Hot Redemption (5 page)

Without another backward glance, he slipped from the room and shut the door securely behind him.

“You fucking asshole!” I screamed after him. “We agreed! Let me the fuck out of here!” But no answer came.

CHAPTER 5

Epic

Nix stepped out of Toy's bedroom in a clean pair of jeans and a shirt that formed tightly around those full breasts. Mimi had given her the clothes and was also the reason why Nix wore no chains. After I escaped from Nix's sweet lips, Mimi had cornered me in the hallway and yapped me into humiliation. She accused me of being an abusive captor and a sadistic torturer. For added measure, she claimed mom was watching and full of shame at my behavior. I unlocked the chains, gave Nix some clean clothes to change into, and waited in the living room with everyone else to do the last thing Mimi demanded.

“Hello, Queen Nix.” I did a dramatic bow. Mimi hit my back and Nix smirked.

She probably thinks she has some sort of power now. Whatever.

As far as I was concerned, the best part of this moment was the sight of Nix's thick hips in those much-too-small jeans and her breasts bursting out of the shirt. The top of the material looked like it would rip within seconds if she coughed or breathed too hard. I hoped for both as Turtle ran into the room and collapsed on our deer skin rug.

“Go ahead,” Mimi whispered behind me and patted by back.

“Nix, we are very sorry.” I formed fists with my hands where they rested in my pockets. “We now agree to give you one fourth of the money due to our behavior.”

“Only one fourth?” Nix's black eyebrows rose. Her sensual lips changed into a sneer.

She'll regret that remark later. As soon as I get her out of here.

“One fourth is all we can give up right now.” I directed my attention to her breasts and blatantly snapped a picture. The flash burst from my irises. Yet perky nipples stiffened under the fabric, begging to be licked and sucked. I trailed my tongue along the top of my lip, just thinking about them.
What color are those plump points, bright pink or a darker shade of her olive skin?
I heard an intake of breath from her way. Once again my dick hardened—that seemed to be its only action when I was around her. She gazed down at my jeans.

You see what you do to me, don't you?

I winked. “Your turn, Shade.”

Dressed in his dark green automotive repair coveralls, he remained where he was. Mimi cleared her throat. A rumble thundered from Shade's chest as he stepped forward. The triplets giggled on our black couch while they watched with everyone else.

Shade mumbled something.

“I'm sorry. I didn't hear that.” Nix leaned his way and cupped her hands around her ear.

“Go fuck yourself.” Shade turned around and stormed off.

“Shade!” Mimi got in front of him and placed her hands on her hips. “I swear to God, Jesus, and the Duchess of Light, I will not fix the cooker or the cleaning robot if you don't be nice.”

He faced her. “But—”

“I'm so serious. I mean this is ridiculous. You're older than me.” Mimi tapped her foot.

Shade's face snapped to Nix. “I, too . . . am sorry.”

“For what exactly?” An innocent expression spread across Nix's face. If I hadn't known the situation, I would have believed the act.
She's perfect for the job. I have to get her to agree.

“I'm sorry for threatening you with my guns and showing you my . . . special beaded guy,” Shade barked. Everyone laughed. Even I had to cover my mouth to stifle a chuckle.

Too bad Toy's already at work. He would love this.

“Thank you.” Nix bowed at Mimi and curtsied at the kids. They all clapped and cheered as if she'd just slayed two dragons.

I bet they would love to hear us tell them
sorry
every now and again. Not going to happen. What had Nix called them? Cretins, I think. I like that.

Mimi handed Nix a small silver container shaped like a grape. Two red dots raced within the metal and circled it over and over “I transferred your portion of the credits over to this mini-bank and programmed your DNA as the password. I lifted the DNA from your old clothes. Sorry.”

“Umm . . . thanks?” Nix quirked her eyebrows. “How do I work this thing?”

“I cleaned the currency so there is no trace to whoever the guys borrowed it from.” She pressed the center of the container. Red glowing dots emerged all over the surface. “You can take this in any store, business, or bank to buy stuff or transfer the funds over to your account. Press both sides and it gets smaller.”

