Page 83 of Kissed By the Alien
I look at my shirt she’s wearing as a dress, belted with a piece of rope. It’s ill-fitting and doesn’t show off her figure, but it doesn’t detract from her spirit. And I love that she’s wearing my clothing, my scent, so other males know to stay away from her.
“We’re talking about this now. And don’t drag Lutan into this.” Lexi raises her voice as she steps in front of me.
I have the urge to push her behind me, but I’m here for backup, not to interfere. From the tension between these two, it might be Barrington who needs my protection, not Lexi.
Her father rounds the desk and points an accusatory finger at me. “He dragged himself into it when he came here yesterday looking for you. You could have ended up dead because of his interference.”
“What are you talking about?” Lexi asks.
“I had a ransom to pay, and I couldn’t get him to leave.”
“You were in no hurry,” I say. “I waited outside for hours before you left.”
They both stare at me.
“When you failed to be alarmed or show any concern about Lexi’s kidnapping, I suspected you were involved. I waited and followed you when you left.”
“I had to wait for my contact to give me the information about where to leave the money.”
“Sounds logical,Dad, but you always make things sound logical. Like all those times you complained I was sleeping in late when you damn well knew I’d been sneaking out. Did you also know I was meeting rather unsavory people to get intel for you? Information I can’t get by hacking?”
Her father’s jaw drops, but he quickly pulls on his mask of indifference. “If I’d known you were going anywhere other than your little vacation spot, I would have locked you in your room and put bars on your windows. And now that I know, I will do just that.”
“Which is why I never told you.”
“We need to have a talk about your behavior. A very long talk, young lady.”
“Don’tyoung ladyme. It’s time you treat me like an adult. Not that it matters. I don’t want to have anything to do with you after you risked my life!”
“I never put you at risk.” When he takes a huge step toward Lexi, I insert myself between them.
“You had me kidnapped,” she continues spewing venom with her words as she leans past me. “They were going to sell me!”
“I most certainly didnotarrange your kidnapping. Who’s been telling you such lies? This alien?”
“Leave Lutan out of this. He rescued me.”
“Then I’m grateful to him, but, Lexi, you have to know I’d never put you in danger. Everything I do around here is to protect you and your brothers.”
“Then explain why you shook hands with my kidnapper.”
“What?” He puts his glasses back on as he looks from her to me.
“Moses. Lutan saw you shake hands with him.”
“Moses didn’t kidnap you,” Barrington says.
“Are you calling me a liar now?” Lexi’s voice pitches high. She’s highly agitated, but she needs this chance to vent, even if nothing comes of it. “I saw Moses. Talked to him. While my hands and feet were tied up.” She shoves the sleeves up on my shirt she’s still wearing and shows him the bruises.
“Buttercup, do you really think I would put you in danger? I hire scores of men to guard this house, and when you sneak out, there’s always someone following you, watching over you. I let you have your little hideout and adventures, because you’re young and young people rebel. But rebelling is dangerous, especially these days. You’re a target. Everyone in this family is. Everything I do is done with intention and purpose to keep you safe.”
He almost has me convinced. But the facts don’t add up. “Explain Moses,” I say.
“When you arrested my daughter, Warrior, I found out everything I could, including that she’d been seen with Moses on a prior occasion.”
How the drekk would he know this? I didn’t note it anywhere. And Hunzu would never betray my trust.
“My people picked Moses up and brought him here for a chat.”
