Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
Scorpio thanked the stars Rebecca left, as the accelerated healing had him sweating and squirming. Stardust could accomplish miracles, but did it have to hurt so fucking much?
Leo stomped in wearing his usual dark, brooding mien. “You good, bro?”
“I will be. Didn’t expect that hunk of junk to try and take my hand. Who the fuck puts explosives on a drone?” To think he’d been more worried about falling in the moat.
“You’re surprised? These are the same people who tried to kidnap you, duh.” Leo rolled his eyes.
“You heard?”
“We all did. Aries just briefed us about the run-in you had with that company. Sounds like they need to be dismantled.”
“Agreed.” First and foremost, because anyone who could bypass their security and reach the tower posed a danger.
“Let me know when you’re going. I could use some distraction.”
“Will you be sober enough?” Scorpio didn’t coddle the man. Leo needed the tough love.
Leo’s head dipped. “Gonna do my best to not let the demons control me.” He rubbed a hand over his unshaven jaw. “Aries’ been bugging me to see a shrink.”
“Might do you good to talk to someone.”
Leo snorted. “Ah yes, let me explain to a human doctor about the monster I failed to stop in time and the babies it killed because I couldn’t do my job.” What Leo left out? Not just any babies. The monster that had eluded them for weeks killed Leo’s wife and infant daughter.
Sage had cried for days because she’d not predicted it and blamed herself. Conversely, Leo thought himself at fault. He remained convinced if only he’d done more, they’d still be alive. Scorpio couldn’t blame him for the guilt he carried around. However, when it came to missions, he needed to know he could rely on Leo to be in fighting condition.
“It’s not like you didn’t try. We all did. But some evils are just harder to vanquish.”
Leo’s lips turned down. “I wish Kylie would have agreed to relocate to the tower. I don’t understand why she refused.”
No one did. It would have been temporary. But Kylie had been adamant about not leaving their home in the outside world. What hurt Leo even more was they never found the remains of his wife and daughter, just bloody clothes in the monster’s lair.
“At least you ended it. No one else has to suffer.”
“Ended it?” Leo barked a harsh sound. “I suffer every fucking day. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother.” Not the first time Leo had expressed those kinds of dark thoughts.
Scorpio rose from the chair to put a hand on his shoulder. “Because the world still needs you, and you’re not a coward.”
“I hate it when you say shit like that,” Leo grumbled.
“Love you too, brother.” Scorpio slapped his back.
“I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?” Rebecca appeared in the doorway to the Stardust room with a tray.
“Nah. I was leaving.” Leo stomped off without a goodbye and Scorpio couldn’t help staring after him, worried about his friend. Years later and the grief still overwhelmed the man.
“Who was that?” Rebecca asked, looking for a place to set the tray. She chose the chair he’d vacated.
“Leo. Don’t let his scowl scare you. He’s dealing with some rough shit.”
“I brought you food. But don’t ask me what. The tower presented me with this tray.” She indicated before pulling off a dome to reveal pancakes. There was also syrup, freshly cut-up fruit, and coffee, a huge carafe of it, which Rebecca poured into a mug and guzzled.
“That’s better,” she sighed.
“Yup. Way better,” Scorpio muttered, although he was looking at his injured hand.
“I take it the pain isn’t so bad anymore.”
“Nope. The worst of it is over. A hot shower to rinse and you’ll never know I was hurt.”
“That’s insane it heals so quick. Any idea how the dust thing works?”
“What did you call it? Space fairy magic?” his grinned reply.
“Something like that.” She laughed. “What’s on the agenda for today? Because I don’t get the impression you’re going to take it easy.”
“You already know me so well, Doc. I’m hoping Aquarius has cracked the server for Cetus so we can see what’s going on.” He paused before adding, “By the way, I received news your apartment was broken into.”
“What?” she screeched.
“Police don’t have any suspects, but it doesn’t appear as if robbery was the motive.”
Her lips pinched. “They were looking for me.”
“Most likely.”
“Guess you’re pleased that you were right.”
“Not really. I’d rather live in a world where evil corporations don’t try to kidnap scientists and steal artifacts for who the fuck knows what.”
“Are you still planning to go after the orb?”
“I have to.”
“Do you still want my help?”
He stared at her. “What happened to no fucking way?”
“Having had a bit of time to think, I’m not happy about everything that transpired. Using me under false pretenses, attempted abduction, and now ransacking my home and sending a bomb.” She eyed his caked hand. “A company capable of that obviously doesn’t have the world’s best interests at heart, no matter what they publicly claim.”
“Hell yeah, partner.”
“Don’t get too excited. By help, I mean looking into what they’re doing, not strapping on a gun and going in barrels blazing. I’m a scientist, not a warrior.”
“I’ll take any help you have to offer.” He gave her a dazzling smile. “Let me hit the shower and change, and then we'll pop over to see Aquarius."
They headed for the stairs, and she groaned at the sight of them.
“What’s wrong?”
“Guess the tower no longer thinks I need a lift,” she grumbled as she began to climb.
“Think of the steps as your own personal trainer to keep you fit.”
“I know how to stay in shape.”
“So do I, and this is part of it.” He sprinted up the stairs, taking them three at a time. He stopped at the landing and waited for her.
She glared. “Showoff.”
“That? Nah. This is showing off.” He grabbed hold of Rebecca and tossed her over his shoulder before bounding up the steps again.
She squealed. “Are you insane? Put me down.”
“I thought you wanted a ride?” he cajoled.
“I do, so you know what? Carry on.”
He made it to his floor before setting the doc on her feet. “Home sweet home.”
“You know, it’s surprising to me that in a place this big, you and I have to share a suite,” she remarked as they entered.
“Technically, we do have guest rooms.”
“And you chose to not put me in one because…”
“Because I like having you around.” An admission that had him fleeing to his bathroom and taking a cold shower. Very cold. However, that didn’t stop the truth.
He liked Rebecca.
And he didn’t know what that meant.