Broken Protocols (16 page)
“It’s one thing to see that out there when I’m safe in here, but to know that I will be forced to go into that world…to face the Council…it is not easy to be so detached.”
“I hate the darkened room.” Milo said cheerfully. “Felt like we were living in a prison.”
His high-pitched voice paired with his words made her turn her head and stare at him. His bright purple air boots shone weirdly in the half light. She wondered if he was as harmless as he liked to appear. She hoped so. He could do a lot of harm to her if he chose. She gazed over at Levi. He was glaring at his brother, obviously not liking his word choices. Then again, neither did she.
She asked quietly, “Are we already married?”
“Not fully. We need your acceptance.”
“But the preparation, the paperwork, the legalities?”
“All done.”
She shook her head. “When did you do this?”
“This morning.” he said quietly. “After I realized that it was the only answer.”
“After the raid.” She nodded, starting to understand. “After the Council went to Johan’s.”
“I called Johan to warn him, but he had already slipped away. He told me about the possibility that the Council may have some information I didn’t want them to have.”
“Why would your name protect me?” She shook her head. “That makes no sense.”
“Only because you don’t understand how our government works today. We can protect you. But I need the family to help. Once you’re family, they will surround you. Shield you. You can have me represent you in front of the Council as your legal partner. I already have the papers drawn up. Then you’ll be safe.”
The thought of leaving the safety of the apartment made her feel faint. The thought of facing the Council brought on the nausea. She couldn’t face strangers. Not now. Not yet. She shuddered inwardly. Maybe never. She studied Levi’s serious face. “And will you be safe, too?”
“Yes. We will be, too.” He nodded.
“Then your logic is flawed. Because if that were the case, you’d be protected now. You two already have the family name.”
Milo snorted. “She’s got you there.”
“No. She doesn’t understand.” He shot an exasperated look at his brother before turning back to face Dani. “The family has been protecting us. But at the same time, Milo keeps crossing the line. This time, there is more than just us at stake. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you. When the family closes ranks around you, we can make all this go away.”
“You hope…”
A weird musical sound filled the air. Levi looked frustrated for a moment. He ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s time.”
“Time for what?” Dani asked, looking around for the source of the music.
“Time for you to say yes or no.” He took a step toward her. “Please, say yes.”
She stared at him, confused but realizing that he wanted – needed – the process finalized before she showed up at the Council. Something that mattered to keep her safe. To keep him and Milo safe. She didn’t care about Milo, but she didn’t want anything to happen to Levi. She hadn’t known him long, but what she did know, she liked – a lot. She could fall in love with him. But that could only happen if she agreed to his plan. A plan that was deeply uncertain. But what were her choices?
None.
Damn.
“I need to know something first.” She couldn’t get over the feeling that there was something here that she didn’t know. Something they weren’t coming clean about. And she needed them to. “Why me? I understand that stuff about picking me because I was close, etc. But there had to have been thousands of other women who would do.”
Milo laughed. “I can tell you the truth about that now that you’re almost family.” He pointed at Levi. “My big brother here carries a picture of a woman around. I saw it a long time ago and asked him about it. It’s originally from our family archives.” Milo’s grin widened. “He told me he didn’t know why, but there was something about the woman’s smile that struck him as special.”
She turned to stare at Levi.
Milo beamed. “Show her, Levi.”
Dani walked closer. “May I see it?”
Levi frowned, then reluctantly pulled a square metal-looking thing from his pocket. He unfolded it several times before handing it over.
She gasped. “Where did you get this?”
“I told you,” Milo said, “From the family archives.”
Dani stared at the very same picture she’d ripped into little pieces and tossed into the garbage – or would be the same image except that the part with Lawrence had been cut away, leaving just a shot of her face. She couldn’t believe what she was looking at. Coincidence? Fate? Destiny?
How much had her life changed in what – one day? Two days? She couldn’t tell anymore.
She lifted her stunned gaze to Milo. “Based on this, you brought me here?”
“That image was the start of my research. I ran the tests, probabilities, scans, more tests – and you passed – so I figure why not do something for my brother – who’s always doing nice things for me?” He patted Levi on the shoulder. “You were meant to be a gift for Levi.”
Bells chimed again. Levi looked at her, his voice low, urgent as he said, “Dani?”
Her gaze went from one brother to the other. Levi had taken the first step with the photo.
Milo the next.
This step was hers to take.
She swallowed, held out her hand, and said, “Yes, Levi. I will marry you.”
And Charmin, who’d been silent up until now, added, “Finally…”
The End
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The future is a dangerous place…
To save her skin and the skin of her new lover, Dani Summerland marries Levi Blackburn. That’s the good part. The bad part is that she and Levi realize they’re pawns in a game with no rule book.
Levi Blackburn can’t believe he’s married – but he’s a lucky man and he knows it. Now he needs to find out who is after Dani and why so they can start their honeymoon.
As they struggle to find out who’s targeting them and what they want, the danger escalates and people around them start dying.
It’s a good thing Charmin Marvin, her talking cat, is helping them.
More protocols are broken and if they can’t win this game, their lives will be broken, too.
