Turbulence (3 page)

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “It didn’t happen here.
He went into town two days ago and never returned. That’s not like Davie. I
can’t feel him through our bond.”

Greyson knew Davie pretty well. He helped build some of the
cabins. He wouldn’t burst Lola’s bubble by telling her about the things Davie
said behind her back, the nicest of which was that she was an irritating nag.
Stuff like that only made Greyson’s vow to never blood bond that much stronger.
Davie probably ran off to get a break.

“I’m sure he’ll come back. Give it time.” Greyson stood.

“No!” Lola shouted then slapped a hand over her mouth when
he arched a brow at her outburst. “I’m sorry, sir. Forgive me. But you have to
look into it. It could be a case like when Lily’s sister and those other
Jhetans were taken. We never got them back. Look at poor Barry. He’s still not
the same. I don’t want to end up like that.”

So that’s why she didn’t want to say anything over the phone.
Mistrust, as he suspected. Greyson studied Lola’s overly made-up face and
thought of Barry Ward who’d been in a depression since his teen son, Nile, had
been taken by Department X. He loathed seeing that happen to anyone else.

“All right. I’ll look into it. But don’t ignore that he
could have left you.”

She grew pale. “Why would he do that?”

Yeah, he wasn’t going there. Greyson left, still not
convinced Davie was abducted. What were the odds of someone else going missing
after all this time? Things had been quiet for a while. He planned to keep it
that way, he thought as he walked up the road.

“Hey, Greyson!”

He turned his head and smiled. He stopped and allowed one of
his favorite pastimes to catch up with him. “What’s going on, Jalena?”

The tall brunette saddled up beside him in a green sweater
dress that accentuated her curves. In this weather she should have been wearing
a jacket, but Jalena liked attention and he liked looking at her. “Nothing
much. Just wondering if you’re looking for company tonight?”

“Company like you?”

“Who else would it be?” she asked, biting her lip.

Jalena kept Greyson’s bed warm on nights he needed female
companionship since his ex-flame—who he originally stole from Dex years
ago—Nyah stayed in Nevada in hopes of becoming a Las Vegas performer. Nyah
still showed up from time to time. Then after she and Greyson had their fun,
she went back home.

Greyson liked women like Jalena and Nyah. They didn’t
pressure him into a commitment. A few hours of passion were all he had to give and
they were cool with it. Even if Greyson could see himself falling in love with
a woman, he wouldn’t. Love was a weakness, his father always told him. Dex
almost got himself killed trying to save Lily’s sister last year just to make
her happy. To hell with that.

Greyson did not respond to her question. He kept walking
toward the farmhouse, making Jalena keep up with him.

“You better not be pushing me aside already. You aren’t, are
you?” She stopped on the yellow lawn of the farmhouse, hands on her hips.

He shrugged and ran his fingers through his nearly shoulder
length hair. “That’s for me and my friend down below to know. Don’t you think?”

 “Why do you always have to tease me?” she pouted.

“No one’s teasing, sweetheart.” He tapped the tip of her small
nose. Greyson had other women, but it was usually a one and done thing since
those trysts were usually with humans. Greyson could tell who would be clingy
right from the start. He had a radar for that.

Jalena blew out an exaggerated sigh. “Are we meeting tonight
or not?”

Greyson leaned down so that his mouth was a scant distance
away from her ear and whispered, “Meet me tonight. Eight o’clock. We’ll go
somewhere special. Don’t keep me waiting.”

She gave his butt a squeeze and purred, “I won’t.”

Something moved in his periphery. Greyson caught the
curtains of the house quickly close. He smiled to himself. Their housekeeper
was nosy, was she?

He dismissed Jalena, sending her on her way before he jogged
up the steps and into the house. When he entered, Avalon was arranging
magazines on the table.

“Hello, sir.” She pointedly avoided his gaze, the magazines
too important.

“Were you spying on me, Avalon?”

She turned to him, her eyes wide and blue. “N-no, sir. I was
just…”

“Go on. You were just what?” Greyson crossed his arms, waited
for her reply. Putting Avalon on the spot like this was too good for him to
resist.

