Stark Surrender (24 page)

He had a new eye to replace the one that had been destroyed by Mordacity’s gangers. An eye better than the original, and according to his doctors and his family, nearly indistinguishable from the other.

He had a prince awaiting his return to his chosen home, Frontiera, a new planet on which he had vast new business interests. He had his choice of new, exquisitely comfortable crafts to take him there or anywhere else he chose to travel.

He had family who had dropped everything and come to spend days, nights, weeks searching for him among the millions teeming in the streets and scrapers of New Seattle.

And none of this could lift him from the state of angst in which he’d awakened. He had to bite back the urge to roar his distress aloud to the cosmos, as he’d done on that dark street corner when he’d seen Kiri escaping from him. But of course what would happen here was for his doctors and medtechs to come running, offering him tests and gesics and sedatives and help … none of which he was sure he deserved.

In fact, he was certain he deserved none of it. Lying here, he’d had time to think, time to look within himself, time to segue his memories of his life before, during and after his fugue state, his dive into a life as feral, basic man—hiding, hunting and fucking.

And he was ashamed of what he saw.

He’d spent his entire life striving not to be the man who sired him—his father, who left his mother pregnant and then turned his back on her and his young son. And in the end, he’d become just like him. A man who saw what he wanted and took it. All Logan had done was to convert to an exponentially larger scale.

At his worst, as Lode, he’d taken the woman he wanted above all others and forced her to remain with him, scaring the hells out of her and her brother, who had no idea if she was murdered or captured by slavers as he’d been.

And Kiri was right, in what she’d said to him. That man was within him all the time—must have been, to emerge so readily while he was drugged. Lady Ellianne had been dosed with a like drug, but she hadn’t killed anyone, or even raised a hand to Joran while he kept her in his tont. She’d remained peaceful, because that was who she was.

He, Logan Stark, was a ruthless predator. He just usually wore a business suit to hunt. As Lode, he’d simply gone completely feral, with leathers and a laser.

* * *

The family all went back and forth from the penthouse to the medcenter that evening. They came back somber, remarking that Logan was very quiet, and seemed to want to sleep, not talk.

Kiri visited him before bedtime. She was drawn to his side, made deeply uneasy by their reports.

Natan, with his incredible timing, was just delivering a tray of tiny cakes and coffee with creamer. He smiled at Kiri and slipped out.

Logan looked up as she walked in, but he was unsmiling. As she guided the tray to his bedside and perched on the edge of the chair, she eyed him warily. Something was wrong. Was he having some kind of reversion?

“Logan?” she whispered, ready to spring to her feet—whether for the door or the nearest medtech, she wasn’t even sure.

He turned his head slowly on the pillow and regarded her. She was shocked by the shadows in his gaze, the grim set of his mouth.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Are you in pain?”

He grimaced. “No more than I deserve.” His voice was low and rough.

This did not sound like Logan. “What are you talking about?” she asked cautiously.

“One thing a person has plenty of in a medcenter is time to reflect,” he said. “So that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve had the finest care, the best doctors and tech credit can buy. All for me. The trouble is, I’m not sure I deserve any of this.” He waved a hand at the luxe room. “Or even to be here.”

He looked at her, and she felt a shock of cold, as if she were gazing into a pit of icy pain, all emanating from him. This was completely unlike Logan. Even as Lode, he’d been driven to act, not contemplate.

“Why, Logan?” she whispered. “Why don’t you deserve this care?”

“Because of you. I know for a fact I don’t deserve to have you at my side. Not anymore. You were right about the way I treated you. And I … I have no excuse to offer, nothing that can make it right.’

He shrugged slightly. ‘At the time, it—it seemed so perfect. I’d dreamt of you, and there you were. I wanted you, so I took you. And all … the rest.”

Kiri tried to speak, but only a strangled sigh emerged from her throat. Shock reverberated through her, leaving her hardly able to breathe. He went on talking, the words pouring from him as if a barrier had broken.

“I behaved as badly—no, worse—than I’ve ever behaved to another woman,” he said, his voice rough with pain. “I practically raped you. I did force you to respond to me. Proving once and for all that I’m no good for you, Kiri. I never was.”

He took a deep, shuddering breath.

“Do you know why I told Joran that you were just another woman, back when we were together? I know you overheard me, and that was why you went out that night, and ended up in harm’s way from Darkrunner. I told Joran that because I knew from the beginning that you weren’t like other women … not for me.”

She looked into his eyes, and saw the reflection of her own past feelings for him—raw, hopeless yearning, certain it would never be reciprocated. Something she’d been certain she would never see in him.

