Relentless

  “If two other people are there, I’m not alone. It defeats the whole, I need to be alone purpose.” She put her hands on her hips but recognized the look in his eyes. He was implacable and she knew it.

  As if things weren’t already crappy, when she opened the door to leave, her father was raising his hand to knock.

  “Come in.” She stepped back, dropped her bag and shut the door behind him.

  “What are you going to say to the Council? You haven’t informed us of what you’ll be saying.”

  She sighed. It was too much to have expected him to really change, she supposed.

  “In fact, I have. I gave Georges a copy of my presentation and he posted it at the offices. I know he did because when I was there yesterday I saw it.”

  “We don’t like that you’ve made yourself into a symbol. You’re not the only member of the MRD.” He glared at her.

  “What are you talking about? Your complaint was that I hadn’t informed you of what I’d be speaking about. Which I had. Now it’s what? That I was asked to speak and not you? Is that the problem?”

  “Of course that’s the problem. He can’t stand it that you’re in the spotlight but you don’t really want it. He can’t bear to imagine you getting attention he craves. Isn’t that right, Dai?” Daniel sauntered into the room and their father jerked to attention.

  “You don’t know a thing about it. I’m not the only one upset. This is an organization and she’s the one putting her face all over the place. This isn’t the Abbie Show. What about the rest of us?”

  “I’ve been having the worst time of my life excluding the months I spent rehabbing from my assault. My personal life has been splashed all over the vids. I’ve been getting death threats and I have kept doing my job and the work of the MRD. I didn’t design those posters. I didn’t seek out that attention or notoriety. But, to be blunt, I’m the better face for it than you. I’m the one speaking to them and I’m not interested in making a personal platform for myself for my ego like you or Robin would be. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m on my way out.”

  “Do you think I’m so uncaring? Really?”

  “I think I just told you I received death threats and you didn’t bother to follow up. I think I just had to watch the person I love on the vid screens next to a woman he’ll be marrying soon. I think I’ve had enough and you don’t care. Not really. It’s not that you’re evil. I don’t think that. But I know you’ve been trying to agitate the staff against me and I have to ask myself, what kind of father does that? I don’t even have any tears left for you. But I’m done making apologies for you. I’m done being the one child in the family who says, ‘Oh, he doesn’t really mean it that way’ because,” she shrugged, “you don’t care. Do not mess with this presentation I’m doing next week. This is our chance. At long last our chance. And if you mess it up because you’re upset you won’t get yourself a few groupies to fuck on the side while you’ve got a wife at home who cries herself to sleep, I will bring you down. I can and I will. Because I do care. This is our time. This is the time the unranked will finally get a voice in their own future. If you destroy it, I’ll turn them all against you. You don’t know how I wish I didn’t have to make that threat. I really wish I didn’t. But I know you. I can see the greed in your eyes at the attention you wish was yours. This isn’t about you. It’s not about me. It’s about representative democracy, and I will not let you destroy all we’ve worked for. Now get out of my house and remember what I said. You might be entertaining an idea that I won’t go through with my threats. Get that thought out of your head right now. I can and I will.”

  “Abbie, you’ve gotten hard. You’re losing sight of the goal.”

  “The goal isn’t making you into a viddie celebrity. I think that, of the two of us, I’m the one who knows the goal, the real goal. But you’re right about one thing. I have gotten hard. I need to be, apparently.”

  He shook his head and left without saying anything else.

  “I’m having him watched. Just so you know. Georges is also keeping an eye out. We can’t risk him going solo on this issue. You’re doing a great job, Abbie. You are. And you’re precisely the person to do it. Don’t let him shake your belief in that.” Daniel hugged her to his side. “Now come on. We’ve got some traveling to do.”

  “First we stop by the celebration at Nyna’s and then we’ll be off.”

  Chapter 33

  A sign hung on the front door of Nyna’s café telling patrons there was a private party in progress and welcoming them back the following day.

