Skyport Virgo 1 - Refuge (20 page)

Pike flopped onto the couch. He gingerly touched his face, wincing as his fingers grazed his split lip. He could already see the curious stares on the faces of his staff tomorrow morning. Gossip would spread like wildfire through the fleet tomorrow. Fist fighting a petty officer?

"Christ!" He shook his head with disgust.
What the fuck was I thinking?

"You weren't." His answer echoed in the lonely apartment. Pike slumped under the enormity of his poor decisions. He rarely behaved so rashly. He'd simply been blinded by jealousy and rage.

And guilt. He'd been so unkind to Laleh when she'd come to him. Yes, he'd been busy. Yes, he'd been stressed. But to lash out like that? Pike's stomach soured. He was a better man than that. More importantly, Pike was painfully aware of the world she'd come from, of the horrors of her childhood. What damage had he inflicted by shouting at her and humiliating her in front of his peers?

Pike was torn between chasing after Laleh and giving her some space. Considering how badly he'd mucked things up already, he decided to wait for her return. He couldn't risk making things worse between them.

So he sat back and waited.

* * * *

Vision blurred by tears, Laleh wandered aimlessly through the corridors of the
Spica.

Desperate for some place quiet where she could think, Laleh aimed her feet in the direction of her office. Fifteen minutes later, she slipped into her darkened office. The lights flicked on brightly and slowly adjusted to a less harsh setting. She walked to the sofa set against the far wall and sank onto the firm cushions.

Try as she might, Laleh couldn't shake Pike's wounded face from her mind. When he'd snapped at her not to touch him, she'd nearly died. Disgust had been clearly evident in his voice and in his expression. She brought her fingers to her lips. The memory of Quinn's unwanted kiss still burned there. She felt so dirty.

Shame blazed across her cheeks. Laleh remembered Pike's warning the first day she'd met Quinn. She felt so stupid. Quinn had assured her they could just be friends, but obviously he'd been lying. She shared some of the blame, of course. She'd asked him inside, poured him a beer, and sat on the couch with him. Laleh had never intended to lead Quinn on, but perhaps she had unknowingly done so.

Feeling foolish and naive, Laleh curled on her side on the couch and kicked off her shoes. She wondered what sort of disciplinary actions Pike would now face. Granted neither man had been on duty at the time of their altercation, but surely the news would filter through the ranks and reach Pike's superiors. By the time the rumors made it that far who knew what sort of embellishments would have been tacked onto them. Would Pike be called on the carpet? Would his punishment tarnish an exemplary career? And Quinn?

She knew striking a superior officer was grounds for imprisonment.

Guilt clawed at her belly. She sobbed pitifully at the realization she'd ruined so many lives. Noozeen, Salida, and their unborn child. Quinn. Pike.

A memory she'd long ago repressed rushed to the forefront of her mind. Laleh could still feel the sting of her father's palm against her cheek, the toes of his boots slamming into her soft belly, and the crack of her collarbone and arm as she hit the corner of a desk and crumpled to the floor. Her father's enraged voice rang in her ears. He'd called her a curse, an abomination who ruined everything she touched.

Laleh covered her face with her hands as her mind swam with the ugly memory. She couldn't remember what had triggered her father's violent explosion. He'd never seemed to need much to push him over the edge into abuse. For some reason, Laleh was his favorite child to beat on at the time. Of her twenty some odd siblings, Laleh seemed to spend the most time on the receiving end of his balled up fist.

That night had been the last straw for her mother. Four days later, they were on the run and had never looked back.

Though Laleh rarely gave her father a thought, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe he'd been right. Hezmans were notoriously superstitious about birth signs. Laleh knew the stars had been misaligned the night she came into the world. Perhaps there was some truth to it all. Maybe she really was cursed to ruin the lives of those she touched.

Laleh dozed off to that troubling thought. She woke hours later with a stiff neck and cheeks sticky with dried tears. Rubbing her aching neck, she sat up and squinted her sleepy eyes at the clock in the corner. The early birds on the diplomatic staff would start arriving in an hour or so. She couldn't let them find her looking disheveled in yesterday's clothes.

But the thought of returning to their quarters, of running into Pike, made her stomach roll with nervousness.

