Thank you for the lovely reviews. For some reason, I love the idea of grumpy Uncle Mole.
June
"Are you sure about this?" Alec asked.
They were sitting in the back seat of a large black SUV. It was a relatively new acquisition and had been reinforced with bulletproof glass and armor plating. It looked like a perfectly normal SUV, but nothing was getting through it. Sig was driving and Marco was riding shotgun, literally in this case. The rest of their team rode in the SUVs in front and behind.
Freak, Inc. had been making money hand over fist and people had started to take notice. TC was becoming noticeably cleaner and they could see the construction and improvements. Instead of thieves, trangenics had become well-paying customers to all sorts of suppliers. Money meant power and word was getting out.
As a result, Max and Alec had started receiving invitations to various highbrow social occasions. So far, they'd ignored all of them, but given the unrest after the senate hearing, they'd decided some good press was worth the risk.
Max had hidden her pregnancy with bulky clothing at the hearing, and at any meetings with outsiders, but tonight she would be in front of the cameras and the world in a fancy designer dress with her hair up, and a very obvious baby bump on display. The gauzy pale blue gown had an empire waist, and the soft fabric draped over her gently to show off her curves. When he first saw her in it, Alec had been stunned speechless. Then he'd walked to her and she'd barely managed to keep him from messing up her careful makeup. He wasn't looking too bad himself in a classic tux, so fending him off had been through sheer force of will and not because she wanted to. They had to look respectable, though, when they arrived.
"Max, I'm serious," Alec said, when she didn't say anything. "If you don't want to do this, we'll turn this caravan around and go right back home."
The idea of putting herself on display as the paragon of transgenic motherhood wasn't making her happy, but the press was going to find out sooner or later that she was pregnant. It was better that it was on her terms, and not because some paparazzo had caught her looking big as a house, stuffing her face with pickles and ice cream, or whatever.
"I'm good," she finally said, "but if anyone does anything stupid, I'm never leaving TC again."
"We aren't going to stay long," he promised. "We just have to make nice with the richy-rich types. It's good to get to know people we might have to blackmail a favor out of one of these days."
The Governor's Ball was the be all and end all of the local social scene. The state capital was Olympia, but since the Pulse, moving from area to area was not only difficult, but dangerous. Therefore, the governor made a special trip every year and the local rich people made a big deal out of it. Max and Alec had never met the governor, but the mayor would be there, of course, and all of the other local movers and shakers.
"Granted," Alec said, unaware of her wandering thoughts, "if the mayor so much as looks at you funny, I'll rip his fingers off and feed them to him."
"I'll help," she said. They both had serious issues with the mayor after his part in the riot and the deaths that followed. "We won't get a chance though. He'll probably have an aneurism when he finds out we actually accepted the invitation."
"I'm still surprised they sent it," Alec said, not for the first time.
"They're politicians." She shrugged. "They're always looking for a way to get their picture in the paper. The Governor's Ball is old news. Nobody cares. But if we show up? Suddenly, everyone's looking again."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Max wasn't thrilled either. This was a dangerous excursion. They wouldn't be allowed to have their own security inside, and neither one of them could go armed. Max was used to that, but Alec always got twitchy when he didn't have a gun.
"Two minute ETA," Sig called back.
Alec nodded. He turned toward her and straightened his bow tie. "How do I look?" he asked. "I'm going to be in all these pictures, too, you know."
"Meh. You'll do," she said offhandedly.
"I'll do?" he asked, all mock outrage. "After all I've done for you! Who went out scavenging in the middle of the night because the smell of your shampoo was making you sick? Who yelled at that clueless X-4 who asked why you were getting fat?"
"He's lucky I didn't rip his arms off and beat him with them," she growled.
"But that wouldn't help your blood pressure, would it, so I yelled at him for you."
"Yeah, yeah. You're very good at yelling." She gave him a smirk. "Ok, fine. You look good in your tux." She shrugged again. "Face it. You're a looker. It's why I married you."
Alec raised an eyebrow. "Thanks. I think."
"When you two are done flirting, we're almost there," Sig barked angrily. "Get your mind on the job."
