Senescence (Jezebel's Ladder Book 5) (24 page)

Seven blocks later,
Laura slowed as she passed a large Catholic church. Had she been hand in hand
with Stu, she wouldn’t have noticed the lack of drones or the sniper on the
rooftop a block from the school. Stu took her change in speed as a cooling of
her mood. “I wasn’t being patriarchal. There are things you don’t—”

Laura
shoved him behind one of the massive pillars, shielding him with her body.
“Gunman two o’clock. Armored van at three.” Crouching, she pushed him up the
stairs through the open door of the church.

The
priest greeted them. Laura recognized that he was asking a question but
couldn’t translate.

The
male bodyguard rattled off a request as the female bodyguard closed and barred
the thick door. The priest paled and nodded.

“He’s
giving us the protection of the church until the gunmen leave.” The male native
guard contacted the local police on his comm.

“We’ve
been granted
sanctuary
. How ironic,” Stu said.

The
female guard radioed Oleander.

Stu
and Laura crouched in the far corner, by the votive candles. She reached under
her skirt and pulled out a tiny projectile launcher. “This can fire two
explosive rounds.”

“Where
the heck did that come from?”

“I’ll
show you the holster later,” she replied. “I have a license to carry.”

Stu
raised an eyebrow. “There’s no way something this small can pack any serious
punch.”

“Maybe
it makes up for size with attitude.”

The
priest jogged over waving his hands and saying, “No.”

“No
weapons,” Stu translated. “Mom was Brazilian and wanted me to know a little of
the language.”

Growling,
she slipped the launcher back under the skirt. “What happened to ‘God helps
those who help themselves’?”

Stu
replied, “This is a place of worship. I’m sure the police will—”

“Sir,”
the male guard interrupted, “the men waiting to ambush you
are
the
police. They’ve promised not to shoot into the church while we negotiate, but
the block is surrounded by an assault team.” In Portuguese, he related the same
information to the priest, who seemed affronted.

“They
can’t arrest the ambassador,” Laura insisted.

The
native glanced at her in disapproval. “They are not after Senhor Llewellyn.
They are here to arrest you, senhorita.”

She
grabbed Stu’s arm in a panic. “If I leave here with them, they’re going to give
me a lobotomy.”

“Why?”

“That’s
what they do to empaths in Active penal colonies.”

“No
one will lay a hand on you, I swear,” Stu said. “I promised your parents I’d
deliver you safely to
Sanctuary
.”

He’s talking to my mom and Commander Zeiss behind my back? When I was
asleep? About what?

The
church’s electricity shut off, silencing the air conditioning and extinguishing
the exit lights. Laura prepared for the worst. “Stu, have Lena Maurier take
care of Mom. She’ll need to be sedated when she finds out what they’ve done to
me.”

The
priest called someone on his cufflink.

“He’s
contacting the bishop,” the male guard explained. “His eminence won’t let them
invade a church, especially not for an Italian warrant.”

Stu
was already on his wallet with the vice president. Laura could tell by his
pacing and curt tone that things were not going well. After he terminated the
call and chatted with the priest, Stu returned to her side. “The police have
agreed to stay out of the church until midnight. That gives us four hours to
find a loophole.” He looked frantic. “I have one more person I can try—Mary … I
mean Mira Hollis.”

Laura
nodded. “I’ve worked with her—not in person, but with Ballbusters. While I was
on your legal team, she presented me with an award for innovation in
bioscience.”

“This
is the kind of meeting I should have alone,” he explained. “Some secrets aren’t
mine to tell.”

She
raised an eyebrow. “No offense, but I’m a bit better at persuading people than
you are, and it is my life on the line.”

He
bit his lower lip. “Compromise. I’ll talk with her alone in the confessional
for one minute, and then you can come in.”

She
nodded, but started the timer the moment he entered the soundproof box. At
around forty seconds into his call, she nudged the door open a crack. The
richest woman in the world was reading Stu the riot act. “Shouldn’t have let it
get this far. I’m on my way, but you cannot allow Miss Zeiss to be arrested
under any circumstances.”

“I’ve
promised her my protection, and I keep my word,” Stu insisted.

“She’s
an employee of the embassy,” Ms. Hollis said. “Surely she has immunity?”

“Sadly,
not for murder. Even being my fiancée holds no weight with the international
community.”

Laura
pushed her way into the confessional to stand beside him.
He’d use my
mother’s crazy lie to protect me. How sweet
. The thought of what her family
had planned to do to him shamed her. “Ma’am, I know you hate my grandfather,
but I’m trying to do the right thing.”

“Of
course you are, sweetheart,” said Ms. Hollis. She gazed at Laura for a moment
with inexplicable tenderness. “Well, you
are
in a church. That would fix
things. Make it official.”

Stu
blinked at first, but then recovered. “The cardinal might bend the rules to
make his point about church sovereignty. Would he wave the banns?”

“He
would if I asked him,” said Hollis. “He’s the one who confirmed me in the
church and the priest I’ve confessed to since Alcantara.”

“Laura
has been baptized, so it could work,” Stu said with a nod.

“What
would work?” asked Laura.

The
woman on the screen said, “Marriage would extend Stewart’s immunity to you.”

Laura
flopped onto the narrow bench. “Fuck me.”

“We
won’t have to go that far,” Stu said rapidly. “I can fill out the annulment
paperwork in advance. Anytime you want, you can file it and be free. This would
be a union in name only to save your life. I’m not asking you to do anything in
exchange.”

“Nice.
Just what every girl wants to hear,” Hollis said, dripping sarcasm. “Do it
right, or I’ll kick your butt when I get there.”

