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Suspicion and animosity had shielded me from his charm, and his masculine physicality. When I’d let them go, I’d left myself vulnerable to his magnetism. He’d stirred a yearning that was more than physical. Was this how it had started with Holly and Aeon, Millie and Nadir, Kat and Lomax, Giselle and Joule? Except they had been able to build a future together.
My place remained here, while Maxx belonged among the stars, fighting for a safer galaxy. There would always be threats. Even if the LOP succeeded in vanquishing the Copan-Cerulean Cartel, new villains would arise. The battle for safety, prosperity, and peace would never end. Only eternal vigilance would prevent us from falling victim to those who would do us harm.
“How long have you been with the LOP?” I asked.
The bed shook as he rolled to face me. “You’re not going to sleep again, are you?”
“Doubtful. Are you tired? I’ll shut up.”
“I won’t be able to sleep again either. I joined the LOP as soon as I was old enough.”
“How old was that?”
“Twenty is the minimum age.”
“And that was how long ago?”
“Are you asking how old I am?”
My lips twitched. “Yeah.”
“I’m thirty-five. How long have you been with the State Department?”
“I’m thirty-one,” I replied.
He laughed. “I really was asking about your job.”
“Eight years. I got a degree in governmental policy and joined the State Department right out of school. On Earth, the bureau served as a liaison to foreign entities. New Terra is a single nation, so there are no other countries to work with. However, our inaugural government had anticipated alien encounters. Nobody realized the encounters would be abductions or that there was a League of Planets that had outlawed open, honest contact with New Terra.”
He ignored the dig and asked, “So, what does your department do?”
“We advise the president on public policy matters. I’m the deputy secretary of state, but it’s a loftier title than I deserve since the entire department consists of seven people: three analysts, two administrative assistants, me, and my boss.”
More and more, I began to believe Garrison was aiding the cartel. How ironic the secretary of state who would have negotiated with aliens had been abetting the slavers. It was vile. And it felt personal. Garrison had allowed me to go on the Star Cross space cruise, aware I would be abducted. I’ll bet I shocked the hell out of him when I showed up at the office.
“Garrison is involved in the trafficking, isn’t he?”
“No.” The quick, definitive reply confirmed my worst suspicions. He didn’t ask who Garrison was. I’d never mentioned my boss by name.
“Now I know why Garrison forbid me to go to the president.”
“I said he’s not involved.”
“I don’t believe you,” I said.
“Didn’t you promise to stay out of it?” His lips quirked with humor. The fact I could see him made me realize dawn had broken. Pale-pink light filtered in through the frosted glass, coloring the room with a rosy hue.
“I’m staying out of it. I’m just asking questions.”
“I told you as much as I could last night.”
“Okay, so, different topic…have you ever been bond-mated?”
He blinked and then laughed. “I think I prefer the other line of questioning.”
“Okay, about Garrison…”
“No.”
