Microsoft Word - MaximumVelocity.rtf (25 page)

“The Matriarch has taken the girl.”

Rick looked up from his son’s bedside. “Where is dear old grandmother?”

“Your grandmother is on the
Jade Flower.
She would like to meet with you at your

earliest opportunity.”

“I don’t know why I let her talk me into transporting Leon when he was still

recuperating. This can only be a foolhardy choice.”

“Your grandmother was wise to leave New Beijing. The Cassidy’s are troublemakers of

the foulest sort. They could endanger the very stability of The Anasazi Triad.”

“The girl, is she gifted as her father promised?”

“Oh, she is gifted. Though her talents have never been developed, save beyond an odd

vision here and there.”

“Will you be able to hone her talents?”

“Your grandmother will be the better teacher. I have no patience for such a tedious task.”

Rick looked at the tall white haired man that stood before him. For many years, Jim Wu

had been his right hand assassin. Jim had killed all of Rick’s adversaries. But in order to be killed

by Jim, that person had to be special.

They had to be admired by Rick.

Now Rick had another special person that had to be taken care of. This person would be

following in his father’s footsteps. Quinn Mallory had been moved to the top of Rick’s hit list.

Soon, that particular troublemaker would be out of Rick’s life forever. After Rick had Quinn

killed, he would be moving in on Lord Devlin. Rick wanted more power…and Lord Devlin

stood in The Triad’s way.

“Sensors show that there is a ship following our fleet.” Jim moved over to lean against

the opposite wall.

“One ship?” Rick snorted. “They must be more arrogant than I had originally given them

credit for. We will take them out as soon as we enter normal space.”

“Indeed. The Matriarch said you would choose such a reckless path.”

Rick bristled at the snub in Jim’s voice. He did not appreciate being patronized, and had

it come from any other person in Rick’s service, they would have already been hauled out of the

room.

“Reckless? I think not. I need to make a statement.”

“Perhaps. But two of my targets are onboard the ship that is in pursuit.”

“Two?” Rick closed his eyes. He was getting weary of all of this trouble. Why couldn’t

his life just be simple? He wanted to kill the little bitch that had shot his son, but she was under

his grandmother’s protection. “Let me guess. Lord Devlin, and Quinn Mallory. I should have

known that Quinn would have gone groveling back to his family. Those Mallory’s always did

have an annoying habit of sticking together when times got tough. As for Devlin, he will not be

hard to kill. Quinn might sense your approach, but Devlin is about as second sighted as my ass.

You will not fail me, Jim. I want them both dead. Quinn knows too much and Devlin has too

much power.”

MAXIMUM VELOCITY Marly Mathews 106

“With respect, sir. New Monaco has already been wrestled out of Lord Devlin’s control.”

“Yes, it has. But he still has his fleets on New Ireland, New Wales and lest we forget,

New Britain amongst countless other planets. He is the predominant power in this part of the

Universe, power that The Triad should hold. We can’t forget that most important detail. Lord

Devlin still is in every way a force to be reckoned with.”

“No, master. We can’t. That is why Lord Devlin needs to be eliminated.”

Rick looked over at Jim. There was something different about the assassin. He looked

spooked.

“You look ill at ease, Jim. What troubles you?”

“I do not....” Jim trailed off, and fell silent. “There is nothing that need concern you,

master.”

“Are you sure?” Rick narrowed his eyes. Did Jim doubt his leadership?

“Quite sure. I must return to the bridge so that I can be ready in case The Matriarch calls

upon my services.”

“You do that.” Rick watched Jim closely. Jim’s eyes flickered to Leon and then, he left

the room.

What interest did Jim have in Leon?

Rick returned his attention to his son. Rick needed Leon to wake up and show Rick that

he was none the worse for wear.

The little bitch, Aurora Mallory had nearly killed Leon. Had her shot been a little lower,

Leon would be dead right now.

A distinctive chiming noise wrenched Rick out of his reverie. Dropping Leon’s hand,

Rick reached to activate his communicator.

