Do Or Die [Nuworld 4] (16 page)

as if that was something she walked in on every day.

“Needless to say, I woke up rather quickly but he held that laser in place and I

couldn’t exactly move. He said if I was going to persist in saying I carried his child then

he had a right to determine whether I carried it or not. He said he wouldn’t claim me, or

the child, but I could have it if I wanted it and didn’t cause trouble. He kept pushing

that thing further inside me until I promised I wouldn’t cause him any grief.” She

shrugged indifferently. “That was it. He got up and pulled the laser out and told me he

might come by from time to time when he was in the mood. He also said that if I caused

you any more grief that he would introduce me to a few of his soldiers who deserved a

good fuck.”

Ana simply stared at her, unable to think of a single thing to say. Lara looked

around the large diner and then leaned back and chuckled.

“At least he thought I was good in bed, I guess.” Then she ripped off part of a

pretzel with her teeth and spoke with her mouth full. “So, Ana, what grief have I

brought you? Do you regret sleeping with your lover and brother at the same time?”

Ana shrugged, trying to sound as callous as Lara looked. “We were drugged, and

anyway, what’s done is done. I’ve proven the child is Gilroy’s so he has no hard

feelings.” She had to get that point in.

Lara shook her head. “I had no idea that love potion would affect those Gothman

the way that it did.”

“Gothman don’t need a love potion.” Ana rolled her eyes and both women

laughed. Maybe she was making some headway with Lara. The waitress brought over a

large plate with salted meats and raw vegetables on it and Lara attacked the food with a

vengeance. Ana helped herself to a carrot and had just taken a bite when the large

wooden door opened and a gust of cold air filled the room.

“Well, well, I’m not sure which one is sexier, your man or your brother.” Lara

looked over Ana’s shoulder and Ana turned her head just as Gilroy and two of his

soldiers entered the room and pulled off their gloves.

Chapter Nine

“Hello, my lady,” Gilroy’s hand wrapped affectionately around the back of Ana’s

neck. He leaned over to kiss her then picked her up, took her seat, and then placed her

squarely on his lap.

“Sit,” he instructed his guards then snapped his finger for the waitress to tend to

them. He then wrapped his arms around Ana’s waist possessively and rested his large

hands on her belly. She felt her baby move inside her womb…their baby. She placed her

hands, small in comparison to Gilroy’s, on top of his and squeezed.

“Ana, I will admit spending time with you definitely has its advantages,” Lara

drawled as her gaze roamed over the three men who had just joined them.

Ana looked at the two guards as they in turn looked at Lara. Suddenly she wanted

to get out of there. Lara turned her attention to Ana, and Ana could tell Lara was

completely back to her old self.

“It was awfully nice of you to bring me here and feed me. I haven’t had a chance to

buy any food yet for the trailer.”

“Why don’t we go do some shopping for you then?” Ana brightened and she

squirmed to be released. Gilroy didn’t relinquish his hold on her however. “I’m sure

these men don’t need us in their company to eat their food.”

“Now Ana, you should know me well enough by now to know that the kitchen is

not one of my favorite rooms.” She smiled mischievously and her eyes sparkled.

The door opened again and Ana turned to look over Gilroy’s shoulder as Darius,

Torgo, and Beel entered the establishment.

“Well, I’ll be, talk about three peas in a pod,” Lara muttered.

“Watch your mouth, wench.” Gilroy’s snarl made Ana jump. “You show your

respect to the Lord of Gothman or I’ll have you flogged.”

“The Lord of Gothman.” Lara whispered the words and then licked her lips as her

eyes took in the two men and the teenage boy.

“Good Crator,” Torgo whispered loud enough for Darius to hear. “She’s the

spitting image of Tasha.”

He didn’t mean for Beel to overhear him but the boy looked quickly at Torgo and

then at Darius. The two brothers looked at Beel who turned his attention to Lara. She

shot him a daring smile, which broadened into a dry chuckle when Beel looked away

quickly.

“My lord,” Gilroy said in greeting as he gently lifted Ana and stood in respect to the

lord.

Darius nodded and then cast an obscure look at Lara. “Have one of your men take

her to her trailer. We have work to do.”

Ana looked questioningly at her papa and then turned to Lara. “I can fly you back,”

she said to the woman.

Lara grabbed Ana’s arm and squeezed it. “Dear sister, no offense, but I’ll take one

of these guards back to my trailer. Come see me later if you like.” She winked impishly

and then turned her attention to the two guards wondering which one she would get.

