Victoria and the Alien Doctor (Intergalactic Brides 2) (2 page)

Maybe he should seek out Victoria, rather than wait for her to come to him again. Perhaps a trip to the bride agency desk was in order. They would have her information on file and could help him locate her.

And if his body seemed over eager to see her again, well that was a secret he’d just keep to himself.

Victoria watched her daughter sleep. Evie had her hand tucked under her chin, her lips slightly parted. The poor girl had been through so much over the past year, and Victoria knew in her heart that her sweet baby was dying. The doctors had done all they could for her, and now it was just a matter of time before the little angel breathed her last. A tear slipped down her cheek and she hastily swiped it away. She’d cried so many nights, but she tried to never cry in front of Evie.

A knock sounded at the front door, startling Victoria. It was late, far too late for a visitor. Unease crept down her spine, and she rushed into her room to get the baseball bat she kept by her bed. Her neighborhood wasn’t exactly safe, and it wouldn’t surprise her if a thug tried to force his way into her home. Most of them left her alone, knowing about Evie’s illness. But there was always a first.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she approached the door, another knock coming and this one firmer than before. She wanted to look and see who it was, but there wasn’t a peephole. And she wasn’t sure she would use it even if she had it. Victoria had seen too many movies where the person was shot through the peephole when there was a bad person on the other side.

“Get a grip,” she mumbled to herself. She didn’t know for sure there was someone bad on the other side of the door. What if it was the police?

Leaving the chain in place, she cracked the door and peered outside, more than a little surprised to see the alien doctor on her doorstep, sans white coat. He looked different, shirtless, wearing nothing but leather pants and boots. And far too mouthwatering for her own good. Had he been hiding all of those muscles under that drab coat?

“May I come in?” he asked.

She shut the door, removed the chain, then opened it and let him in. Xonos filled the space with his presence, making her small, ratty apartment feel even tinier than usual. She felt a moment of embarrassment as he looked around, taking in her stained sagging couch and threadbare carpet. He probably lived in a nice place, far nicer than anything she’d ever had.

In the dim lighting of her living room, he looked even better than he had in the dark. The muscles in his arms bulged. His shoulders were broad, his chest wide and firm. Other than his eyebrows and the hair on his head, she didn’t see hair anywhere else. It made her wonder if he was hairless
everywhere
.

Victoria shut and locked the door, not wanting to invite trouble into her home, though something told her she just had. She couldn’t imagine what the doctor could possibly have to say to her that couldn’t have waited until morning. Her stomach bubbled and flipped as she thought the worst.

“I’m sorry to disturb you so late,” he said, turning to face her. His gaze traced down her body, making Victoria more than a little aware of the tank top and skimpy shorts she had on. She’d intended to head to bed and had already changed for the night.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“I spoke with Thrace about your situation, and I’m afraid he isn’t interested. I can’t think of another warrior who would be, not with your daughter in the equation. This leaves us with one option.”

Her eyebrows arched. “Us?”

“I can’t get your daughter out of my mind. I was worried about your situation before you brought her with you, but now…” He shook his head.

“This is my problem, not yours.”

“What if it were my problem?”

Her lips turned down at the corners and her brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”

Xonos sighed and looked around the room once more before settling his gaze on hers. “From the looks of things, you need my help for more than just medical assistance. I can’t, in good conscience, leave a woman in a place like this. You should gather your things and come home with me.”

“To the Terran station? They’d never allow us there.” Not that they would be going with him. What had happened to the doctor since she’d last seen him? He seemed out of sorts, and she didn’t understand his sudden need to take care of Evie and her.

“I have a suite of rooms at a nearby hotel. They’ve reserved the top three floors for Terran use and it’s only a few blocks from the station. It’s a two bedroom suite, so there’s plenty of space.”

“I can’t just run off to your hotel with you. I don’t even know you!”

He frowned. “You know a Terran male would never harm a female, and especially not a child. I only mean to help. Besides, if things go accordingly, you’ll be living there before long anyway.”

Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she shook her head. “You’re not making any sense. Why would I be living there anyway?”

“Because.” He smiled. “You’re going to be my mate.”

Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me? I’m going to be what?”

“My mate. I’d sworn to never take a mate, but I thought we could help each other out. I want children, and you need a way to ease your daughter’s suffering. I realize I’m getting the better deal, since I don’t know if I can save her or not. You may need some time to think it over, but while you do that, I think we should get to know one another.”

She sank into her broken-down recliner. “Mate?”

He nodded, looking around again.

“But… why?”

“I can’t sit back and do nothing when there’s a chance I could help your daughter.”

“Evie.”

“Pardon?” he asked.

“Evie. Her name is Evie. And how is it we’re having this conversation outside of the station? Don’t I need a translator to understand you?”

His smile broadened. “I wasn’t using the translator systems at the station, either. I learned your language when I realized I would be stationed here.”

“So you’re doing this for Evie?” she clarified. “And because you want children? What happens if I can’t have any more children? I had a difficult pregnancy with Evie. The doctor said it might be better if I didn’t have another baby.”

He frowned. “I hadn’t counted on that. There are medical tests you’ll have to undergo before you could be approved as a mate. If you carry the cancer gene, or the genes for any illness we might not be able to cure, the request will be denied. If you are unable to have more children, you will also be denied. What kind of complications did you have?”

“I was put on bed rest the last three months of my pregnancy because of preeclampsia. I know it’s a common enough condition, but I was severely underweight during my pregnancy and that just added to the problem. I wasn’t really in a good situation and couldn’t afford to eat more than twice a day, and even those meals weren’t as nutritious as they should have been. Evie arrived early with underdeveloped lungs and had to stay at the hospital for a few weeks after she was born.”

He rubbed his chin and began to pace. “But it’s possible, if you were in a home where food was plentiful and healthy, that if the stresses in your life were removed, that you could carry a baby full-term without issue and have a healthy child. I think the problems you faced were due to your circumstances and not because you’re unable to have a normal pregnancy. Tests would give me decisive answers, but you’d have to agree to be my mate first.”

“And if I’m your mate, you’ll heal Evie? Or at least try to?” she asked.

Xonos nodded. “I give you my word. She’ll become my daughter the moment we’re mated, and I’ll do everything in my power to save her life.”

Victoria bit her bottom lip to stop its quivering. “She’s never had a father before,” she said softly. “Maybe knowing that someone else cares about her would give her the strength to keep fighting.”

“What type of cancer does she have? Perhaps if I did some research…”

“Osteosarcoma. It affects children. Usually it doesn’t show until they are around ten or older, but Evie’s showed up when she was two. It’s practically unheard of for it to happen so soon. And hers has spread like wildfire, starting in her right leg and now it’s in her arms and the last tests she had done showed it had moved into her lungs. She has maybe a month, two tops, to live.”

Xonos studied her with a grim expression. “I hadn’t realized it had progressed so far. I’ll see what I can do, but it isn’t likely I’ll be able to cure her. There’s a scientist here from my world. His name is Syl. I’ll call him tonight to get his help with this. I know I won’t be able to do it alone.”

Her heart sank, but she tried to stay optimistic. Just because Xonos hadn’t been able to cure the mate who had died from cancer, it didn’t mean he didn’t have the power to cure Evie. Miracles happened all the time, and Victoria had been praying hard for one for Evie. Her little girl was due for some good news, and maybe telling her she would have a daddy would be enough for the moment.

“What happened to Evie’s father?” Xonos asked. “If he’s still around, he might protest my claiming her.”

“I don’t know who Evie’s father is,” she admitted. “I was at a party and was quite drunk. I remember I walked off with two men and by morning I could tell we’d had sex, but I never got their names and if I’ve seen them since, I didn’t recognize them.”

He scowled. “And do you make it a habit to be so reckless?”

