Torn (Deep 8, #5)

45. Harlow

FORTY-FIVE

Harlow

Gone is my sweet, caring man, replaced by the warrior. Lucas gave him no choice. I’ve played the role of the warrior many times. It’s a singular mindset, pointed focus with complete disregard for anything on the periphery. A soldier must do things that haunt them later, but in that dark moment, you are exactly where you need to be.

"Ms. Pierce, why don’t you come sit with me?" Lucas gestures to the chair next to him, overlooking the water.

He has nothing to fear from me because if I try anything, I’ll be dead before I hit the ground. I move to the balcony and sit down. This may be the last thing I see before I die, so I breathe it in.

"Can I have them bring food up for you?" He smiles.

"Sure, as long as the Vegemite is not poisoned." I smile back, watching his face fall.

"There’s no need for that. If Roger has any hint you are not well, everything will come crashing down around us. Many pillars are holding us up." Lines appear on his face I hadn’t noticed before. His left hand trembles and his lips are dry.

The food arrives with the expected Vegemite, toast, and tea. We eat in silence, and the scowl never leaves his face. "I suppose you have questions for me. I’ve known your real identity from the beginning." The grimace leaves his face, replaced by downturned eyes. I never thought he had a sad bone in his body.

"What happened to my father? You must know something. He was a professional sailor and could handle anything that happened out at sea. I don’t buy he died by accident. Some things don’t add up." I turn in his direction, giving him my full attention.

"I was fond of your father." He looks at me, and I notice the whites of his eyes are no longer white but gray. "He was an incredibly gifted man with many talents, but he was weak." His lips protrude as he says the word weak. "I needed him to make the technology for the ComGen. At first, he didn’t understand what it was for as he built the new advancement in technology. The top Chinese and Russian scientists came to work on the project with him. When they began steering him in the right direction, he realized the significance of what we were creating." His face lightens.

"Which is what?" My voice is tight.

"This technology will wipe out every global electrical transmission. The hub will be stationed here, transmitting to our substations around the world. Everything from planes, trains, and automobiles will come to a grinding halt. At that point, we will take over with our resources." He sighs as if it should be apparent.

I mask the horror I’m feeling on the inside, picturing planes falling out of the sky, and people being killed randomly. The ocean churns with white-capped waves as I visualize the world without choice, a totalitarian state.

He reaches over and takes my hand in his. "Don’t worry. You and Roger will be taken care of. He will make the right choice eventually."

I jerk my hand out of his. "You haven’t answered my question. What happened to my father?"

He puffs on his cigar. "He didn’t want to give us the last piece of code, so I threatened him with your demise. I asked him to join Deep 8, but he refused. He said he would go to the authorities and give them the code as well. I had him killed to make it look like an accident. There was no other choice." His words are without guilt or remorse. Ice must run in his veins.

"There is always a choice," I jump out of my seat.

My arms shoot up in surrender as a red laser from a scope hits my chest. Lucas waves them off as I lower my shaky arms and turn to lean on the balcony railing. Tears run down my face as sheer hatred scorches my veins. I’ve never wanted to kill someone as much as I want to kill him.

"I heard your mother wasn’t too happy with the inheritance. You were his favorite. He talked about you all the time. He was a proud papa. We had that in common."

"Is that somehow supposed to make me feel better? You have nothing in common with my father or your son."

I look over my shoulder at him as the sun’s rays light up his face, making it reddish orange. The only thing missing is a pair of horns. "I think I would like to go to my room now. This has been enough for one day."

He snaps his fingers to call over one of his guards. I’m not escorted to the basement but to a suite overlooking the deep-blue ocean. There are two walls of windows, a small refrigerator, and a bathroom. He thinks treating me with kindness will somehow soften me enough to side with him.

The pain in my heart is as if my father has died all over again. I fall on the bed and curl up on the bedspread as grief racks my body once again. Memories of him flood my mind. We sailed together often, and he would tell me stories, some made up and some true.

He always told me, "If there is a way in, there is a way out. Always leave yourself an exit. What has been made can be destroyed. Don’t forget to check the sailboat." He smiled, but his eyes told a different story.

Electricity sparks through my veins as if a bolt of lightning has hit me. I sit up, breathing hard. Check the sailboat . I forgot those words during the last time we were together on the boat. He only spoke of important things when we were out at sea where no one could hear us. I know exactly where to look for our way out. I’m not sure what we’re searching for.

The door handle moves, releasing the lock as I peer out of the doorway. I slip into the hallway and see one of Lucas’s henchmen standing on a balcony, having a smoke.

I run my fingers through my hair and wipe under my eyes. "Hi, the door wasn’t locked, and I was looking for some company and a smoke."

He takes a drag and turns around. "Lucas doesn’t seem too worried about you." He has a heavy Queenslander accent. His eyes scan me from head to toe as he hands me the cigarette.

"I’ll take one for later if you don’t mind sharing?" He gives me a light and I inhale the burn down my throat.

"What do you think of your boss?" I ask casually.

"He’s going to take good care of us when this all goes down." Spoken like a man who’s been brainwashed.

"When what goes down?" Innocence laces my words.

He moves closer. "That’s for us to know and you to find out." His finger pushes a hair out of my face as the wind whips it around. "You and I could have a good time. I saw you come in with the pretty boy. He can’t possibly satisfy a woman like you. You need an Aussie."

I grab his crotch, which takes him by surprise, but he doesn’t move. "Let’s see if you’re packing more than he is."

His eyes close as he enjoys my hand, and I lift his cell phone from his pocket. I slip it into the front of my shirt, and it falls right below my breasts. I release my hand as his eyes pop open.

My mouth comes close to his ear. "We don’t have enough time for what I want to do to you," I whisper. "Let’s meet later."

I turn away from him and head back to my room as I hear him mutter, "Cock tease."

This is my only lifeline, and I need to make it count.