Stripper: The Fringe, Book 4 (18 page)

“There’s no risk at all. I’m doing my job as head of security. Once he calms down a notch, he’ll see that.” Mary continued to march Duster along the hallways. “And the reason I came personally is because I know for a fact I’m the one person on this ship that he wouldn’t shoot down.” She paused. “Besides Rourke.”

Duster laughed. Mary trusted Michael’s love in her but took a backup just in case. Ever-so-clever Mary.

“Why are you doing this?” Duster had to know.

“That’s a good question, and I’d love to tell you the answer, but I can’t. Not that I won’t, just that I can’t right now. All you need to know is I may not really be doing you much of a favor.”

“I appreciate you doing what you can.”

Mary settled him into the brig of the
Elusive Grace
and clanged the cell door shut. She turned as if to go but changed her mind and leaned against the bars. “As soon as we land, chances are Michael will imprison us all. Including me. Even though, technically, I didn’t betray him, he’s likely to see it that way.”

“Then why?”

Mary turned away, and he thought she wouldn’t answer. But she still didn’t go. She stood an arm’s length from his cage, and very softly, she said, “I could see it in your face and hear it in your voice. It’s even stronger now that I’m close to you. You’re so far gone in love with them both it’s like you damn near glow with it.” Mary toed the floor with a battered, purple boot. “And I won’t let anyone hurt a little boy.” Lifting her face, she turned to him and smiled. “Scott looks just like you.”

Pride made him flush. “I haven’t known him all that long, but I guess it doesn’t take long to fall in love with your own kid. He’s a wonderful little boy, and I’d do anything to keep him safe.”

“I know.” Mary looked away. “So will I.”

“You and I fought all the time. Seven months of arguments. Why would you lift a finger to help a child you don’t even know? Especially mine?”

Mary looked down at her wrist com. When she opened the channel, Michael’s voice blasted, “Damn it, Mary, answer me this instant!”

“Calm down, Michael.”

“There you are!” Michael bellowed. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I told you I didn’t—”

“Michael, I need you to listen to me.” Something about the calm, plaintive tone of her voice penetrated Michael’s anger.

“Are you okay?” No longer furious, he now sounded worried. If Mary’s life were threatened, Duster knew Michael would mobilize every troop member to keep her safe, no matter how pissed he was.

“I’m fine,” Mary offered calmly. “Pretty much. But I need you to listen to me.” Mary swallowed hard and tears fell down her face. “Damn it.” Embarrassed, she wiped them away with a clenched fist. Lowering her com so Michael wouldn’t hear her, she hissed, “Stupid hormones.”

Duster got it in a sudden burst of insight. In a flash, he understood why Mary had risked so much to help them. Michael was in for the biggest shock of his life.

“Mary, tell me what’s wrong. Are you crying?” Michael sounded agitated, and Duster could well imagine him pacing back and forth across the floor of his office.

“I can’t seem to stop crying,” Mary admitted with a grimace. “Doc Murphy said it’s to be expected for the first few months.”

“Are you sick?” Michael asked.

Duster almost laughed. Michael just didn’t get it.

“Not exactly sick,” Mary said. “I’m pregnant.”

Dead silence.

And it just kept stretching out around them.

“Well, calm down there, Michael. Don’t overwhelm me with your joy.” Mary nibbled at her lips as she peered down at her wrist com. “Michael?”

“I’m here.” It was hissed between clenched teeth. Duster hated when Michael did that, snarling through his teeth like a talking wolf. Somehow it was worse hearing him do that to Mary.

“Aren’t you happy?” Mary’s gaze was riveted to her wrist com as if she were looking directly at Michael.

“Why should I be?” Michael paused just long enough for Mary to wince. “I’m not the father.”

Mary’s eyes went round, and her mouth dropped open into an O of surprise.

“You fucking bastard.” Duster said it loud enough that Michael heard him.

“You’re having this conversation with the traitor listening in?” Michael asked.

Dazed, Mary stood there shaking her head. “I thought you’d be happy. Why would you think…? How can you…?” Mary stumbled and sat down hard on the floor. She clutched her twitching right leg with surprise and fury. Duster thought the ship had lurched, but he hadn’t felt anything.

