Chapter Twenty

In case going to bed euphemistically referred to sex, I feigned a big yawn and said, “I’m pretty tired, too.”

“A night’s sleep will do us both some good.”

“Yes, tomorrow will be an…interesting day.” I leaped off the sofa and collided with the coffee table, banging my shin. “Ow!”

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Fine.” I crept in the direction of the hall. I was glad I felt wired so I wouldn’t accidentally fall asleep. As soon as he was out, I’d try his handheld, search the house again. Try to break into the attic space. A feeling niggled at me like I was overlooking something important.

Like I stared right at the answer but didn’t see it. Dammit. What is it?

Something from the broadcast maybe? I cocked my head, trying to extract buried info.

A hulking shadow lumbered toward me. “This way.” He took my arm and guided me down the hall to the bedroom.

Hyperconscious of his unwanted touch, I steeled myself not to jerk away. “You must have good night vision,” I commented.

“Better than you, but this is dark even for me.”

Aflash of lightning lit up the room, enabling me to find the bed without crashing into it. I scooted to the far side, away from him. The mattress depressed as he got in.

Would he try to cuddle? Please no. I did not want to curl up with this liar, this betrayer, and how would I extricate myself from his embrace when he fell asleep?

He rolled toward me. I heard him yawn. Then he brushed his hand over my face in a caress, leaned over, and kissed me softly. His enticing smell, his warmth surrounded me, and I felt like I was being stabbed in the heart. I forced myself to kiss him back. “Good night, Jessie,” he said.

“Good night.”

As he started to move away, his bare foot touched me. “You’re sleeping with your shoes on?”

“I already banged my shin on the table. If I have to get up to pee, I don’t want to stub my toe.”

“That makes sense.” He kissed me again and rolled over.

Dodged a bullet on that one. Dodged a couple of bullets.What if he’d wanted sex? I guess I could have said no. Despite being a slaver, he hadn’t demonstrated any inclination toward being a rapist.

I lay tense as a board, his scent and heat drifting over me. Awareness of him felt like bubbles popping against skin. I could hear his even, steady breathing. Please fall asleep fast. Please.

As I bided my time, I reran the entire broadcast through my mind. Something significant had been mentioned. What was it?

I’d been dismayed to hear President Stadler was leaving the capital on a retreat, but that wasn’t what niggled at me. If she planned to meet with the Joint Chiefs on the trafficking situation, that would explain the secrecy of the agenda, and the lack of actual “news” in the report. Unfortunately, however, New Terra needed her in the capital because another slave ship was coming. This was not the time for the leader of our planet to leave town!

If only I could reach her before she left. By the time she returned from Camp Larabelle, it would be too late.

The next segment had reported on the storm.

That elusive wisp darted out then disappeared.

Something about the storm? I rubbed my forehead. What is it?

Maxx took a deep breath and exhaled. I could still smell him, feel his body heat. Fall asleep already! My heart ached for what I’d believed we’d had. I’d known it couldn’t last, but I’d thought he liked me, cared for me. I squinted at him, but it was too dark to see his eyes or the rise and fall of his chest. I can check during the next flash of lightning.

But there hadn’t been any in a while, I realized. No thunder either. Maybe the storm had moved on? The broadcast had said it would pass quickly.

The power was still out though. Until now, I hadn’t realized how bright the green lights of the door sensor had been. Without the tiny green dots, the room was pitch black—

Mother…fucker. Motherfuckermotherfucker. Power failure! That’s it! I’m an idiot!

The doors of the safe house locked electronically. Electronics required electricity. Omigod. The doors were probably open.

My heart pounded as if it could leap out of my chest.“Maxx?” I whispered. “Are you awake?”

“Yes,” came the whispered reply.

Shit!

The power could come back at any time. I couldn’t wait for him to fall asleep. I’d never get another opportunity to escape like this. I had to make a break for it now.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

How much of a head start would that give me? How much time did I have before he’d begin to wonder what was taking me so long and check on me? Five minutes, maybe? Ten at the most. Not much.

“Sorry. Sorry,” I apologized as I climbed over him.

“Do you need me to guide you?”

“No. I can find my way. No sense you getting up.”