Just like Mimi said, the metal grape decreased into a coin. “Press it twice and it goes back to its original size.”

Nix's green eyes widened in amazement. “And if I happen to misplace it?”

“Or even if some arrogant buffoon tried to take it back.” Mimi glanced my way. “They can't. It's drawn to your skin like metal to a magnet. It makes robberies impossible.”

That invention was why my brothers and I kept hits to illegal strip clubs where everyone was mostly human and the places only took electronic currency that could be nabbed and retraced by any smart techie. New technology was making burglaries harder. Soon it would be impossible to steal without being familiar with computer and robot systems.

“Damn, you're a genius, kid.” Nix turned the mini around in her hand. “Did you put this together all by yourself?”

“Yes.” Mimi's smile widened. “I always get an A in all courses dealing with cybertronics.”

“Is that what you're planning to major in when you're old enough to go to college?” Nix asked.

I cringed at the mention of college. All colleges cost too much. One semester of Mimi's education would set the whole family back a year.
But she has to go.
Regular human labor jobs that required a high school education were nonexistent on any planet but ours. An individual couldn't make minimum wage without at least a bachelor's degree. Nowadays people built robots and created complex systems to control the robots more efficiently.

Machines did everything else. Those circuit devils packed every factory and plant, making anything that could pass on an assembly line, managing the electronic workers, and loading the docks. They cleaned everything from houses to companies, streets to cars. Few jobs existed for humans, but there were some present—landfill loaders, drug dealers, sex industry workers. Fortunately, old people still refused to use robotic doctors, food service workers, drivers, and child care providers. There'd been reports of robots botching surgeries and lacking in the emotional development department to take care of kids. Plus, a lot of the older generation preferred human-run businesses, but in twenty or so years they would all be dead and the cyber industry would dominate.

Mimi needs to go to college, and the other kids too.

“So nice to meet you all.” Nix shook the triplets' hands. “Next time use some different colors for the future prisoners. Branch out and get inspired.”

The triplets giggled. Nix high-fived the twins.

“Alright, Nixie baby. Let me drop you off at your motel.” I reached her, hooked my arm around hers, and towed her toward the door.

She attempted to climb out of my grip. “No, I'm good. It looks like I can afford an air taxi now that my financial situation is suddenly looking up.”

“Oh no. It's really not a problem for me.” Opening the door and yanking her out, I quickly shut it behind us and slammed the cuffs on her wrists. “Scream something and you go back in my apartment. Mimi and the kids would love to have you spend the night.”

“First chains. Now handcuffs?” She stared at the thin lines of blue light clamping her wrists together. “I suspect a fetish. What's next? Planning on taking me to one of those silicone dungeons where fat nerds beat their pricks to big-breasted androids?”

I wrenched up my shirt to show her the layers of muscle wrapped around my waist. “Do I look like a fat nerd to you?”

She concentrated on the area longer than I thought she would and bit her lip. I released my shirt. It rolled down my body and she watched it drop.
What are you thinking about?
The very possibility of lusty thoughts swarming through her mind about me caused me to shiver.

“What do you want?” A sultry intensity laced her words. It sounded so good I almost shoved my hands into my pants to touch myself.

I bet she could make me come with just her voice alone.
I shook my head.
She's too dangerous to touch. Keep it all business.

“Let me explain the job to you while I take you home.” I led her down the lime-green hallway and assumed her lack of smart remarks or physical resistance was a sign of her compromising. Sensors lit up around the entrance to the roof. The one in the center scanned my eyes.

“Proceed.” The female voice sounded.

The door opened. Hot air rushed in.
Good old Earth.
When it wasn't a blizzard, the sun beat down on the planet without restraint. I resisted the urge to look in a particular direction, like the spot on the roof where my dad killed himself. Although it had been months, the landlord just fixed the ledge last week. But, still, I couldn't look.