M
arried? To Levi
Blackburn? Just like that. Dani Summerland’s sense of humor kicked in. How typical of her crazy life. She couldn’t find a man on her own in the 21st century but was already married after a couple of days in the 23rd century. That was some matchmaking trick.
And not by choice.
Well, technically that wasn’t true. The marriage part was by choice. At least it seemed like a great idea at the time. All of five minutes ago.
Dani Summerland stared suspiciously at the odd looking adornment on her finger. It looked like a ring. It didn’t feel like one. In fact, there was almost no weight to it at all. And given the size of the deep purple rock on top, she thought she’d have noticed. Even the metal was soft – comfortable to wear.
She held her fingers splayed wide and shifted her hand in the age old movement of women ever since rings were invented.
“Is it all right?” Levi Blackburn, her new husband, and yet still a stranger in many ways, stepped a little closer to her. The clear glass cube, or what stood in for being an elevator of this time period was almost normal – but there was no way she’d become accustomed to it as it disappeared into thin air when they arrived at their destination.
She flashed him a quick grin. “Sure. I’m just not used to wearing big rocks that appear to be made of nothing or that adjust automatically to any size.”
“It’s the new alloys,” Milo, Levi’s brainy child brother, piped up. “Gold fell from grace when the shortage came about 90 years ago. This was the answer.”
“And the supersized rocks?” she asked, playing with the rock to make it twinkle in the light.
“Most are synthetic.” Milo judged his brother in a joking manner. “But not this one.”
She frowned, pretty sure that the rocks in her day came in a synthetic variation as well. But they still had weight.
Then she had no time to wonder as they arrived at their destination. “Now remember, just smile,” Levi said. “Hold out your arm when requested to do so, but don’t say a word.” He shoved his arm outward to demonstrate.
She imitated his actions.
With a nod, he said, “If anyone asks where you’re from, tell them you’re from Felonia and that you arrived just a couple of days ago.”
“Felonia,” she repeated dutifully, dread congealing into a nasty ball in her stomach at the thought of anyone speaking to her. “Are you sure I can’t just go home?”
“I wish you could. But after this, no one will question your presence or your absence in the future.” Levi wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her forward. For all appearances, he looked like the doting new bridegroom. She shivered inwardly at the remembered passion they’d shared. Now if only they could head off on a romantic honeymoon.
But apparently not. She managed a warm glowing smile. He was her lifeline right now. And had quickly become the love of her life.
And for that, she’d even put up with his brother Milo. Whom she had yet to forgive for dragging her into this century. Using an amazingly advanced computer program, he’d gone back in time, snatched her up, and brought her here as a gift for his brother, Levi.
Talk about a mind bender.
That he’d also brought Charmin and accidentally enhanced Charmin’s communication abilities, which was originally intended for her, was beyond anything she could have imagined.
The tube disappeared and Levi, his arm wrapped around her, led her forward into a large room with a clerk standing at the ready. “Good morning. Dani Summerland,” Levi said. “Levi Blackburn and Milo Blackburn reporting in as requested.”
The clerk frowned. “Only your presence was requested. Not your brother.” He glanced up, saw Dani, and his frown deepened. “Not your girlfriend.”
Dani straightened in outrage. Levi squeezed her shoulders. “My wife and brother are here because everyone living in my house was requested to attend.”
“Wife?” Now the clerk’s frown deepened. He clicked madly away on his weird tablet computer. Dani couldn’t help but be fascinated as the lights flashed and pages shifted in a wildly erratic pattern she suspected was anything but erratic. She’d always loved computers. She hoped that she’d learn how these worked soon.
“Why do I have no record of that? I should have been notified.” His voice rose slightly.
Control freak much? She eased out a shaky breath, trying to appear natural. As if showing up in a futuristic Council to answer for something she had nothing to do with was completely normal. She’d wanted to bring Charmin with her for comfort, but both brothers had shot that idea down instantly.
Charmin hadn’t liked it much either.
Even now she wanted to go back and hug him. He was her only link to her old life.
The clerk finally looked up and studied her. Whatever he saw made his lips curl. “Don’t tell me, she’s from the outer areas. From a fringe group.”
Cutting words bubbled up on Dani’s tongue, but she bit them back. She had no idea what the outer areas meant, but she didn’t deserve to be treated as a lesser person because of it.
Levi nodded comfortably. “She is.”
The clerk rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’ll put her down.”
Levi nodded his thanks politely and led Dani into a huge chamber room where the ceiling appeared so high up she couldn’t see the top. “Wait here. I shouldn’t be long.”
She reacted instinctively, reaching out to grab his hand. “Are you sure you can’t sit here beside me?”
He leaned over and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “You’ll be fine.” He looked up and nodded his head at someone. “Here’s my lawyer. John Driscoll.”
Dani turned as the stranger approached. He wore a uniquely tailored suit in glowing blue patterns. The styles might not have changed a lot, but the colors of today sure had. She smiled a polite greeting and shook his hand, charmed at the old style greeting.
“Levi. Are you ready?”
Levi nodded. “I was just settling Dani here where she’d be comfortable.”