Alec turned toward the front, and Max could see the fire in his eyes. Sig did love to see how far he could push people above him in the chain of command. Alec leaned forward behind Sig and placed a hand on Sig's shoulder. He squeezed and hit the pressure point just right, and Sig's arm dropped off the steering wheel as the nerves went dead. Alec whispered, "Don't push me tonight, Sig. Keeping my pregnant wife calm and happy before she's barraged by the press is my job."
Max realized she was bouncing her leg nervously. She hadn't even noticed, but Alec had. He'd been trying to distract her.
"Once we're out of the car, follow the exit plan," Alec ordered. He released his grip on Sig's shoulder and sat back. "I'll call the second we decide to leave. Be ready."
"Yes, sir," Sig said more respectfully, shaking his arm out to get some feeling back.
They pulled up in front of the Seattle Art Museum where the ball was being held. There was a minor delay while the cars in front of them let out their passengers, and then finally it was their turn. There was a roped off section of carpet where the guests were entering. To either side was a gaggle of video cameras, photographers and members of the press. Alec wondered if word had gotten out that their cars had left TC and headed this way. They'd had to travel through several checkpoints as well and stated their destination and reason for travel.
Members of Sig's team got out of the adjoining SUVs and came up around theirs. They scanned the area for any threats, and when they were satisfied, they opened the door closest to the museum, which was Alec's side. He got out of the car, and immediately there were enough camera flashes to light up the entire street in a blinding glow. He waved to the crowd of reporters, then turned back to her.
"You sure about this?" he asked again.
"Stop asking stupid questions and help me outta the car. Making a pregnant woman wear heels is just asking for trouble."
He laughed at her and then blocked the reporters' view while she got out of the car. She straightened, and made sure she was stable on her feet, then smoothed down the gauzy skirt of her dress. Alec set his hand on her belly for only a moment, and then smiled. "Time to put on a show, babies," he said, audible only to her transgenic ears above the clicking of the cameras.
He turned and offered her his arm. Max took it, and together they walked toward the building. Almost instantly, there was a lull as the reporters realized what they were seeing. There were several gasps, and then the flashes from the cameras became like a strobe light, followed by reporters shouting questions.
Max, when are you due?
Do you know what the baby is?
Is it a boy or girl?
Who's the father, Max?
Is the baby human?
Max gripped Alec's arm, afraid he was going to jump into the crowd and start hitting reporters, but he stayed perfectly calm and aloof at her side. He spotted a reporter who they'd used before to get the word out about something they needed people to know.
Alec guided her toward the line of press and the perfectly coiffed blonde reporter who was wearing a sequined evening gown for the occasion. They stayed just far enough away to be out of reach, but close enough that the reporters could stick a microphone out.
"Hello, Diana," Alec said cordially. "How are you tonight?"
"Wonderful," the reporter said, pleased that Alec had picked her out of the throng. She turned toward Max, zeroing in like the vulture she was. It took everything Max had not to back away and press her hands over her stomach to protect her babies. "Max, you look stunning tonight. What a beautiful gown."
"Thank you," Max replied, trying to keep the growing panic from showing. The other reporters were massing around Diana, pushing and shoving to get their microphone or camera close enough to catch the conversation.
Ever since the riot that had killed most of the team protecting her, and almost killed her, Max had had problems with crowds. This group wasn't trying to rip her apart physically, but they were metaphorically baying for blood and she wanted away from them as soon as possible.
"Is there something the two of you would like to tell us?" Diana asked.
"We're just pleased to be here for the Governor's Ball," Alec said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Max has been looking forward to a night out, and this is such a privilege to be invited."
"Especially with everything going on," Max added, "it was wonderful to be invited. It's good to know that there are people supporting us in the local government." That wasn't necessarily the case, but since they'd been invited, they were definitely going to play it that way.
"Oh, come on," the reporter cooed. "You know that's not what I'm talking about."
Alec laughed. "Obviously, we're expecting. Is that what you're asking? We didn't know it was a secret. After all, we spent quite a bit of time on TV just a few weeks ago."
"Do you know what you're having?"
"We're waiting to be surprised," Max answered, trying to look like a beatific expectant mother rather than a woman who wanted to shove the microphone down the other's throat.
"That's so nice. When are you due?"
