Lie to Me (38 page)

“Agreed.” She was still GPS’d so he could find her whenever he wanted. “James will catch you up to speed on Jones’s unfounded claims.”

“What can I do to help you bring the devil down?”

Stone liked that Reaper knew the inherent danger of the upcoming mission, but threw his hat in with them anyway.

“Intel,” James said.

“Since it looks like you two have this in hand, I’m going to go fuck my wife before all hell breaks loose.” As Reaper chuckled, Stone took the stairs to their bedroom two at a time—and discovered the bedroom door locked. He jingled the knob hard. Unless she was in the bathroom with the door shut and the shower going, she couldn’t miss the sound.

He tried to remain calm, and kept his voice neutral, but his temper escalated. “Unlock the door, Kella.”

“Sleep with Satan.”

“Don’t bring James into this. You’re angry at me, not him.”

Dead silence from her side.

He braced his hand on the wood and counted to ten. Yep, that didn’t help, he remained angry. “Last time. Unlock the goddamn door.”

At her lengthy silence, he made his decision. “Step aside,” he yelled as he stepped back and kicked the door beside the handle. Wood fractured, and the door crashed inward. The splintering of the timber gave him satisfaction.

Kella squealed, spinning to face him, and her hand smacked against her chest. Eyes wide, she gawked, wary.

A level of calm entered him once he gained access to the bedroom...and her. He shut the door, but with the broken lock he improvised by wedging a chair beneath the knob.

“I’m surprised you’re packing so soon.” Of course she wasn’t packing to go anywhere with him, but rather to ditch and run again. A tired tune he wouldn’t allow. “We’ve luggage for that. Your backpacks won’t hold all your clothes.”

“You kicked the door in.”

“Word of advice, don’t ever lock me out again.”

“You think I killed those people.” The wounded look he caught before she turned away to pack her work boots, revealed she was more bothered by the idea he might think her capable of murdering those people than his threat to renege on their deal.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Oh, you said it, just not directly, when you asked who they were.” She tossed her wind-up toy on the bed. “Keep it. It means nothing to me anymore.”

Stone winced. “Don’t lie to me.”

Unsure when he moved, he blinked and discovered Kella against the wall with his hand around her throat. Startled by his assault, he shook his head to clear his anger. A normal woman would’ve cried, begged, at the very least shown fear, but not his Kella. Of course he wouldn’t hurt her, but in the face of her stubbornness and their unstable situation, his fury escalated too fast.

Shifting his thumb beneath her chin, he notched her head back.

Mutiny blazed in her gaze.

“Allow me to set the record straight, Mackella.” Even as kids he’d used her full name only when he wished to garner all of her attention. While he probably possessed every ounce of her focus since he bracketed her neck in a threatening manner, he used her namesake just the same. “At no point have I ever believed you capable of cold-blooded murder. Self-defense, maybe, but not murder, and damn sure not like that.”

“Then why’d you ask who they are?”

Amazing, she didn’t believe him. “Don’t know. Jones discombobulated me with his willingness to frame the wife of a fellow Regent. It’s an unheard of and sneaky tactic. But if you’d killed them, it wouldn’t matter to me”—it’d matter, but he’d justify her actions with some excuse like self-defense or because they deserved it—“nothing would change between us.” When she continued to give him a distrustful stare, his hold slid off her neck and into her hair. “Sunshine, you couldn’t even hurt me when I unveiled you. And you want me to forgive my father. You’re not a killer. I know that.”

“Sometimes I wish I could murder without discretion, but lives matter to me. I’ve killed twice, but only because it was kill or be killed.”

“I’m sorry you were put in that position.” His stomach soured at the danger she’d been in, and that he hadn’t been there to protect her. “My dad’s known you were here since the first year after you arrived. He gave you to Jones.”

Kella blanched, seemingly too shaken up to respond.

“Tell me why you’re X-Ds.” He watched her closely. Her nostrils flared, and color returned to her cheeks. She would’ve pushed him away, but he tightened his grip. “I want the truth. The goddamn truth for fucking once, Kella. Trust me so I can protect you.”

