3013: GENESIS (3013: The Series Book 11) (2 page)

Jack
Rollins was a tall man, with wide shoulders that Mya knew she could always lean
on. A wide smile spread across his handsome face as he opened his arms. “There’s
my baby.”

She
rushed forward, embracing him hard. “Hi, Daddy.”

Mya
felt the love he felt for her rush through her as soon as she touched him. Her
empathic skills didn’t work all the time, but touching did help give it a
boost. The feelings she sensed gave her comfort and a security that she was grateful
for.

Before
she had been born, it had been established that she was actually the daughter
of Ian Spartan, as was her oldest brother, Jax, but Jack had loved them as his
own, just as Ian claimed Talon and Connor, even though they had come from their
other father.
It was the way of Alliance bonded units, and something that
Mya had always taken for granted.

Having two fathers just meant more love.

Jack glanced over at Ryland, Mikal and Pia and smiled in greeting.
“I’ve got her from here. Go relax somewhere.”

Training had all three guards saluting to the former Alliance
commander, placing their right fists over their hearts. Then Ryland turned back
to Mya and pointed to his wrist unit. “Just tag us when you’re ready to leave.”

She nodded, then linked her arm with Jack’s as she let him
lead her toward the private lift that would take them directly to the floor
where her parents’ offices were located. “I’m glad I ran into you. I was hoping
to speak to you and mom about something.”

“She’s in a meeting with Thorton right now. For some
inexplicable reason, he’s currently obsessed with trying to bring back
polka-dots.”

Mya laughed. “I don’t see that happening.”

“Neither do I.”

A
smaller man with round glasses rushed over, gripping a tablet tight to his
chest. “Madam Mya, thank the stars! We just got the new shipment of material in
for your celestial line, and it’s—”

“Not
now, Fredricks,” Jack ordered.

“Oh,
but, sir! The cerulean we requested isn’t as bright as we need—”

Jack shifted his gaze over, making the smaller man scrambled
back a few steps. Mya held back a laugh and squeezed her father’s arm.

“Go talk to Dora,” Mya said kindly, mentioning their
requisitions manager—which was a fancy name for the woman who ordered their
material. “She’ll get it sorted out.”

Fredricks bowed to them before heading away at a slight run.
As Mya and Jack started walking away again, she leaned into his side. “Did you
have to scare him?”

Jack winked down at her. “It’s good to know I’ve still got
it.”

Mya laughed. “You mean the death stare? Yeah, you certainly
do.”

He pressed his hand to the palm plate, then they entered the
lift after the doors slid open soundlessly. He gestured her to enter before
him, then he placed his palm on the inside scanner and gave the verbal command
for the floor he wanted. Leaning against the wall, he folded his arms across
his broad chest and eyed her.

“So, you’ve finally decided to tell us what’s been on your
mind?”

Mya fought the urge to duck her head. “Was I that obvious?”

Jack reached out and tugged at a lock of her hair. “We know
you. Not to mention, you’ve been avoiding everyone at the house for the past
few weeks.” He paused for a moment, then asked, “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“Holy nova, Dad! No!”

Jack snorted out a laugh. “I had to ask. You look so damn
serious.”

Mya knew her father had a weird sense of humor, but his
question had made her want to cringe. He knew she wasn’t in a relationship, and
never had been. How pathetic was that? Hell, she was the only twenty-year-old
virgin she knew, not that she would mention that to her father.

But she was damn well going to do something about that…and
soon.

She was extremely relieved when the lift came to a stop and
the doors opened. Instead of jumping out and running away like she wanted to,
she slowly stepped out of the lift, then led the way around the corner and came
to a stop in front of the two assistants who guarded the hallway that led to
her parents’ offices.

Unlike the rest of the building that was a filled with bold,
bright colors, this floor was furnished in a more sedate fashion, with glossy
black floors, dark-gray walls and silver desks. The only splashes of color came
from the video screens on the walls that alternated different images every few
seconds.  

The stylish assistants manning the desks looked like they
belonged in the fashion house, but few people actually knew that both were
highly-trained, skilled former-officers. Douglas and Veronica Levin were one of
the rare, elite single pairings. Since Veronica was a scroll, Jack and Ian had
gotten them a special exemption so she and Douglas could bond without a third. Loyalty
had Douglas and Veronica following Jack into the private sector when he’d
retired, but the change had worked out well for them.

