Stripper: The Fringe, Book 4 (22 page)

“I won’t.” Diane lifted her hands in surrender. For all his massive, masculine power, Michael did not even come close to the threat that Mary implied with pointed words and her intense gaze. Mary made it clear that to cross her or any she held dear would be a grave mistake to make. Like Duster said, Mary didn’t look like much, but she hid an arsenal in her skull. Mary made a greater threat with her eyes alone than Michael could with an army behind him. “I don’t want to hurt Duster, Michael, or you or anyone. I just want a safe place for Scott.”

“Good.” Mary nodded. “You and I got no problem, then.” Mary settled her hands behind her head. “Windmere’s a great place for kids. Good schools and there’s lots of stuff for kids to do, like fishing and hiking and camping and tons of waterways to explore. And it’s safe here. Between what Duster’s done with security and the little bit I’ve added, the IWOG couldn’t invade with a billion soldiers. They’ve pretty much given up and moved on to other, more easily civilized worlds.”

“I’m glad. I’d been contemplating leaving Dahank because I’d heard rumors the IWOG wanted to civilize it.” She couldn’t bear the thought of Scott growing up in such a rigidly controlled world. On an IWOG world, Scott would have to spend at least four years in the military when he came of age. Worse, the entire populace would be bombarded by constant and invasive advertising.

“Can you do anything?” Mary frowned at her own question. “I mean, like what kind of work can you do?” Casting a curious gaze to Diane’s diaphanous, green gown, she added, “What’s your skill?”

“You think I’m a courtesan, don’t you?”

“Given your ship and the way you’re dressed, the thought has crossed my mind.”

“I’m a stripper.”

Mary’s eyes went wide. “Oh, I get it. You’re the stripper Duster sought out. What a funny little co-inky-dink.” Mary rolled over. “You didn’t strip him, did you?”

“I can’t strip someone I know. Memories that involve… It’s complicated. I didn’t even start on him.”

“Thank God. There’s a lot of good stuff in Duster’s head. Would be a shame to have it stripped away.” Mary considered the glass ceiling above her. “Tell me why you love him.”

“He’s the most kind and trusting soul I’ve ever met.”

“Probably doesn’t hurt that he’s damn cute too.” Mary grinned.

Diane smiled. “It doesn’t hurt, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s the inside of him I find so compelling. As soon as I told him about Scott, his whole attitude changed. He doesn’t trust me fully yet, and I don’t blame him, but he’d give up anything for his son.”

“Doesn’t surprise me in the least. Duster has always taken an interest in the kids here. He worked his butt off to bring in some of the best and brightest teachers you’ll ever meet.”

“Why?”

“I always figured in anticipation of having his own kids someday.”

“Did he date?”

“Not from what I’ve seen or heard, but I’ve been here less than a year. I just thought he wanted everything ready for when the day came. Duster’s a planner. Methodical that way, you know?”

“Yes.” The thought cheered and depressed her all at once.

“Wait till you see his house! Blew my socks off first time I saw it. I’ve been keeping an eye on the place because I had this feeling he’d come back. I knew Duster wouldn’t stay away. He’d never be happy anywhere but here. Listen to me!” Mary laughed. “Hormones have turned me into a babble box.”

“I don’t mind. I’m glad to have someone to talk to.” Diane fought down the urge to roll over and check the guards. She had a feeling if there was a problem, Mary would know about it long before she would. “Tell me more about Duster.”

“Can’t tell you how happy I am he has come back.”

“Will Michael forgive him?”

Mary nodded. “He’s probably gonna have to go through some hell to get back in solid with Michael, though. And I tell ya, I wouldn’t want to be in the room to watch that go down.”

Chapter Sixteen

“We really should see Murphy or Jynx about your hand.” Duster yanked on his boots. All four of his blades were there, and that spoke volumes of trust. He couldn’t believe he got back in Michael’s good graces by reducing him to tears. Even after seven years together, Michael could still surprise the hell out of him.

“It’ll keep.” Michael unwrapped his shirt from his hand. “It already stopped bleeding.” He tossed the ruined shirt aside, then handed Duster his old belt full of weapons.

“Aw, you kept it.” Everything was exactly where he’d left it, even his favorite epanel.

“I was hoping you’d come back.”

“I must have really pushed your buttons to get you to crush a glass with your bare hand.” Just the thought of it reminded Duster of how strong Michael was.

“No one can push my buttons like you. Hell, not even Mary can infuriate me like you manage to do.” Michael tossed him his old wrist com. “You keep me grounded.”

“One of my special skills. And I’m good at it because I know you better than she does, even though she shares your bed.” Duster slapped his wrist com on and laughed.

“What?”

“Felt weird to not have that on, kinda like I was naked.” Duster checked all the functions. “I kept looking at my wrist and wondering what the hell happened to it.”

“You don’t know how many times I put out a call to you and got angry when you didn’t answer. Worse, I was furious when Mary answered in your stead. She kept having to remind me that you were gone.”

“Aw, how sweet. I missed you too.” Duster slapped Michael’s back. “Gonna get all mushy and hug me again?”

“I might wrap you in a bear hug and squeeze the breath out of you if you bring that hug up again.” Michael looked darkly serious, then laughed. “Damn, I really did miss you.”

“Likewise.”

“Did you really think I wasn’t eventually going to be happy to see you?”

“Gee, let me think about it—yeah! The way you were acting scared the crap out of me. I thought you were going to string me up and flay me alive.”

“I just couldn’t believe you came back with her.” The face Michael made was one Duster hoped to never see again.

“Diane’s my wife.”

“Let’s not get into that again.” Michael tossed him two plastimetal bracelets. “Little one’s for Scott. Other one’s for Diane. And no”—Michael held up his hands—“no backup drugs in either one.”

