The Enemy Within (Daughters of the People Series Book 3) (14 page)

Indigo struggled
to keep her expression neutral, her muscles relaxed.
Should’ve seen that one
coming, too
. “I expect my stay in Tellowee will be long-term, considering
my relationship with your son.”

A flicker of
amusement flashed across Rebecca’s face. “Oh?”

Why had she
bothered to be polite? “In fact, he’s the reason I’m here.”

“I’m aware.” The
politely amused expression never wavered. “I wonder, though, how a woman of
your means and stature could possibly have the temerity to ask for my son.”

Shit
.

Indigo clenched
her hands reflexively and nearly groaned at the mistake.
Never show weakness
in front of the Blade.
It was the number one rule when dealing with a
Daughter as old and powerful as Rebecca Upton.

“I assure you,
Director, my means are more than adequate to care for a Son of Bobby’s
standing.” She reached for her briefcase, pulling it onto her lap. “I have
extensive documentation of my financial status, including investments and real
estate holdings.”

“Leave it,”
Rebecca said in a hard voice.

Indigo slid the
briefcase onto the floor, her hope for a peaceful settlement sinking with it.

“I’m much more
concerned with the matter of your abandoning him, first at sixteen when he
tried for you, and then at twenty-one when he took your
aenkanien
.”

“In my defense,
Director, Bobby was my student when he was sixteen. It would have been
unethical for me to accept his suit.” Sweat pooled under Indigo’s breasts and
her heart fluttered against her ribs. “As for the
aenkanien
, I only
learned of it last night.”

“The law is the
law.” Rebecca pinned Indigo with an unforgiving stare. “As his mother, I have
the right to seek Retribution before the Council.”

Indigo’s eyelids
slid closed and the blood rushed from her head, leaving her dizzy. This was her
greatest fear, that Rebecca would invoke the old ways of physical punishment
and eschew the newer fine system. The penalties were great either way, but the
fines were a relatively small matter for most Daughters, especially older ones
who’d had time to accumulate wealth of one sort or another.

Physical Retribution,
on the other hand, usually involved flogging the skin from the offending
Daughter’s back. Indigo had seen it done once, as a child, to a Daughter who
had forsaken an abusive Son. It had taken weeks for the skin to grow back and
years, she’d heard, for the scars to fade completely.

She’d felt the
sting of the lash before. Her body jerked involuntarily at the memory. Such a
punishment wouldn’t kill her, but it would hurt for a long, long time and brand
her as a pariah.

Bobby would be
lost to her forever.

She opened her
eyes. Rebecca’s lips had curled into a smile that held the faintest hint of
triumph.

“What Retribution
will you seek?”

“Since my son is
fond of your skin, I shall forego the right of Retribution through the Council
and ask for a monetary penalty instead.”

Indigo held in
her sigh of relief. “Thank you, Director.”

“Rebecca. Twenty
five thousand dollars per year of your neglect, with interest retroactive from
the date of the
aenkanien
, as well as five thousand dollars per year
from the date of his suit to the time of the mark’s application, without
interest. You will put this money into a trust for the benefit of any children
from your union, to revert to Bobby should your union fail or if there are no
legal issue.”

Indigo sat back
in the chair, nonplussed. That was far less than she’d anticipated, all things
given, and actually quite reasonable, given Bobby’s status. “Of course.”

“When will you
next ovulate?”

“I fail to see…”

“Do not test my
patience, child,” Rebecca said. “When will you ovulate?”

Indigo clamped
her teeth together. “By spring.”

“Good. If you conceive
a child by my son within the next two years and bear it within three, I shall
waive the penalty for refusing his initial suit.” Rebecca folded her hands in
her lap. Indigo tensed, preparing for another strike. “If you have two children
within that time, I shall match the amount of your penalty from my own coffers,
to be paid into the trust.”

Indigo compressed
her lips together, hiding her astonishment. “That’s very generous.”

And the
requirement of children aligned neatly with Indigo’s own goals, which couldn’t
be a coincidence. Somehow, Rebecca was two steps ahead, while Indigo was still
trying to figure out which game they were playing.

“I want my son
to be happy.”

“He will want
for nothing.”

“That’s not the
same thing as being happy.” Rebecca leaned forward and laid a hand on Indigo’s
arm. “Is there any chance you could love him?”

“I care for
him,” Indigo said carefully. “He’s a good man and treats me well. If I were to
love anyone, it would be him.”