  Daniel and Abbie went inside and Abbie grinned at the sight. So many people had gathered, all of them smiling and laughing. Jaron sat at a table, looking like the boy she’d suspected lived within the scared shell of a boy she’d known since the arrest.

  Marcus saw her and waved, with Nyna ensconced in his lap. Her mother bustled over and looked down at the bag in her hand with a scowl.

  “What is that?”

  “I’m going away for a few days. Marcus has graciously allowed me to use his flat. I’ll be back the day before I address the Council. Don’t fret, Mai. Daniel is coming along.”

  “Of course I fret. Did your father go to see you? He was in a right mood earlier today. I told him to stop acting like a spoiled child. I doubt he did.”

  “He did and don’t worry about it. Now, I’m starving. You two have any food around here for a hungry barrister?”

  Her mother looked as if she wanted to argue but let it go.

  “Abbie! Come and join us.” Marcus clapped his hands and stood up.

  Abbie sat and her mother shoved a mountainous plate of food before her.

  “We owe this evening to Abbie. Abbie, who muscled her way into lockup and got Jaron taken care of. Abbie, who argued until we got him out of lockup and allowed to be at home. Abbie, who investigated and hunted and found the people she needed to prove Jaron’s innocence. And Abbie, who nearly reduced that room to tears. So here’s to Abigail Haws. Thank you for living up to your promises.” Marcus raised his glass and many others did with a cheer as well.

  “Thank you. Now sit down! It’s my job. And of course Jaron is free; he’s innocent. Now let’s eat.” Abbie blushed.

  “One more thing I want to thank Abbie for—she brought me here and introduced me to Nyna. My love and my heart. And, I hope, my wife.”

  Nyna’s eyes widened and she leapt into Marcus’s arms with a happy yelp. More cheers and toasts. A pledge ring was produced and slid onto Nyna’s finger.

  Things were good. Not perfect, but good.

  After the excitement of the engagement had calmed a bit, Marcus approached. “Abbie, I wanted to introduce you to Thaniel. He’s my cousin and he’s just arrived from Borran.” Marcus indicated a very handsome man to his left. As ploys went, it wasn’t exceptionally sneaky, but how hard would it be to sit and chat with a pretty male over some food?

  Thaniel was quite charming and clearly interested. They chatted for some time. He told her about his business. He conducted charter flights for tourists and visiting dignitaries back home but was looking to expand to Ravena. He was unmarried but wanted to marry and start a family at some point.

  When she readied to leave to catch her train out of the capital, he stopped her. “I understand you’re still probably healing from your recent break with Roman Lyons. But I’ll be back here when the thaw comes. May I contact you then? Perhaps we can go to the cinema or have a meal.”

  She swallowed hard. The thaw was four months away. What harm would it be to have him call her then?

  “All right. I’d like that. It was nice to meet you.”

  He didn’t press. Didn’t try to kiss or hug her. She liked that he respected her space and the time she needed to heal.

  “Enjoy the flat. It’s fully stocked. Roman sent someone out to do it.” Marcus snorted. “He wants to help. So do I. We’re going to be related soon, so let me help.”

  Abbie smiled. “Thank you, Marcus. Congratulation
s. I like you and Nyna together. You’ll make a good team.”

  Abbie held the envelope, annoyed that Daniel had waited until they got to Marcus’s hillside flat before giving it to her.

  “What if it’s bad? You’d have traveled upset the whole time. This whole area to that stand of trees and the stream is safe. I’ll leave you alone to read it.” Daniel kissed her cheek and left her sitting on a carved wooden bench. She pulled her cap down and snuggled into the warmth of her coat and opened the envelope.

  His scent reached her nose and damnable tears pricked her lashes once again. She hated that she cried so much of late.

  Dearest Abbie,

  By now you’ve seen the news of the nuptial agreement. I could tell by your face that you had. I only have yet more apologies for you. I wish things were different.

