Abbie rolled her eyes and pulled her sister from the couch. “Get the fuck outta here. Go to him. Be with him. I saw him earlier, he’s a mess.” She shoved Nyna’s coat on, slapping the hat on.
Nyna hugged her. “You’re the best. My best friend. You do deserve to have Roman. I wish I could make you happy.”
Abbie shrugged. “That’s life. Now go.” She shoved her sister from the doorway and watched her rush to the lift, anxious to be with her man.
She heaved a sigh and shut the door behind her.
Abbie took a bracing breath and headed toward the courtroom door. It was day one of the murder trial for Jaron. Tensions were high all over the capital.
Vid crews blocked the way, and internally, she clicked off her emotions and readied herself.
She only said, “I cannot comment on an ongoing case. As you all well know.” Satisfaction slid through her when a particularly burly security guard made way for her to get to the door by shoving people back. She hoped it hurt.
Once inside, the scene was only barely calmer. The room was packed, given not only the nature of the crime but also the connections Jaron had to House Lyons and of course, oh so luckily for Abbie, her own.
Oh seventh hell! What was Roman doing here? She clenched her jaw and sailed past, pretending not to see him and not making eye contact. The last thing she needed was to have him on her mind even more. Gah! Could she smell him? She should hit him on the head with her case, that’s what she should do. Teach him to be so attractive.
He was messing with her ritual. Okay, okay, focus, Abbie. She found her way to the lead table and sat, taking deep breaths. She pushed out the chaos and the noise and she opened herself up to quiet, calm and focus.
She opened her eyes soon after and found that inner place of calm before turning to pull her file from her case.
Marcus leaned in and kissed her cheek. “How are you?”
She smiled, letting him see the bloodlust in her features. “We’re going to do this, Marcus. We’re going to clear your boy.” She shouldn’t have made promises like that. She never did. One had no idea what would happen in a trial. But for some reason—mainly due to the huge amount of evidence—Abbie just knew they’d walk out of there having cleared Jaron’s name.
Roman watched her walk past without even looking his way. His gut twisted as he caught her scent. He’d wanted to reach out and touch her, to grab her and take her out of the room and away, far away where there was no House Lyons and no Ranked marital rules.
But where was that? He’d asked himself that question repeatedly since walking out her door two weeks prior. Earth? Now a wreck barely able to support her less than a million inhabitants. The Edge? No matter what, he could not escape the facts. She was unranked, he was Ranked. He couldn’t very well make an argument that the Haws line was old enough and well-connected enough to make it an Associate House like he’d done with Kerrigan.
Abbie was beautiful, masterful, as she stood and addressed the adjudicator. Her back was relaxed. Damn she is small. Still, her presence was large as she made her opening case.
The inquisitor made her opening argument. Roman wanted to laugh when he noted it was her archenemy, the fiancé-fucker, as Abbie had referred to her. Abbie seemed to take an effortless glee at winding the other barrister up and getting her upset.
Roman had done this long enough to remain impassive on the outside while he laughed on the inside. Abbie amused him greatly that first morning as she laid her case out. He had every hope she’d prevail. It was her nature, he realized, to do so.
The light from the high casement windows gleamed off her dark hair, off her luminous skin, and he cursed his situation for the millionth time. He wanted her. Not some mindless, helpless twit from Holmes or Khym. He’d met three potential wives already and each one of them made him feel a thousand years old and his balls had crawled up into his body.
Nothing. Not just sexual unattraction but revulsion. They were all very young, and each a pale, pale substitute for the woman who paced slowly, sensuously, before them all as she outlined her case.
He hated to imagine her watching it on the vids. Hated that he hurt her. When he caught the vid shows and saw how she’d been hounded because of their relationship, he’d wanted to rush to her. But he couldn’t. It had to be a clean break or it would only hurt everyone involved.
So he’d taken care of two things he needed to do for her and had tried to stay away. But he had to come today. Had to be in the room for Marcus and Jaron and, yes, Abbie, too, because he believed in her skill and Jaron’s innocence and he wanted them all to know it.
