Succession (36 page)

“We’ll be able to prove it wasn’t Sy,” he tells me, a hopeful smile on his face. “Just give it a few hours. But I can see it there, the communication trails, the data that was released, everything. We can prove that Torenze was the one sabotaging this project.”

“Good.” I am genuinely pleased. The results might not be confirmed yet, but I assume Sascha knows what he’s doing with the tablets, and I trust what he’s saying. Not only that, but he was so angry at Syrus a few minutes ago that I can’t imagine him lying for the man.

“It looks like it goes all the way back to right after your arrest,” Sascha adds. “While you were in prison, he started working with some of his favorite investors. He released the data about your mother, although it looks like he had a lot of cooperation from some government officials in bribing our data analyst. After that, it’s like he’s on his own—a lot of contacts stopped responding to him, and the information that just got released? He sent that, just him, no help. That’s why he started with tabloids. Nobody else would take it. I don’t know if Kristine scared them off or if they just realized you had gained popular support, but it looks like Torenze found himself without powerful friends.”

“As he should have.” I sigh, realizing that Sascha’s instincts have been right all along. I never should have trusted Oliver Torenze.

I’m glad that I could be of help. To see the relief on my master’s face, to see the look of success on Sascha’s, it makes me think that it’s worth it. Still, I know how much I hurt Sascha in all of it. It was easy enough to plan; I’ve had years of experience working behind other people’s backs. But actually hurting someone I care about was something different.

“I’m sorry for what I said back there,” I tell him quietly. I can’t get that hurt look out of my mind. “All those things, I didn’t like them, and I didn’t want to watch, or join, or… take care of myself in the bathroom after you left.”

Sascha gives me a questioning look, like he doesn’t quite want to believe it. I can’t blame him. I had to act well enough to convince him and Torenze. I succeeded.

“I would never want to see you hurt or humiliated,” I remind him. “It’s hard enough to stop myself from protecting you when you like it; seeing you endure it when you don’t like it made me want to be sick.”

Sascha nods. “It wasn’t that. I thought you did it on purpose, but I thought you did it so you didn’t have to watch. I thought you just abandoned me. Were you planning this the whole time?”

I nod. Sascha’s distrust of Torenze had warranted additional exploration from the moment that data got released. “I couldn’t tell you because I knew you’d mess it up. You needed to be devastated by my absence, and I knew you’d be excited if you knew I was going to dig around for evidence.”

“You’re probably right. I would have been giddy at the thought of destroying him.”

Sascha’s been easy for me to read since I met him. I couldn’t let that compromise our position. “And Cash, I couldn’t tell you because you didn’t trust me. It was too risky to trust you in return.”

Cash nods. “That’s fair. I’m certain the data will clear you completely.”

It’s business with Cash, which I appreciate. With Sascha, just telling him why I did what I did isn’t enough. I know he understands it, probably even respects the decision, but I did more than betray his trust. I played on his biggest fears. I stand and make my way over to where Sascha is sitting, standing there for only a brief moment before dropping to my knees. I can’t tower over him while I say this, and I’m not going to try to force him to stand. I need to meet him at his level.

“I am so sorry if I ever made you think I would leave you,” I tell Sascha, taking his hand. “It had to be done this way, but I regret hurting you, even for a few hours. You mean so much more to me than that.”

“I get it,” Sascha says.

I can see how hard he’s trying not to be angry, but only the logical part of him is letting this go. I abandoned him to someone who terrified him, just like Cash did. I’d rather he be angry, but I know he won’t. This is his battle with himself as much as anything. He’s quiet for a moment before speaking.

“Can I just go and take a shower?” he asks. “I feel disgusting. I can’t sit here like this.”

For a moment, I think he’s asking permission from Cash. It makes sense; he owns us both. But Sascha’s not looking at Cash, he’s looking at me. He needs time to process this, to let his lingering anger cool. I rise to my feet, pulling Sascha up as well. He’s weak, wobbly, and I steady him before placing a light kiss on his forehead. He tries to squirm away, but my grip is firm. It’s not that he’s unwilling, he’s just dealing with the aftereffects of his day of torture. I know how it can twist your mind, make you feel unclean.

