Chapter Twenty

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Verity rose before the sun, eyelids swollen from weeping, body aching, heart heavy. She’d battled disturbing dreams all night long—the Dorns ripping Brody from her arms, being chased by an invisible menace. A couple of times, she’d awakened in a cold sweat, gasping for air, her pulse racing. The details of the dreams faded away, but the foreboding lingered.

The fitful night had given her no clear answers, no course of action, except for one.

She had to face him and hear him out. He might lie, offer up half-truths, attempt to minimize what he’d done, but she needed to get his side of the story for closure. God help her, she still loved him. She couldn’t afford to lead with emotion—she had to use her head. Hearing what he’d done in his own words might help her get over him, put the niggles of doubt to rest.

The connection they’d shared had seemed so special, but she’d been living in an imaginary world with rainbows and unicorns. He didn’t love her. A vicious killer didn’t have the capacity to love anyone. He’d married her to gain asylum to avoid being apprehended and brought to justice. Another man she’d believed cared for her had been using her. This was Kyle Dorn 2.0.

Yet her aching heart refused to give up and accept the hard reality, coming up with excuses, rationalizations. Like WLIE was the least trustworthy news source on planet Earth. How could she believe anything they said? Or the government. They railroaded people all the time.

She kept remembering all the sweet little things Mike had done. And the one big one—giving her a fair hearing after she’d sprung a child on him.

Failing to mention I have a child isn’t on the same level as killing people.

She would meet him with eyes wide open, not eyes wide shut. She wasn’t a woman willing to accept anything just to have a man. She could not envision an explanation making the facts acceptable. What could he say? I didn’t do it ? None of it is true ? He’d already admitted to some of it, so what was left to say?

Heartbroken and dejected, she rubbed her gritty eyes. The ordeal with the Dorns had been stressful and scary, but she hadn’t felt like she’d lost all hope like she did now .

Letting Brody sleep a little longer, she showered and changed into fresh clothes then went to wake him. Please don’t give me a hard time this morning. Please just be accommodating. Her son was a great kid, generally well-behaved, but occasionally she encountered pushback. Ironically, Mike could tell him something once, and Brody would obey without hesitation.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she rubbed his back. “Hey, buddy. It’s time to get up for school.”

He sat up and blinked bleary eyes. “Did Mike come home?”

“Not yet,” she answered, cursing her cowardice and the vain hope that everything would work out, and they’d be a happy family again. After school today, I’ll tell him.

“Get dressed, and let’s go to breakfast.” She stood up.

“But—”

“No buts. Get dressed.” She fled before he could ask any more questions.

She shot a quick message to Dr. Twygg that she would be late, figuring the convo with Mike would either be very quick or drawn out and emotional. Either way, she’d be in no condition to treat patients. She hated leaving the doctor in the lurch, but he’d managed before she came, so he’d find a way now. It had been slow lately anyway.

Rap. Rap. Rap.

A knocking outside startled her. Mike! She crept to the door, but her hand froze on the handle. Open it. At least he came to me, and I didn’t have to go hunting for him.

But she wasn’t ready! She needed more time to shore herself up for the confrontation. Besides, Brody was still here. No way should her son be privy to this conversation.

Rap. Rap. Rap. “Verity? It’s Honoria!”

She expelled a shaky breath and opened the door.

Honoria held out a steaming cup. “Can I come in? Talk to you for a minute? This is for you. It’s not coffee, but it does offer an energy boost. I thought maybe you could use it.”

“I could. Thank you.” She felt like a wet dish rag. She stepped aside, let the other woman in, and gratefully accepted the proffered mug. She took a sip. Pleasant, rich almost-nutty taste. Not sweet but not bitter. “I suppose you’re here on behalf of the elephant in the room.” She peered over the rim .

“Mike is miserable. He’s afraid he’s lost you forever.”

“He’s not wrong. Do you have any idea what he is—what they are?”

“They’re cyborgs. I won’t say more than that because you should get the story from Mike. I can guess what you think you know, but I’m asking you to please give him a chance to tell you his side.

“When I found out about Steel, I ran into the paddock. Steel threw himself between me and a charging horniger. He nearly died saving me. Almost losing him altered my perspective. I realized it mattered more what Steel is now than what he had been.”

“But they’re assassins! They killed the mayor and twenty-four other people! How can you excuse that?”

“They were not involved in the Chicago massacre, but the conversation is veering down a path you need to walk with Mike. If you have any questions after talking to him, I’d be happy to answer them, but get the story from him first. He’s at our cabin.”

“I’d planned to go talk to him this morning, but—”

“I’m ready!” All dressed, Brody entered the main room .

“I have to feed my son and drop him off at the school.”

“I can do that if you’d like,” Honoria offered, smiling at Brody.

“All right, thank you.” Her heart and stomach fluttered at the prospect of seeing Mike.

“Do you know where I live?”

“No.”

“We’re the next row down on the other side. Come. I’ll walk with you and point out our cabin, and then I’ll take him to the mess.”

Verity took one last sip of the hot beverage, regretting not having extended more of an effort to connect with Honoria. Ironically, if she had, she might have learned the truth sooner.

How had the other woman accepted that her husband was a killer? Honoria must have felt there were mitigating circumstances. She had a hard time imagining what those could be. She could accept Mike being a cyborg—that didn’t bother her at all. But killing people for hire? No. No, no.

She bundled Brody into his coat, donned hers, and they left the cabin.