Salinger

Waking up with Tia in my arms again is heaven but finding Banks glowering at us from the edge of the bed is not the best image to wake up to.

“Jesus, Banks,” I mumble. “Personal boundaries.”

Tia turns in my arms and stretches as she slowly wakes up. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s news.” Banks’ jaw clenches, his gaze roaming over our wife, who’s half-dressed.

I know he hasn’t touched Tia yet, and maybe that’s his fucking problem because the man looks ready to explode or implode at any moment. I knew the feeling all too well.

“What news?” Tia asks, sitting up.

“Come downstairs.” That’s all he says before turning and stalking away.

Tia gives me a look, one that says she has no idea what’s wrong with that man. But I’m starting to wonder if it isn’t sexual frustration that’s spurring his anger.  

Huxley, Giles, and Banks are waiting for us in the kitchen when we come down, and I can’t read any of their expressions. But from glancing at my phone as we dressed, I see that there is finally some good news.

It’s about goddamn time.

“What’s going on?” Tia asks.

Huxley goes to her, and the first hint of a smile stretches his lips. “We just got word from Fallon. He’s on his way home.”

“And... Em?”

“The ship with survivors will arrive this afternoon.”

“But Em?” she repeats, searching Huxley’s eyes. “Is he... Is he alive?”

“We’ll know in a few hours, Tia.” Huxley gives her a reassuring smile, but I can see from her expression that it doesn’t ease her worried heart.

The chances that Emerson survived are low, we all know that. Even Tia does, even though she’s been clinging to hope.

Tia keeps her face buried against Huxley’s chest. “I’m glad Fallon’s coming home… but Em…We can’t lose him.”

“I know,” Hux says, smoothing her long hair. “I know.”

“It’s been a mess out there on the water,” Giles says. “Apparently unmarked planes keep flying overhead, Fallon must have been fucking terrified…”

“How many survived?” Tia asks. “Out of the twelve hundred?”

Giles responds with pain in his eyes, “Twenty-eight.”

Twenty-eight out of twelve hundred.

My God.

The men we lost, so many. I don’t need to see a list of names to know that some of those men are my friends, men I grew up with. And Fallon and Giles must be feeling the hit even harder. They work with these men on the ground and in the air. I feel for them.

“I should get to the office, see if I can find anything out,” I say.

“I’d like to know who fucking did this,” Giles growls, roughing a hand over his dark red hair.

I nod, seeing the anger in his eyes. Looking at Hux and Banks, they are enraged as well. We all feel it. We may not all work in the military, but we are all men of Alaska. This is our state, our home. This is our land and we will fight to protect those who live here with every breath we have to give.

This couldn’t have been Tia’s father or Lawson, this goes beyond that. It’s bigger than her.

Alaska has an enemy. And I won’t rest until I know who.

Until I know why.

“Banks,” I say, not asking, “You’re coming with me.”

He gives me a hard look but finally nods.

Minutes later we’re in my SUV, and I look at Banks, his cocksure smile replaced with anger. I feel it, understand it. Even if I don’t understand him.

“Why did you ask me along?”

I shrug. “I know you’re smart and I could use a level-headed partner in this.”

“I thought Huxley was your man?” he asks, as I put the car in reverse.

“He is. But Hux and I, together we…”

He smirks. “Invest in brothels.”

“Exactly.” I swallow. “But you see things differently than me and I’d like your help.”

Driving out of the neighborhood, Banks looks down at the phone in his hand. “The ship will be here in three hours,” he says. “We’ll be back by then, right?”

I’m not sure. Instead, I offer him the truth, “We’re going to see my dad and make him take us to my mother.”

Banks frowns as I put on the windshield wipers that begin flicking away the snow that has begun to fall.

“Your mom? The one who had a stroke?”

I nod.

“She created the Lottery, didn’t she?”

I’m surprised he knows that. Not many people do. She’s become kind of a mythological creature among the men. I don’t think many people even have a clue that she’s still alive, or that she’s my mother.

“Yeah. She wanted to…” I inhale.

Why the fuck am I confiding in Banks? Because he is Tia’s husband. Because we made a fucking vow to do anything to protect her. Because right now, I know he is questioning the woman I love in ways she doesn’t need.  

“My mother wanted the Lottery so my sister could have a better chance of having a child. It was pretty selfish motives, honestly. But that’s my mother for you.”

“Sister? I didn’t know the Director had more kids.”

“My twin sister. She died when we were little. So, my mom’s life work appeared to amount to nothing.”

“What does she do now? Rumor has it she has some top-secret project. The Wife Lottery 2.0 or something.”

I frown. “Never heard of that.”

“Oh, well, I could be wrong,” he backtracks. “It’s just rumors.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it. She’s up to something. She is insanely secretive.”

Banks nods. “Everyone knows that. The Director hasn’t been seen with his wife in four years. Not since he came into office.”

“Which my mother put him in.”

Banks’ brows raise at me.

“Don’t be fooled by my father’s title,” I say. “My mother is the one who runs the show. Even now.”

“I’m surprised you’d admit that. From what I hear, there are people who would like to take that power away.”

“What people?” And why the hell does Banks know so much? More than the fucking Director of Alaska.