He already knew who was hailing him, by the sound of the chime. “Yes, Grandmother?”

“I wish to transport over to your ship in thirty minutes.”

“We are still in hyper space, Grandmother. Even with the newly advanced transporter

that would be an unwise choice.”

“Do not tell me that I am making a foolish choice, Frederick. I will tell you what to do. It

is not the other way around. You must remember who the true leader of The Triad is.”

“Yes, Grandmother.” A foul taste entered his mouth. Swallowing, he pursed his lips into

a sour sneer. His grandmother would already be dead, had she not possessed such a cunning

mind. Many times, Rick had attempted to assassinate her. But she had always been one step

ahead of him. Pity. He would rather run The Triad without her interference. Hand choosing

Leon’s future wife only riled Rick further. Rick wanted his grandmother to quit interfering with

all aspects of his life and that of his favorite son’s life.

“I will be seeing you in twenty-eight minutes, Frederick. I trust you will have the proper

welcome ready for my entourage?”

“Yes, Grandmother. I endeavor to please you.”

“Splendid. I’ll leave you to visit with Leon.” With that, she cut the communication link.

Rick looked back at Leon only to find Leon staring up at him.

“Mother?”

“Your mother has been dead for fifteen years, Leon.” Rick felt for his son. Leon’s mother

had been a terrific woman. Her beauty had been unparalleled throughout the known galaxies.

Unfortunately, she had not held The Matriarch’s favor. In an act of retribution, The Matriarch

had taken Leon’s mother from him and in doing so she had taken from Rick the only woman

Rick had ever truly loved.

MAXIMUM VELOCITY Marly Mathews 107

The spark in Leon’s eyes died. “Yes, of course. I should have remembered. Forgive me,

master.”

Rick smiled. He touched Leon’s forehead gently. “There is nothing to forgive. I myself

would give anything to see your mother again.”

“What happened?” Leon licked his lips.

“Have this drink of water, Leon.” Rick reached for the pitcher of water that stood on the

nightstand. He poured a bit of it into a glass and held it to Leon’s lips. As Leon swallowed, a

shudder ran through him.

“I remember.” His voice wobbled and then got stronger. “I remember chasing the girl that

was to be taken to you.”

“She was not for me.” Rick shrugged his shoulders.

“Not for you?” Leon looked almost relieved. “Than I did not fail you.”

“You could never fail me in the ways others have failed me. You are my favorite son.

You are my chosen heir. No, never think you could fail me.”

“If she was not for you, who was she for?” Leon turned his head to the side, and sighed.

“I feel so dizzy almost as if I am coming apart and floating high in the sky.”

“Those would be the painkillers and healing drugs that are rushing through your

bloodstream.”

“Oh. What happened to the girl?” Leon met Rick’s gaze. “You didn’t kill her, did you?”

Rick shook his head. “I wanted to. But no, your grandmother interceded on the bitch’s

behalf. It would seem, Leon, that Aurora Mallory is under your grandmother’s protection.”

Leon’s brow furrowed. His dark blue eyes filled with confusion. “Why? The Matriarch

does not keep female slaves.”

“Indeed she does not.” Rick laughed. “No. Grandmother couldn’t ever get the taste for

the slave trade. She only tolerates it because Grandfather had such a passion for the slave trade.

She loved your great-grandfather with a vicious fervor.” Rick shuddered. Upon his grandfather’s

death, his grandmother had tried to mold Rick into being just like his grandfather. Rick could

never tell if his grandmother was happy with the result she’d gotten or not.

“Then, why does Grandmother want this Aurora?”

Rick stood up and walked around the room. “Your Grandmother wanted Aurora for you.”

“Well, Aurora did shoot me. But I’m thinking that’s not the effect Grandmother was

looking for, is it?”

Rick let out a hollow laugh. “No. The Matriarch believes that Aurora has certain abilities.

The Matriarch wanted Aurora to strengthen the next generation of The Anasazi family.”