Douglas shot Jack a look as soon as he saw their approach. “Your
chosen has some pretty ominous plans for you since you left her in that meeting
with Thorton alone.”

Jack sighed. “Better she be mad at me for that than for me
strangling the man.”

“True,” Douglas said with a laugh. “Nice to see you, Mya.”

Before Mya could return the greeting, Veronica cut in.

“Mya! Have you heard the good news? I’m expecting again.”

Mya’s eyes widened. Veronica and Douglas had four kids
together already, and hearing they were having another baby made something
inside of her ache with longing. “Stars, the two of you are going to repopulate
the Earth all by yourselves. Congratulations!”

Jack waited patiently while Mya exchanged hugs with both
Veronica and Douglas. He might not have the abilities that his chosen had, but
he’d seen the look on his child’s face before she’d masked it behind the joy
she felt for the couple. What he’d said in the lift had been meant as a joke,
but he realized it wasn’t something that he should tease her about.

Taking her arm again, Jack began to pull Mya down the
hallway. After taking a few steps, he turned back toward Douglas and said,
“We’re kicking Thorton out. Make sure we aren’t disturbed.”

“Got it, boss.”

Mya could sense that something had changed in Jack as he led
her down the hallway. He pulled her to a stop before they got to the office
door and cleared his throat, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “We haven’t given
you much opportunity to meet anyone, have we?”

Stars, did he really want to discuss this? Now? Talk about
awkward.

“Dad…it’s…let’s not…”

He reached up and cupped her face. “If we’ve kept you too
close, it’s only because we love you so much.”

Tears stung her eyes. “I know, and I love you, too. But…I
need more now.”

Jack nodded curtly. “Then I’ll help you get it.”

***

CHAPTER
TWO

Mya
always felt as if she were stepping back in time whenever she entered her
mother’s office.
The room was filled with old-fashioned furniture made of dark
wood with cream-colored leather accents. One side of the room was made up
entirely of windows that looked out at the city, while the rest was painted a
rich gold that provided a nice backdrop to the authentic paintings that hung on
the walls.

At the intrusion, the glazed look of boredom in Donna
Spartan-Rollins’ dark-brown eyes immediately changed to sheer pleasure. She
rose from the chair behind her desk and rushed across the room. “Mya!”

Mya had a few seconds to appreciate her mother’s beauty
before she was wrapped in a warm embrace. Breathing in the familiar scent of
her mother’s perfume reminded her of all the times she’d been there for her in
the past. Even though Mya was set on her course, it made her miss her mother
already.

Donna pulled back abruptly. “Thorton. Our meeting is over.”

The man sitting across the room sputtered for a moment, then
he ran from the room when Jack barked out the command for him to, “Get out.
Now.”

Pulling
on her hand, Donna guided Mya over to sitting area and forced her down on the
couch next to her. “Your emotions are all over the place. What’s going on? Why
are you feeling so guilty?”

Mya
stiffened and pulled away. “Stop reading me.”

“I’m
sorry,” Donna said as she patted Mya’s thigh, then she winced as she pulled her
hands back and clasped them together in her own lap. “You know I can’t help it,
especially when something is bothering you.”

Pausing
for a moment, Mya considered how to begin, then decided to just jump in head
first as soon as Jack took a seat in a chair next to Donna.

“I
want to open up a store on New Vega. For two reasons, really. The first would
be increasing our clientele. By setting up a location that caters to the
various races that visit there, especially those who are ready and willing to
drop credits, it’s the perfect location. I know you’ve wanted to keep the
Starlight Design shops exclusively on Earth as an added incentive for the D’Aire
to come visit, but we’re losing out on all those who have no intention of
coming here.”

Jack
stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I see what you’re saying, but most of the other
races don’t care about fashion.”

“They
don’t yet, and that’s partly because we don’t offer anything that interests
them. T
he reality is that most of the other races tend to stick to leather, or
material that is similar to what a warrior would wear. Partly for the
flexibility it provides, but I also think it’s for the practicality of it. They
don’t
have
to worry about what they wear. But I think we can change
that.”

Donna leaned back against the pillows behind her on the couch
and tilted her head to the side. “And how do you suggest we do that?”