“You were the one woman who could make me lose my famous control,” he went on. “You made me want all the things I swore never to let myself want from a woman—love, devotion, fidelity. When you told me I didn’t know what that meant, you were wrong. I know, Kiri. I’ve never had it, but I know. But you see, asking for it meant that I’d have to admit I couldn’t take everything I wanted from the galaxy. That there were some things I’d have to ask for, and then wait to hear a yes or a no. I couldn’t bear to hear another no. So I seized control of the situation, and pushed that chance, and you, away. And it worked, didn’t it?’

He sighed again, this time the sound catching harshly in his chest. “You need to get away from me, back to your new life. I want that for you. I’ll arrange a flight for you and Kai, in the morning.”

He turned his face away and lay still.

For a long moment, the room was so quiet she could hear her own agitated breaths. Her heart, pounding in her chest. Emotion too big to contain welling from her eyes. Unconsciously, she pressed a hand to her belly.

“Well,” she said at last, “Thank you, Logan. I needed, very badly, to hear that apology for … recent events, and the reasons behind the way you spoke back then. It hurt, so much.”

Yes, she’d needed to hear him say these things. Even if she did feel faint and battered from the shock. Even if hot tears were welling and streaming down her face, dripping onto her hand, under which Peabean slumbered.

“There’s just … one or two little problems with your plan, though,” she told him.

When he didn’t reply or acknowledge her, she went on. “You see, Bronc won’t let any of us leave, so we’re sort of … stuck here. Together.”

She rose to her feet and glided to his bedside. “Also, there’s something else—”

The door on the other side of the bed opened, and one of the doctors bustled in, her face concerned. “Mr. Stark, you aren’t resting. You’re agitated, your heart rate is up, and your blood pressure is much too high—this cannot continue.”

She stopped at Logan’s bedside, medscanner glowing and beeping at her side. “I’m going to give you a sedative. You must sleep.”

“No,” Logan gritted.

She would tell him about the baby later, after he’d had some rest. And after she’d had time to process the incredible outpourings of his heart, and decide how she was going to respond.

Kiri put her hand on his. “Yes,” she said firmly. “You’ll take the sedative, and you’ll sleep, Logan.”

She nodded to the doctor, who looked at her and then Logan with interest. Then, when Logan merely lay silent, she bent and applied a patch to his upper arm. “Sleep well, Mr. Stark.”

Logan’s hand slowly relaxed under Kiri’s, and his eyes closed.

The doctor looked up at her and smiled. “Thank you, Ms te Nawa. And now you will go and rest too, hmm?”

Since this was the doctor who had examined Kiri and informed her she was pregnant, Kiri nodded. “Yes. I will, doctor. Thank you.”

With a last look at Logan, she did as the doctor ordered.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Logan woke to the soft sounds of one of the medtechs working around his room, monitoring his vitals. She smiled at him when he opened his eyes. “Good morning, Mr. Stark. How are you this morning?”

He was exceedingly ill-tempered. It took him only a few secs to recall why. Kiri. She had been here, but now she was gone.

Because he’d sent her away. With a groan, Logan lifted a hand to his forehead. He’d done it—admitted everything. And she’d left him, just as he’d told her to. And if this left him feeling empty and used up as a recycled container … it was only what he deserved. She was too good for him. Hells, his entire family was too good for him.

“Mr. Stark?” the medtech queried, her round face hovering over his, her eyes worried. “Are you in pain?”

His stomach rumbled, and he realized that he was hungry. No, he was starving. He needed nutrients. And his own clothing, for God’s sake. Enough of medcenter clothing, and these sterile surroundings.

“No,” he said. Yes, but it wasn’t the kind of pain gesics could soothe. “I’m simply ready to get out of here.”

And in a short time, he was back in his own bedroom. Natan had moved all his things here from the scraper, bless him, and even laid out a shirt and pair of pants.

When Logan walked into the dining room, the first person he saw was Kiri, at the far end of the big table, by his own empty place. He stopped in the doorway, his chest painful, as if a heavy weight pressed down on it.

She looked lovely … lovelier than he’d ever seen her, in fact.

Her short hair was a glossy cap on her head, highlighting her graceful cheekbones and jaw, and she wore a soft yellow sweater that wrapped around her slender form in clever folds. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes pools of feminine mystery … and he sounded like an idiot, even in his own head. But everything in him responded to her.

For the first time since he’d met her, he forced down those feelings, and closed a hatch on them. She was not for him, not anymore.

She cast him a swift glance from under her long lashes and then looked away. His hands clenched at his sides, the urge to claim her roaring through him. No—he no longer had the right.

He forced himself to walk quietly into his dining room. It was full of the smells of coffee and good food, and quiet conversation.

Creed looked up from where he sat beside Taara and smiled. “Logan. Good to see you up.”

Joran looked him over and grinned. “Finally got out of your nightwear, I see, bro.”

