Page 17 of Secret Twins for the Alien Dad

“No, she has to want more!” I tell her. I can’t explain to her that I know because we’re fated mates in case she tells Myra and scares her off.

She looks at me cooly, leaning back in her seat, and I realize how my words must have sounded. Her friend who has been listening in leans over. “Look, she stood you up, she clearly doesn’t want anything to do with you,” he says bluntly.

I’m about to protest, to chew him out for his disrespect, when his words hit home.

Shit, he’s right. I’ve been stood up by my fated mate.

I stand up, and the world starts to spin. I have to hold the back of the chair for a moment.

“Look at the state of him, drunk out of his mind,” says the guy. “No wonder she stood him up.”

Normally I’d fire up at a comment like that, but I just want to get away. I push my way back out through the crowded bar, trying to ignore the buzzing in my ears, and my world going in and out of focus.

9

MYRA

There are eyes on my back. I feel them digging through me for the rest of the shift. Maybe I’m just paranoid. Brev’s warning runs over and over in my mind, but was he serious?

I lose concentration as a new future starts to flash before my eyes. The dance hall, the tight unforgiving clothes the girls have to wear. The after-parties and obligatory sex. The look of satisfaction when Lyrenne learns I’m joining her ranks. Fuck, no. I won't just sit here and let it happen.

“Hey! That wasmydraw! Watch what you’re doing, human!” The Odex gentleman to my left jumps off his barstool, his chair hitting the floor with a thud.

“What’s going on here?” Casino chatter dulls momentarily as security arrives to inspect. I put my head down, I know the drill.

“I was distracted for like a second!” I try to defend myself, forgetting I’m human. There’s no point in arguing as the Odex haunches towards the exits.

“Never mind! I’ll take my money somewhere they don’t hire riff-raff, like Twin Stars!” As if I need anything else added to my troubles, my eyes wheel around and see him. It’s Zerg, hanging in the crowd. Watching me.

I feel the hairs pricking up my neck.Deep breaths Myra. The cameras are watching. Brev’s goon is watching. I take deep, slow breaths, interrupted by a tap on my shoulder.

Mara stares, catching my panic as she takes my place at the table. As she sets the new deck, she leans in, just brushing against my shoulder. “Service elevator on the left, in five seconds.”

My inner clock counts down as I make a dealer’s exit.Five. “Ladies, and gentlemen,” I say to my customers.Four. “Thank you and good night.”Three. A tip passes into my hand.Two. “Good luck.” The cards are packed on my tray and handed to me by Mara. She winks.One.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Mara exclaims, using her deck tray to smack an oversized Zakini twist across the table. Breaking glass sends everyone up in arms, and as security moves in from the right, I make my way out to the service elevators on the left.

Zerg’s eyes are the last thing I see as the doors close in front of me.

“Fucking hell.” My heart drops into my stomach. “That was close.” Any doubts in my mind about Brev’s intentions are gone. The time for thinking is done.

Weaving my way through the stacks, I pop my head over my shoulder, looking for Zerg. So far, so good. The thick metal door I call mine is the last obstacle before I’m safely out of sight. I have like three minutes. Tops.

“Where’s the fire?” Lyrenne is already on break from the dance hall, her glittering costume in pieces around the room. I barely have time to think. It occurs to me, grabbing clothes and a duffel bag, that Brev doesn't care if I stole the comm or not. I’m irrelevant to him either way. I’m moreprofitableas a sex worker. I didn't come from Armstong with nothing for this.

“I’m late.” As excuses go, it’ll do. Brev will come looking eventually. I better not say too much, for her sake. “Hot overnight with that Kaleidian.”

“Cool. You want a negligee?”

“Yeah, that’d be great.” The second she’s around the corner, I spring to the mattress where I've dug a small hole for my earnings. Brev doesn’t get all my pay. Two minutes more, and I've got enough to get me through a day or two. I pack a quick sandwich, trying my best to keep the feel casual.

“Where ya headed?” Lyrenne asks from the bathroom. Smog from her slammer joint spills from under the bathroom door. The negligee is the last thing to disappear into my bag as I scan the room for whatever else I can carry.

“I dunno, it's a surprise.'' I fumble towards the door. “See ya later, ok?”

The massive door slams her response out of earshot. A heavy breath hits me on the other side. What now?

I can’t stop checking over my shoulder. All I need is to make it to the train station without being seen. Simple. But Zerg’s black eyes fill me again with dread. I don't know what I'll do if I'm dragged back there. To be a dancer, a glorified prostitute, property of Brev and the hotel. No. No matter what happens, I’m not going back.

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