She looked away in the direction of the window, and she seemed to grow smaller before him. He despised her insecurity, but he wouldn’t back down from discovering the truth.

When she spoke, her voice was soft and quivery. “I’ve done things you wouldn’t like. Some to survive and some because I could, but all of them you cannot be tied to.”

What could she be talking about? “Don’t care about that. I want to know your involvement with the X-Diplomats.”

Shiny eyes met his gaze. “Did Regent Jones say I’m X-Ds?”

“Claims he has substantial proof.” The rapid beat of her pulse was visible against her skin. He stroked his thumb along the throb. “I’ll protect you either way, just give me the benefit of the doubt and trust me. For once.”

A long pause where he believed she’d deny him an answer. “I’m a founding member of the X-Diplomats.”

Time grew warped, lost its consistency as they stared at one another. Had he heard her right? He’d been afraid she was part of the terrorist cell, while holding out hope she remained the innocent girl he first fell in love with. Not because he didn’t believe in her cause but because she lived with one foot in the grave with her rebellion. She’d always talked about changing the world, but he hadn’t expected her to go this far with the dream. Regents and spooners preferred the status quo, and they’d kill anyone who attempted to damage their plush lifestyles.
She
had said as much earlier when he voiced the need to discover the truth of the video.

“I didn’t hack the newsfeed. I was honest about that.” Her voice trembled, but she cleared her throat, and her tone leveled out. “Like I said, I wouldn’t know where to begin. I interviewed all the Xenos on that film. Our hacker filched all the proof from the Regency computers to verify everything in those videos. I’ve even got Regent Jones on video talking about re-selling X-genes and laughing about it, along with other twisted stuff done to Xenos. Stuff I won’t repeat. We didn’t release that portion because we feared it’d expose the individual we have on the inside.”

Stone released his hold on her and stepped away, ramming his fingers through his short hair while clutching the bedpost with his other hand. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he closed his eyes. They had to get her to his Quadrant immediately. At this point, it was the safest place for her.

“Reaper part of your group?”

“Don’t ask me for names of the others. I won’t betray them.”

He slanted his eyes toward her. She hadn’t moved, but remained against the wall, her head bowed as if she regretted her actions or was humbled by being caught. “I could take that as a yes.”

She shrugged. “Take it however you want. I won’t disclose any names.”

“This is why those executed in the square for terrorism upset you so much. You knew they weren’t part of your group.”

“I told you they weren’t.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed.”

She nodded. “Probably. No cause worthy of a war comes without a sacrifice.”

That she devalued the importance of her life angered him. “Your life matters too.”

A sad smile flitted across her lips. “I forfeited mine the day I left you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“All I ever wanted was you, Stone.”

Joy punched him in the gut.

“Then I was a Xeno, and all those dreams died with that vile positive.”

Despair curled through his veins as she hugged herself, and he wished he could fix everything about the world so they could live their lives in fucking peace. Was that too much to ask?

“I hate this society, and it must change. Spooners are building a master race off the wombs of innocent girls. Children, Stone.” Her voice broke, and she turned her head aside to gather herself. “Then those same girls are dying or being resold like breeding mills when the spooner that bought her no longer has a use for her. That’s fundamentally
wrong
. And it’s a cause worthy of my life.”

“I disagree.” Why couldn’t she see how precious she was to him? Hell, even her best friend thought she hung the moon. “I value your life as much as you do those Xenos.”

“Power comes to those who take it, Stone, not those who deserve it. I aim to take it back for the X-genes, and if I have to pay with my soul, I will.”

“Admirable cause, but not worth your life.”

She gave a sexy huff. “Tell me, Stone, if we do nothing and allow this system to continue, what will we tell our children?”

Our children
. He loved the idea of having babies with her even while he knew she meant humanity’s kids and not their own. But she had him with her question. She was right. As teens they’d known the system was wrong, so why couldn’t their parents grasp the immoral doctrine?

And...he’d said pretty much the same thing to James a couple of weeks ago. They owed it to humanity’s children to set their future right.