"Not getting that out of us, Diana," Alec teased. "We don't want people showing up at our door fighting for the first pictures. You'll just have to wait and see."
"Any thoughts on names?" she tried again. Max wanted to roll her eyes. This woman was supposed to be a serious reporter, and here she was asking about baby names and due dates like one of the entertainment shows.
"Nice try," Max said, with what she hoped was a smile. "We're still working on that, too."
Max hated this part of her job. She wasn't good with the press, or faking being nice so people would think better of transgenics. She liked hitting things, and yelling at people. She would do it though until the day she died if it would help her people and eventually her children.
"Thanks, Diana," Alec said. "Have a good evening."
He maneuvered Max away from the line of press who'd surrounded their position and been hanging on every word. She once again took his arm, grateful for his support as they headed for the doors where guards were standing. Alec handed them the invitation from his breast pocket, and then they were inside.
Immediately, Max felt like she could breathe again. Crowds were just… crowds. She could deal with it, as long as she had a heads up, but in the back of her mind there was always the fear that the ordinaries were going to go berserk like they had that day outside the mayor's office. At any moment, they could turn on her and try to tear her apart like poor Yankee, Polo, and Bingo.
"You, ok?" he asked gently. They never talked about her fears, but Alec was a smart guy. He knew all about it, and did his best to make it better when he could.
"Yeah," she said. "As long as you promise we can sneak out the back. I'm not going back through that mob."
Alec nodded. "I'll help you climb out a bathroom window if it comes to that."
Max had to laugh at the picture that made. She wasn't exactly her normal lithe self at the moment.
The lobby of the museum, a large side room and several of the exhibits had been opened up for the ball. All around them, Seattle's elite were stopping to stare. They hadn't expected to have the two infamous transgenic leaders in their midst. Freak, Inc. was making too much money though, and the elite knew it. With money came power and influence and these people might privately think they were animals that needed to be caged, but publicly they were going to be ingratiating. She could actually see the shift in their expression when each person decided that they were going to be civil in hopes of using the relationship somewhere down the line.
One of the men in tuxes detached himself from the rest of the crowd and walked toward them, a genuine smile on his face. He was a middle aged Hispanic man with dark hair in a military cut.
"Chief Lopez," Alec said, and held out his hand as the head of the sector police approached them.
The police chief shook his hand and nodded politely. "Good evening," he said. "It's nice to see you again."
"You, too. I hope your office received the video?"
Their first meeting with the chief hadn't been their finest moment, but things had gotten better since then. Their security cameras had recently caught a burglary in one of the adjoining buildings outside TC. They'd called it in, and then handed over the video as part of their efforts to make peace with the sector police.
"Yes," the chief smiled. "Thank you again."
"We'll pass along anything else we run across," Max said. Of course, that was only true as long as it wasn't one of their own doing something stupid, or something questionable they'd sent them to do.
"Let me introduce you to a few people," Lopez offered, which made Max think even better of him. The chief had turned out to be a lot like Secretary Gordon. He was a reasonable man who was willing to work with anyone who could help keep Seattle from falling apart at the seams.
For the next hour, it was a continuous parade of introductions and name-dropping and innuendo about how wealthy and powerful they all were. It was exhausting and Max had no doubt her fake smile was starting to look a little crazy. Alec, however, was in his element. He could charm the birds out of the trees when he tried, and he was definitely working the room. For the most part, she left him to it. They both had their strengths, and they didn't get in the other's way. It was part of why they worked well together.
Her only respite from the misery of being polite was the hilarious behavior of Mayor Jackson as he worked his way around the party trying to avoid them. As soon as he realized they were moving in his direction, he hustled to the other side of the room, or into one of the adjoining rooms to get away from them.
Finally, a tall well dressed man walked up to them. He was fair haired and TV handsome. Even so, Max thought Alec still had him beat, hands down. She might be biased, but she'd still swear to it. The man had a tall, stately blonde on his arm. She was dressed to the nines and stank of old money.
"Governor Harding." Alec held out his hand, and the other man took it with a cool smile on his face. "And Mrs. Harding. Thank you for the invitation."
"I expected you to have the good grace to refuse it," the man replied, although his cool smile never wavered.
"I beg your pardon?" Max asked. She looked around, but the other partygoers were busy with their own conversations and paying little attention.