She wrung her thin hands in front of her, searching for an
answer that she felt wouldn’t get her into trouble. She must not have been able
to find a good enough excuse because she hung her head. “I was spying, sir. I
did not hear anything. I swear, sir. I just saw you with that woman. That’s
all. I won’t tell a soul.”

“See that you don’t.” Greyson almost laughed. Avalon wasn’t
as nosy as he thought if she didn’t know that he and Jalena were sleeping
together. Hell, there was nothing to tell when the whole colony knew thanks to
Jalena’s big mouth.

“Did anyone ever tell you that snooping was bad?” he raised,
poking fun at her.

“Not really. Servants do it all the time.”

“How would you know that?”

Her expression turned reflective and a little sad. “Life,
sir.”

Greyson left her to her work, wondering why some part deep
inside of him wanted to know more about Avalon’s life. Yeah, he needed another
drink. Bad.

Chapter 3

This was what life was about.

In the dim interior of the strip club, Greyson relaxed back
in his seat, sipping on his third glass of the finest whiskey in the
establishment.

Neon lights flashed on the stage as the stripper—Midnight Glitter—snaked
her half-naked body suggestively around the silver pole. She wasn’t Greyson’s
type, with her bleached white blonde hair and humongous fake boobs that looked
like cantaloupes. But the girl had a gift. She dropped down from the pole into
an impressive split.

“She deserves to be tipped for that.” Greyson held a twenty
between his middle and index fingers.

Jalena took the money and sashayed up to the stage, the sway
of her hips mesmerizing. Men hooted at her, shouted for her to take off the
skintight dress she wore. She wouldn’t. Jalena wouldn’t take off anything for
anyone but him, not that he would have cared if it were any other night. She
could do as she pleased. But tonight she was his entertainment.

When he had told Jalena they were going to a strip club
tonight, she barely batted an eye. Greyson could just imagine a proper, shy woman
like Avalon in a place like this. She’d probably die of shock.

Jalena tucked the bill into Midnight Glitter’s overflowing
sparkly bikini top, letting her hands linger on the other woman’s breast.
Greyson licked his lips and took a sip of his drink.

The buzz of alcohol made him feel good and kept his head
light. Being here also made his body ache for sexual release. Jalena waltzed
back and he patted his lap. She straddled him, wrapped her arms around his
neck.

“You wanna stuff cash into my bra?” she said into his ear,
allowing her tongue to glide along it.

Greyson thrust his hips up to let her know money wasn’t what
he planned to give her. “That’s better than cash, sweetheart. But you’re going
to have to work for it. Lap dance.”

Her red painted lips stretched into a lustful grin. She
began moving her hips, gyrating her ass on him. While she was doing that,
causing a certain part of his to strain against his jeans, Greyson reached to
pour more whiskey into his glass. He stopped. He already had more than enough.
Were it any other person, they’d probably be drunk out of their mind by now. It
took a lot more than three glasses of alcohol these days to get him drunk.

He didn’t mind drinking himself into oblivion. At times, he
purposely did it. It was the only way he could clear his mind and free himself
temporarily from the duties and pressures of his job. But not tonight. He had
plans for the sexy lady grinding on his lap and having a drunk, limp noodle was
not conducive to it.

Greyson halted Jalena and pulled his cell phone from his
pants pocket. He hit the number of the sentry who was his designated driver for
the night and told him to meet him at the front of the building. The plans he
had for Jalena couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to get home soon or at least
in the back of the car.

----

Avalon wiped her hands on her dress before picking up the
huge bowl of salad. Once a week there was a dinner for everyone in the colony in
the recreation center. Only once had Avalon attended one of them and that was
because her grandmother forced her to go. Large crowds made her feel
uncomfortable.

Lily asked her to make the punch and salad for tonight.
Bear, the Jhetan cook, was taking care of the rest. Avalon could not leave
early tonight since Greyson made sure to remind her that she was supposed to be
at his beck and call at all times of the day.

So far, he hadn’t asked much of her besides meal requests
and making sure he had clean towels and a pair of workout clothes always at the
ready when he went to the exercise room.

Despite his lack of demands, he still made Avalon feel
uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the way his hard brown eyes seemed to inspect her
as if searching for worthiness. Or maybe it was the immense, authoritative
presence of him that caused her to feel inadequate in comparison.

