Bad Blood (Book 4 of The Warden series) (30 page)

“Ethan I can’t even begin to explain, but I will tell you that Danato would not want you to take me up there, so if we are going to go, it should be now before he knows your back.”

Ethan threw his head back, propped his arms on his hips and paced back around the couch, putting the distance back between them. “You are asking me to go against Danato’s wishes.”

“No, I’m asking you to take me up to see Efrat. Danato will tell you after we speak that you are not to let him near me. I’m asking you to take me up there before he officially tells you himself. I’m only telling you his feelings on the subject so you don’t feel like I’ve tricked you into something. I’m asking for your help. If you decide to abide by Danato rather than do so, I understand,” she said it so straight that it came off as icy.

“Cori,” he clenched his fists in front of him, he wanted to grab her and shake her. “This isn’t fair. I can’t just knowingly go against what he would want just to help you…do what? What are you going to do up there?”

“I found some gloves in stock that are supposed to prevent electrical transference. I’d like to give them to him.”

Ethan’s face couldn’t have scrunched any harder in confusion. “What the fuck for?” He hadn’t intended to sound mad, but the statement by itself didn’t translate his disgust at the prospect of seeing the man who almost killed her.

“He…” She shook her head. “Look Ethan, none of this will make sense now and maybe not even after Danato and I explain it, but my request stands on the merit of my character alone, not his. I’m asking for your help. The answer is either yes or no.” She stood blank faced waiting for his answer.

“Son of a…” He started toward the stairs. “Let me change and I’ll take you,” he said without turning back. “I’ll give you five minutes with him, but not alone and only if they are not feuding up there.” He didn’t look back to see if she was happy about his agreement or not. At this point, her being joyful might have made him change his mind.

51

There was very little conversation on the way up the elevator. Ethan was boiling at the prospect of going against Danato, but he was madder that he was going to be the one to take the punishment for it because Cori’s honesty put all the blame on him. He wondered if she knew that when she did it. He hoped she wasn’t capable of that level of contriving.

They even stood apart in the elevator like they weren’t even intimate. He hated that he had rushed home to see her and he hadn’t even held her hand yet, let alone hugged and kissed her. Considering what he went through to be chaste with Leona he was feeling acrimony settle into his face and posture. Even if she wanted to be near him now, his body language would have repelled her.

The door
ponked
and he started to stomp out of the elevator. She put her arm in his way. He looked at her confused. She wasn’t angry or happy, but the worry that had been etched into her face at the house, was coming through stronger. “Ethan, don’t do this if you’re only going to hate me for it. It’s not worth all that.”

“Tell me why you’re really doing this. I know it’s not about gloves.”

Her eyes flickered over his. “I can’t explain it, but I need to see him again. If that’s not enough of an explanation, then we should just go.” She stepped back into the elevator. “I can’t stand seeing that hatred in your eyes directed at me.”

Ethan winced and he leaned on the door to the elevator to keep it open. “No, not hate, Cori. Never, ever, hate. Frustration, confusion, and maybe a little disappointment, but never hate.”

“I missed you so much.”

He waited for her to come to him, but she still didn’t. He wondered what had happened in the last two days that could cause her to restrict her connection to him. “How important is it for you to see him?”

“Important enough to risk Danato’s wrath. Not important enough to risk yours.”

“Are you asking me to keep this from Danato?”

“No, it won’t matter. I’ve already screwed up enough. This will just be an irritation to an otherwise screwed up week.”

“Okay, let’s go.” Ethan ushered her through and he followed punching the code into the upper level entrance. He wished he had brought his pistol, but for some reason Cori requested he didn’t. She didn’t bring hers either.

They slipped into the ruined room. Two military men with elemental weapons immediately tromped up to them to investigate their arrival. “Can we help you sir?” One said standing in Ethan’s path.

Ethan smiled at the broad shoulders that were tensely holding his weapon across his chest. He was about an inch taller than Ethan, but he was pretty sure his boots and erect stature were the majority of that inch. The man’s face was plastered with severity, like the world might end if he wasn’t there to stop it.

“My wife needs to give one of your inmates a present.”

“Excuse me?” He broke character a moment to lower his brow at Cori.

“Gloves only,” she said showing him the pair of black gloves. “It’s experimental. We’re testing out fabric barriers to Efrat’s powers. We suspect a number of power surges in the electrical systems are caused by your battles up here. We are hoping to find a way to dampen his energy. If this works, we may be able to put him in a type of gloved straightjacket. I imagine it might help you guys out as well.” Ethan knew that was a lie, but only because she hadn’t told him that. Had she wanted to, she could have given him that line and he never would have questioned her motives for coming here. In that sense, he was glad that she hadn’t lied. At least she was honest about not wanting to tell him the truth.

“I haven’t received any requests of this nature,” the guard waffled.

“I know. The paperwork for crossover shit is horrendous. Plus I don’t even know if it’s going to work, so I was hoping to skip all that and just try it out. If he’ll cooperate, braggart will probably try to fry me for the suggestion, but whatever, that’s why you guys are here.”

Ethan was a little impressed by how easily she slipped in that little compliment. He often forgot what a manipulator Cori could be. He supposed he should also be thankful she didn’t use that talent on him for this.

Or had she.

“I’ll need to see the gloves,” the guard said.

“Of course,” she handed him the gloves. “They’re a poly-vinyl…” She started to explain, but he ran off to show the General. The General eyed the gloves as the officer gave him the explanation. At the end, he looked to them and crossed over from the lookout booth to speak with them.

“I am in charge here. You want me to put these gloves on Efrat.”

“No, sir, actually, I would like to give them to him. I’m concerned that he might see anything from you as a threat. This is purely a test. Pass or fail is all I need and then I will go.”