“I don’t have the answers, my Kella”—her eyes darkened at the usage of the possessive tense of her name. “I just know I can’t lose you again.”

––––––––

W
armth flooded Kella’s system, but she tamped the errant emotion down. Unsure how to respond to his declaration, she paced a small path in front of him and contemplated his announcement. “You gotta realize now I’m not the woman you thought I was.”

Surely the revelation of her association with X-Diplomats would have him dismissing her from his life. A normal man would cut his losses and secure his own future.

Stone sat on the edge of the bed and braced his hands on his knees. “I’m not surprised by your involvement with the X-Ds.”

“Then you know you’ll lose me again because I cannot remain with you.”

“I aim to convince you differently.”

His unexpected response caused her to stutter over a response. “You can’t be part of this, it’s too risky, too dangerous. Leaving you is my only option.”

“Why do you have a problem admitting we’re meant to be together? Fighting for
our cause
together? A cause
we
dreamed about. This wasn’t just your dream, Kella. We shared it.”

“I don’t want you part of it.”
Because it’s too dangerous, and I can’t lose you. Not like that.
It’d be easier if he lived a safe, normal life. At least he’d be alive, and she could live with their separation then.

“My involvement is
not
your call to make.”

“I bet even Satan would agree with me.”

“I bet James would agree that we can handle any danger brought to our door.”

Frustrated, she halted in front of him, resting her hands on her hips. “The X-Ds would require a unanimous vote to admit you. They won’t.”

Stone gave a half-hearted laugh. “Sunshine, I don’t need to be part of the X-Diplomats to fight the system.”

Faced with his calmness, her agitation intensified. “I won’t allow you to put yourself in that kind of danger because of me.”

“And
I
won’t allow
you
to throw away a chance at love that comes along only once in a lifetime. We’re in this together because people support each other when they’re in love.”

“Just because you love me, doesn’t mean I love you.”

The corners of his mouth twitched. He caught her hips with his hands, and tugged her to him, widening his legs so she could stand between them. “I don’t need you to say the words to know how you feel.” Leaning forward he bussed her lips with his. “I’ll protect you while we fight for our cause, and while I fight to keep you right here where you belong, in my arms.” One arm slid around her waist to pull her into the shelter of his chest, while his other hand curled around the back of her neck, a firm, grasp that caused butterflies to swirl in her tummy, and moisture to gush from her core. “I’m a patient man, and I’m not giving up on us.”

Kella rested her hands on his shoulders. “You’re not patient. You’re a fool.”

“I’m a fool who’s in love with you.”

“Jesus, that’s cheesy.”

Their gazes locked, and her breath froze in her lungs. The expression on his face was too soft, too emotional, and it scared the hell out of her, while stimulating her at the same time. Yeah, she was a mess of contradictions.

“Kiss me, sunshine, like you wanted to when we were kids.”

Melting into him, she slid her arms around his neck. “I’m not a kid any more. I don’t want to kiss you the same way.”

His nostrils flared. “Then kiss me like the woman you are.”

“We’re fighting, not making out.” If she kissed him, all her frustration with his refusal to let her go would vanish.

“Making out is for teens. We’re going to make love instead, sunshine.” Slight pressure from his hand on her neck off balanced her, causing her lips to bond with his.

Stone might’ve asked her to take the lead, but he claimed control immediately, parting her lips and driving his tongue inside. This aggressive kiss asserted his claim on her and branded her as his, reminded her that while her body belonged to him, she denied him her heart.

The idea of finally knowing him intimately thrilled her though. She’d wanted this for weeks. Didn’t matter that they’d been arguing moments before, his kiss had her softening against him and sliding her fingers across his scalp. The cool strands of his hair heated her flesh every bit as much as his smooch. Then again everything about Stone aroused her.

The hand on her nape twisted, his fingers fisted in her hair, and he tugged her head back as his mouth slid down her neck, his scruff scraping her skin. Gooseflesh erupted across her flesh, causing moisture to dampen her panties. He tongued a nipple through the fabric of her dress, jerking a moan from Kella. The heat of his mouth and the friction of her clothes against her peak had her clit throbbing in time with her heartbeat.