"Leave us!" Noe is blocking my way out. The guards and Evander quickly jump while Therese and Nula give me a sympathetic look. Noe jumps in the truck, slamming the door shut. He faces me-his eyes flashing rage. Gulping, I back up to the other side of the car. Noe darkly chuckles, caging me in. "I had an interesting call today. Want to guess?"
I lower my eyes, my hair falling around my face. I feel rough fingertips yank my chin up. "Let me refresh your memory. Darla. You. hiding in a corner." His brown eyes burn through my skin. I bite my bottom lip. "I ran into her at the store. She just wanted to chat, Noe!." Noe's nose runs along my neck, sending shivers down my body. He roughly grabs my jaw and shoves it to the side.
Pain shoots through my neck as he squeezes on my throat. "Ow." I groan. "Let me make myself crystal, babe- you are mine. T
The man in front of me-my childhood best friend freezes when he opens the driver's door. "Lara?" He laughs and scoops me up, spinning me around. "Where the hell have you been? But, more importantly, why did you bring a bulletproof car here? I can't have this type of trouble, not anymore."Wow. Adrian had filled really...grown. He was no longer the dirty blonde, lanky kid that ran jobs with me. Standing in front of me was a tall, toned physique. His voice came out like honey, smooth and deep. I could get lost in those dark blue eyes, kiss those plump lips. "Lara!" Adrian's angry snap pulls me out of my lust. "Oh, sorry. It's a long story, one that I'm not going to share. How much for scrap? I'm sure you have some of your old contacts in the black market who would pay a premium for a piece of a Weston SUV."Adrian hisses and grabs his gray news cap from
"Welcome, to my humble abode." Adrian throws open the door to his small flat with flair. I scan my surroundings. Adrian's flat had scarce furnishings. A couch pulled against the wall, with a small tv on the floor. A kitchen with one smart cooking device lit the dim room. A tiny Formica table was pushed against the sink and down the hall a door led into a sparse bedroom, complete with a queen-sized bed. I whistled at Adrian's space. Despite my luxurious accommodations in the past week, I had not been spoiled to experience the harsh world outside of the android's gated neighborhood. Adrian's home was what many of us Saratoga residents considered luxury living. Only a few could afford their own kitchen, their own smart cooking device, and a bedroom complete with a bed. "Wow, you did amazing for yourself." Adrian leans against the doorway, gauging my reaction. "Thanks. It is all mine." A prideful look falls on his rugged features as he crosses the room toward the kitchen." I think this
Year of 2060- Planet Earth 10 years after Teril Occupation. Country: New Colonial Territory City of Saratoga The streets are in chaos again. The Terils had dropped the weekly food and necessity shipment for the city of 50,000 people. Yes, it is one large crate for a large mass of hungry and dirty people. Saratoga residents claw and climb over each other as the Teril aliens back away, cattle prods at the ready. It hardly seemed to matter since my neighbors acted like rabid animals, screaming and fighting for every last morsel. Some even took more than they needed. The Teril guards hardly cared if anyone got fed; if a
" Who the hell are you?" The crouched man demands. F--uck. How do I get out of this? Aller always reminded me to remain calm if I was caught during a job and play the dumb card. This technique always served me well in the past. People found me attractive, so I would always play off their lusts and sympathies to escape a compromised job. Somehow I don't think a Weston henchman would be gullible. Well doesn't hurt to try, does it? Men like this only think with one part of their body.I cover my mouth and giggle, fluttering my eyelids at the intimidating blonde man."I'm just a girl taking a swim in the pool. Who are you?" The man's face morphs into a terrifying glare, his arms shooting out and grabbing my body out of the pool. "Don't play with me, girl! Do you know who's estate this is or who I am? I'm Evander Weston, son of Noe Weston-the boss of the Weston Syndicate! In case you haven't gathered, you are trespassing on Weston Territory!" My heart flutters at his revelation. Fuck!