Rebecca
considered her, searching for something in Indigo’s expression. After a moment,
she squeezed Indigo’s arm and sat back. “His father and I wish to pay the Son’s
gift.”

Indigo relaxed
for the first time since entering the building. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Oh?”

“Bobby has paid
it himself, in furniture for our home.”

“Ah.” Rebecca
smile held genuine amusement. “Still, we would like to contribute.”

“Bobby is
contribution enough.” Indigo shifted in the chair. “If you wish to contribute
beyond that, I’ll leave it to him to negotiate the gift.”

“I’ll speak with
him then. When will the ceremony take place?”

“We haven’t set
a date. I’d like to wait until after our current business is finished.”

Rebecca nodded.
“I understand you’ve already consummated the union.”

A heated blush
crept up Indigo’s face. Drat her fair skin. “We have each submitted physically
to the other.”

“I see.”
Rebecca’s gaze remained steady. “I shall have the contract drawn up by the end
of the week. Will ninety days give you enough time to establish the trust?”

“Yes, thank
you.” Indigo couldn’t bring herself to say Rebecca’s name, no matter how often the
director insisted. “I’d like to present Bobby to my mother this weekend. After
that, we would love to have you and Mr. Upton for dinner.”

“We’d be
delighted.” Rebecca rose. “I’ll look forward to your call.”

So much for
having Bobby deal with his mother. Indigo grasped the handle of her briefcase
and stood.

“Take good care
of my son, Indigo.” Rebecca stepped forward and clasped Indigo’s shoulders in a
surprisingly gentle grip. “He deserves some happiness.”

Didn’t they all.
“I shall do my best.”

Rebecca nodded
and stepped back, her expression caught in a mixture of triumph and
resignation.

Indigo bowed and
left. When she closed the office door behind her, she took a deep breath and
let it out slowly, and sent a thankful prayer to the Lady Goddess that she’d
made it out of Rebecca Upton’s lair in one piece.

Indigo drove
carefully from the IECS to her apartment and changed clothes before heading to
the hospital to visit her mother.

No.
Our
apartment.
A home that, Goddess willing, would be filled with the sounds of children by
the end of the following year. A little girl with Bobby’s daredevil nature and
sweet smile.

Or the blessed
Son.

She held that
wish to herself, savored it for a long, precious moment, then let it go. It was
too soon to think of becoming mortal. Her heart was still her own, even if her
body wasn’t, and Bobby had made it clear the night before that her body was no
longer solely her own, as his was now hers as well.

Maybe he would
teach
her a lesson
again that evening. A pleasant throb pulsed between her legs
and she pressed a hand to her racing heart.
Mmm
. Something to look
forward to.

She parked and
made the short walk from the hospital’s parking lot to her mother’s room.

Elizabeth
Andrews was a beautiful woman, tall with the black hair and blue eyes she’d
given her daughters. Her heart was kind, though not always sweet, and she had
no tolerance for disobedience in her children, disobedience often meaning
holding an opinion other than one that aligned with Elizabeth’s own.

India was just
as hard-headed, though she lacked her mother’s kinder attributes. She lived in
a black and white world without room for compromise or softness, and had always
been determined to forge her own path, regardless of the consequences. It often
seemed as if Indigo’s twin deliberately chose paths that would provoke their
mother’s temper.

It had made for
a difficult childhood on all sides.

Indigo pushed
the door to her mother’s room open and stepped quietly inside. Elizabeth lay on
the hospital bed situated in the middle of the room, Indigo’s brother held to
her breast. His twin occupied a rolling glass cradle between the bed and the
opposite wall. Pictures flashed across a television mounted to the far corner, the
sound muted. Flowers, stuffed animals, and gifts covered nearly every inch of
the institutional furniture decorating the room.

“Mámá.” Indigo
kept her voice soft as she closed the door behind herself.

“Darling.”
Elizabeth smiled and held her hand out. “I’m sorry to have missed you last
night.”

Indigo bent and
pressed a kiss to her mother’s smooth cheek. “You were a little busy having babies.”

“True.”
Elizabeth ran a gentle hand over her son’s head. “I would wish this for you,
Daughter.”

Indigo placed
the gift she’d brought on the chest of drawers, then sat in the room’s only
chair. “Perhaps next year.”

Elizabeth’s gaze
sharpened. “You’ve taken a lover?”

“A mate,” Indigo
said. “Bobby Upton, though we haven’t sorted out all the details yet.”

“Well, well,
well. That’s quite a step up.”