Or am I the only one that’s been kept in the dark.

“People who would like to use her list.”

“What list?”

“You really don’t know, do you?” He shakes his head.

“Know what?”

“Your mother has been compiling a list of names for over two decades of the women who have come here seeking refuge. Blood types, fertility rates, pretty much every fucking thing there is to know about them.”

My stomach twists at the implications. “How do you know all this?”

He shrugs.

I think about the violation that a list like that would impose and the people who would be after such a list if it really existed.

Shit. If he’s right, then Tia would be on that list.

I step on the gas.

Banks curses and grabs the door grip as we speed towards the military compound. I need to talk to my mother now. I don’t care if I have to break through the side of the fucking mountain she’s hiding beneath. I’m tired of being a pawn in my parents’ messed up games. If I can’t take down the king, then I’m going after the queen.

It takes me half the time to get into town than it normally does, and when I jump out of the truck slamming the door behind me, I hear Banks mutter, “Shit, Salinger, you think you might want to cool down a bit before you do whatever you think it is you’re doing.”

“I’m protecting my family,” I say, flashing my ID at a guard who nods us both through. “Which includes you, so it’s time to decide whose side you’re on.”

“You think I’m not on your side?” He hisses as the elevator doors open and we get on.

“Hard to tell with the way you’re constantly snapping at Tia.”

“Bullshit, until last week you were the same way. But now that you got your fucking dick wet, you’ve gone all--”

Forearm against his throat, I slam Banks back against the elevator wall. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He doesn’t resist, just rolls his lip up at me. “She’s got you all wrapped around her pretty little finger, so you don’t see her for who she is.”

“I know exactly who she is.”

“Maybe that’s why you’re so damn scared.”

I drop my arm and take a step back as the elevator pings and the door opens. “You’re right, I am scared. For her. And I’ll do anything, destroy anyone who stands in my way from protecting her.”

I don’t wait for his response. My father’s office is down the hall and when his secretary tries to stop me from going in, I ignore her. But I stop dead in my tracks when I see who my father is talking to.

“Mother?” I don’t think she’s left her fortified compound in years, so what is she doing here now?

My parents both turn, and I feel Banks come into the room behind me.

“What’s going on?” I ask, walking towards them, seeing my mother’s pale face, the way both of them look like the world is about to implode on itself. “Why are you here?”

My father’s gaze darts over my shoulder to Banks.

“He stays,” I say, matching both my parents’ looks of disapproval. “And you both need to start talking.”

My father sits on the edge of his desk and sighs. “Let the grown-ups deal with the issues at hand, Salinger. Go home to your toys.”

No. No more of this.

“I won’t sit by and watch you both destroy this State.” I exhale and prepare for the biggest bullshit lie I’ve ever told and pray to God they both buy it. “I know what you’ve been doing. I’ve seen the list.”

“What?” My mother’s eyes go wide. “How?”

I smirk. “I have my ways too, Mother. And I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines. I want in. All the way. Want access to every single file and database you have. And I want full protection for my wife.”

My father stands. “How dare you--”

“Mosby,” my mother says harshly. “Sit down.”

He obeys, and I hear Banks cough behind me.

“And why would I give you those things?” My mother asks, no anger in her gaze, just curiosity.

“Because I want what you want.”

“And what’s that?”

“A legacy. I know that’s what you were hoping for with Hannah. Why she was so important. But I’m your only hope for that now.”

My mother’s lips twitch. “And you’d be willing to do what was necessary in order to safeguard it?”

“Anything and everything, Mother. Including giving you and your research over to the highest bidder.”

Her nostrils flare and my father looks ready to strike me.

“You little bastard,” he says.

“Enough, Mosby.” My mom turns her wheelchair and moves closer to me. “Your wife’s name is on that list.”

“An easy fix,” I say, knowing she believes my lie. I may still win this game.

Long moments tick by as I hold my mother’s gaze. It’s her sharp laugh that finally breaks the silence. And I think we’re all taken aback.

“You finally got some balls, son,” she says, her mouth twisting in a distorted smile. “I’m proud of you.”

That wasn’t exactly the response I was expecting, and I can see by my father’s expression, he’s just as shocked.

“All right,” she says.

“All right?” my father and I say in unison.

“You have full access to everything, under one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“That’s she’s pregnant within the year.”

My throat tightens at the demand, and I hear Banks make a sound in his throat behind me. I know the dangers and so does Tia, but with Banks working day and night for a cure, I have hope.

Banks steps forward. “So, her results didn’t suggest that she was infertile?”

My mother laughs again. “You obviously didn’t read her file very closely. The woman was created to have children.”

“Created?” Banks says, voice tight.

“You’re the doctor, right?”

He nods stiffly.

“Then I’m sure you’ve read about the infamous research of Warren Thorne.”

Shit. “Mother, I don’t think--”

“Let her talk,” Banks growls out. “I’ve read about the monstrosities that have taken place in the name of research. Are you saying Tia was one of his test subjects?”

“Not just one of, she is the one. His masterpiece. The reason why he spent his life’s mission looking for a cure.” She smiles at me. “The things we do for our children.”