Two guards follow behind Noe and me as we walk up a winding staircase to the second floor. Unlike the first floor, the second contained hallways on either side of the landing. Noe turns to the right and walks into the first room. I follow at his heels, stopping short when I realize what the room is for. "No." I try to exit, but the two guards create an impenetrable wall behind me. Noe wraps his arms around me, pulling me towards the center of the room. "You don't have a choice."My eyes widen in fear at the sight of the colorless medical capsule in front of me. It reminded me of a cocoon or a hammock. Still, instead of soft fabric enveloping me, hard gray plastic would surround me. Standing next to the capsule is a striking female. She was tall, with shiny purple hair. Her golden skin glowed under the fluorescent lights. "Theta. She's here." Noe gruffly announces.The female turns and nods. She was a young Teril that was certain. What she was doing in the employ of the Wes
"Umm, what?" I raise an eyebrow at Noe. "I'm not going to your gala if that is what you're implying." "I beg to differ." Noe steps closer to me. "You are my fiancee, and I will present you as such." I bark out a laugh. "Please! Didn't you just finish insulting my humanity? Thought you didn't want a weak human Queen?" Noe grits his teeth. "That is not what I meant, Lara. Please don't twist my words! I am only trying to protect you! Do you know how many enemies I have? What they would do when they discover I have a human weakness?" He sits down on the edge of the bed. A snicker escapes my lips."Well then, forgive me. Here I thought a man like you wants a woman as a trophy." Noe's eyes trail over my body, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes. "
"Be on your best behavior, Miss Lara. I know you humans can resort cave to your basic...needs." Odessa looks down at me. What the hell is this android's problem with humans? "Are you implying I am a Neanderthal?" I wrap my hand around her arm, pulling us to the side of an entrance. "No! Of course not. Merely that you humans can act like humans. It's not your fault. You can't help your urges." Odessa gives me a small smile. I swallow the snark that dares fall out of my mouth and just mirror her smile. "Very well." "We are almost there. Come." Odessa walks around to the entrance and through tall white curtains. "The Esteemed Westons would like to welcome you to their annual gala benefitting the humans of Saratoga. All proceeds from tonight will be distributed evenly to human crisis centers. Please grab a mask from a nearby server and enjoy your evening
"SHIT!" I scream as I rattle the handcuffs. I hated being restrained! Panic forms in my chest, and I start gasping for breath. Everything starts to close in. Memories of being shackled to a bed resurface. Aller would chain me up when I disobeyed him or didn't give him a cut of my stolen earnings. He would keep me in the room for days, shackled to a bed in the dark with a pot if I needed to relieve myself. My only friends, Fiona and Adrian, would sneak in with food and company. They were my calm in that raging pit. I focus on my childhood friends, concentrating on their features, their voices, and their laughs. Finally, my breathing begins to slow, and the pressure in my chest disappears.I take another deep breath before focusing on my restraints. I shift my wrists around the cuffs, feeling for any empty space between my skin and the cold metal. My right cuff gave a little when I kept pushing my wrist against it. I turn my wrist, spreading my fingers out. I slowly move my
"Welcome, to my humble abode." Adrian throws open the door to his small flat with flair. I scan my surroundings. Adrian's flat had scarce furnishings. A couch pulled against the wall, with a small tv on the floor. A kitchen with one smart cooking device lit the dim room. A tiny Formica table was pushed against the sink and down the hall a door led into a sparse bedroom, complete with a queen-sized bed. I whistled at Adrian's space. Despite my luxurious accommodations in the past week, I had not been spoiled to experience the harsh world outside of the android's gated neighborhood. Adrian's home was what many of us Saratoga residents considered luxury living. Only a few could afford their own kitchen, their own smart cooking device, and a bedroom complete with a bed. "Wow, you did amazing for yourself." Adrian leans against the doorway, gauging my reaction. "Thanks. It is all mine." A prideful look falls on his rugged features as he crosses the room toward the kitchen." I think this
The man in front of me-my childhood best friend freezes when he opens the driver's door. "Lara?" He laughs and scoops me up, spinning me around. "Where the hell have you been? But, more importantly, why did you bring a bulletproof car here? I can't have this type of trouble, not anymore."Wow. Adrian had filled really...grown. He was no longer the dirty blonde, lanky kid that ran jobs with me. Standing in front of me was a tall, toned physique. His voice came out like honey, smooth and deep. I could get lost in those dark blue eyes, kiss those plump lips. "Lara!" Adrian's angry snap pulls me out of my lust. "Oh, sorry. It's a long story, one that I'm not going to share. How much for scrap? I'm sure you have some of your old contacts in the black market who would pay a premium for a piece of a Weston SUV."Adrian hisses and grabs his gray news cap from
"Leave us!" Noe is blocking my way out. The guards and Evander quickly jump while Therese and Nula give me a sympathetic look. Noe jumps in the truck, slamming the door shut. He faces me-his eyes flashing rage. Gulping, I back up to the other side of the car. Noe darkly chuckles, caging me in. "I had an interesting call today. Want to guess?"I lower my eyes, my hair falling around my face. I feel rough fingertips yank my chin up. "Let me refresh your memory. Darla. You. hiding in a corner." His brown eyes burn through my skin. I bite my bottom lip. "I ran into her at the store. She just wanted to chat, Noe!." Noe's nose runs along my neck, sending shivers down my body. He roughly grabs my jaw and shoves it to the side.Pain shoots through my neck as he squeezes on my throat. "Ow." I groan. "Let me make myself crystal, babe- you are mine. T
"Lara! What a joy to see you." Darla greets me when I stop next to her. "Darla," I nod. "Is there somewhere more private?" Darla keeps her dazzling smile plastered on as she looks around. "Yes. There is an area for employees we can use. They won't mind my using it- I do supply their merchandise after all." I look behind, making sure Therese and Nula are not searching for me. I see the woman in the corner cooing over a dress. They wouldn't notice me missing, but going into an employee room would be risky with all the possible outcomes. Finally, I decided on a plan of action. "Evander is watching me. I shouldn't disappear right now. Maybe a quiet corner in the back where I can keep an eye on my friends?" I nod to Therese and Nula. Darla raises a perfect eyebrow but leads the way to a hidden corner. It was perfect; I could watch anyone coming into the store and keep an eye on my new friends.