With no other choice, Laleh put on her shoes and left her office. She stuck to the less traveled corridors and the least popular elevator banks on her return trip, not wanting to deal with the questioning stares. Blessedly, she made it to their quarters without running into any acquaintances. She paused in the hall outside the door to their quarters. With a deep breath, she forged onward.

The coward in her rejoiced to find their rooms empty. Glass shards littered the floor in the living room. The covers on the bed were undisturbed. In the bathroom, Laleh encountered Pike's scent. Her heart clenched. Fresh tears sprung to her eyes. That he hadn't come looking for her or waited for her to return spoke volumes. She sensed she'd crossed a line last night. That Pike could forgive or forget was unlikely.

As she showered, Laleh pondered her choices. She reached a painful conclusion and packed a small bag. Until Pike asked her to come back, she'd sleep elsewhere. A lump in her throat, Laleh cast one final glance over their quarters, her gaze lingering on the broken mug. Like that glass, their relationship had been shattered.

Perhaps irrevocably.

* * * *

High above the launching deck, Pike stood on an elevated breezeway and scoured the crowd for a glimpse of Laleh. For the last four days, he'd followed her around like this, skulking in the shadows like some kind of stalker. When he'd come back to their quarters to find some of her clothing and toiletries missing, he'd nearly thrown up as the reality of what he'd done hit him square in the gut. He'd done more damage in one day than could possibly ever be undone.

As far as he could tell, Laleh had moved into her office. He'd trailed her early one morning to the recreation deck on Virgo where she darted into the gym and—he assumed—used the showering facilities there. That his wife had been reduced to using public showers made him feel lower than dirt.

So many times he'd started to approach her, to beg her to come home, but he just couldn't muster the courage. He'd faced certain death with less trepidation. Now, when he needed his courage the most, it failed him. The thought of Laleh rejecting him completely threatened to drive him over the edge.

His staff bore the brunt of his unhappiness and frustration. They'd taken to scurrying into offices or turning in the opposite direction any time he left his office. Pike couldn't blame them. He'd been an absolute asshole since Laleh had left him. He wasn't proud of it.

Nor was he proud of having been taken to task by his superiors. Technically, he'd done nothing wrong. Yelling at one's wife in public was uncouth at best. Fighting a subordinate in private, off duty, was frowned upon at the very least. Only his impeccable record had saved him from an official inquiry. For that Pike was eternally grateful.

He scanned the throng of travelers lining up to board the evening transport vessel bound for Skyport Leo. Pike had wondered if Laleh would take the trip. He'd come across her travel pass on the dining room table and had sent it to her office, unsure if she'd return in time to find it. He'd kept a close eye on her side of the closet. When he'd discovered Laleh's breezy bright dresses and skirts missing last night, he'd known she was going.

Part of him was sad to see her go. Part of him was relieved. Jai would arrive tomorrow afternoon. Pike needed Laleh safely out of the way.

A splash of chartreuse caught his eye. He zeroed in and spotted Laleh moving to join a queue. His appreciative gaze moved over her deftly outlined curves. The first time he'd seen that slim fitting dress hanging in her work clothes section, Pike had been skeptical.

The color struck him as rather garish. But against her honey brown skin it was simply breathtaking.

Even now, two stories up, Pike lost his breath at the sight of her. Whatever happened between them he knew now that she was The One. She would always be the only woman he'd ever loved—could love. Accepting that fact made the possibility of losing her for good all the more terrifying.

As Pike watched her board the vessel, he vowed then and there he would do whatever it took to win her back. It was time to swallow his pride. When she returned from Leo, he'd throw himself at her feet and plead forgiveness in front of the entire population of Virgo if need be. Whatever Laleh wanted, whatever she needed from him to move forward, Pike would give her.

He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not ever.

Chapter Fifteen

Agitated, Pike glanced out the panoramic window of his office high atop Virgo. He could see Jai's stopped vessel just on the perimeter. Laleh's brother had been forced to leave his ship and take transport aboard a guard ship. Pike had watched the vessel ferry his enemy to an open docking station. He glanced at his watch and calculated the necessary time for Jai to make his way through customs to here.