Taara cocked her head to scan Logan’s black slacks and burgundy shirt, both tailored to fit his too-lean body. “You look very nice, Logan.”

He nodded to the pretty blonde, knowing he looked like hells, but not wanting to offend her. Taara had a bubbly sweetness about her. He’d known she’d be perfect for his taciturn little brother the moment he met her, and he’d been right. Creed’s azure gaze on her was full of love and quiet pride. Of course he’d nearly disowned Logan for his high-handed part in their romance too.

“I dunno. You were working the urban pirate vibe, with your whiskers and the patch,” Joran argued. “Now you just look like plain old Logan.”

Logan yanked a lock of his brother’s long hair as he passed him, headed for the seat at the head of the table. Kiri’s cheeks flushed as he approached. She sipped her coffee, lashes veiling her eyes.

“Joran,” Ellianne chided her husband. “We’re in your brother’s home.”

Logan managed a smile for the little brunette, her delicate manners usually an amusing counterpoint to his big, untamed brother.

“That has never stopped him from being disrespectful before,” Logan said gruffly. “Too late to hope he’ll change now.”

Creed and Joran chuckled, and Taara and Ellianne laughed.

Logan dropped into his chair, trying not to reveal what a relief it was to sit. His legs were shaking just from his shower and the walk through his penthouse.

From Kiri’s other side, Kai gave him a warning look. Logan acknowledged him with a nod, hoping Kai understood the message—that Logan agreed with him, he needed to treat Kiri like the precious gem she was.

Natan came in from the galley, bearing a tall glass which he set before Logan.

Logan surveyed the pale green contents. “What’s this, Natan?”

“A special vitamin and protein drink, sir. I was given the recipe by a Pangaean healer.”

“I do plan to eat breakfast,” Logan said.

“Yes sir,” Natan said, his hair waggling with embarrassment but his face determined. “But this will help your body heal more quickly.”

“All right,” Logan nodded to his butler and chef, whose services he was very fortunate to have. “Thank you. I’ll drink it. Now may I have some coffee?”

“Yes, sir.” Beaming, Natan bowed.

The others watched, his brothers with identical looks of dubious fascination, the women more subtly as Logan took a sip of the drink. It was smooth, creamy and tasted of fruit and yogurt and some herb he couldn’t name. He was sure it was loaded with vitamins.

“Delicious.” He toasted his audience and drank it down.

“What do I have to do to get one of those?” Creed asked.

“I will be happy to prepare one for you sir,” Natan said. “Ms te Nawa enjoys one before bedtime.”

Creed shook his head, smiling. “No thanks, Natan. This breakfast is great.”

Logan handed his empty glass to Natan, and accepted a plate of eggs, fresh baked muffins and gremel fruit. Then he frowned at the food on Kiri’s plate, which she was rearranging with her fork.

“Eat,” he said very quietly. “Please.”

She immediately took a huge bite of eggs, glowering at him as she chewed. “Mmm,” she said with exaggerated relish.

Satisfied, Logan dug into the hot, delicious food on his plate. Swallowing a bite and forking up another, he looked around the table at his family. Words seemed called for.

“It’s good to be home,” he said. God, all this and all these people, here for him? Suddenly he felt like the biggest sham on Earth II. Thank God they couldn’t see the darkness inside him, how unworthy he was.

Lady Ellianne’s big blue eyes filled with tears, and she smiled at him. “I know what you mean,” she said, as if they were alone at the table. Logan nodded, because she did know, at least partly. She’d been drugged just as he had, and fought her way back—except she’d done so with grace and a good heart.

So had Kai te Nawa, but he avoided Logan’s gaze, his posture stiff. Still angry about Logan’s treatment of his sister. He’d have to make time to let the other man have his say, and assure him he’d never hurt Kiri that way again, because he’d be staying away from her. And if that filled him with such black despair he wanted nothing more than to put his head back and howl, that was his problem alone.

Taara was staring at Logan, her head cocked. “Oh, my stars,” she said, “I know what’s different about you.” He tensed, waiting for her to say something about the darkness emanating from him, but instead she said triumphantly, “You have silver patches. Very distinguished.”

His brothers looked at him askance.

“At his temples,” Taara said, sketching her fingers in the air by her own forehead. “It’s a good look on you, Logan.”

“Thank you, Taara. I’m glad you approve.”

Kiri was staring at him, her soft lips quirking in a way that begged for a kiss. She said nothing, but she was smiling as she sipped her own coffee. Their knees brushed under the table, and he pulled away from her. He couldn’t afford the temptation.

They’d just finished eating when Natan appeared, looking perturbed. “Mr. Stark, Mr. Berenson is here. He has news you must hear right away.”

“Tell him we’ll join him in the sitting room,” Logan said, rising. He wasn’t hungry after all. He pulled out Kiri’s chair for her and waited for her to precede him into the sitting room.