“Or mine?”

“There aren’t any chemicals in any of them.”

“Good.” When Michael was containing prisoners, he put various drugs inside the bracelets so that if all else failed, he could inject and incapacitate a rowdy captive.

“Now, even though I’m trusting you to a point, you can’t change the security access on either bracelet. Only I can. None of you can get off-world without my direct permission.”

“That’s fine with me.” Duster slipped the bracelets into his pocket. “Hate to break it to you, but Diane stands to gain nothing by turning on you.”

“I just don’t trust her.”

“I understand that.” Duster was not going to reopen that wound. Even after everything he and Diane had been through, there was still a part of him that didn’t quite trust her. Not all the way.

“How can you love a woman you don’t trust?”

The question startled Duster. “Damn you and your nose. Stop sniffing me.” There was no point trying to cover up his feelings when Michael would just read them anyway. “It’s complicated.”

“Matters of the heart usually are.” Michael checked that his wrist com was synced to Duster’s. “You said that to me once.”

“As I recall, it was right before Mary got you into that fluffy blue robe that barely covered your ass.”

“Let’s just leave that alone too.” Michael smiled, then turned and made his way to the main door.

“Does Mary have a security bracelet on?”

Michael stopped dead.

“You didn’t have the guards check before you tossed her into lockdown?”

“I forgot.”

“Did you have her frisked?”

Michael’s clenched fists were all the answer Duster needed.

“Oops.” Duster laughed.

Michael lifted his wrist to issue commands, then shook his head. “No point now. She’s probably already out.”

“Wow.”

“What?”

“You’re gonna be a daddy. Man, that’s a kick in the pants, isn’t it?”

“More like a boot to the head.” Michael considered. “It’s difficult to be happy about it with the other hanging over her head.”

“Yeah.” Duster didn’t envy Michael that conversation.

“How’d you feel when you found out Diane betrayed you a second time?” Michael tried to phrase it as a simple question, but his hatred for Diane bled through.

“About Scott? She didn’t. Came clean almost right away. Stop trying to paint her with that big wide brush of resentment you’ve got.”

“Diane could have found you had she wanted to.”

“I could have done the same. And she didn’t look because she thought she’d killed me. Believe me, I think she’s suffered enough thinking that for seven years and raising our son almost single-handedly.” Duster stopped Michael with a touch to his arm. “Do me a favor and stop insulting her around me. Say it in your head all you want, just not around me.”

“Fair enough. Just—be careful.”

“That I can do.”

“I see you moved your ring.”

Duster nodded. “I’m not a widower anymore.”

“Bet she threw hers away.”

“Nope. Obviously you had her trussed up, or you would have seen it on her hand.”

“She really kept it all these years?” Michael sounded a tiny bit impressed.

“She wore it on a chain around her neck. Couldn’t let the ladies of Network Thirteen see it. As a member, she wasn’t supposed to marry or have kids. Diane’s been leading a double life, and it hasn’t been easy, Michael. Please try to cut her a little slack.”

“Not me, amigo.” Michael pushed open the double doors of his office. “Like I said, I’m staying out of it, because I’m your friend and not your dad.”

“You’re going to make a good father.”

“I hope so.” Michael nodded to the guards, then continued on down the enormous hallway. “How am I going to tell Mary about the ALS?”

“Very, very gently. And be prepared for her to go off. She’s a lot like you.”

“How so?” Michael asked, leading the way to lockdown.

“Neither one of you can accept any personal weakness, so she’s going to go into denial big-time. Be ready for it. Maybe have reports from Murphy to back you up. Hey, did Jynx have a look at her?”

“No.”

“Maybe Jynx could do something.”

“Jynx could confirm Doc Murphy’s diagnosis with her own healing hands, but I doubt there’s anything she could do.”

“Wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

“You genuinely care about Mary, don’t you?”

“Yeah. She’s… I get where you were coming from all those months, Michael. How much you love her and trust her. Whether you see it or not, she’s still worthy of your trust. She did the right thing. Mary kept Windmere security uppermost in her mind. And that’s walking a tight line, trying to protect an entire world, you and me. Mary did her best.”

“Yes, she did.” Michael took a deep, centering breath. “I love her.”

“I know.”

“I’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”

“Going in to get her out of lockdown without a shirt will help.”

“She’s got a thing for my fabulous body.” Michael preened like a Greek god.

“You and her both. Sometimes you are the most arrogantly pig-headed guy I know. But still, I love you.”

Michael stopped dead in his tracks, but he didn’t turn around. “You mean that, don’t you?”

“Don’t get all homophobic on me.” Duster shoved him forward. “I’m just saying that you’re like the older, annoying brother I never had. Mary may be all impressed with your body, but I’m certainly not. Mary’s body is nice too, but I prefer Diane’s.”

Michael laughed loud and long. “Tell me why you insist on naming my planet Windmere.”

“Nope. Our deal was in the naming, not the explaining.”

“I am so sick of hearing that. Come on, give. I’ve been asking you for five years.”

Duster sighed and figured maybe now was the time after all. “Okay. But you can’t laugh. Or roll your eyes. Or name it back.”

After a long pause, Michael said, “I promise.”

“I named it Windmere because I thought at night I would hear Diane coming to me, but it was merely the wind.”

Michael stood stock-still considering for almost a full minute before he spoke. “You know, that’s down right—poofy.”

“It’s poetical, Michael. And it’s a hell of a lot better than Prime Bastard.” Duster hated that name with a grand and abiding passion.

“At least that name strikes fear in the heart.” Michael returned to his leisurely pace. “Windmere sounds like a geriatric retirement community.”

Duster laughed. “In a few more decades, that’s what this place will be.”

“Without Mary.” Michael stopped.