"I meant what I said. You've had your fun mixing with your betters. Time's up." The governor's voice was level, pleasant even, but there was nothing pleasant in his eyes.
"This party is for a very select group of people," Mrs. Harding said oh-so-politely. "You've made enough of a scene, which is what you wanted, I suppose."
"If you thought you could convince me to help with the bill to grant citizenship to you and your band of mercenaries, you were wrong."
"Funny, I thought we were here to have a few hors d'oeuvres and some pleasant conversation. Maybe a photo op if we were feeling frisky," Alec said. "I didn't know we were here for business."
The governor focused on Alec. "Let me be clear. You are not welcome here. Take your broodmare and go." He gave a disdainful look at Max's belly just for emphasis.
Max wanted to punch that smug look right off the bastard's face, but instead she felt tears beginning to form. Her stupid hormones had her all messed up and she had a tendency to cry over the stupidest things. This, however, was not stupid. This was bold, open-faced hate.
"Governor," Alec said calmly, a chilly smile on his face to match the governor's, "I believe you're up for election next year, aren't you?"
"I am." Harding raised an eyebrow, seemingly interested for the first time.
"That's what I thought. We came here tonight to find out whether or not that should be allowed, and I guess we have our answer."
"Are you threatening me?" Harding demanded coolly.
"Not you specifically," Alec answered. "Just your job. I will personally ensure that you lose."
Harding's eyes narrowed. "And how are you going to do that?"
"My husband's polls give him a twenty percent lead over his opponent," Mrs. Harding stated smugly, her expression still pleasant in case there were any cameras pointed their way.
"Well," Alec shrugged, "I could always release the video of this conversation where you called my wife a broodmare."
"What video?" Harding frowned in disapproval.
"And we have other ways." Alec's expression turned predatory. "You made my wife cry, and I don't let that sort of thing go."
Max brushed the telltale tear away. "I don't either. We'll be looking into you, Governor Harding. Every single scrap of paperwork you've ever produced, every person you've ever known, every single penny you've made or spent."
Alec said, "Sig, I want you at exit point Charlie."
"Who are you talking to?" the governor demanded.
"My security team who've been listening since we walked in here in case they were needed," Alec answered. "They'll also have the video. Thank you for your time, Governor. I'm glad we finally had a chance to talk."
"We'll be sure to tell the press how much we enjoyed the party," Max added, unable to hide the venom in her voice.
She turned, and Alec followed. She was so angry, she barely registered where Alec was leading her, but before she knew it, they were walking out of the building. It must have been a service entrance, but the SUVs were waiting, and Sig was standing beside theirs with the door open.
"In," he snarled, "before I go shoot the governor."
"Just get us out of here," Max said. She lumbered into the back seat, and Alec climbed in behind. The SUVs pulled away and as easily as that they were back on their way home. Her beautiful dress didn't seem as pretty now. She furiously pulled at the pins in her hair, but there were too many.
Alec placed his hands over hers to stop her. He methodically worked his way around her head and in a few minutes he had them all out and placed them in his pocket. He ran his hands through her hair and let it fall in soft waves around her face. He massaged her scalp and it felt wonderful after her hair had been pulled back so tightly.
Once again, she felt tears beginning to form. She shouldn't have expected any better, but it still surprised her sometimes. It didn't help that she was getting bigger by the day and didn't fit into any of her clothes anymore. Alec had anticipated the problem and had bought clothes of all sorts of sizes for her to choose from, but it still hurt when a jerk like Harding called her a broodmare.
"I'll ruin him, Maxie," Alec whispered. "I promise you that." He wrapped his arms around her and she leaned her head against his chest. "Please, don't cry."
"Mole's already working on it," Sig said from the front seat. "Luke and Dix, too. Harding's toast."
"Thanks, guys," she said, and meant it.
"I'm not the only one who loves you, Maxie," Alec murmured, pulling her close and resting his head against hers. "Don't forget it."
Max nodded and placed her hands over her belly protectively. She'd help them ruin him, and hopefully put someone else in the Governor's Office, someone who wouldn't mind that some of their constituents weren't exactly like the others. Her babies would be safe and happy. She'd make sure of it. They all would.
More tomorrow…