Mya tried hard not to babble as she always did when she was
nervous. Taking a deep breath, she answered calmly.
“By giving them what they’re used
to, with a twist.
People are fascinated with the Dragon Warriors, especially
after Katra Tesera’s visit—”

“She’s Lady Tor now,” Donna corrected.

“Right. I forgot she just mated Skylar’s father on Tartarus.
But the Dragon Warriors—male and females—have a certain look. So do the Krytos,
the Helios and the Tarins. I saw that when Lord Jaden Tor came here with his
warriors for Skylar, Dom and Arik’s claiming ceremony.”

Mya
saw the interest on her parents’ faces, and prepared to pitch her idea…hard.

“I’ve
been
wanting to do a new line of leather warrior gear. Something that takes a
little bit of inspiration from each race, but making it something
different…something unique that all the races would be comfortable wearing. By
creating a new look, it will allow them to wear it without feeling as if they
are copying from another race. Added to that, perhaps we can even get them to consider
other colors, like red or blue leather instead of just black or brown. In fact,
I’ve started making some design samples that I think you’re really going to
like.”

“Mya, I think…” Donna began carefully, then her lips curved
into a smile, “…that this is a brilliant idea.”

Mya sighed in relief, feeling victorious…until Jack spoke.

“What is the second part of your plan?”

Turning to meet his gaze, she said, “I think I can do this.
No, I know I can. But in order to do it…I want to move to New Vega and head
this project myself.”

Donna gasped, but before she could say anything, Jack raised
up his hand, never taking his eyes off Mya’s. “This is what you really want?”

Mya nodded, letting him see the truth in her eyes. “Yes. It
is.” Her gaze drifted over, and her heart ached at the sight of the tears
glistening in her mother’s eyes. “I don’t mean to hurt you…”

Donna sniffled a little, then cleared her throat and squared
her shoulders. “You surprised me, that’s all. Of course, you would want to do
this yourself.” Her eyes narrowed as she glanced over at her bonded. “Did you
know about this?”

Jack shook his head. “This is the first I’m hearing about it.
But I agree with Mya. It’s a damn good business plan.”

Donna reached out to grab hold of his hand. “I’m sorry I
snapped at you, my love.”

A grin spread over Jack’s handsome face. “I’m used to it.”

Mya saw the love on their faces as her parents looked at one
another. It was something that had always been there throughout her entire life,
and Mya hoped to one day share that same love and devotion with her own bonded.

“I know I need your permission to open the shop on New Vega,
but that’s business. Even if you decide against it, I’m going to go. I need to.
I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, because I’m not. I appreciate everything
you’ve ever done for me. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever needed, but now
what I need is something I can only get for myself. I don’t even know what that
is, really,” Mya said with a hint of irritation in her voice. “But I know I
won’t find it here.”

Donna and Jack exchanged a long look, then she said, “No, you
won’t find it here. Have you already found a location on New Vega?”

“I’ve tried, but the Adaro brothers have made it impossible
to do so from here. They require a face-to-face meeting with all three of them
in order to get clearance to rent any retail space on their vessel.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Jack said. “I’ve heard those
three Krytos brothers are pretty ruthless when it comes to protecting their
home, but Jax says they are good males with a strict moral code. They might not
exactly follow Alliance rules, but Jax wouldn’t respect them if they weren’t
trustworthy.”

“I have no doubt you will convince them to give you the
space,” Donna said with a gleam of pride in her eyes.

“I really appreciate you backing me on this,” Mya said softly.

Jack snorted. “Sweetheart, you’re gonna make us a shit ton of
credits.”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“Yeah, well,” he grumbled. “I’m trying not to think about the
missing you part of all this.”

That had Donna sniffling again. “I know you have to go, but I
think I’m entitled to be a little sad that my daughter is leaving the planet. I
also got a little weepy when Jax and Talon left, didn’t I? And the universe
knows those two can handle themselves…more than I’m comfortable thinking about.
But I miss all my children when you leave.”

Jack reached out and took his chosen’s hand again. “That just
means we’ll have to go visit her.”

Donna nodded. “True.”

Mya laughed, then sobered as a dark cloud intruded on her
happiness. “Dad Ian won’t like this. Neither will Jax or Talon.”

“Don’t worry about that. Let us handle your father. And your
brothers don’t need to know about any of this until it’s a done deal,” Donna
added with a small smile.

