trailing them, Mack strode between him and James.

“What do you know about Mackella Starke Emmerson?” James asked out of the blue. By all outward appearances he seemed calm, but Stone detected the tension straining in his neck.

“Who?” Mack stared straight ahead.

“My wife.” Stone rested his hand on her lower back, and she tensed beneath his touch. “She’s the only person who ever called James Satan.”

“I like the way she thinks.” Mack’s face screwed up, and she tilted her head to look up at him. “I didn’t think you were married?”

“Not any longer.”
She’s dead
. At least he’d once believed that.

That shut her up. Either Mack was telling the truth about not knowing Kella, or she was the best actress ever.

––––––––

T
hey entered Regent Jones’s domain. He’d had the displeasure of meeting the man three times since Stone’s inauguration, each time at the annual Regent assembly. He wasn’t impressed with Jones. Stone found him to be pompous and self-absorbed, like most Regents. Mid- to late-forties, he kept himself in good shape, and ran his Quadrant like a dictator. Again like most Regents.

Jones took one look at Mack and asked, “What’ve you done now, Mack?”

A troublemaker like Kella. James noted the similarities too and elevated his eyebrows when he caught Stone’s glance.

Stone found it concerning, as well as fucking erotic as hell, that Mack glared at Jones, even when she should be cowering and begging for mercy. “Why do you automatically assume she’s guilty?”

“She’s always stirring up trouble. Thinks she’s better than most dregs.” Jones stepped forward and held his hand out. “Good to see you again, Regent.”

Lies. They shared no love of one another. Jones disapproved of Stone’s leadership and had made no bones about it. Stone knew how to play nice, though, so he shook the other man’s hand. “Likewise.”

“Glad you caught our thief—”

“We both know he’s not a thief.” As if Mack’s voice wasn’t defiant enough, she notched her chin and gave Jones a rebellious glare. “You’ve been skimming his profits and his goods, like you do everyone.”

Jesus, she was ballsy. There wasn’t much Stone could do to aid her in the presence of her Regent.

Jones slapped her. A hard, whip-crack smack that happened so fast, Stone didn’t have time to stop her from reeling and collapsing to the floor. A cruel twist contorted Jones’s lips as he wound his fingers in her hair and jerked her upward to her knees. “You forget how much I’ve helped you, little girl.”

“I can do without your style of help.”

While holding her hair, Jones smacked her again. Hard. She lurched to the side, but came up sharp in the Regent’s grasp. A hiss of pain escaped her lips, but that was the only discomfort she displayed. If anything her glare grew more rebellious.

The only thing that halted Stone from interfering was James placing his hand on Stone’s shoulder. His buddy shook his head. Yeah, this wasn’t his place, not his domain, and all Regents ran their Quads differently. No rule said he had to agree with the way other Regents governed.

Stone swiped his fingers through his hair, but the action bombed at relieving his anger. All women should be respected. Everyone deserved that. But he’d been taught to coddle, love, and protect, not manhandle women in particular.

His agitation intensified when Jones wound her hair around his arm. Mack gasped and threw her arms up, and back to clutch at the dictator’s arm when he craned her head back at a sharp slant. Tears shimmered in her eyes and if looks could’ve killed, Jones would be a smoldering corpse.

Stone focused on the Regent because watching her resulted in fury sweeping through him. Killing Jones would be satisfying. It’d be easy to snap the bully’s neck.