Indigo rolled
her eyes skyward. Why did everyone keep saying that? “I’m not that low on the
social ladder.”

“That’s not what
I meant. Here, take Joey, will you?”

Indigo stood and
took her brother, cradling him gently. His delicate eyelids were closed in
sleep, his mouth puckered as if it still suckled his mother’s breast. A wave of
tenderness swept through her. “So this is Joey.”

“Joseph, after
Glen’s father.” Elizabeth cleaned her breast and righted her gown. “And your
sister, Beth, bless her heart. I couldn’t bear to saddle her with my mother’s
name.”

Indigo’s lips
twitched. “Uriana is a bit unusual.”

Elizabeth
laughed softly. “Poor Mother. She always hated her name, but refused to change
it, even after she married. Stubborn woman.”

Like mother,
like daughter
.
Indigo wisely kept that thought to herself.

“Would you like
Joey back?”

“No, you hold
him for a while.” Elizabeth pushed herself up in the bed until she sat
straighter. “I want to talk about Bobby Upton.”

Indigo sat down,
using Joey as an excuse to avoid her mother’s curious gaze. “You’ll be up to a
formal presentation this weekend, won’t you?”

“If that’s what
you want.”

“It’s
traditional.”

“And you were
always so bound by duty and tradition.” Elizabeth sighed. “Have you submitted
to him?”

“No.” Joey’s
face scrunched up. Indigo shifted him to her shoulder and rubbed his tiny back.
“He bears my
aenkanien
.”

Elizabeth’s
eyebrows rose. “I heard he carried a dove on his shoulder, though I thought
that could only be rumor. Rebecca would never allow her son to be forsaken.”

“Believe me, she
extracted a hefty fine.”

“So you knew
about it.”

“Not until last
night. Apparently, he got it on his twenty-first birthday after getting really
drunk.”

“And she still
penalized you?” Elizabeth blew out a disgusted breath. “The old biddy.”

Indigo laughed.
“Mámá, really.”

“Well, it’s
true.”

“She made a very
reasonable offer, all things considered.”

Elizabeth
snorted. “Not before putting the screws to you.”

“Well, there is
that. But it’s all settled, except for the formalities. Bobby’s moving in with
me tonight and we’ll likely be married next year.” Indigo rose and placed Joey
in his own cradle, then took a moment to admire Beth. “If I have children
within three years, she’s promised to waive part of the fine.”

“That bitch.”
Elizabeth drew in a sharp breath. “You should’ve taken someone with you to help
you negotiate.”

“I handled it
fine.” Indigo moved to her mother’s side and sat gingerly on the edge of the
bed. “Besides, Bobby and I were planning on having children anyway, so that
provision is less harsh than it sounds.”

“You were always
too accepting, darling. Why didn’t you fight for a better deal?”

“What makes you
think I didn’t?”

Elizabeth’s
expression turned skeptical. “Because I know you.”

“Honestly, this
is what I want. If I didn’t, I would never have approached her with a formal
claim.”

“Be careful,
darling.” Elizabeth grasped Indigo’s hand. “Rebecca Upton is devious and
cunning. I can’t believe she let you off that lightly.”

“Not too
lightly, I promise. The fine alone is significant enough to affect my
investments.”

“Do you need
money? Your grandmother’s funds…”

“No, really,
Mámá. I’m fine.” And even if she weren’t, she wouldn’t accept the money. A
Daughter who couldn’t care for her own mate was sorry indeed. Indigo had enough
pride to want to care for Bobby on her own. Thank the Goddess she was frugal.
“Can we come by on Sunday?”

Elizabeth
hesitated, worry lingering on her face. “Of course. You’re welcome anytime.”

“Good.” Indigo
leaned forward to brush a kiss along her mother’s cheek. “I have to get back to
work now. Bobby’s expecting me.”

“Come by again,
if you can. We’re going home tomorrow.”

“I will.”

Exhaustion
followed Indigo from her mother’s hospital room to her car, all the way to BDH.
Dealing with two strong-willed women in one day was not something she wanted to
do again anytime soon.

On the way up
the elevator, she remembered the traditional ceremonies, and slumped against the
elevator’s wall with a weary sigh. Her mother and Rebecca Upton in the same
room, staring each other down, on top of the downright embarrassing rituals the
traditional claiming demanded? No way.

Maybe they could
just elope. Las Vegas was nice this time of year.