Loud footsteps wake me from my blissful sleep. I crank an eye open, watching as Noe sneaks around. His bare back is turned as he riffles through a drawer, looking for something. My eyes unashamedly take in his muscular back. Being fit and gorgeous must be one of the perks of being an android. Never would any human have time for things such as self-care; our entire days are spent earning a scrap just to keep the lights and food on the table. It's why I play into whatever charade Noe, Darla, Evander, and Theta want. The power of information is at a premium. If I play my cards right, I should have enough gold to comfortably retire and get intel to help Darla keep her human employees off the radar. "Hey, baby."Soft lips interrupt my thoughts. "Sleep well?"I muster an innocent smile. " Why are you up?" I feign concern, slipping my arms around his neck and pulling him down. "I have business to attend to." Noe presses the implant on his wrist and is clothed in one of his
His room is full of red and black furnishings. Everything was gaudy and extravagant, reminding me of those old mafia movies I used to watch in the store display windows. Fitting for the head of the Weston Syndicate. My eyes land on a large wooden desk tucked in the corner. Papers were scattered around, the owner not caring for a disorganized state. I step off the bed, creeping closer, my eyes drifting to the door. I pick up the first document I see and am surprised such a document is left in plain sight. The first line reads City of Saratoga Zoning, and the paper describes city zoning laws and sections. It seems that Noe was interested in the dock and beach area. I look around once more and drop the report like it's a lump of hot coal. What if this is a trap? Noe was testing me, seeing if I would leak any information to Darla. What exactly he needed the city zoning maps for is something I'm determined to discover. I move away from the desk, noticing a bar full of alcohol on the othe
"Are you ready, Lara?" Odessa's voice calls from the other side of the bathroom door. I stand in the bathroom, staring at my reflection. I pinch the delicate fabric underneath my fingertips and scoff at how it feels. Is this what humans wear for entertainment? How was this functional? I stare at myself, admiring the girl looking back. The gown is beautiful, an iridescent silver knee-length gown with an open back. Odessa showed me how to make a simple braid and wrap it around my crown to create a style for my hair. I suppose it's nice to look elegant. I rely on my uniform of black shirts and khakis and a ponytail when I need clothes, but I doubt it would be appropriate for what Noe has planned. I open the door, where the android female waits. "Ready."A small smile curl on the corner of Odessa's lips as her gaze sweeps over me. "Fantastic. You look beautiful. I suppose you clean up well."
Three days. Three days of being shut down in this mansion, and I'm done. I've never been one to stay still. It's why I make a great thief. I have gotten excellent at running. This place...was no better than the white lab I grew up in. I was one of the human children that were not born naturally. I was conceived in a test tube, a result of Terils mixing DNA for the "ultimate human." Guess they failed, considering I didn't pass the android assessment.The difference between my two prisons was the aesthetic. The Weston Mansion had amusements that distracted me, but it was still not better than being confined in a white room. In both chambers, I was an asset to be used as they saw fit. I hear the familiar heavy footsteps of the guards outside my door. Ever since Abigail was dragged into my room, Noe has kept guards around my room 24/7. Proof that my fiancee didn't trust me at all. I wouldn't expect any less, considering I was making secret alliances with Darla and Theta behind hi
When Evander greets the car escort at the front of the Weston Mansion, Noe's tender gaze disappears. "Get out of me!" he growls, pushing me roughly into the footwell. "OW!" What is his deal? He was the definition of hot and cold! I glare at him as he opens the back door. "Get her to Theta! I can't have her broken." He commands Evander as he pushes past him and answers a call. Evander's eyes snap to my disheveled state. "What happened to you?" His smirk turns to a sneer. Guess I'm not getting any sympathy from the younger Weston. "Nothing much, explosion, rubble fell down on me broke my leg, no biggie. How was your day?" I scoot across the bench, reaching the door Evander is blocking. "Could you..." I wave my arm in a shoo gesture. He curses at me, bending down and scooping me up. I let out a startled grunt, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Try to keep the noise down. I don't want anyone to s