I need our one to be the Pirate, or the woman who was with Sabrina in the cinema – because if it’s Sabrina herself, she’ll recognize me, and say my name, and then everything about who I am will start to unravel.
I’m by the tomato vines, picking the ripe ones as I scan the channels on my headset, waiting to see when the music in my ear is going to switch off. I’m deeply regretting Hunter’s choice of music, because I am never, ever going to stop singing this song.Curse you, Victoriana Lu.
I bite down on another tomato, and look up to see that Hunter has paused his work and is watching me.
I shouldn’t do this. It’s such a bad idea. But even as I’m thinking that, I run my tongue over my upper lip, catching a stray drop of juice.
Hunter stares a beat too long before he remembers how to blink and goes back to work.
As he comes undone, Hunter Graves looks better and better – his ridiculous stolen T-shirt and his easy grin make me forget he’s a billionaire. He’s just Hunter, the guy who keeps sneaking cookies from the backpack, who tries to make me laugh when the tension threatens to overwhelm me. Who can tell when I need that.
Come on, Cleo. What are you doing? This is a guy you still might have to trade for your freedom.But the truth is, the longer this goes, the harder I’m finding it to imagine doing that.
Still, I can’t forget that after this is over – if we make it through – we’ll belong in two different worlds again.
For now, I lean back against the vines, allowing myself a moment to enjoy the view while he’s concentrating.
And that’s when the music stops.Shit.
I’m drawing breath to warn Hunter when a voice sounds in my ear, and my whole body locks in place.
Cleo, Cleo, Cleo. Now this is a pleasant surprise.
It’s Sabrina. My throat tightens, and I can’t even make myself breathe. My gaze snaps to Hunter, but he’s lost in his work again, trusting me to listen on the headset. What do I do?
The question’s barely formed in my mind when I start moving. It’s not even a choice. I just find myself clearing my throat, waiting until Hunter’s gaze flicks my way. ‘I’m going to hit the restroom,’ I say, my voice perfectly calm, perfectly even.
‘I’ll try not to finish all the cookies while you’re gone,’ he replies. ‘No promises.’
I turn away, walking along the trellis of tomato plants, reaching out to trail my fingertips along their green leaves. I walk across the little footbridge that crosses the fishpond, the ghostly silver tilapia swirling past beneath me with flicks of their fanlike tails.
Sabrina’s still talking in my ear.You came a long way to see me, babe. I didn’t know we were that close, but I’m here for it.
I have to say something, but my throat’s so dry. I slip through the door to the tiny restroom and let it close behind me. Then I pull in a slow, deep breath, letting my lungs fill, my ribs expand. I center myself and wait until I know my voice will sound calm. And then I flick the transmit button and answer her.
‘I didn’t think you’d recognize me,’ I say, playing for time.
I caught your face for a second there before you snipped the wires on the cafeteria feed, Sabrina replies.Took me a moment to place you, but sure I remember you. You were the one who got away.
‘Want me to apologize for ruining your perfect record?’ I shoot back.
She laughs.Hey, you know it was never personal. Anyway, you still have your kneecaps, and nobody from Gramercy is here. What the hell areyoudoing here?
‘Here at Pax, or here on Mars?’
Both. Either.
‘Same answer, really,’ I reply, making my hands into fists, watching my knuckles turn white, channeling my tension there, so it doesn’t sound in my voice. ‘Decided to treat myself to a vacation. You know how it is.’
Oh, you know I do.
This is the moment. If I’m going to tell her who I’m with, if I’m going to talk about a deal, I have to at least hint at it. Show her the door’s open. It’s the smart thing to do. There are still three of them out there, they’re armed, and we’re on a clock – less than four hours left.
It’s not time to make a deal yet, but it’s time to give her a glimpse, show her I don’t hate the idea.
‘What about you?’ I make myself say. ‘What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?’
There’s a pause as she considers what to tell me, and then she offers her reply.We’re here for the registers.There are a whole lot of people on a list, folks who hitched up. Our job is to enter them in, make them legal.