  I wanted to congratulate you on your success with Jaron’s trial. Your skills as a barrister are masterful and I remain in awe of you on so many levels.

  No matter what, remember this—you own my heart.

  R

  Great, for all the damn good it did her to own it. It wasn’t like it made a difference. He’d marry someone else and have babies with her. The children she would have given him will bounce on Hannah Holmes’s knee. Or, more likely, Mercy’s knee, and Roman’s. Hannah Holmes had that look about her, the kind of woman who was raised to be sold away for power and position. She’d breed because that was part of her agreement, but she didn’t seem maternal. And it absolutely wasn’t fair of Abbie to judge her, but life wasn’t fair.

  Well, she had to deal with it. It’d been several weeks and nothing was going to change, so wallowing would not do anything positive. She had to learn to live with part of her broken. There was nothing else to be done but move forward.

  How she’d deal with it, she wasn’t sure. But she had a job, friends, family who loved and needed her. Many people survived each day on far less than that.

  So she spent the next days hiking and playing cards with Daniel and Andrei, her bodyguard. She worked so hard that she had nothing more to do at the end of each day than to simply close her eyes and fall into a dreamless sleep.

  Abbie had no idea what the vids were saying, but she convinced herself she didn’t care. And when she got off the tram and walked back to her building, she turned to Daniel.

  “I’m not moving.”

  He cursed and then sighed. “I knew it.”

  “How can I? Come on, Daniel. It isn’t fair and it would be exactly what they’re saying about me. That I used my sexual relationship to get special treatment from Roman. I can’t. I don’t want people to think that of me.”

  “Fine. Fine. I know there’s no arguing with you. I had a feeling you’d be this way.”

  “But I will take the water allowance,” she said as they got off the lift and headed to her door. “There’s no waiting list for that, so I’m not taking it from anyone.”

  When they went inside she went to unpack and tossed her dirty clothes, along with everyone else’s, into the laundry while Daniel and Andrei spoke in hushed voices in the other room.

  “So tell me,” she said when she was ready to deal with it.

  “There was another threat. This time it was an envelope with toxic fumes inside. When Tasha opened it, she passed out.”

  “Oh my gods. Is she all right? Is everyone all right?” Abbie moved toward the door but Andrei stood in front of it and Daniel actually growled at her.

  “You will not take your tiny little fragile self out of this place until I say so. Yes, Tasha is all right. She spent the night in the hospital; they flushed her system, transfused her. She’s home now. Two other people needed to be hospitalized, some kid from the mail room and the assistant who sits next to Tasha. Everyone else is fine.”

  “Why did they not comm you at the flat?” A sinking feeling hit her then. “They did! You’ve known all this time and you were arguing with Andrei on how to tell me. Don’t even try to lie to me, Daniel.”

  “Yes, I knew. But you needed the time and there’s nothing you could have done. I kept in contact. You know if Tasha had really been bad off I’d have not only told you but arranged to bring you back here immediately.”

  She threw up her hands. “I have had it with people deciding what’s in my best interests.”

  “Tough. Don’t give me that look, Abbie. I’d do it again. You have color in your face for the first time in ages. You laughed, you played cards, and I saw more in your eyes than ghosts. I’ll be fuckall if you think I’d infect your time to heal with something you couldn’t have changed. Tasha knew you were away, and what’s more, she instructed her doctors, your boss and then me not to tell you until you returned. So there. She’s fine and at home and you beating yourself up over this isn’t going to make her better.”

  “I’m going over there.”

  “Fine. But you’re going to have a full security detail. This is serious business. People aren’t just threatening you, they’re trying to make good on it. You’re to be guarded at all times.”

  “Says who?”

  “You’re acting like a brat.”

  “Because I asked who has made this choice?”

  “Comandante Wilhelm Ellis of the Federation Military Corps. And through him, Roman Lyons, Leader of House Lyons. Ellis is very concerned for your safety. There will be heightened security tomorrow for the address to the Council as well.”