Avalon pushed open the swinging door from the kitchen,
carried the salad bowl to the back of the multi-purpose room, and sat it on the
long table next to the rest of the food.

She walked back into the kitchen where Bear was slicing up a
ham at a speed that made her eyes blur. Bear was a giant of a man, but he was
so friendly and unintimidating that she felt at ease around him.

“Anything else you need me to do?” she asked.

He glanced at her before returning to his task. “Nope.
Making the punch and salad was plenty. Go on and enjoy yourself. Everyone
should be here soon.”

Avalon went back out to the big room filled with table and
chairs. The Jhetan youth had created art, which adorned the walls, giving the
space warmth and much needed splashes of color.

She took a seat at a table off to the side to wait. Her
grandmother would be here before long. Veeva never missed the dinners. She
loved the excitement and hearing about the latest gossip.

There weren’t many older Jhetans around the colony since
among the older generations of Jhetans it was considered an honorable death to
die along with their planet when the asteroid hit. Not Veeva. She called those
people idiots and told Avalon to prepare to travel to Earth.

Before long, the room began to fill up with other residents.
Avalon checked the braided bun atop her head to make sure it wasn’t sagging
after a long day of work. Her dress had a few stains on the skirt, but nothing
too noticeable. She tried not to draw unnecessary attention to herself.

People greeted each other, piled their plates with the
delicious food Bear prepared. Dex and Lily walked in together, looking both
regal and jovial as they socialized with those around them. Avalon was a little
surprised they came tonight. Lily spent most of the day in bed on account of
not feeling well and Dex had been concerned.

“Avalon, dear.”

She turned at the sound of Veeva’s voice and would have
choked had there been any food in her mouth. Her grandmother never behaved like
the stereotypical older person, but Avalon did not think Veeva was crazy until
she saw what was before her right now.

Dressed in a leather jacket and chains with a skull and
cross bones shirt underneath to match the leather-pleated skirt, Veeva twirled
to allow Avalon to see the entire ensemble. Including the studded combat boots
on her feet and the streak of purple in her gray hair.

“Gram,” she hissed. Avalon knew without a doubt that before
she left this morning her grandmother hadn’t been dressed like a biker groupie.
She was going to have to get the woman a baby-sitter. “What the heck are you
wearing?”

“It’s called biker chic. You like?”

“No. I don’t like. Sit down before someone sees you.” Avalon
grabbed her grandmother’s arm and tried to pull her down in the chair beside
her. Veeva resisted and swatted her hand away. For an old person she was pretty
strong.

“I want everyone to see me,” she said, beaming with pride.

 “Where did you get these clothes?”

“The store. Where else? I went into town the other day, saw
this man on a motorcycle, and got inspired. He invited me to come to one of his
bike club meetings one day.”

“I’m so embarrassed.” If her cheeks could burst into flames,
she’d be on fire right now. “You are not going to the meeting.”

“Why not? It should be fun. He told me it’s more of a party
than a meeting anyway.”

Avalon slapped her forehead. “I can’t deal with you right
now.”

The chains on the leather jacket moved as Veeva shifted her
stance. “Fine. I won’t go to the party. But that’s not going to stop me from
having a good time tonight. You can stay here and be a wallflower. I’m out.
Peace.”

Veeva walked off to do whatever it was she considered a good
time while Avalon tried to ignore the headache brewing behind her eyes.
Sometimes she wondered whether Veeva’s antics were planned to see which would
exasperate Avalon the most. Biker chic was definitely in the top five.

While she was taking deep breaths to calm herself, a sense
of awareness came over Avalon. A prickle at the back of her neck. Like a magnet
pulling her gaze, she turned toward the entrance of the recreation center.
Greyson strolled through the door. He stopped and searched the crowd. His eyes
locked onto hers. Avalon’s heart pounded in her chest at the sudden rush of
heat flowing through her body. His brown eyes narrowed and he stalked toward
her.

Greyson pulled out a chair at the table and sat down in
front of her. “Why are you over here by yourself?”

She managed to find her voice despite the intensity in his
gaze. “I’m more comfortable sitting here, sir.”

He stroked the golden stubble on his chin. “Hmm. Then I
guess I have to stay over here too.”

“That’s not necessary, sir.”

