Page 45 of Surrender
Merokk faced Fiona just as the doorbell rang.
“That must be Layla. We were supposed to go to the café. I-I’ll be right back. I’m going to tell her I need to reschedule. I don’t wish to leave now. I want to spend the afternoon with you, if that is okay. If you don’t have much work to do?”
“My only plans for the rest of the day, little one, are to kiss you and hold you close. Among other activities,” he said, whispering the last few words as his lips trailed along her ear. “Hurry back.”
Chapter 26
Fiona rushed to the entryway,her heart in her throat. She wondered if Layla already knew about Betsy Carson’s arrest, but as soon as she saw her friend’s worried face, she knew the answer.
Layla rushed to her and looked her up and down. “Oh my God, are you okay? You-you’ve been crying and-and…” Her voice trailed off and tears gleamed in her eyes. “Betsy. She’s been arrested and that means…” She choked up and Fiona took her hands.
“I’m okay, don’t worry about me. Merokk was angry, but after I explained everything that happened, he calmed down and he seems to understand.” Fiona paused and drew in a deep breath. “I’m sorry about Betsy, I know you two were very close. I hope she’ll be okay.”
Layla gave a bitter laugh. “She’s been arrested for treason and she’s going to end up in a Kall court. They’ll likely charge her with other crimes too, just to make it look reasonable that Merokk asked to marry you instead of Betsy. I-I don’t know all the details yet, but Merokk’s father, Penka, has been in talks with President Carson and some other officials.” She wiped at her tears.
Fiona didn’t know much about the Kall courts that humans were sometimes tried in. If a human committed a crime against a Kall or broke the treaty or trade agreement in some way, they were detained and tried in a Kall court. While Fiona didn’t know Betsy at all, her heart broke for her.
“What sort of punishment might Betsy expect?” Fiona asked, even though she dreaded the answer.
“She will likely never be free. President Carson has assured me that she won’t be executed—he’s negotiated a secret deal, but he won’t tell me all the details—but she might be imprisoned for life, sent to a labor camp on a brutal planet, or even shipped off to Kall to be sold as a slave.”
“Is-is there anything we can do?” Fiona asked. “Um, Merokk, he has some pull with the High Council, perhaps—”
Layla shook her head. “I already asked President Carson if Merokk or Pentak could speak on Betsy’s behalf to try to secure her freedom, but he says it’s not possible. Not without raising too much suspicion and making it public knowledge that the treaty was broken.” Another tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away. “The president says he will not do anything further to lighten Betsy’s sentence. He-he told me she deserves this and that he will not risk Earth facing additional sanctions because of her actions.”
“What an asshole,” Fiona said. “That’s awful. Poor Betsy. I can’t believe her own father…” She didn’t finish her sentence, because she realized what she’d been about to say wasn’t true at all. Yes,yesshe could believe a father could be so cruel to his daughter. Fiona’s own father had abandoned both his daughter and his sick wife, and now President Carson was leaving his frightened daughter to face the injustice of the Kall court system.
Layla sniffled. “I know we can’t go to lunch now,” she said, “I’m sure you wish to stay here with Merokk and work things out. I just wanted to come over and make sure you were okay. Are you sure he hasn’t harmed you?”
“I’m touched you came to check on me,” Fiona said, her throat suddenly burning. “But I promise that I’m fine. Merokk is being much more understanding than I would’ve ever imagined in this situation. To be honest, I’m glad he finally knows the truth, but I hate that Betsy must suffer for it. I still wish there was something we could do.”
“So do I. I fucking hate President Carson. I’m going to turn in my resignation first thing tomorrow. He’s worse than the Kall,” she said, lowering her voice. “I doubt any Kall male would allow his daughter to be mistreated by an alien judicial system. President Carson isn’t just cruel, he’s a fucking coward.”
Fiona didn’t know how to respond, so she stepped forward and gave Layla a hug. They remained locked in an embrace for a few minutes while Layla regained control of her emotions. Finally, once she stopped crying, she withdrew from the hug and gave Fiona a weary smile.
“I have to go now. I-I want to attend Betsy’s trial. Not sure yet when it starts, but I want to be there, I want her to see at least one friend in the courtroom. I need to pack and figure out travel plans.”
“That’s very kind of you, Layla, and I’m sure Betsy will appreciate your support.”
They said their goodbyes and Fiona headed for the library. Merokk was waiting and they still had much to discuss.
Chapter 27
Fiona had never knownsuch relief. Merokk knew. Heknew. But he hadn’t gotten rid of her and Janie was still safe. Her worst fears hadn’t come to pass.
She paused outside Merokk’s study as she thought about the long, difficult conversation they had shared, particularly his admission that he’d felt betrayed by her actions. Guilt settled over her. She wished she could’ve told him the truth after only a few weeks of marriage. Yes, she had considered it several times, but in the end, she couldn’t risk her mother’s life.
“I hear you breathing out there,” came a deep, rumbling voice. “Are you going to come in, or not?”
Fiona slipped into his study and her breath caught to find him standing closer than she’d expected. She’d assumed he would be sitting at his desk, or what was left of it. She swallowed hard and stared up at him, unable to stop the uncertainty that suddenly warred with her relief.
Though he was keeping her, and he claimed to love her, she didn’t know if he’d yet forgiven her for the lies. The betrayal. Would things be awkward between them for a while? Would it take time for him to trust her again, and for their relationship to heal?
Another question lingered in the back of her mind, though she tried very hard not to think about it. It was possible Merokk would punish her for her lies. And, if he did, he would likely use the leather strap.
A shudder moved through her when the image of him standing over her holding the strap flashed in her mind, and a quiver raced across her sore bottom. He’d given her one single but hard blow with the strap, when she’d hesitated to confess her real name, and her behind still smarted considerably.
She reminded herself that he’d eventually tossed the strap across the room, with an air of frustration and self-disgust radiating off him. Did he regret using it on her for that one blow? Did he regret threatening to whip her until his arm became tired?
