Authors: Venessa Kimball
Xander smiles and looks down. “I couldn’t get her out of my mind from the moment I met her at the bookstore. Jesca Gershon-Sera is here in Florida.”
Sam’s skin slowly loses its color from his shock at the familiar name. He puts his phone in his coat pocket and crosses his arms. “Jesca is another important component. She is a Dobrian guardian. And I can only guess that she is here because she was sent here to eliminate any Sondians in her way.”
Sam steps toward Xander one final time. “Be sure of this, Xander. She is not an ally. Be cautious, and keep your distance.”
Xander looks down and turns to retrieve his phone from the desk. Who is Sam to dictate who is an ally or enemy? Xander isn’t sure where Sam stands in his mind right now.
Sam doesn’t budge and continues to watch Xander’s expression. Sam’s eyes widen all of a sudden. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for her? Don’t go weak on me now, kid! We have too much at stake.”
Xander stiffens as he takes in everything he has learned: the collision, his purpose, Jesca’s purpose, and Sam’s intentions. He needs time to absorb it all and work it out in his head. In order to do that, he needs to fake his loyalty to Sam, find Corinna and her friend, and get them out of here. Xander puts his phone in his coat pocket and inhales a huge breath.
Sam smiles coyly and puts his arm around Xander’s shoulders to lead him to the door. Xander lets him. They are going to walk out there and meet Corinna and her friend; that is inevitable. But he isn’t going to let anything happen to either of them.
“C’mon, Xander, introduce me to Corinna Cain and her mystery friend. And don’t even think about making a scene, my boy. You are being watched. And those watching you are being watched. Remember, always watching.” Sam’s hand tightens on Xander’s shoulder as he moves him toward the door. Xander resists just for a moment to show Sam that he would not give in to his bullying. Enough resistance for Sam to release him and let him move on his own accord.
I lead the way out of the office, with Sam close behind, watching my every move. I can feel the weight of Sam’s eyes and the proximity of his body close behind him. My eyes scan the dancing bodies from one side of the room to the other. I pause at each sentinel-like figure strategically positioned throughout the club; Sam did this.
They are watching us.
The vibration of the music increases as the music changes, becoming louder and more technotronic. With Sam right behind me, pushing me along, we start up the staircase to the VIP lounge. It overlooks the dance floor and the DJ. The club is packed; too many people at risk if things get rough. The lounge has multiple clusters of bodies toasting, celebrating, and mingling above the melodic chaos below.
Sam greets a few of the groups and welcomes them to the club. I ignore their pleasantries, focusing on finding Corinna and her friend. I see the flash of red hair and latch on to the girl; it’s her. And to her side, an unforgettable presence.
Jesca.
I’m frozen, immobile. I am in awe and devastated all at once. She is the friend that Corinna brought.
I’m not sure I can follow through with this now that she is here. I can’t let anything happen to her.
I won’t. She is too important.
Sam steps ahead of me now that his targets have been revealed. He looks back at me and grins. “You didn’t know they were friends? Ah, c’mon. Even I did enough research to know that my boy.”
My blood boils with this revelation.
Sam knew Jesca was the friend coming here.
What is Sam going to do to her? My body goes rigid at the thought of him near Jesca.
Sam watches my reaction. My mind works through what Sam has planned for Corinna and Jesca. The urge to strangle him right now is strong, but I clench my fists to hold my anger at bay until the right moment. Sam’s smile fades. His volume increases as the music starts to thump louder. “You got it now, Xander? Thanks, son. You made this so much easier. The capture of two Dobrians and a key component, Jesca. But you’ve known in your heart that she has been the key all along, haven’t you? Balthazar will be ecstatic!”
I feel pure betrayal by the man I have grown to call father. And Jesca, what is she the key for?
Sam turns and heads toward Corinna and Jesca. I lunge toward him, grab his forearm and turn him to face me. Cecil puts his heavy hand on my shoulder and squeezes, warning me to not take this any further. “Sir, don’t do anything to jeopardize all of these people.” Cecil nods toward the sentinels below us, their eyes fixed on the scene we are creating. Their hands are discretely resting on their waists, suit coats pushed back.
On the trigger.
I grit through my teeth.
“I won’t.”
I pull away from Cecil roughly and continue behind Sam, contriving his next move.
Plans have changed.
Sam reaches the ladies. “Corinna Cain? I’m Mr. Crest, the owner of this club and Xander’s father.”
Both Corinna and Jesca turn toward the entourage behind them.
Jesca’s eyes immediately lock on mine. I see the shock radiating from her now.
I am frozen stiff.
Xander? What is he…?