Miffed,
Stu disconnected the call and knelt in the cramped space. He held her hand and
gazed into her eyes until she wanted to melt. “Laura Salome Zeiss, would you do
me the extreme honor of being my lawfully wedded wife?”

Still
dazed, she replied, “Yes?”

“Great,”
he said. “I’ll call the crew, and they can bring the props. If anyone can swing
a wedding in four hours, it’ll be Hans.”

****

The bride decided to
wear her lucky, red outfit from the shipping crates. Out of spite, she used the
tiara Fiona had tried on. Kaguya, the Mauriers, half the faculty, and the
entire cast showed up in dress clothing to wish them well—except Freya. As maid
of honor, Evangeline told Laura all the latest gossip while squeezing her into
the dress. A minidrone taped the event for posterity. “Stu has been practicing
his speech for the UN assembly. He’s spending almost as much time on women’s
rights as the benefits of an independent
Sanctuary
.”

“He’s
a philosopher like his father. Even if we lose the vote, Stu feels we’ll still
win long term if people hear the truth.” Laura held her chest in place while
Evangeline zipped. “Is Freya still sore about the black eye?”

“She’s
been more distant than usual lately. Sif complained she’s been mooning around.
Themis told me she asked how soon she could get out of her contract. Someone
suggested that Grant’s death hit her particularly hard. You think she might
have had a thing for him all this time?”

Laura
shook her head. The hairdresser had outdone herself and ringlets bounced.
“Rumors mutate faster than the flu and are twice as deadly.”

“The
mayor signed your civil license when he showed up with his family,” Evangeline
continued.

On
the way in with the bouquet, Kaguya asked, “How did you finagle the mayor’s
help?”

“Uncle
Kieran,” Laura explained.

“Is
that why he’s in the best man’s position up front?”

“Mo
and Hans both said no to the honor before he arrived,” Evangeline whispered.
“They both have too much to do tonight. No other men were available.”

Laura
cleared her throat and indicated the recording drone.

“Oops.
I helped test the champagne,” Evangeline admitted.

The
time until the ceremony passed in a blur.

Laura
followed the prompts in her earbud. Stu looked as nervous as if this were all
real. Several times during the vows, he lost his way, staring into her face.

Stu
placed his father’s RAF flight-school ring on her finger. “This was my mother’s
wedding ring.”

Laura
had never wanted to kiss anyone this badly in her life. The bishop got as far
as, “You may—” before Stu leaned over awkwardly. He had difficultly tilting his
head to avoid bumping noses, so she guided him with her hands wrapped on the
back of his neck.

The
kiss was warm and soft. Stu whimpered near the beginning, but she could feel
his hunger building the longer the kiss lasted. Eventually, Hans whispered in
her earbud, “We’re three minutes over. Save some for the honeymoon.”

Reluctantly,
she broke off the embrace.

****

While Stu signed the
marriage license and paid the stack of bills, Laura’s mother gave her a key
card and the first congratulatory hug. “I commandeered this from Fiona as soon
as I heard. Now
you
are the sole woman with access to Stewart’s
bedroom.”

“This
is all so sudden. What do I do?” Laura asked.

“Every
couple negotiates their own balance. Find out what he wants in a wife and be
that. Then tell him what you expect in return,” Kaguya advised. “Call me first
thing in the morning.”

The
others guests lined the sidewalk. Stu led her directly to the embassy before
pumpkin time. The couple shook a few hands but didn’t have time to pose for
pictures.

“Tomorrow
evening we’ll have a reception,” Laura promised.

“The
night after,” Kaguya corrected. “A lot of people want to come, especially for
the gifts.”

Laura
rode the elevator up to the embassy floor with Stu, two guards, and a
technician. “So, Mr. Llewellyn, how would you define a good wife?”

“A
bit late for that, isn’t it?” Stu chuckled.

“I’m
serious. Whether we planned this marriage or not, I want to succeed. I never
give less than my all.”

He
considered this until they reached the embassy floor. “Talking with my dad, the
main theme would be partnership. The best couples I’ve seen work together
selflessly. If your boat is sinking, you can’t point at one person and say,
‘That’s
your
hole.’ You fix it together.”

She
smiled. “Partners, then. I’ll start on your recruiting program first thing in
the morning.”

The
couple had to wait for the technician to sweep for bugs. Several interests had
taken advantage of their absence to plant listening devices.

Laura
crossed her arms to keep warm and was gratified to see Stu staring at her in
admiration. “My ideal husband would never separate me from my mother, choose money
over me, or abandon me.”

“That’s
a pretty low bar.” He draped his rented tuxedo jacket over her for warmth.

“You’d
be surprised.”

The
group shuffled into the living room of the embassy while the tech performed one
last sweep.

Laura
said, “So, Mr. Llewellyn, as hero of the night would you like to open your
reward? There’s a quick-release snap on the back of this outfit. The whole
thing falls to the floor like a negligee.”

The
blood drained from Stu’s face. He was saved having to respond by the loud
squeal of the bug detector over a nearby lamp. The tech snatched the entire
lamp. Apologizing, he departed rapidly. The local guard team stepped outside
the door as well.

Laura
removed her tiara and placed it on the coffee table. If they ended up on the
bed soon, she wanted to protect her crown. “We’ve convinced everyone else the
marriage is real. What would it take to convince you?”

“I
can’t—not until we reach
Sanctuary
.” His voice cracked with the strain.
She could tell his body wanted to. If she popped the dress release, he would
crumble. If she forced him, though, he might have regrets.

“
I
won’t tell,” she said, pressing against him suggestively. “I’m
very
grateful.”

He
backed away, tripping onto the sofa. “Please. You might change your mind when
you hear everything. I don’t want you to think I took advantage of you. I don’t
want you to hate me.”