  She snorted. “Fine. But you know, in the future, when someone tries to kill members of my staff, I want to know.”

  She grabbed her coat and the three of them headed out.

  Chapter 34

  Abbie took a deep breath and nodded to Andrei and her new bodyguard, Cynthia, to open the doors. Other security guards had been alerted and were waiting to escort them down the hall. According to Daniel, Saul Kerrigan couldn’t make a move without everything he did being recorded and watched so she felt safe on that front at least.

  Today she would make history. She, Abigail Haws, an unranked barrister who grew up with nothing, and yet would be one of only a handful of unranked to ever address the Council and the first to ever be granted an audience to officially petition for expanded governance for the unranked.

  With her were her mother and father, her sister and brothers. Her father had delivered a slightly tearful speech to her under her mother’s watchful eye. Abbie believed most of it and had asked him to come along. Marcus would already be inside to attend to Roman, but it would be good to have another friend in the room.

  She wore her best suit, one purchased specially for this event. Her hair was up in a tight but complicated knot her mother had composed at the nape of her neck. She wore a pin on her lapel, a pin that had belonged to her grandmother and her mother before that.

  The significance of the moment was framed most excellently by the physical space itself.

  The building the Governance Council was housed in sat in the exact center of the capital. The spires rose high into the clouds. Paintings and photographs, statues and certificates lined the walls of the wide, spectacular Hall of Heroes.

  Abbie had never been inside the building before and the effect was not lost on her. Generations of history surrounded her, reminded her that despite having a monopoly on power, the Families had done a good job on many things.

  Doctors who’d pioneered the first vaccines for diseases that used to kill millions of citizens. Engineers who harnessed the vents to create heat and power to run all of Ravena. Military leaders like those who fought at Varhana, the battles that pushed the Imperialists and their slave traders back past the edge and underlined the Federation values they all held. Freedom from slavery, education for all, life and liberty. It hadn’t been perfect, but it was theirs and she was proud of it.

  A crowd had already assembled, and the closer she got to the Grand Council Chambers at the end of the hall, the more people had lined the walls.

  Shit, that’s what those banners look like? She noted the huge banners people held with Abbie
’s face and the MRD motto—A voice for the voiceless. Hear us now—emblazoned upon it.

  “You’re making history, Abbie. I’m so proud of you,” Daniel murmured as he leaned close. “This is a momentous occasion. We are getting drunk when you’re done here.”

  She laughed. “You are so right about that.” Hells, she’d have pounded back a few that morning if she hadn’t already been on the verge of throwing up from sheer nervousness.

  Sunlight, filtered through the tall glass lining the upper part of the hall, marked squares of progress to the doors at the end. Abbie counted them in her head, seeking the calm in the rhythmic activity.

  The noise from the crowds faded, even as she registered a less-than-friendly tone in some quarters. Not all would be for her plan. Not even all the unranked. Change was scary; she understood that better than most.

  The crowd pushed in and she was jostled a bit, but her guards held them back and the security guards pushed to keep the way cleared.

  The doors opened, revealing the burnished wood and gleaming surfaces of the Grand Chamber within.

  “Ms. Haws, if you’ll follow me? I’ll lead you to the upper chamber. You’ll remain seated there until it’s time for you to speak.”

  Abbie looked up and up some more until her neck hurt.

  The giant of a man nodded at Daniel and Charlie. “I’ve got it from here.”

  Abbie was surprised to see her brother nod and take a step back.

  “Excuse my manners, my mother would whack my hand for that.” He bowed. “I’m Wilhelm Ellis. I’ll be your bodyguard here within the Grand Chambers. Everyone out there”—he lifted his chin, indicating the hallway outside—“has been run through weapons scanners just as you were.”

  She placed her hand on his forearm and left her group, following him up a staircase to a promenade of sorts, facing a tiered seating area. Audience chambers sat to either side of the tiered seating.

  “So, um, are you saying you’re expecting someone to try and kill me or something?”