“Damn it, Michael, how can you do this to her? She’s your wife! You know if she’s pregnant, you’re responsible.”

“Shut up, traitor, this doesn’t have anything to do with you.” Michael’s voice was ripe with anger.

“Apparently, you seem to think it doesn’t have anything to do with you.” Duster couldn’t believe Michael would ever say something so nasty to Mary. If he hadn’t heard it for himself, he wouldn’t have believed those cruel words had come from Michael’s mouth.

“I have an implant,” Michael said coldly. “I have for years.”

“I know,” Mary said sharply. “Murphy told me that he told you a year ago to change it. You never did.”

That, Duster believed. Michael had a tendency to put things off over and over. It didn’t surprise him at all that Michael had forgotten all about his B-chip. If he wasn’t bound up and behind bars, Duster would pick Mary up off the floor and comfort her. As it stood, he couldn’t. All he could do was kneel down by her, handcuffed in his prison cell. “Damn it, Michael, she’s in tears. How can you do this to her?”

“Stay out of it, traitor.” Michael’s voice growled with menace. “I’ll deal with you later. Mary?”

Wiping her tears away with a clenched fist, Mary whispered, “What?”

“Are you sure?”

“Am I sure about what? That you’re a total bastard? Yeah-huh. I’m
real
sure about that. I’ve taken three prisoners, and I’m on my way back to Windmere. Oh, no, let’s call it Prime Bastard. I’m also damn sure I’m pregnant. You don’t believe me, go ask Doc Murphy. Don’t you dare ever ask me again if I carry any child but yours.” Mary stood and brushed herself off. It didn’t take her long to bounce back. “I’m also done talking to you.” Mary cut the wrist com off with an irritated gesture. “Christ in a sidecar! How is it that as much as I want to kiss that man, I also want to kick him?”

“Because you love him.” Despite the cuffs, Duster stood, albeit a bit awkwardly.

“Times like this make me wonder why the hell I do.”

“Because you’re pretty much alike. You both have a tendency to say things without really thinking about them.”

“He’s just pissed because I came out here. He knows I’d never sleep with another man.” Mary shook her head hard. “If I start crying again, I’m gonna shoot myself.”

“Don’t do that,” Duster said. “I’ve been shot. It really hurts.”

Mary laughed. “Why does Michael
do
things like that?”

“When he feels threatened, he lashes out.” Duster couldn’t believe he was defending Michael yet again. “You know he didn’t mean it.”

“I know. But it still hurts. Everything seemed fine until I took over your job. That’s when instead of you two fighting all the time over me, him and I started fighting all the time over everything. I gotta tell you, your job sucks.”

Duster chuckled. “I could have told you that.”

“I’d give it back if I could, but since Michael is referring to you as ‘the traitor’, that isn’t likely to happen.”

“He’s probably not going to let you keep your job after this anyway. Just a suggestion, but see if he’ll let MacKay have it. I think he’d be really good at not only managing security but dealing with Michael.”

“I don’t think Michael’s going to be taking my advice, but I’ll give it a whirl.” Mary turned to go.

“Why is he so mad at me?” It seemed such a minor point, but Duster had to know.

“Because you left him.” Mary came back to the cage. “He moped around for days after you took off. Kinda lost, I guess. The only thing he did was order Windmere renamed Prime Bastard.” Mary touched the bars of the cage. “He’s pretty much been living up to the name ever since.”

Duster leaned against the bars. “Mary, I offer no fight to you or him.”

“I know. But when you came back with Diane, Michael felt betrayed. Like you chose her over him.” Mary sighed. “Guess that’s why he’s so mad at me. Apparently, he thinks I picked you over him. I’m thinking Michael’s feeling a little betrayed lately.”

“Great.” Duster rolled his eyes. “That’s not a good place for Michael to be, and certainly not good for me.” Duster knew from experience that when Michael felt betrayed, he covered his pain with aggression and started lashing out like a bully.

“I thought telling him about the baby would make him happy.” Mary sounded more perplexed than hurt. “That’s why I waited. Big-time backfire.”

