Playing with Passion Theta Series Book 1 (30 page)

He spoke in a calming voice, a voice
he’d been trained to use when dealing with unruly audience members
or fans. He made it gentle, soothing. “Please get your things and
head back to the house in the larger limo. Leave the other for us.
I know this was upsetting on many levels, but tonight you need to
rest and eat and care for each other. Gene and I will make sure
Ingrid’s all right. We’ll meet tomorrow morning at eleven, and
discuss what happened then.” When he’d finished, he sent out a
strong wash of axis power, cooling it to reduce the heat of their
anger and quiet their fears.

Pale faces nodded and dispersed,
following orders as they’d been trained. None of the others had met
The Director except for Alan, when he’d been lined up in a group of
new assistant production managers being assigned to various
troupes. Alan still told the story of how he’d almost wet himself
when someone had spoken out of turn, and The Director’s eyes had
morphed into red coals in response. That particular APM had not
been hired. In fact, no one knew exactly what had happened to
him.

Alan immediately snapped into action,
getting the others back to their rooms and calling the limo drivers
to pull up at the back. Mack was grateful for his help.

Sam lingered and asked, “How many are
there? Archdemons, I mean.”

“Four. The Director has
one brother and two sisters. They’ve taken over most of the larger
countries. The sisters are much more destructive than the others.”
Mack chuckled dryly, shaking his head. “Ironically,
the steal
brought New
York City one of the more reasonable archdemons.”

“But what can we do?” Sam
asked.

He didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes
up regarding escape, since no concrete plans had been made. “We
survive.”

Staci appeared, holding her bag and
Sam’s. “What about Ingrid? Did you hear what he told her? That wolf
is going to rape and beat her. He expects her to take it without
complaint.”

“Like you did?” Mack asked,
quietly.

Mack’s question had Sam pulling Staci
against his body, sheltering his long-time lover. “That was
uncalled for,” Sam growled.

“Every actor was once an ingénue.
Males and females are abused on a regular basis, aren’t
they?”

“What’s your point? That she should
accept her fate because it’s her job? I thought better of you,
Mack.”

“My point is that unless we do
something, it’s going to continue to happen—possibly get worse. The
more violent supes are bored and antsy these days, at least the
ones I’ve observed.” Mack remarked, his fingers beating a wild
rhythm against his thigh.

Staci peeked out, suddenly smiling. “I
knew you, Ingrid and Gene were planning something.”

“We’re in the beginning stages. We’ll
talk more tomorrow. I’m sure I don’t need to mention that our lives
depend on every one of us keeping quiet about whatever is
discussed.” They nodded. Mack reached out for Staci’s hand in
apology. She accepted it with a gentle squeeze. “I'll figure
something out. She won’t be hurt.”

The troupe was unusually quiet as they
headed out the stage door to climb into the luxury shuttle. Alan
had made certain that no fans were lined up for autographs tonight,
especially since with tomorrow night’s party looming ahead, none of
the actors would be their usual personable selves during the
encounters.

Mack stayed in the doorway of Ingrid’s
dressing room as Gene helped her pack her things, her face a blank
mask, her color pale. With anyone else, he should have been
surprised that she’d stood up ton the monster the way she had,
except this was Ingrid—his Ingrid—her bravery and spirit an
inspiration, but also a stab in the heart. When he looked into her
eyes, he felt ashamed, ashamed to have allowed The Director to hurt
his troupe in this insidious manner. He should have done something,
anything, and yet his logical side insisted there was nothing he
could have done for any of them.

He’d stay with her tonight, make sure
she ate and slept. Tomorrow he’d do everything in his power to
change his appointment with the Fae Council. If anyone was going to
be beaten by Joseph Herron, it was going to be him, not
Ingrid.

In the shuttle, she continued to stare
out the window, not speaking. The tight control she held over her
emotions worried him.

“Ingrid
.” Mack hoped she’d respond.

“I’m fine.”

“You need to vent. Let
some of that anger out. That’s the only way you’ll sleep. I’ll let
you hit me.”
He was hoping a little humor
might help
.

“I’m with Gene
tonight
.” Of course, he’d
forgotten.
“I’m going to bring him over.
Loop him.”

“What?”

“Without sex. I’m
committed to you, cave man. But we need him, especially after
tonight. He’s a master strategist.”

“I know he’s clever,
but…”

“I’ve seen his mind,
watched him hack into secure sites, disrupt The Director’s plans.
Think of what he’ll be able to do with the added power.”

“And what about
me?”

“You’ll do what you can to
make sure I don’t end up in the hospital tomorrow.”

“I will. I swear
it.”

Back at the house, Mack took Gene
aside. “Try to get her to talk about what happened or at least cry
about it. Make sure she eats. I’ll send Alan up with sandwiches and
a soda.” He raked a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth.
He felt so helpless, so conflicted about her spending the night
with Gene. She’d just blown away an audience full of wolves with a
performance that must have almost drained her dry. Then to top it
off, she’d had to deal with the cruelty of The Director. He should
be the one comforting her, not Gene.

“Are you sure? I mean you should be
with her…”

"I'm working tonight, calling in some
favors to ensure her safety tomorrow. You both need to reboot
anyway. I’ll make sure she's safe from the alpha."

How did he manage to sound so calm
when his insides were in a twisted heap?

Gene tried again. “I think it would be
better—”

“She needs you tonight, you're her
partner." Gene started to say something, but Mack interrupted.
"Please, take care of her for me. I trust you with her. I love
her." They stared at each other for a few intense moments, coming
to an understanding. Gene turned, walking up the stairs with
slumping shoulders and a heavy step.