“No. Not since Evie. I was young, only twenty, and I was trying to escape from my life. I had a father who beat me and a mother who whored herself out for drugs. I’ve lived in neighborhoods like this, or worse, all my life. I don’t want that for my daughter. Especially not if she doesn’t have much longer to live. I want her to see the good things in life and get a chance to experience them.” She twisted her hands. “I haven’t had a drink since the moment I discovered I was pregnant with Evie. And I don’t do drugs or smoke. I try to live a peaceful life, and most of my time and energy goes toward Evie. I had a job up until a month ago. I’m on unemployment right now, but it isn’t really enough to pay the bills.”

“Just how dire is your situation?”

“We’ll lose this place next week if I can’t come up with the rent money. The utilities are scheduled to be shut off in four days. I can’t afford them either. Evie’s medicine is expensive and takes up just about all of my money. I haven’t been able to afford all of it, so I know I’m responsible for her current condition and the amount of pain she’s in. I’ve done everything but solicit strangers for sex as a way to pay for everything she needs.”

Xonos sighed. “I can’t let you stay here. Even if the tests haven’t been done yet, I can’t leave you in this place, not knowing all of that. Pack your things. I’ll carry Evie so we won’t have to wake her. Take what you need for now and I’ll send someone tomorrow to pack the rest of your belongings.”

“We don’t have much. Maybe two suitcases and one box worth of things I’d want to keep. And really, the clothes are more of a necessity. They’re all second-hand and Evie’s don’t fit the best, but they’ve had to do for now.”

“First thing tomorrow we’re getting the blood samples I need from you and then we’re going shopping. And don’t even think of saying no. I’m not giving you an option. You’re going to be my mate. You obviously need a protector more than I realized.”

She wasn’t sure if she should feel affronted that he thought she was doing such a poor job of taking care of Evie and herself, but she had to admit he had a point. They were on the verge of losing everything, and she couldn’t afford to take care of her child. She was doing a horrible job as a mother and maybe it was time to accept some help.

“Just let me change out of my pajamas and I’ll start packing.”

“Tell me where Evie’s suitcase is and I’ll start packing her things. I promise to be quiet and not wake her.”

“In the top of her closet. Most of her clothes are hanging up but there are a few things in the dresser drawers.”

Xonos nodded and followed her down the hall. She pointed to Evie’s room before dashing into her own. Pushing the door shut, she quickly changed into jeans and a tee, and then began shoving her clothes into her suitcase. When she was finished, she took the box out of her closet and began packing the few pictures and knickknacks she wanted to keep. The furniture and dishes could stay behind. If she was moving in with Xonos, she wouldn’t need them. And if things didn’t work out, maybe he’d let them stay at least long enough for to save for another apartment or find a new job.

He was waiting in the living room when she came out of her room. Her daughter was in his arms and the suitcase at his feet. There was a knock at the door and she hesitantly opened it only to discover a human male in a chauffeur’s outfit standing on her stoop. She ushered him inside, and he promptly picked up the box and one of the suitcases.

“I’ll return in a moment for the other bag, Mr. Xonos. Is there anything else you need?”

“I believe that will be all, Ned.”

The man nodded and carried their meager belongings outside. Victoria held up her key. “I need to return this to the manager and let them know I’m not staying.”

“I’ll have someone take care of it for you tomorrow. Tonight, we’re going home and getting Evie settled. Then tomorrow starts your new life.”

She shook her head. “We can’t get used to a new life until the blood work comes back, and you determine whether or not I’m allowed to be a mate. I don’t want to give her false hope that things are changing if they’re only going to remain the same. I just ask that you let us remain with you long enough for me to find a place to live and another job.”

Xonos smiled. “Have a little faith, Victoria. Things will work out the way they’re supposed to. If we’re destined to be a family, then that’s what will happen.”

She nodded. Ned returned and took the other bag. They followed him down, Victoria pausing only long enough to lock the apartment. She handed the key to Xonos and they walked out to the limo that waited for them. Victoria had never ridden in one before and wasn’t sure what to expect. There was enough space for Evie to stretch out and lay her head on Victoria’s lap, while Xonos sat on her other side. She found his presence comforting and hoped for the best.