“The next generation? Master, I do not follow. Perhaps, it is the drugs that have confused

me.”

“No. I am not giving you a clear answer. You must prepare yourself, Leon. This is not

my choice. It is the choice your grandmother has made for the betterment of The Anasazi Triad.”

“Please, master, just tell me what is to be my fate, within The Triad.”

“Were you listening when I told you I had chosen you as my heir?”

“Yes. I am honored. You humble me with your decision, Master.”

“You must stop calling me Master when we are alone.”

“I will try.” Leon looked away from him and stared at the wall.

“Listen to me, Leon. I do not have much time.” Rick looked over at the clock. “The

Matriarch will be here soon. Then, she will run the show so to speak.”

“I am listening.” Leon looked back and settled his attentive gaze on Rick’s face.

MAXIMUM VELOCITY Marly Mathews 108

“The Matriarch has chosen Aurora Mallory, not to keep in her service, but to give to you

as a gift.”

“A gift? With respect, I do not want such a gift.”

“Leon, you are not understanding me. The Matriarch has chosen Aurora to be given to

you as your first and most powerful wife. You may take others but never forget that she comes

first above any other woman in your life.”

“Wife?” Leon coughed. His face turned a mottled red. “Never! I will marry when I find

the right woman for me.”

“If you refuse The Matriarch’s gift, I can’t protect you from her wrath. The only reason

she did not kill me when I married your mother was because I was her only legitimate grandson,

and I was the son of her only son. I have other legitimate sons, Leon. If you refuse this, she will

have you murdered.”

Leon looked stricken. “No, she could not be that cruel.”

“Leon, listen to your father. When it comes to cruelty, The Matriarch wrote the how to

book on it. Do not try to go against her…not yet. The Matriarch will not live for much longer.

Even she does not wield the coveted power of immortality—not yet anyway. No, when The

Matriarch dies, you may either kill Aurora or divorce her. That is your prerogative. But for now,

you must do as The Matriarch wishes.”

“Aurora is but a child.”

“She is old enough to bear your children. The Matriarch has done her research well.

Besides, she does not expect you to live as husband and wife from the get go.”

Leon’s eyes sparked with anger. “The Matriarch must be insane. I will not marry a

fourteen year old child!”

“Child or not, you are marrying her. I will force you down the aisle if need be. Whatever

comes to pass, I will not watch you be slaughtered on the orders of The Matriarch. We must go

with the flow on this decision. And, Leon, never, ever let anyone else hear what you just said to

me. If The Matriarch hears of your doubt in her sanity, she will kill you on that pretense. Do you

understand?”

Leon nodded his head. But it was not enough to satisfy Rick. “Answer me, Leon. Do you

understand?”

“I understand. I will do my duty.”

“Good. I look forward to seeing the grandchildren that you will give me.”

Leon smiled and closed his eyes. “I am tired.”

“Of course you are. But you must remain awake for at least another few minutes. Your

Grandmother will be paying you a visit in exactly five minutes.”

“Is she bringing the girl with her?”

“Aurora. You will learn to call her by her given name. You can not refer to your wife as

the girl.”

“Yes, master.”

“Father, Leon. Call me father.”

“Father.” Leon scrunched his face up. Rick smiled. When Leon had been born, Rick had

never thought Leon would grow to resemble his mother so much. Of course, Leon looked like a

man, but Leon had Desiree’s eyes. Love welled in Rick’s heart. Rick frowned when his

communicator activated.

“Master, The Matriarch has transported to the
White Lotus.
She is on her way to your

position.”

MAXIMUM VELOCITY Marly Mathews 109

“I understand.” Rick looked at the door.

Soon, The Matriarch would come sailing through it in her usual splendor, and she’d have

the little bitch…that is to say, she’d have Aurora with her. “Leon, prepare yourself.”

“I am prepared. I will not fail you.”

“I never thought you would.”

MAXIMUM VELOCITY Marly Mathews 110

Chapter Twenty-One

Aurora was numb. The sight of her Aunt Samantha slamming against the bus benches