Mack hoped they could help each other.
After speaking to Alan about the food order, he walked home,
puzzling over the fucking mess and what they could possibly do to
keep Ingrid safe. To keep them all safe.

CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE

Alan left Ingrid’s room after
delivering the sandwiches and a few words of support.

Ingrid was curled up on a cushioned
window seat, staring out into the night, the sky dark with clouds
except for one lone streak of moonlight casting a pale sheen across
the wildflowers and roses beneath her window. Gene sat in the
window seat on the right, looking exhausted and worried. He hadn’t
spoken for several minutes, probably not sure of what to say, and
she appreciated his silence.

After another minute or two he asked,
“Are you hungry? We should eat something.”

“I won’t be able to keep it down.”
Gene nodded, accepting her decision. Mack would have argued. "You
don't have to stay, I mean, after we reboot. I’m capable of taking
care of myself.”

"I want to be here. Should I run you a
bath?”

She grunted in frustration, drawing
his confused gaze. “Aren’t you angry? Tonight it was me, but the
next time it could be you he’s ordering to fuck
someone.”

He rubbed his face with both hands,
fisting them in his lap. “I’ve survived those experiences in the
past. I will again, if necessary.”

“So you’ll go along with what he wants
like some performing robot?”

“Do you think if I had any choice in
the matter I’d agree to be gang raped or whipped or humiliated?”
Now he was angry too, and it wasn’t only with The
Director.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said
that. I’m pissed off and frustrated and scared and tired and a
million other things.

He sighed. “I’ve been working on a few
ideas, setting things up in case we do have a chance to cut and
run, but right now, I’m exhausted. Way too tired to argue,
especially with someone I don’t want to argue with. We need to eat
and sleep. Sleep would be wonderful.” He unfolded his long body,
stretching his arms over his head, then crossing an arm in front of
his body and pulling at the elbow to loosen his shoulder. He
repeated the motion with the other arm. “I feel like I’ve been run
over by a delivery shuttle.”

Ingrid rose quickly, scowling. “I
won’t be able to sleep a wink. I need…I need to hit something.”
Gene held up his hands to ward off any ideas she might have about
using him as a punching bag. Narrowing her eyes, she surveyed the
very girly room for some kind of weapon, but decorative pillows
wouldn’t cut it. “What I’d really like is to rip the fucking
Director’s head off his neck and shove it up his ass.”

“I could get on board with that.” Gene
was already at the desk, sprawling in a chair, taking a big bite
from one of the sandwiches Alan had left.

Fury simmered in her gut as she
snatched a hardcover book off the desk and threw it toward the
empty fireplace. Unfortunately, her throw went wide and the book
hit a ceramic-based lamp, shattering it loudly, scattering sharp
pieces across the floor. Instead of running over to clean up the
mess, she reached for another book.

Gene jumped up, pulling Ingrid into
his arms to keep her from destroying anything else. She started to
squirm, pushing at his chest to get away. “Let go,
Gene.”

"Shhh. I'm here for you,
darlin'."

His sweet words should have been
comforting, but she didn’t want to hear it. Pity over what she had
to face the next night was useless. She struggled harder, forcing
him to hold on even more tightly. Furious, Ingrid dug her nails
into his bare arms. He winced as the blood welled, releasing her
with anger flashing in his eyes.

Her rage was out of control now.
Without taking a moment to think things through, she slapped him
hard in the face. Before she could bring her hand back for another
whack, Gene grabbed her wrist, his grip hard enough to bruise.
Blocked from using violence, tears welled up, spilling over onto
her cheeks. A choked sob followed, her rage strangling her grief.
The same pain and anger flashed in Gene’s eyes, a young male forced
to endure his own kind of torture under The Director.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He was
bleeding where she’d dug into his arms.

Beyond reason, he stepped forward,
sheltering her in his arms without an angry word. He was on his
last legs, drained and exhausted, and yet here he was, rubbing her
back and showing her more compassion than she deserved. Ingrid
thought of his last Ingrid and all that they must have shared. “She
was a lucky girl, your other Ingrid.”

He sighed, his whole body rising and
falling with the sound of his breath. “I was lucky,
too.”

He pushed the hair out of her face
with both hands. “She took a huge chunk of my heart with her when
she left.”

“She’s safe from him, now.”

“I have to believe that or else I’ll
go crazy.”

“Maybe we can find her when we get
away. I’ll help you.”

He nodded, but didn’t comment on her
idea. “You’ll feel better if you eat something.”

They broke apart, both of them heading
to the desk to dig into their sandwiches. After a few minutes, she
asked, “Are you ready to have your mind blown?”

Gene’s expression turned skeptical.
“How much info do I get before I have to make a
decision?”

“Very little.”

“Not my style. I’m an information
geek.” He went back to his sandwich.

“Okay, here’s a short synopsis. You
remember what it was like when we let down our shields and looped
our psycore.

“Uh huh.”

“We’re going to do it again, only
we’re creating one loop. Your psycore energy will connect to mine
in the usual way, only this time there won’t be any fiddling around
with our pleasure centers.”

“You’ve taken away the fun
part?”

“Just listen, okay?” He nodded,
sipping his soda.

“We loop our axis and connect the two
loops.”

“Not possible.”

“Mack and I did it.” She tried not to
sound smug.

“During sex, right?”

“Um…well, yes.”

“But that’s not what you’re
offering.”

“No. I…I can’t. Mack and
I—”

“I get it. But why do you think it’ll
work without physical intimacy?”

This was the tricky part
to explain. “Mack told me that techs reboot by going directly
to
the source
.
I’m pretty sure that’s what happened with Mack and me. I sensed
another presence.”