I left the bedroom, closing the door behind me. Damn, it’s dark! I found the bathroom door, opened it, and slammed it hard so he’d hear. With a hand on the wall, I groped my way down the hall to the living area. I squinted, trying to find the furniture to avoid crashing into something and causing a racket.

I fumbled to the front door and yanked on the handle. It flew open. Yes!Freedom!

I’d never complain about power outages again.

The safe would be open, too.

If he caught up with me, I’d wish I had a weapon to defend myself. Burning precious seconds, I made a beeline for the safe and grabbed the blaster and the stun stick. The blaster was lethal; I couldn’t kill him, but I wasn’t going to leave it here for him to use.

“Jessie, what are you doing?” Maxx’s voice floated out of the darkness.

I spun around. His dark shadow stood between me and the open door.

My fingers fumbled with the switches on the stunner, hitting two of them at once. The stun stick sizzled to life, and I lunged.

“No…Jessie…” He leaped back, but not far enough. The stunner connected with his bare torso, and he went down, his body thrashing on the floor. When he’d shocked me, it had paralyzed me, but it hadn’t caused convulsions. The stunner setting must have been on max voltage.

“So much for having me contained,” I sneered, parroting his comment to Garrison, and bolted.

Thick woods surrounded the house, but a long, narrow drive led away. Paralyzing Maxx had bought a little time, so I chose the driveway rather than cutting through the woods. I could move faster and see a little better. I had no idea where I was relative to the capital or to any city. Hopefully, when I got to a road, I’d spot some city lights.

The power outage might not be widespread, and many city buildings had auxiliary power.

In my thin pajamas, I wasn’t dressed for the cool, crisp rain-scented night air, but the chill scarcely registered due to the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I squished through mud and thanked my foresight for having kept my shoes on.

Jogging down the rutted drive, I flung the blaster into the woods. I started to heave the useless, password-protected handheld then stopped. There could be all sorts of damning evidence on the handheld. I didn’t have the ability to hack into it, but somebody in the government might. President Stadler will want this for her planning session. I crossed my fingers I could catch her before she left. Camp Larabelle was on the other side of the planet.

The drive emptied onto a narrow country highway winding through the trees. While hovercars were the preferred method of travel, for safety reasons, the government limited the number of air vehicles in each sector, so people still used ground transport, hence the need for roads.

Panting, I stopped to study the sky. In the distance over the treetops, I spied a faint glow. A city! Which one, I had no idea. But, once there, I’d have more options.

I trotted toward the light. I’d cut into the woods soon, but I had to put some distance between me and the so-called safehouse. I couldn’t predict how long the paralysis would last, but I figured I had a little time before he’d be capable of coming after me.

When he’d stunned me, it had taken about a quarter of an hour before I could move more than a finger. And that was at low voltage. I’d given him the full whammy, judging from the way he’d convulsed. He will recover, won’t he? What if he hit his head when he fell?

Why should I care what happens to a trafficker? I did what I had to to escape. The fate of the world rested on my shoulders.

No doubt my ambivalence originated from cognitive dissonance—trying to reconcile two opposing ideations, in this case, his seemingly solicitous behavior and caring demeanor with the criminal the evidence had proven him to be. I’d never forget the shock of his conversation with Garrison.

The stun stick was getting heavy, slowing me down, but I didn’t dare ditch it in case Maxx caught up with me. Plus, I might need it if I run into Garrison.

Once Maxx reached the road, he’d see the lights and would guess I’d head this way. I glanced behind me nervously. If his hovercraft had shimmer technology—and I assumed he did—he could cloak the vehicle, and I’d never see him coming until it was too late—until the exhaust of the hovercraft whooshed over me.

I pushed myself to maintain the jog. My gasping breaths sounded loud; my lungs felt like they would burst. My thighs and calves burned. Before the space cruise, I’d faithfully gone to the gym before work. Exercising had fallen by the wayside during and after the abduction, and my stamina had paid the price.

Faster, faster. I have to run faster. I tried to pick up the pace, but my cold, fatigued legs were about to give out. If I can’t move any faster, there’s no sense staying on the road where I’m a sitting duck.

I darted into the trees and slowed to a fast walk. Maxx’s hovercar could fly over the treetops searching for me, but I doubted even he could see through the leafy canopy in the dark.