Towering glass buildings surrounded us. Tons of people lifted off their roofs in aerial cars and bikes. Barely anyone drove electric or gas cars, unless they were teenagers with a learner's permit who were restricted from driving high or the old generation that fixed up and polished vintage sports cars and cruised around in them on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

I kept my back to the area. “I'm parked over here.”

“I hope you're not referring to that metal monstrosity over there charading as a bike.”

“Don't be so mean. She's beautiful.” I laughed. My metal temptress relaxed far away from the other vehicles. A sleek gray paint covered it and shined in the sunlight.

“No way am I getting on that,” Nix said when we approached it.

“Diamond is safe.” I patted the leather seat and slid my hands up against the metal hump in front of it, thinking of the many memories that came from that hump. Many women sat on that spot and enjoyed that area most of all. I glanced at Nix.
I shouldn't do this. I should just have her sit behind me like a regular ride.
I swiped a peek at those juicy melons pushing against her shirt.
Damn the Duchess. I'm going to hell anyway.

“Hop on the front.” I patted Diamond's hump. “Don't be scared, Nixie baby. I'll go as fast as you allow. You'll control the speed. Okay?”

“I'm not scared.” She glared at me in defiance before she jumped on. I held back my grin and got behind her, maintaining an inch of space between us.

I better tell her about the plan now, because once Diamond starts, Nix will be preoccupied.

“You ever been to Trinity?” I asked.

Her whole body tensed in front of me. “Never. It's expensive to get a transport ticket to that planet, even more to stay there for a few nights. But a girl can dream . . . some pretty big whales live there. I'd love to cast my line and see what mama could reel in.”

Sugar daddies. I never pegged her for that type.

Rage coursed through my veins and would've short circuited my eyes if I hadn't calmed myself down. I didn't like the idea of creepy rich guys touching her just because their pockets were stuffed. If someone was going to stroke her soft skin and it wasn't me, then I wanted it to be a man who deserved her.

“Sooo . . . what about Trinity?” Her voice held anticipation.

“A strip club named Dynamics opened up three months ago. I got a job as a bouncer there through a cousin that lives on the planet. I start in two days. I've seen vids. It's plush with three dance levels and two floors of private rooms. All types of dancers—human and androids with flesh so close to ours it cost more to rent them for the night than a real female.” I slid my key card in the ignition slot. Diamond warmed, but hadn't begun to rumble yet. “My cousin checked out the spot. He claims it's bringing in two million a night.”

“In what currency?”

“Trinity's cube, of course.”

On any planet that wasn't earth, people used the electric dollar to buy gum for their kids or to give to a homeless bum on the street. The cube topped all currency in the galaxy. One cube was worth a hundred earth dollars.

“My brothers and I robbed a lot of night spots on earth to save up for a move to Trinity. Tomorrow, we transport the whole family to a house in the working class section of the planet,” I said. “We stole enough money to keep us there for two months. If you join the job, then you'll get a ticket and a room for two months in our house.”

“What part would I play?”

I imagined the calculations breaking down in her head. We could all walk away with half a million cubes each. With that money, she could run off to a more cost-effective planet and provide for herself until she died. There would be no need for sugar daddies or reeling in whales that didn't deserve her.

“I'd get my cousin to get you a job as a dancer there.” I licked my lips. “One look at your face and the way you rock those hips, you'd be hired in seconds. Once you're in, I need you to get a layout of the performers' changing areas and anything else you can think of. When the guys hit the club, we'll have you collect the money in a bag like the other night. You'll act like you're scared and we'll take you as a hostage to make sure no one tries to blast us as we leave.”

Silenced passed as Diamond's engine hummed.

“I need time to think about it.”

“Fine.” I couldn't fight the smile that spread across my face. She was interested, just like I knew she would be. With her on the job, we'd be rich in no time.

“Will I be expected to put my pound of flesh in to get information from the management or anyone else?”

“Pound of flesh? You mean fuck them?”

“Yes.”

I gripped the handles hard until white showed around my knuckles. “I'd rather you not.”

“Alright.” She sighed. “I'll give you my answer tomorrow night. I've never worked with anybody else before. I'm not sure if I can even trust you or your brothers.”