He felt less warm-hearted toward Logan, the ex-fiancé, when he came in and sat near the defense table. He felt downright homicidal when he noted how the man touched Abbie’s neck and leaned in close to speak to her during a brief break.
Realistically, Roman knew she’d move on, too. Hells, he was brokering a marriage! But he didn’t have to be fair when he was raging in his head, he didn’t have to be logical and he didn’t want her loving anyone, didn’t want anyone taking his place in her bed and in her life. He knew it was selfish but he felt it anyway.
At the end of the day, Abbie wrote a note and gave it to Marcus. “Please give this to Roman. I’m going to need him to testify on Jaron’s character. Deimos, too, if possible. I don’t know what to expect. Right now things are looking good. The inquisitor hasn’t done much I’m worried over. But surprises crop up all the time. I want to hit hard with our case, use every single weapon we have, and they don’t come much bigger than Roman and his son.”
Marcus smiled at her. “Okay. You want to ask him yourself?”
She laughed, rueful. “No. I can’t be seen speaking to him. It’s not a good thing. And right now, I want this to be all about Jaron. I don’t want any nonsense from the vids to cloud the case.”
Marcus kissed her cheek. “Done. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jaron followed with a hug. “You’re doing a great job, Abbie. Really.”
“This will all be over soon, Jaron. I’ll see you and your dad tomorrow.”
They left and she gave them time to speak to Roman on the way out as she gathered her things. If she so much as looked at Roman she’d fall apart. So she just kept her focus on her things, on the papers in her hands and putting the correct folders into her case. Over and over.
Logan stood at her elbow. He’d been such a good friend to her in the weeks since she and Roman had split. Abbie wasn’t sure she’d have been as together as she was if it hadn’t been for him.
In a way, she wished she could love him again as more than a dear friend. Even the way she might have before Roman. She couldn’t contemplate loving anyone else right then, much less investing in the emotional energy it would take to trust Logan after all he’d done. Friendship, yes. She trusted her heart to him that way, and that was enough. More than enough; it saved her just then.
“You did a great job today, Abbie. Come on then, let me do the male thing and lug your case. Then you and I have a date with the cinema.”
“I really should work.” She looked up at him and snorted. Not very likely.
“I know you. You’ve already planned out every single possibility and have created three alternative ways to deal with it. So come on. A film, some down time. I’ll have you back to your flat in plenty of time to get a good night’s sleep.”
“Treats on you? I know you just got a rise in credits.”
He laughed and for one small moment, she connected to that love she had for him long ago. So lost in so many ways, was Logan. “You drive a hard bargain. Especially since I know you won’t let me sleep with you when I bring you home.” He gave a put-upon sigh. “But all right. Treats on me.”
“Then you have a date.” She took the hand he held out—the other was filled with her case—and let him lead her from the room. She didn’t even mention that his little friend the fiancé-fucker was still glaring at them both from her table. See, she had self-control. Real
ly.
Chapter 30
“This is ridiculous. House Kerrigan steps too close to outright treason for my tastes. House Khym moves to have House Kerrigan’s Associate status revoked.” Leong Khym, leader of House Khym, glared at Saul from the screen he appeared on.
Saul had simply given Roman all the ammunition he needed by breaking his house arrest to come and agitate there at the Council meeting, so Roman was content to let the man continue to dig himself deeper.
“I’m saying nothing many Houses aren’t thinking.” Saul sat, smug.
“Kerrigan is not a House. Kerrigan is an Associate House at the sufferance of House Lyons. Your status is up to me. I gave you Associate status due to the length of time Kerrigans had been here, and their overall relation to House Lyons. But I have had it with you, Saul.” Roman was quite close to losing his composure.
“I am saying House Lyons’s recent indiscretions with an unranked woman have put us in further chaos. I am saying we cannot trust the perception of Roman Lyons when it comes to this Movement for Representative Democracy or anything else. He is not thinking about what is best for the Federation but rather thinking with his cock.”