“You couldn’t tell me why you were helping me until you told Michael the truth.”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Doc Murphy knew, but I made him swear to let me tell Michael. I’ve known only for a few hours.”

“You used knowing you carried Michael’s child in a desperate bid to save me, my child and my wife?” Duster would never understand her, and again, she’d clearly demonstrated that she should never be underestimated.

“You can think of it that way.” Mary sighed. “Love is all kinds of complicated.” She took a deep breath and looked away.

Duster nodded. “How long till we land?”

“About two hours, give or take.”

“Could you do me a favor?”

“Sure you want me to?” Mary asked with a wary gaze. “I seem to be prone to really messing things up lately.”

“You won’t. Just check on Diane and Scott. Make sure they’re okay.”

“They’re fine. Last I heard, Daniels took them on a tour, then up to the galley for something to eat. Please don’t ask me to bring them down here. I won’t uncuff you, and I don’t want Scott to see you chained up and behind bars.”

“I don’t want that either. Where do they think I am?”

“Diane knows you’re my captive, but Scott thinks you’re helping to fly the ship. Scott informed me that you’re the best pilot in the whole Void, right after he said he’s never seen a girl with a gun.”

“Nothing scares that kid.”

“That’s a good thing right now.”

It burned in him, wondering what Michael would do, but asking Mary was pointless since she wouldn’t know either. He desperately wanted to see Scott, but not like this. “Can I see Diane?”

“No. I’m sorry. It’s best if she stays with Scott.”

“Mary, no matter what happens, thank you for helping me and my family.”

“I don’t think I have. I’m afraid I made it worse. Oh, damn it all to the vast reaches of hell!” Mary whirled away and scrubbed her hands furiously at her face.

“It’s normal, Mary,” Duster offered softly, well aware of the emotional and physical turmoil of pregnancy. In a curious way, he found it rather fitting that he hadn’t been there for Diane’s pregnancy, but maybe he could be there for Mary’s. He certainly hoped so.

“Not for me it’s not.” She pulled her purple shirt from her pants and used it to wipe her tears away. “I feel like a blubbering idiot. Everything makes me cry.”

“You and Michael are peas in a pod. Neither one of you can stand not being strong.”

“Right now I’d settle for feeling safe. I really don’t know what Michael is going to do. To me or you.” After a deep, warbling breath, Mary pinned him with her velvet-brown eyes. “All I know is that I can land this ship and everyone in it alive, including you and Diane. After that?” She shrugged. Mary turned and left before Duster could ask her anything else.

Chapter Thirteen

Panic filled Diane when the guard took Scott away, but she told her son everything was fine and forced a smile. Chatting happily, Scott went with the guard, and Diane allowed herself to be chained hand and foot.

They’d landed on Windmere not long ago, and she hadn’t seen Duster or the kind and mysterious Mary. Diane feared that Mary had gotten herself into trouble just to help them. Michael’s own wife turning against him probably did not put him in a happy mood. About the only good thing in being taken hostage by Michael was Network Thirteen wasn’t going do anything even if they managed to track her to his planet, which was iffy anyway. Since Michael “Overlord” Parker assuaged his guilt by funneling money to the anti-slavery group, they wouldn’t do anything to annoy him.

Hobbling awkwardly in her ankle chains, she made her way to Michael’s office in the custody of four ridiculously armed guards. Just like Duster said, the room was massive but didn’t come close to dwarfing Michael, who reclined casually, one foot up on his mahogany desk, peering at her with the gleam of a predatory wolf.

“We’ll be fine alone. Wait outside.” All four guards exited through the gigantic double doors. They closed with a whoosh of air and ringing snick of metal on metal. The puff of air from them smelled like fresh wood oil, lemony and clean. The whole office smelled slightly citrus. It made Diane think of a sweaty glass of lemonade on a hot summer day.

Diane kept her chin high despite the fear of being alone with him. Michael Parker seemed bigger now than he had seven years ago, and far more dangerous and deadly. Clad in clinging red silk and black leather, he looked relaxed and yet ready to launch himself at her.