Pike had ordered that at no time was Jai to be left alone. Even if the man needed to take a leak, he was to be followed and watched like a hawk. Pike would take no chances today. If Jai protested his treatment, he was free to leave. Pike would extend this olive branch only once. Should Jai fail to take advantage of it, he'd quickly become acquainted with Pike's nasty side.

Weelo appeared in the doorway. "Admiral Pike, Prince Jai of Hezma to see you."

"Show him in," Pike said, crossing his office to receive the man.

As arrogant as ever, Jai strode into the room, clad head to toe in black leather. His long coat fluttered behind him, the deep purple lining clearly visible. Silver hooks and chains embellished the outfit. He'd slicked back his blond hair. The angry red scar stretching from just beside his left eye to the edge of his mouth stood out against his pale skin.

Once, during a trip to
Hedonisma
, Pike had seen a rather titillating S&M show featuring whips and chains and all the usual paraphernalia. To say Jai could have been the star of that show was understatement. Of course, the Dom involved in that exhibition hadn't been a soulless waste of space. He'd played by the rules and looked after his sub.

Pike knew enough of Jai to know his self-control was practically zero when it came to his harem of sex slaves. How many of those poor women had died at his hands was anyone's guess.

Jai halted a few spaces from Pike. He grasped his hands behind his back and looked down his aquiline nose. "Grayson."

"Jai." Jaw squared, Pike chose to take the high road. He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. "Would you like to sit?"

Jai shook his head. "I don't plan to be here that long."

"As you wish," Pike replied.

"Where's Laleh?"

"Not here. And you can abandon all hope as far as that's concerned."

Jai smirked. "You spent enough time on our homeland to understand the concept of blood debt, starman. She dishonored the family name not once, not twice, but three times.

She can't be allowed to live."

Pike's fists tightened at his sides. "You'd do well to remember where you are, Jai.

Threatening a Federation citizen is an offense which warrants arrest."

He snorted. "I'd like to see you try."

Pike gritted his teeth and tried to keep calm. "What do you want?"

Jai seemed to realize he wasn't going to get a rise out of Pike. With a sigh of annoyance, he launched into an obviously memorized spiel. "In view of her recent marriage, Laleh has been deemed unacceptable and soiled. My father will accept a written apology addressed to the court and a statement relinquishing her titles, rights, and dowries. If she fulfills those requests, my father will be willing to forget she even exists."

"How kind of him," Pike dryly replied.

Jai shrugged. "Father wishes to gain eligibility as a signatory on the Federation treaties. We—he—feels the time has come to join the fold. This little bit of family drama has caused a bit of bad publicity."

And there's the real motive
. "If Laleh refuses?"

"Father has contingency plans. I'd hate for Laleh to have an accident of the permanent variety."

Pike saw red. "Are you sure you want to risk that?"

"Try me." Jai grinned smugly and strode to the door. "Oh, and my father would like the return of the wedding jewelry he gave to Laleh's mother."

"Wedding jewelry?"

"He's getting married again in a few weeks. Doesn't make sense to buy another set."

"I can't promise anything."

Jai paused in the doorway. "This is a one time offer, Grayson. I'd encourage Laleh to consider it most carefully."

"I trust Laleh to make her own decisions."

Jai laughed. "You would be stupid enough to think a woman could be trusted to make her own choices and decisions? A little advice, Grayson; you'd do well to show her the back of your hand a bit more often. As I remember it, she was quite responsive to the back of our father's hand. The heel of his boot, too."

"Get out!" Pike snarled, his stomach churning at the idea of Laleh suffering so terribly under her own father's hand. "Just get out!"

"Gladly."

In a whirl of leather, Jai strode from the office and out of Pike's sight. Fuming, Pike clenched his fists and exhaled an explosive breath. If he was honest, the meeting had gone exactly as he'd expected. Jai had behaved boorishly—no surprise there. But what did surprise Pike was the offer from Laleh's father, from the emperor.

Would Laleh agree to write such a letter? Pike assumed Laleh had no qualms about formally rescinding all of her rights as a member of the royal family. She'd been actively hiding her connections for twelve years. Obviously she saw no benefit to them.