Gilroy motioned to the guard closest to him and Ana was glad to see he sent Lara

home with the guard who didn’t have a claim. The other guard seemed somewhat

relieved after the virile female walked out of the restaurant.

“Was that my mama’s sister?” Beel turned.

“Yes.” Darius moved to take one of the chairs at the table.

“Was my mama like that?” Beel couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes,” Darius, Torgo, and the remaining guard all answered at the same time.

Darius decided it was time to change the subject. He’d talked to Tara and Andru

earlier and agreed with them that Lara probably wouldn’t try to make trouble for a

while at least. Andru told his papa of his meeting with the young woman early that

morning, although Darius got the impression his son left out a few details. He didn’t

share the story with Tara when he spoke to her but he listened to her describe the

condition Lara was in when she visited her that morning. Andru had been effective. At

least for the present. Hopefully long enough for them to figure out what business she

was tending to in the Norther country.

“Ana, I hear you requested a group of scouts to seek out what you believe to be

another Runner clan other than the twelve known clans.” Darius wondered if his

daughter felt her right to rule the Runners had been threatened after bringing up the

Bachula last night. Tara told him his daughter was impressive when she laid her idea

out on the table.

“I don’t think they’re really Runners. And it’s just a hunch…I mean, I don’t have

any proof. But she provided a hell of a lot of Runner weapons and clothing for some

purpose. I think if we go up there and search around we’ll find something. As much as I

saw exchange hands, I don’t think it’s an operation that could easily be covered up.”

“You’re not going back up to the Norther country.” Gilroy spoke harshly, and Ana

looked at him surprised. His sky-blue eyes radiated with possession.

Ana simply stared at him for a moment. She stood next to the chair he sat in, and

she studied the hardness that suddenly covered his handsome face. Anger slowly rose

in her as he made her decisions right there in front of the other men. She bit her lip to

keep the words that would fly at him from coming out. She wouldn’t make a scene but

she would make her point clear. She was heir to the Runners—not him.

“I wasn’t planning on flying with the scouts.” She spoke quietly but her anger shot

at him like flames. “But that is only because I have matters to tend to here.” She then

whispered, “Not because you told me to stay here.”

“We can discuss this later.” There was such finality to Gilroy’s words that her eyes

simply widened as she willed her mouth shut.

She turned quickly and looked at her papa. “Syra has offered to lead the scouts.”

“What?” Torgo barked.

“She wants you to go also,” Ana said quickly, as she caught the surprised tone in

her uncle. “It should only be for a few days. Your children will be fine with the servants

for that amount of time. I can check in on them if you like.”

Torgo looked over at Gilroy and then slapped him on the shoulder. “Son, I’ll tell

you right now it’s a lot of work when you claim a Runner.”

“I daresay that’s true.” Darius lifted his mug in a mock salute.

“Men, if you’ll excuse me.” Torgo nodded to Darius and then walked quickly out of

the restaurant.

Darius snorted and Gilroy rolled his eyes then grabbed Ana. She jumped out of his

grasp and almost fell into the empty chair next to her.

“I’m sorry, Gilroy, I may be yours, but you don’t own my decisions.” She nodded to

her papa. “If you’ll excuse me as well.”

“Where are you going?” Gilroy stood quickly.

She sighed and put her hands on her hips. “I thought I would go find my mama. Is

that okay with you, my lord?” The sarcasm dripped.

He pulled her to him and kissed her savagely. “You’ll pay dearly for this outburst

later, my lady,” he whispered into her mouth.

“But I carry our child.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, still mocking him,

although none of the others heard them now.

He realized she said “our” and his blue eyes melted. “Our child won’t get hurt,” he

mumbled and then pushed her to the door. “Go, woman, and take care of our child.”

He made sure everyone heard him, and she rolled her eyes then waved dismissively as

she walked out the door.

Ana fumed over Gilroy’s possessive behavior all the way to the Blood Circle Clan

site. There was a fair amount of activity going on when she reached her mama’s trailer

and she worked to calm herself as she landed.

“I don’t like finding out from another source that you’ve made plans for us to lead a

scout team,” she heard Torgo say, as she pulled open the trailer door and walked into

the room.

Tara and Syra sat next to each other at the table. Jolee sat behind them at the

landlink although she’d turned to witness Torgo’s reprimand. Ana noticed her look of

disgust first. There was the Runners’ viewpoint on Gothman males owning their

women summed up in one look. They didn’t like it. How could she rule these clans if

she had a Gothman ruling her? Her mama was claimed and she pulled it off. Could she

be like her mama?

“How do you get these men to stop trying to own you?” she burst out the second