“You’ll be taking guards with you,” Jack ordered, leaving no
room for argument.

Mya nodded. “Ryland, Mikal and Pia have agreed to go with
me.”

“Good. Now, tell us more about this plan of yours.”

Mya pulled out her tablet from the bag she’d brought with
her, and handed it over. As her parents looked over the outline she’d drafted, it
was difficult to keep her voice calm as she talked them through the details.

This was what she’d wanted, and it all seemed almost too good
to be true. She wasn’t just setting up a new business, one that she would be in
charge of.

It was the beginning of something…something new and exciting.

And Mya was damned determined to make the most of it.

* * * *

Tavius Adaro wasn’t pleased.

And when he wasn’t pleased, someone usually ended up getting
bloody.

But this time, he really couldn’t complain about the
situation he was in since he was the one who’d agreed to personally welcome
their newest VIP guest to New Vega. Actually, his agreement was more a matter
of self preservation than anything. Out of the three Adaro brothers, Tavius was
the only one who had any semblance of charm.

That was, if anyone could ever describe any Krytos as being
charming.

While
Maddox was the undisputed leader of their group and Daimon was the organized
one, Tavius was the natural born spokesman of the trio and the only one who had
any patience for diplomacy. Maybe it came from being the youngest of the group,
but d
espite that, Tavius was just as dangerous
as the others when riled. Only, he preferred to keep his opponents guessing as
to what he was thinking so they wouldn’t see the ass kicking coming.

But even with his
polished veneer, there was something untamed about all the Krytos that couldn’t
be hidden behind a smile and some charisma.

With
black eyes, pronounced canine fangs, and large, muscular bodies, all the Krytos
were an intimidating lot, and that was nothing compared to their battle forms.
They were a shifter race, but
unlike the Helios that could transform completely into their animal form, the
Krytos changed into a hybrid beast, growing sharp, lethal claws and long fangs
ideal for combat.
When in a rage, their black eyes turned red and their voices deepened into an
animalistic rumble.

The
Krytos lived in packs, led by the strongest and most capable. The Adaro
brothers were somewhat unusual, since Maddox, Daimon and Tavius Adaro could
have each been pack leaders themselves. But Tavius and Daimon had chosen to
follow their oldest brother instead of breaking up their family.

They
had lost far too much already.

As
a race that had lost their home world when the Zyphir attacked and destroyed
their planet almost a century ago, the Krytos had scattered across the stars,
seeking to find new places to call home. But the Krytos’ struggle was far from
over, and peace came with a heavy cost.

After
the Adaro brothers’ mother and fathers had fought alongside the humans during
the Alien Wars to defeat the Zyphir that attacked Earth, the Alliance had given
them a shuttle for their aid. They had started transporting cargo instead of
settling on one of the space stations or on Earth like others had, and Maddox,
Daimon and Tavius had been born on that shuttle. Born into a life of
freedom—something all of them would protect until their dying breath.

For
the Adaro pack, living under someone else’s rule didn’t appeal to them, so they
had created the dream that would one day be New Vega. They’d wanted a world of
their own, where their word was law…somewhere no one could take from them.

The
first few years had been difficult, but they had saved every credit they’d
earned and poured it back into their business. As Maddox, Daimon and Tavius had
gotten older, they were able to contribute to the family business, finding new
ways to expand it and thrive. Over time, they were able to purchase a
decommissioned destroyer-class vessel from the Alliance. It had taken a lot of
hard work and countless hours of repairs, but they had eventually been able to make
their parents’ dream a reality.

Now,
New Vega was theirs, and it was a world unlike any other.

Most
people thought of it as a floating pleasure palace. Although they adhered to
the general guidelines of Alliance rules and regulations, New Vega wasn’t under
United Federation Alliance Command control. Because it was a privately owned
enterprise, the Adaro brothers enjoyed pushing the boundaries of propriety,
making New Vega a luxurious destination where one could satiate a number of
vices all in one central location.

But
in reality, it was so much more than that.

In memory of all the friends and family they’d lost, the
Adaro brothers had turned New Vega into a traveling sanctuary, making it a
haven for all the different races that chose to visit. No expense had been
spared to outfit the vessel with defenses, as well as powerful weapons, making
it an almost impenetrable fortress that kept its clientele safe. They updated
the ship often, keeping up with the latest and greatest technology the worlds
had to offer.