“I have had enough!” Roman stood and the room silenced immediately. He rarely lost his temper, usually being the most calm person in the Council, but he had had it with Saul’s behavior. “I suggest House Kerrigan produce evidence of malfeasance or neglect on my part or cease this line of inquiry immediately. I, that is to say, House Lyons has lost all patience with this temper tantrum. I will tell you, Saul, your behavior is destructive and not conducive at all to unity in this time of setbacks with the Imperialists. With the trials happening, your timing with these attacks on me is destructive, and I have to wonder just what exactly you think you’ll gain. You’d risk making us all less safe for what?”
“You put me on house arrest for attending a meeting. That is not rational. I am saying what I think is best. You need to step aside. We can’t rely on your leadership.”
“House Kerrigan, as an Associate House, has no standing to make such a motion in this body.” Angelo Walker spoke from his screen. “House Walker is not impressed with this behavior.”
“Coming from a House being tried for treason, I’m not sure that’s so very moving.” Monitan Licht spoke from his screen.
“What was that? I’m afraid it’s difficult to hear what’s being said so far down the table,” Proctor Feist said.
The Houses and their representatives all began to argue until Roman rapped his gavel and muted the screens. “That is enough! I will not have this insanity. The Imperialists encroach on our territory every day and we play these games with each other. I am sickened. Saul, I will meet with you later today about your issues if you do not have proof of my supposed illegal deeds now.” He turned to Saul who put his hands across his chest like a sullen child. “Get out.”
He made eye contact with Angelo Walker, then Gabriel Holmes, Vicktor Pela and lastly Leong Khym. He knew the Five were united on this issue and that’s what mattered. Roman also knew the other high-ranking Houses were on his side. Time to squash this stupid infighting. The Imperialists had exploited their weaknesses long enough.
“Now that that is taken care of, let’s address the real issue here. There will be no movement of House status. Period. I am well aware there is a move by lower-ranked Houses to try and use this time of strife for personal gain and I will not have it. Do you all understand me? House Lyons is a peaceful House; we have led with a gentle hand. But I will smack any House who continues with this destructive behavior. We cannot be scattered right now. Our enemy sees our petty fighting, sees these trials, and they want to use it against us. Will you let them because you are so mad with lust for position you simply turn a blind eye?”
Roman stood and began to move, slowly, surely, making eye contact with each House leader. “Will we turn on each other right now when we need to stand together? I want to make a few things clear to you, so let me be very honest. The Five are totally united on this. None of the other houses can make a move without at least two of the Five on their side. Moreover, I am aware that the majority of the other ten houses are also opposed to this silly behavior. You have no chance of succeeding with this. If you continue, House Licht, House Stander, and House Gayle, I will strip you of your status and award it elsewhere. Do not underestimate me simply because I have been merciful up until now.”
He pivoted and looked at them again. “Yes, I know who you are. I am not stupid. Now get the hells out of my sight before I send in my troops to take your Houses now.”
Roman stalked from the room, furious, and headed back to his office where Saul Kerrigan had better be waiting.
Which, of course, he wasn’t. Fool.
“I want Federal troops at Saul Kerrigan’s door right now. I want him brought into custody and I want papers drawn up stripping House Kerrigan of Associate status and I want it all done immediately,” Roman told Marcus before he stormed into his office and slammed the door.
Not even ten minutes later, Saul Kerrigan was shoved through his door, red-faced and indignant.
Roman looked up after he’d finished the paragraph he’d been reading and addressed the soldiers. “Thank you. Please keep watch outside the door. If this man leaves without my permission, I want you to shoot him.” The soldiers nodded once and stepped out. Roman couldn’t help but feel a savage satisfaction at the pale look of Saul Kerrigan.