My brain slowly begins to work again. Crest. Samson Crest. Sam, from the text on Xander’s phone. He is on Sam’s side!
My heavy stare on Xander breaks to Sam. “Are you Samson Crest?”
Sam moves toward Jesca and takes her hand in his.
I notice Xander tense up as soon as Sam touches me. His touch, it is cold and dry. I want to pull back, but I know it would ruin my chances of finding out more. I need more information before I react and try and take out Sam.
And Xander.
Sam smiles widely. “Well, I haven’t been called Samson in ages. Yes, I am, dear. And your name is?”
I’m slow to answer, needing to digest the shockwave of having this sadistic man standing in front of me and a man I was falling for being his side kick.
I need backup, damn it! How am I going to let Ezra know? I can’t break away right now! Damn it!
Corinna picks up on my silence and answers for me. “This is Jesca Gershon-Sera.”
Play along! Don’t give yourself away. I need to let Ezra know, but I can’t open my mind to communicate with him right now. Sam might get in, then all of this will explode, and I will lose him and Xander.
Corinna leans across Sam to hug Xander. “Hi there, Xander. Where is Christian? He is such a nice guy.”
As Corinna hugs Xander, his eyes shift to look at me, my reaction.
Son of a....what the hell is that. Did he try and woo her too?
Pissed as all hell, I glare back at Sam.
Out of the corner of my eye, Xander releases Corinna, moves passed her and toward me extending his hand. “Hi. I’m Alexander Crest. Xander.”
I look at his hand, and then glare up at him. The jerk gave me the identical introduction from when we first met. I wanted to kick him in the... ugh. Two can play this game, and I am game right now. I jut my hand out to him and push the words through my clenched teeth. “Hi. I’m Jesca Gershon-Sera. Jes.”
I want to not feel anything when our hands meet, but it is impossible. The touch is not sinister, but benevolent rather.
The conversation I had moments ago with Sam comes flooding into my mind.
She is a Dobrian guardian. She is here because she was sent here as a spy. She is a Dobrian. She is not an ally.
I have to touch her, remember what I felt the last time I was with her. I have to know that she is not the one I should be fearful of or fighting against. When our hands touch again, I feel vulnerable in her eyes all of a sudden.
What is she looking for? Does she think I’m the enemy? Does she think I’m involved in Sam’s plan?
I feel Sam studying my reaction to her. “Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise. When Xander said that Corinna was here with a friend, I didn’t know it was going to be a beautiful force like yourself, Jesca.”
Sam’s words are the knife that breaks Jesca’s and my hands apart. Without our eyes parting, we both blink as if we were woken from a trance. When Jesca breaks our gaze and shifts it to Sam, she looks like she is going to claw out his eyes. I can’t look away from her though.
Sam continues talking. “Just look at you two girls, beautiful and so intelligent. We are honored to have you at our club this evening.”
Corinna giggles with excitement at his compliment. Jesca’s smile is reserved as she looks from Sam back to me briefly. She wants answers. Answers that I want to give her.
My eyes lock back on Xander.
He is a Sondian! Son of a…
A Sondian approaching me at Ms. Olivia’s store in broad daylight. Then taking me for coffee? Why didn’t he just kill me then? I should kill him right now!
I suck in a huge breath, knowing that my anger is spiraling out of control right now.
Calm down Jes. Don’t lose it!
Sam interrupts my spiraling. “Hey, Corinna, will you join me downstairs. I’m famished and would love for you to do the honor of picking out some appetizers for us for to partake in. Our chef is extraordinary.”
Corinna is mesmerized and hangs on Sam’s every word. “Of course, Mr. Crest.”
The show makes me sick.
Corinna looks at me for confirmation that it is fine if she leaves for a while. Corinna is evidently smitten with Sam’s good looks and charm. Something that he obviously has used to his advantage during the abductions. I close my eyes, feeling the bile rise in my throat.
Settle down Jes.
This may be my only chance to take down someone in the Sondian fellowship that is single-handedly pushing along the collision of our galaxy and Andromeda. Taking him down might stop the advancement of the collision.
Corinna comes close to me and whispers, “Jes?”
I tighten my fists, open my eyes and look at Corinna for a moment, contemplating letting my friend go with the enemy in order to trap him.
She is not bait, Jes.
I shake my head and clear my throat. “I love seafood. Pick something interesting, okay?” And there you have it, I let her go. I just threw Corinna out there like bait.
She’ll be fine. This will be over in minutes. As soon as I kick Xander’s ass and all of these other Sondians, I will kill Sam.
Corinna hugs me quickly and dashes away with Sam on her arm. I watch her walk away briefly, and then return my heavy stare to Xander.