Everyone followed them. Bronc already had New Seattle news vid up. A newscaster gazed gravely into the holovidcam from a news desk.

“Breaking news coming to you now,” he enthused. “In what police won’t yet label as coincidence or possible terrorist attacks, two buildings in New Seattle are the sites of major explosions this morning. We take you now to the first one, a scraper owned by business magnate Logan Stark. Stark has been out of the public eye for the last month, and speculation has been rife as to whether he’s been ill or possibly in some sort of celebrity rehab.”

Standing before Logan, Kiri gasped, her hands going to her face. Without thinking, Logan set his hands on her shoulders and held on.

“What the hells?” Joran muttered.

Logan ignored the newscaster’s innuendo and his brother’s anger. He stood staring over Kiri’s head as a second holovid appeared to one side of the newscaster. A billow of black smoke rose from the ruined top of a slim, gleaming scraper. Fire rigs hovered in the air, shooting streams of pale blue cryofoam at the heart of the blaze. No flame could thrive under the nearly weightless, but frigid, suffocating foam.

In the foreground floated a news hovie. This newscaster was wide-eyed with excitement under the transparent rain bubble.

“Hello, John, and viewers. I’m here at the scene of an explosion and fire that as you can see has destroyed the top floors of this scraper. Wealthy business magnate Logan Stark is known to own this building, and to have—sorry, to have had—a penthouse that took up the top three floors. It’s not known if he was at home at the time of the explosion, or if any other beings were injured or killed. But one thing’s for sure ... Stark won’t be living here any time soon.”

With delight thinly disguised as concern, the woman swept her arm out to indicate the fire. “We don’t know how many floors were damaged in the explosion …”

Her voice went on, but Kiri’s voice registered through the noise. “We all could have been there,” she said. “We’d be dead.”

Logan pulled her back against him, supporting her, squeezing her upper arms. God, she was right. The very thought of losing her to that conflagration made him want to sweep her up and carry her in his arms, place her somewhere no harm could touch her.

Which was what Lode had wanted too, ironically. Logan swallowed hard, and stepped away from Kiri.

“That’s why we moved here,” Joran said, his voice clipped. “Bronc suspected something like this.”

Logan cut his gaze to his security head. “You’ll share that intel with me. And thank you—you saved us all.”

“Yes, sir.” Bronc nodded.

They turned their attention back as a third vid appeared.

“Oh, my God,” Kiri said. “That’s Tal’s building.”

The seven-story building was mostly intact, but black smoke and flames billowed from one corner. Beings could be seen hurrying about on the flat roof, and more fire rigs were busy spraying cryofoam.

“Darkrunner’s place was hit too,” Creed said. “That’s not good. Connected attacks.”

“Will they attack here next?” Taara asked, turning into his arms.

“No, because we’ve got surveillance that will find and take down any droid or air vehicle that gets close enough,” Bronc said. “And even if they did get through, almost nothing can harm this building.”

“... popular nightclub, the Flash,” the newscaster was saying. “Owned by local businessman and suspected gangland associate, Tal Darkrunner. Now, this area is always busy, with tourists and locals out at all hours.’

‘And several witnesses—who spoke only on condition of anonymity—say they saw beings in fluorescent chartreuse jackets loitering in this area a few hours ago, similar to those worn by the GloJacs, a gang which has gained power and territory in the last months.’

‘The suspicious beings were picked up by a cruiser which, witness say, dropped out of the sky right beside this building, picked up the men, and then took off again. The fire was noticed shortly afterward.”

“The GloJacs,” Logan said, ice filling his gut. “They did this.”

Everyone’s coms began to chime at once.

“My mother,” said Ellianne, her voice surprised.

“Daanel,” Tara said. “This must be on galactic news.”

Kiri checked her com. “Maury. And Illyria. And my neighbor in the F City shopping center.”

Logan’s link was from Tal Darkrunner himself. Logan stepped back away from Kiri to answer. The ganger was furious, his pale eyes blazing in his inked face.

“We’re under attack, Stark,” he snarled. “And one of my people got a message from the GloJacs. Said it’s because we helped Lode. That wouldn’t happen to be your street name, by any chance?”

“It was,” Logan replied, that heavy weight back on his chest. “As I couldn’t recall my real name. Were any of your people harmed?”

“No, through pure luck. I store shit on the top floor, that’s all—no offices or quarters.”

“They bombed my scraper too,” Logan told him. “If they’d done it a day sooner, my entire family and several of my most valued people would’ve been wiped out.”

Darkrunner took this in, then cocked his head. “You weren’t there. Where are you?”

“LodeStar HQ, which is virtually impregnable. Now, we both have fires to put out. I’ll link you later, set up a meet, yes?”

Darkrunner grunted something and disappeared.