An Unexpected Debt – Chapter 26

Ah…

I let the heat of the bubbling hot water seep into my skin, bones, and soul. Being on the float all the time makes me forget how much I love the water and bathing in it. There’s nothing I love more than floating in a lake or ocean and staring up at the sky. That was another thing far-school was good for. How many spacefaring kids know how to swim? My guess is not too many.

The hotel spa and pool are quiet, just the way I need them to be. Most people are out to dinner and drinks at the bar. But I’m here, trying to melt away my stress and anxiety.

I sigh as I let my head rest back against the lip of the hottub. I played well yesterday and today and got us through to the third day of competition. There were a few times when Takemo bid incorrectly, but we pulled through on the next hands to make up for it. I have to admit that it was fun but tiring. I am bone tired. I hope I can sleep easily tonight.

I wish Saif was here… or Vivian… or Amira. Vivian is, of course, at home, working like she should be. Amira is handling a shipping run for her mother. And Saif? I’m not sure. I checked my messages after the tournament yesterday and today, and there was nothing from him. He knows where I am, which hotel, even which room, but not a call. Not even a message.

I fucked that up, didn’t I?

“Well, look who’s living in the lap of luxury while the rest of her family suffers in poverty?”

I jolt forward, and my eyes fly open.

So I did see Dominic yesterday. He stands at the edge of the hot tub, glowering down at me, so I move across the water to put some distance between us. He’s grown out a few days’ worth of stubble on his cheeks, but his hair is swept up and neat. His suit is expensive, probably something he convinced himself he ‘needed.’ Never mind that he had everything he could ever ask for for the past three decades.

“Jukia would never do this.” He waves at the hot tub. “She’d never feast on expensive caviar and champagne while the rest of the family ate stale bread and warm water.”

He squats down and rests his arms on his knees. My throat is dry, and my heartbeat soars. I don’t like the predatory look in his eyes.

“You know, I could jump in there right now and drown you without one worry or care for you or your mom.”

Despite the heat of the tub, I shiver.

“Then all I would have to do is get rid of Ana.” He laughs, and his voice is the most frigid weather of Neve. It is the vacuum of space. “She barely weighs fifty kilos. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard.”

I guess there are some things Dominic has wanted that he hasn’t been able to get, like fathering a first daughter.

“Ana is stronger than you think,” I say, pulling up and out of the water. I place my hand on the tile deck. It’s slippery, so I’ll have to be careful. He’s wearing shoes, and I am most definitely not.

He blows out a disappointed breath. “This is such a shame. Look at you. You have such a nice body, and yet, you couldn’t make even one man stay long enough to convince your mother you would carry on the family legacy. Jukia already has two prospects, and she’s five years younger than you.”

My blood burns with embarrassment and hatred. He’s right about my failure to assuage Mom’s fears that I would never have a relationship network. Still, I hate him for looking at my body like it’s a transaction method for bringing in men.

“Fuck off, Dominic.” I am too tired for this bullshit. I cross to the piles of plush towels on a side table and wrap one around me.

“You’re the reason why your mother is in trouble now. You know that, right?”

I don’t turn around to face him.

“She figured she had failed with you, that you were going to amount to nothing, and so she had no other choice but to sell out to Takemo Diaz… the very man you are playing Bridge with.”

I turn around and eye the doorway out. “I never gave Mom any reason to doubt me. I got an education despite you trying to keep me stupid and locked away. I made top marks in flight school. I always told Mom that I was ready to take on the business someday. If she thought otherwise, then it’s someone else’s doing. Not mine.”

His face flattens with anger. Ah ha. I’ve hit on something. Yes. As Mom’s Chief Communications Officer, he kept me from actually reaching Mom for… My God, years. I clutch my towel.

“Oh, that’s interesting. You look like a toddler caught with his hand in the cookie box.” I take one step towards him. “I bet if I put Carlos to the job, he’d uncover a ton of messages that never made it to Mom.” When Dom’s face doesn’t change, I nod. “Or were altered before she saw them.” I shake my head and laugh. “You know, I gotta hand it to you. I knew you were interfering, but I wasn’t sure how.”

It’s a good thing I never sent off that message to Mom with the ultimatum.

He shrugs. “My skills were good for some things.” He takes one step towards me, and I take a step back. I raise my wristlet so he can see it. He stops.

“I have surveillance at all times, Dom. You should leave now before I call in the cops.”

I turn and hustle past the pool to the exit on the other side. I can hear Dominic’s feet right behind me. Fuck. He won’t stop.

“You’re not going to call the cops,” he says, only a few meters behind me. “I disabled all the local data spots ahead of time.”

Shit.

Run, Skylar.

I sprint through the door and push it closed behind me. There’s a giant potted plant next to the door, so I pull it across the threshold to stop the door from opening. I run for the stairs instead of the elevator. It’s not the best plan, but I’m in good enough shape to take the stairs two at a time. My floor is only two flights up, so I’m quick, my bare feet slapping against each step on the way up. I slip once and catch myself with the handrail before I tumble backwards. Dom is one floor below when I burst into the hallway, just around the corner from my room.

The carpet stretches out before me, and I’ve never been so glad to see it instead of pretty marble floors. My feet gain purchase as I careen around the corner.

I’m close now, just a dozen meters more.

Standing outside of room 335 is someone I did not expect.