“Do not,” Roman said as Saul began to speak. “I’m speaking now, and in case you’ve forgotten, I am House Lyons. You have been a disease in my ’Verse. I’ve given you multiple chances and you’ve ignored them in lieu of making trouble. I warned you when I put you on house arrest. I’ve been kinder than I should have been out of respect for who you are to my wife and children. But no longer. I have evidence you’ve been working to destabilize the Council in a power grab. Accordingly, I’ve issued a declaration revoking Associate status for House Kerrigan. You are now unranked. I will let you keep your secondary residence but staff paid for by House Lyons are being transferred to my residence and offices as we sit here.” Roman paused to let that settle in. Saul began to speak but a widening of Roman’s eyes stopped the other man before he said anything.
“Your other grandchildren will be allowed to finish their Family-funded education. However, your Family-provided employment has been terminated. I told you it was unwise to rankle me. I told you it was stupid to attack me and attempt to cause division in such times. And I told you not to harass Abigail Haws. You have violated all of these mandates, and for that you will pay. Now get out. If you do not comply, you will be thrown in lockup. Do not bother to try to raise voices against me, Saul. I have control of the Council. I have the power. I have the credits and I AM HOUSE LYONS!” Roman reined his temper back. “Get out now. You are a fool, and if I get any wind of you attempting to harm Abigail, or anyone else for that matter, you will never see sunlight again. If you don’t believe me, ask Bentan. If you can find him.” He went to the door and opened it. “Get this filth away from me.”
Saul, spine bent, totally silent, was removed from the room. Roman knew he’d try something, so he’d put people on watch, and the moment Saul stepped out of line, he’d be in lockup.
Marcus came in a bit later bearing cookies and kava. “If I were female, I’d be offering to bear your children just now. Have a cookie, you deserve it.”
“I wanted to shoot him in the head.”
Marcus patted his shoulder. “I know, Roman, I know. We all do. But he’s gone for now. Not forgotten, though. You know he won’t quit.”
“I imagine he’ll attempt to go to my boys. That’s why I’ve summoned them here. Speaking of boys, how’s yours?” He sipped his kava, feeling very satisfied.
“Today is a break in the trial. Jaron’s home, trying to pretend he’s not nervous. Abbie stopped by earlier to talk with him, reassure him and run through what it would be like when he addressed the adjudicator. She’s been so goo
d. Reassuring. She’s very thin these days though. I could see her shoulder blades sticking out earlier. Nyna is worried. Abbie isn’t sleeping, I’m told.” He paused and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Roman. I just . . . Let me change the subject.”
Pain and helpless rage, his constant companions of late, rose within him. “No. Marcus, I want to know about her. I want to know she’s all right although it sounds as if she’s not. Gods know I’m not. But I’d hoped she was faring better. I saw her with that Logan fellow.”
Marcus snorted. “He’s a friend, Roman. Nothing more. He takes her to the cinema, to dinner. Keeps her focused on other things. She doesn’t look at him like she looked at you. But eventually, you know it will happen. She’ll move on. It’s not fair of you to think she won’t.”
“I know she will. Part of me wants her to, just so she’s not suffering and alone. A small part, I admit. Listen, I have something for her. Take the rest of the day off. I want you to have this delivered. Not from you. But from a courier.” Roman handed a thick envelope to Marcus who took it without question.
“All right. Why don’t you come by tonight? It’s just me and Jaron. Nyna has to work.”
“Why don’t you two come to our house? I’ll have Mercy do up something special. The vid crews can’t get into the compound.”
“Good idea. All right, we’ll see you later today then.”
The news of House Kerrigan being stripped of its Associate House status was all over the capital and Abbie had to hide her elation. Saul Kerrigan was trash and it was about time he got his.
Still, she wished she could have spoken with Roman about it. Abbie knew he would be hard when he had to, but it couldn’t have been easy for him, making such a decision. House Kerrigan wasn’t huge, but there were several dozen people who would feel the choice. At the same time, a House is only as strong as the person leading it. It was up to the members of that Family to be sure they were being represented fairly and appropriately.