“Are you telling me what to do, Avalon?” his deep voice
rumbled, daring her to question him again.

Avalon lowered her head. “No.”

“Lift your head.” When she did, he said, “Always look me in
the eyes. Never lower your head when talking to anyone. You get no respect when
you cower. You hear me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Get me something to eat.”

She stood, glad to be given something to do with him around
her. Why did he make her feel so jittery? “What would you like, sir?”

“Everything.”

Avalon scampered away and piled Greyson’s plate with every
food item on the table and filled a cup with red punch. She placed the food in
front of him along with utensils and napkins.

“Anything else, sir?”

“Yeah. Sit down. You standing over me makes me
uncomfortable.”

She rushed to sit down. After she did, he dug into his food,
shoveling it into his mouth like he was only seconds away from dying of
starvation, which was far from true when she made both breakfast and lunch for
him.

He swallowed the macaroni in his mouth and glanced at the
empty table in front of her. “Aren’t you eating?”

“No, sir. I’m not hungry.”

His confused expression transformed into a glower. “What did
you eat for lunch?”

Avalon couldn’t help but cringe under his powerful stare. He
must enjoy intimidating her. “N-nothing.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I forgot.”

He slammed his fork down on the napkin. “That’s the dumbest
thing I have ever heard. Did someone tell you not to eat any of the food in the
house?”

“No.”

“Then I can’t understand why you are sitting here without
food. Don’t you have a stomach? Surely it tells you that your body needs
nourishment.” He shook his head and muttered, “No wonder you’re so damn skinny.
You don’t eat.”

She was thin, but she wasn’t as skinny as he was making her
out to be. She simply didn’t get hungry as often as most people did. “I was
busy with housework today, sir.”

“You’re not busy now. Eat this.” He shoved his half-eaten
plate across the table.

Avalon balked. “No thank you. I’m not hungry. And it’s
yours.”

His brown eyes flashed with irritation. “I said to eat. The.
Food.”

Her eating habits were none of his concern, but arguing with
Greyson did not seem like a good idea, because without a doubt, she’d lose. So
with nothing else to do, she ate.

Avalon found she was much hungrier than she thought. The ham
was divine. The macaroni and cheese was exquisite. The rest of the items on her
plate she couldn’t even remember because she was too busy stuffing her face.

Eating only enough to get by became a habit when she and her
grandmother lived in the homeless shelters. Sacrificing food was worth it to
ensure Veeva always got enough to eat. By the time Avalon got to the colony
where there was enough food for everyone, her appetite was nearly nonexistent.
A couple small meals a day usually filled her.

Uncomfortable that she just proved Greyson right, Avalon put
the fork down and pushed the plate away.

Greyson leaned back in the chair, his big hands resting on
his abdomen while a cocky smile tugged at his lips. “I knew you were hungry.”

“I can get you more food, sir.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m full. You actually gave me too
much. I never see you at these dinners. You’ve been here a few months, right?”

She nodded. How did he know that? He barely knew who she
was.

“Guess the whole shy, not eating thing wouldn’t really
convince you to come to one of these gatherings.” When she didn’t respond, he
chuckled. “You know how conversations work, don’t you? There has to be words
exchanged back and forth. And not just when I ask you a question.”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“Just this once forget who I am. You don’t have to watch
what you say. You don’t have to call me
sir
or be afraid of me. Just be
you.”

It was odd that someone besides her grandmother was even
interested in what she had to say, especially Greyson of all people. He could
be talking to anyone but he chose her. It didn’t escape her notice that people
were staring at them. The leader of their people with the new girl in town was
bound to draw attention. She didn’t like it one bit.

“What would you like me to say?”

He lifted one wide shoulder in a shrug. “Anything you’d
like.”

There was not a whole lot interesting about her. “Well, I
like to read.”

He smiled again and Avalon noticed that he had one of the
most beautiful smiles she’d ever seen. It smoothed the hard angles of his face
and softened his rugged features. “What do you like to read?”

She tried to fight the blush rising up her neck, but it was
a losing battle. “Romance novels.”

“Romance is overrated.”

“I like it, especially in fiction.” She never experienced it
in real life, though she hoped to someday.

He swished the punch around in the plastic red cup before
taking a sip. “Do you have a mate?”