The General chuckled. “You want to speak with Efrat. Aren’t you the one that he tried to kill a year back?”

“Succeeded sir. I’m not a threat to him so I think he will cooperate. Just need to slip them on, test his electrical conductivity, and be on my way.”

The General looked her over trying to decide if this was a joke or not. “Nothing stops his power, but I’ll humor you,” he said and tossed the gloves back at her. “I take no responsibility for your welfare in doing this, but rest assured my guards will escort you.”

“I will too,” Ethan stated rather than asked.

The General gave him a once over before nodding. “As you wish, but make this snappy. I haven’t had any complications from these guys in nearly twenty-four hours, and I don’t want to change that because you want to perform a science experiment.”

“Yes, sir,” Cori said playing the part of the good soldier.

Ethan glanced back at her as they followed the officers over. She barely glanced at him. She was too intent on her purpose to give him any indication of her thoughts. They approached a glass encasement, rather than metal, with scorch marks on the concrete walls within. There was no door, but Efrat was happily tucked inside on his bed. His feet were holding down a book that he was reading awkwardly from a distance.

Cori took the gloves from the first officer and stepped to the doorway. She was hiding it well, but Ethan could tell she was nervous. She tapped on the glass near the door. Efrat looked up at her first baffled, then curious, then amused. The smirk that settled in his face was enough to put Ethan on edge. “Hello kitten,” he said turning to face her on his cot. That was enough to make him want to punch him. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Cori glanced back at the three of them looming in the door behind her. She couldn’t exactly ask for privacy, but Ethan got the impression she wanted it. He wasn’t about to offer it though. “I found a pair of antistatic gloves in the stock room. I thought they might contain some of the unintentional static charge from your hands. Will you try them?”

He looked over the gloves in her hand. He seemed as baffled by the prospect as everyone else was. He stood abruptly and Ethan took a step forward. Efrat caught the movement and smiled at him. He motioned to him with a tilt of his head as he spoke to Cori. “Your man I take it?”

Cori nodded. “Yes, my husband.”

Efrat nodded and put his hands out to her. “Does he know about us yet?” Efrat glanced at him, but he held his ground. He didn’t know anything about anyone, but Efrat didn’t need to know that.

“Soon enough,” was all Cori gave for an answer. She slipped each glove on his hands. “I’m not sure if these will work. The fabric is the key.” She tugged on the fabric. “I would have preferred something sturdier, but had no idea what to look for. Even if I knew, I probably wouldn’t know where to find it.” She shrugged. “How do they feel?”

Ethan watched Efrat play with the gloves. He touched Cori’s hands, but she didn’t seem to jump from any static. He touched his own arm gingerly, and pursed his lips. “Not bad. Better than starting electrical fires with my reading material.” He smiled at her. It seemed a genuine enough smile, but Ethan still didn’t like it. He wanted to know what had happened between them to make this casual exchange possible. “You’re alright kitten. It’s hard to know who to trust around here. Your motives seem pretty translucent though. I think I might be able to file you with the good guys.” He reached forward to touch her cheek, but she stepped back.

“Don’t.” She looked down to the floor. “Try those out. I’ll see if I can find what I really wanted, but I can’t promise anything.”

“I understand. I appreciate the effort, Corinthia.” Ethan didn’t wait to hear her response to that. The fact that Efrat knew her intimately enough to know her birth name was too much for him to stand for.

“Let’s go, Cori.” He patted the glass and extended his hand to her. Efrat didn’t smirk as he expected. A glare was apparently all he could muster for the interruption. Cori took his hand and he drew her out of the room.

“What no kiss goodbye?” Efrat said finding his smirk again. Cori tucked in beside him and pulled him away from the cell as much as he was pulling her. Efrat gave him a smug wave even as the gloves Cori had brought him disintegrated from his hand.

Ethan waited until they were in the elevator before he spoke. Cori pushed the button for the main floor, while he leaned against the back wall. “What the fuck is all this about? No more avoidance Cori. How the hell does he know your name?”

“Belus was shot yesterday morning.” She didn’t turn to face him. “Efrat shocked his heart into rhythm for me. He nearly died, but Efrat saved him.”

“What? He saved him? Who the hell shot him in the first place?”

She finally turned around and he could see the tears she was hiding from him. “I shot Belus.”

52

Cori waited for Ethan to bark out a laundry list of questions. How? Why? When? Why? What? Why?! Instead, he stared at her with his mouth open like a fish. She turned away from him not wanting to see his face. She shoved her head in the corner of the elevator. “We need to go see Danato now,” she mumbled. “We can talk about it all with him.”

The elevator
ponked
and still Ethan hadn’t said anything. His fish mouth had luckily clamped shut and he was looking at her with concern instead of shock, but he didn’t say a word.

She led the way to the office and knocked on the door. She peeked in, rather than barging in like she normally did. She couldn’t afford to do anything that might offend anyone. Danato had already taken her gun and given her the day off.

Neither of them wanted to admit it, but they were stuck. She was miserable about what she had done, but she still felt justified that it was the only option. He was pissed that she hadn’t told him, but he also understood why she hadn’t bothered to the fourth time around. He wanted to punish her, and she wanted to be punished, but neither of them knew how to go about doing that, without an understanding of what exactly they were punishing for.

“Ethan’s here,” she said. Danato looked up from his paperwork. “Are you busy?” He looked down at the forms on his desk like he had no idea where they came from.

“No,” he said. “Bring him in.”

Cori opened the door all the way and Ethan followed her in. He shut the door behind them, while she took a seat, curling her knees into her chest on the chair. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of retelling her yesterday mornings to Ethan.