She is going to kick my ass, try and take out all of these guys, then go after Sam.
Sam leans over to me as Corinna and Jesca make their exchange. “I promise I’ll have her back in a flash, Xander.”
My body instinctively stiffens at the sound of his voice.
Sam wraps his arm around Corinna’s waist and holds her other hand to escort her down the stairs. Xander’s and Jesca’s eyes follow Sam and Corinna until they are out of sight. Jesca doesn’t waste any time as she lunges at me. I sense her attack before Cecil and the others notice anything wrong. I cover her attack by grabbing both of her arms and holding her to me. Having her this close to me makes me want more and I lean in, burying my mouth close to her ear, grazing it with my lips.
I try to keep my voice low. “Don’t do anything! They are watching. They will kill her and all of these people if you make a move!”
Jesca tries to shift out of his grasp as she hisses. “You bastard! You are a Sondian!”
I grab her tighter and walk her backward slowly; she resists every step of the way. I finally back her against a marble column. “I didn’t know Corinna and you were friends.”
Jesca spits out, “Funny, I didn’t know you were friends with Corinna.”
I hear the jealousy in her tone. I shake my head. “This is not the time to be jealous.”
Jesca’s cheeks start to feel hot against mine now. She scoffs, “Why the hell would I be jealous?”
“This invitation was Sam’s doing. I was just the messenger.”
I am not involved in this, Jes. I didn’t know about any of it until twenty minutes ago.
Jesca goes rigid and sucks in an audible, ragged breath. “What did you just say?”
Did...did she just hear my thoughts?
Jesca tries to pull back and being a little taken aback I let her.
I feel a shiver run through my body. I just heard his thoughts! How is that possible!
“Why did you invite Corinna? Why her?”
Xander’s body stiffens at the question. He pulls back and looks into Jesca’s eyes. “I met Corinna after leaving you at the gate of the Cloisters a few days ago.” He pauses and lowers his voice. “She’s a good girl, Jes. I didn’t know this is what was happening. Please believe me. If I knew what Sam was doing…”
The familiar humming vibration instantaneously spikes in my head. I lean back against the column as Xander moves closer to me. I grab onto Xander’s shirt quickly try to hold onto something solid as everything starts to spin.
Xander brushes my fallen hair away from my face and holds my chin with a gentle hand. “Jesca. Are you all right?”
The spinning slows and I open my eyes and look into his hazel orbs. I can’t deny the safety they give me. The safety is brief though.
Corinna.
I turn to look below us at the sea of dancers. I scan the floor and see a flash of red hair by the main entrance. Corinna looks worried, anxiously looking around her. I swear I can hear her quickened breath and racing heart from here. Sam is by her side and is no longer smiling.
He’s taking her!
“Where are they going?”
Xander pulls me along with him toward the stairs. “Damn it!”
Xander has his arm around my waist and is pulling me along until I feel myself again and regain my footing. Together, we skip every other step down the stairs and reach the front door in a blink.
Xander looks at me in disbelief of our speed together.
I hear him think.
How did we do that?
He has the ability of speed and he can hear my thoughts.
Xander turns and refocuses on Sam and Corinna as they get into Sam’s Porsche and drive away. Cecil and Michael are closing in behind us. Xander pulls me out into the night and into his car. Before my door is shut, he starts the car and guns it. Xander yells, “Son of a…”
“Xander! Where is he taking her?”
Xander’s jaw works. “He is taking her to Club Meridian. We need to catch them before he…before it is too late.”
“He is going to hurt her.”
Xander answers huskily, “Yes, he is. Damn it!”
My chest burns with worry and adrenaline.
Xander shifts gears and weaves through traffic. “Sam and I work for this investor. He has been using me to invite people to the club. Sam has been having me introduce them to him, and then he takes it from there.”
I can sense his feelings; disgust, pain, sorrow, hate.
Xander hits the steering wheel with his hand and my eyes snap back to his pained face. “He is sending them through a portal. They travel to another world, Sonde. They are implanted with a Copula. It’s like a transmitter. Balthazar is building an army with them! They are being used like slaves, Jes.”
Xander looks straight ahead as he continues to weave in and out of traffic. His eyes are tearing up. Not from sadness, but from rage. He blinks once, and the tears fall. “God, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he was doing any of this.”
He swerves in and out of more traffic, faster and faster. “He used me for all of this! God, I am so sorry!”
I have to touch him, let him know I believe him. I place my hand on his shoulder and squeeze. “I believe you, Xander.”
The humming vibrations subsided and I am able to think more clearly now.
I want to be honest with him, too.
“I’m a Dobrian.”
I look at him to see his reaction.