The elevator
dinged, its doors opened, and Indigo stepped out. She made her way through the
reception area to Bobby’s office. Laura walked out and closed the door behind
herself, and gave Indigo a thin smile that seemed a tad too self-satisfied.
Indigo veered off, following the young girl. Whatever Laura was up to, she
intended to nip it in the bud once and for all.

In fact, she’d
be more than happy to set Laura straight on a number of items, starting with
Bobby’s availability.

Indigo stalked
after the other woman, her fatigue forgotten, replaced by a stony determination
that would’ve made her mother proud.

* * *

The hours
dragged by. Bobby tried to focus on work, knew he needed to, but his mind
drifted and his eyes wandered to his watch. How long could it possibly take for
two women to hash out a marital contract?

He checked the
time again and pushed sharply back from his desk with a muttered curse. Only
five minutes had passed since the last time he’d looked.

Indigo had texted
him with the time of her meeting with his mother. Even with traffic, she
should’ve been here by now.

He glared at the
paperwork on his desk, picked up a pen, and tapped it in rapid beats against
the top of his desk.
Patience
. She had to deal with this on her own, and
he needed to let her.

He focused on
the paperwork and forced himself to go through it point by point. Half an hour
passed and then another one. Margaret poked her head in requesting a meeting.
Drew stopped by with an update on one of their field teams. Laura came in
needing his signature, and after that, Bobby gave up trying to work. He grabbed
his empty coffee mug and headed for the break room. If Indigo hadn’t made it back
by the time he finished another cup, he was going after her, tradition be
damned.

He left his
office door open and stalked down the hallway, trying not to snap at the people
he passed. They didn’t deserve the lash of his temper, though it wouldn’t be
there if Indigo was around to soothe it away.

What could
possibly be taking her so long?

He slapped the
door to the break room open. Margaret stood at the coffee pot, filling her own
mug.

“That better not
be the last of the coffee,” he said.

“There’s a
little more.” She placed the pot back into the machine and moved aside. “Sounds
like you don’t need any more caffeine, though.”

“Hunh. You’re
one to talk.”

“I’m not the one
walking around with a thundercloud hanging over my head.”

“I’m not…” He
let out a sigh. Yes, he was. “Forget it. What did you need a meeting for?”

“I have some
interesting info for you on the manhunt you’re doing for Mom.” She eyed him
levelly. “It can probably wait until you’re in a better mood.”

He grimaced and
rubbed a hand across his nape. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”

“Want to talk
about it?”

And give her
ammunition for sisterly blackmail? He wasn’t that stupid, no matter what his
sisters thought. A man couldn’t get away with anything around that bunch. “Maybe
later.”

“Is it about
Indigo?”

He returned her
cool stare evenly. “Why would it be?”

“Because you’ve
been groping her for the past few weeks, and mooning over her for a lot
longer.” Her mouth curled into a smug smirk. “I hear congratulations are in
order.”

Bobby opened his
mouth to retort and was interrupted by Indigo, marching through the door to the
break room, dressed in khakis and a BDH shirt with her coal black hair pulled
into a ponytail. Her eyes glittered and red spots of color graced her cheeks. She
looked ready to crush someone under her heel, if she hadn’t already.

“Uh oh,”
Margaret muttered.

Bobby set his
mug down on the counter.

Indigo’s gaze
zeroed in on him. “I need to speak with you.”

“Sure. What’s
up?”

“Alone.” Indigo
stepped back, holding the door for him. “In your office, if you don’t mind.”

His heart took a
nosedive and landed somewhere south of Peru. She’d changed her mind.
Dammit
.
He knew he should’ve gone with her to see his mom, knew he should’ve gone after
her sooner. Nausea rolled through him and a cold sweat popped out on his skin.

He was going to
lose her.

“All right,” he
said, and barely stifled a wince at the crack in his voice.

He ignored
Margaret’s look of sympathy and followed Indigo out of the room. She stalked
ahead of him to his office, ponytail swishing with her steps, her body taut and
angry. Her ass twitched under her khakis and his body hardened with need, even
as he steeled himself for rejection.

At least you had
one night
.
His heart tightened painfully in his chest. One night and thousands more to
endure without her, alone with the memory of her scent clogging his head, her
soft skin under his hands, the ecstasy on her face when he filled her.

As soon as she
entered the room, she moved to pull the blinds shut. He closed the door quietly
and watched her. Her hands were shaking. Did she think he was going to hurt her
when she let him down? Is that why she was closing the blinds, because she
didn’t want anyone to see his reaction after she let him go?