Saif has a bottle of champagne in one hand and a tied pastry box in his other. He turns to see me running towards him, and his face morphs from a smile to a frown when Dominic clears the corner behind me.

“Help,” I squeak, running straight at him. He lifts the champagne and pastry box up, and I slide in under his arms and behind his back.

“What’s going on?” he asks, but his voice is directed at Dom. “Who are you?”

Dom stops in his tracks, and I can see the calculating stare from five rooms away. He probably figured Saif was done with me too, and no one but Marcelo and Takemo would miss me.

But see, Dominic? I have more allies than you think.

And I’m going to keep growing my network and keep making allies until I’m so untouchable, you’ll never be able to come near me again.

He takes two steps backwards, opens his hands to his sides with a smirk, and jogs back around the corner and far out of sight.

“What the hell was that?” Saif asks, but I don’t answer him. I wave my wristlet at the door, and it clicks open. I pull him inside, though his eyes are still on the hallway.

Shutting the door, I push my back against it and count to five before engaging all the extra security locks from the door panel.

Saif is dumbfounded, his mouth open in an O, when I turn around to face him.

“Was that man trying to hurt you?” he asks, setting the champagne and box on the table.

I nod and press my fingers to my lips. Everything makes sense finally. Dominic was never angry with me because I did anything wrong. He was mad at me for existing. Hell, he knows that if I had never been born and Ana was first daughter, Mom would have passed her over for Jukia in a heartbeat. Being the father of a first daughter has many benefits, but if that first daughter can’t perform, then whoever fathered the eventual heir gets all the winnings. My dad lives a comfortable life of luxury on a planet right now, while Dominic is still working for Mom and living cheek by jowl in a small apartment on Ossun.

“Who was that?” Saif is right in front of me now. I didn’t see him move.

I shake my head, but no. I can’t hide this. It’s all going to come out into the open now. I can feel it. I sigh as I pull my fingers from my lips.

“My mom’s third consort.”

“What?” Saif’s voice climbs.

“I was trying to relax in the hot tub when he just showed up. He…” I laugh and shake my head. “He threatened to drown me.”

“No,” Saif breathes out. “That’s… That’s insane.”

This time, I press my fingers to my lips to stop the tears. “I know.” I let out a huge breath. “I am so, so sorry.”

He cocks his head, and the emotions I held down during the escape come rushing up.

“I’m sorry I pushed you away. I’m sorry I’m so damned difficult. I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch when we were kids. I’m sorry my family and my life are so screwed up.”

“Skylar,” he says, and his voice is gentle and kind. Totally what I need right now, and it spurs me on harder.

“I’m going to make it up to you. I’m going to get my life together, and I’m going to make something of this load of crap that’s been handed to me.” I reach forward and take his hand in mine. “I promise I won’t let you down again.”

Holding his hand and looking at this sweet man, I know that this is my future. Something different from what I thought it was going to be. I thought I’d be running the family business and still taking care of them all like I was expected to.

Now, I don’t know what’s in store for me, but I can already tell it’ll be dangerous and challenging… and probably a lot of fun if I can stay alive.

Saif’s smile returns. “You haven’t let me down. We just had a bit of a rocky start.” He glances at the door. “But I’m concerned about this man.”

“Dominic,” I fill in.

“Yes. I don’t think I want you playing any more of this tournament alone.” I open my mouth to protest. “Takemo doesn’t count. He doesn’t have your best interests at heart.”

No, he does not. He barely spoke to me after our session today.

I step forward and wrap my arms around Saif. I’m gross from the hot tub, and my hair and body are still wet, but he puts his arms around me too.

“Thank you,” I whisper. I pull away from him and frown at the wet mark I’ve left on his shirt. “Have you had dinner? We can order something from room service.”

I take off my towel and throw it next to the bed. His eyes travel down my body, and I inhale. Plenty of men have stared at me like I’m a piece of meat in my lifetime, but when Saif looks at me, it never feels wrong. It’s one hundred kinds of right.

“We could order something,” he says, his words coming slowly.

He swallows, and I smile. “I just need to get cleaned up.” I start towards the bathroom.

“Need any help?” he asks, following me.

Oh, the delight of imminent sex. I can almost smell his anticipation.

“So much help. I have no idea how soap works. It’s a complete and utter mystery.”

I step into the bathroom, and the lights click on. Reaching behind me, I unhook my bathing suit top and drop it on the floor.

“Thankfully, I am a soap master.” Saif pulls his shirt off, and my insides twist in bliss as he unhooks his belt. He jerks his head at the shower, so I step in and get the water running to hot. I rinse off while I wait for him to join me. He grabs the bar of soap from the sink counter and slips into the shower stall.

His hands cup my breasts, and I lose all sense of time and place. I groan as he pushes me up against the shower wall.

“Before I get you clean from head to toe, listen to me.” He slips his leg between mine, edging my knees apart. Oh, yes. The ache in my belly grows as his hand grips my chin, and we make eye contact. “You’re stuck with me now. So wherever you’re going, I’m going. Whatever business you’re doing, I’m doing. You cannot push me away.”

“I don’t want to.” And I don’t. But someone be sure to ask me how I feel about this the next time I fuck something up.

My vision darkens as desire rises from between my legs, to my belly, to my chest. He lets go of my chin and slowly starts to sink.

“Now, you better hold on to something. Because you’re my appetizer for the evening.” He lifts my leg onto the shower seat, dips his mouth between my legs, and I hold on for dear life.