Valerie’s lips pressed together and again, she carefully said, “Yes, though she tries to discourage it.”
Eve wondered if Valerie knew everything that Khiva had told her. “You realize she’s a criminal, don’t you?” Eve asked. “You work for a woman who is essentially a sex trafficker!”
Valerie’s head snapped up. “And yet, you are a woman who continues to book visits, regardless of this fact.”
The words stung because Eve knew they were true. They hit every vulnerable part of her because they showed how hypocritical she was. But even though she knew Madame Allegria’s business dealings, not for a moment did she consider not continuing to see Khiva, if for no other reason than to convince to accept her help.
Valerie blew out a breath and closed her eyes. “Miss Tesler,” Valerie said, softening her tone, before regarding her once more. “Eve, trust me…I know better than most what she is.”
“You know that she pays them virtually nothing, keeping them trapped in her employ,” Eve said quietly, shaking her head. “You lied about the contract. You’re apart of this.”
“You’re right, I am,” Valerie said and Eve exhaled a short breath. “But not in the way you think.”
“Why don’t you report her to the Earth Council, to the United Worlds?” Eve demanded. “You have access to proof of what she is doing. You canendthis.”
“It’s not that simple, Eve,” Valerie said quietly, with another glance at the door. “If you knew the kind of power she has over those types of organizations, you would see that too.”
Eve froze when she realized something. “You’re afraid of her.”
Valerie’s gaze slid away but then she said, “I used to think like you, when I first came to Everton, when I first realized what she was doing, how she was exploiting them. Despite what you might think of me, Ididreport her. Once.”
Eve’s breath hitched. “You did?”
“Yes, to an Earth Council member I met in private. He was very concerned about what I told him, until I handed over a client list and he realized his wife was among the names. She’d used her mother’s name to keep it a secret. In the end, Madame Allegria blackmailed him to keep quiet and take no action against her, or else his family name would be tarnished and his career would be over. She has similar pull throughout all the colonies,” Valerie murmured. “And when she found out it was me who contacted the Council member…well she made sure I would remember not to cross her again.”
“What did she do?” Eve asked quietly, almost afraid to ask. Valerie shook her head and Eve knew that she didn’t want to say. “She didn’t let you go? After that? Why would she keep you employed under her?”
“I know too much,” Valerie admitted, her shoulders sagging slightly. “Not to mention, she is my aunt.”
Shock made Eve’s eyes widen. “She is?”
“My mother’s sister. They were nothing alike,” Valerie murmured. “My mother was her antithesis. Kind, generous, loving.”
Eve’s chest ached at the longing she heard in the woman’s voice. “She’s gone?”
Valerie nodded. “Yes. We lived on Genesis. We were poor, but happy. I came here after her passing because I had no other options. No inheritance, no family, other thanher.”
Eve reached out to touch her shoulder, shame for her previous words and accusations making her need to apologize. “I’m sorry, Valerie. I didn’t realize.”
“She is a monster. If only you knew how much,” Valerie murmured, meeting her eyes. The blonde let out a heavy, short sigh. “I didn’t want to come, but I promised Khiva I would. There will be consequences for all of us if she finds out.”
“I can help them,” Eve said slowly. “I can helpyou.”
Valerie gave her a smile, but it was sad and weak. “I doubt that, Eve, despite your good intentions. You can help Khiva, though. Youhavebeen helping him. You’ve given him something I doubt he’s felt in a long time. Moments of happiness.”
“I want to give him more than just moments,” she whispered, feeling the back of her throat burn.
“Meet him then. Tomorrow night. Madame Allegria will be off colony. He wants to see you, away from that place, from that room.” Valerie squeezed her hand. “What should I tell him?”
Eve looked up at her. She didn’t even hesitate when she said, “Tell him I’ll be there. Of course, I’ll be there.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Acool breeze made Eve shiver as it threaded through her overcoat and traveled up her ankles under her long, thick dress. Even her stockings couldn’t deter the Programmers’ temperature change on Everton, as the seasons began to shift.
The Lake District was quiet that time of night. It was one of the largest areas of Everton, overtaking the entire Third Grid. The size of the lake, however, justified it. Eve watched light filter across it, from the animation and projection of two moons, one blue and the other silver, drifting across Everton’s sky, and she thought that it was simply beautiful.
She hadn’t been there in a long time. Often, her father had taken her there on picnics, as many other families and couples and friends did throughout the Everton year. But by twilight, most of the Lake District cleared out, as citizens left for home, or the Night District, or Restaurant Row.