“Take your time,” I tell him. “We’ll both be here when you come back.”

Sascha nods and flees, leaving me and Cash alone. I’m not sure what to say, but I’ve gotten to know Sascha quite well. Silently, I retrieve some cleaning products from the supply closet and wipe down the chair and the table where Sascha was sitting, putting them away and returning to sit when he finishes. Cash gives me a curious look.

“He’ll want the smell of cleaning product,” I explain. Sascha left no detectable odor, but senses can be deceiving. The citrus and soap smell of the cleaning products will be more convincing than any well-intentioned statement of truth.

Cash stares at me, a mixture of gratefulness and curiosity. I wonder if he wishes I had been involved in one of his studies.

“What you did today… it was dangerous, reckless. You could have gotten yourself killed for a stunt like that.”

I nod. I was aware of that risk.

“Thank you. This doesn’t just clear you—it helps us with this whole project. Now that we know what’s really going on, we can move forward, secure our information. I don’t know how we’re going to deal with this, but now that we know, we have a chance.”

I nod again. My choice had been simple. There was no other option as far as I was concerned. “It was important to Sascha.”

“Do you love him?” Cash asks.

He’s trying to understand my motivations. I consider it for a moment, consider what he’s asking and why. “Not like you do, but yes.”

Cash waits for the explanation.

“You and Sascha, you burn bright,” I explain, smiling. “When you’re not fucking, you’re fighting, and sometimes you’re doing both. Nothing is ever halfway with the two of you. For me… I’ve always wanted to protect, to take care of. I suppose guarding criminals is a form of protection, but it doesn’t feel the same. I like that Sascha needs me, and I like that the two of you are taking on this project that could make things better. From what Sascha’s told me, if your re-education system had been in place when I had been Demoted, I might have done something worthwhile with my life. I guess a part of me hopes I still can.”

“You will. You have already. I know the information isn’t ready yet, but I trust Sascha. If he says there’s something in there to clear you, I believe him. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you before.”

I smile at him. I’ve never had a master apologize to me this much before. I’ve never had one mean it. “Would have been a lie if you said you did. You made the right choice. It threatened to tear you and Sascha apart, but you did it to keep your project safe, to keep him safe. I respect that. No hard feelings.”

Cash laughs, a look of relief on his face. I know he wants to like me. He wasn’t as devastated as Sascha was, but I could see that the thought hurt him. As furious as he had been when he accused me of betraying him, a part of him had been crushed. I’m pleased to rebuild that trust.

Sascha returns quickly, looking clean and a little more relaxed. I notice him sniffing the air a little bit as he returns, a satisfied smile on his face as he detects the cleaning products. I smile, knowing that I made the right decision.

Sascha checks the tablets to see their progress, looking pleased. “It will be ready soon,” he informs me. “So what do we do now that we know?”

“What was the Argova family role in all this?” I ask, hoping I’m not too far off in my suspicions. “Like I said, a lot of what I found on Torenze was encrypted, but there were some contacts made toward the beginning. Can we trust them?”

“They’ve been my strongest supporters,” Cash points out. “From prison, to the lawyer, to helping me make connections—”

“They pull a lot of strings in business and politics,” I interrupt, startled that I am allowed such indiscretion. Cash doesn’t seem bothered; he just waits for me to continue. “They’re not just business, and they’re not just criminals. They do both, flawlessly, and they have their hands in everything that benefits them. They have you exactly where they want you.”

Cash goes silent, considering it. Sascha starts looking over the tablets, likely trying to prove or disprove my theory.

“They were in contact with Torenze,” Sascha confirms. “They’ve been in business with him for years, since his split from Kristine Miller. They knew about this project before anything got released, before the raid. They’ve been following it for months.”

“Anything in there about what they planned to do with me?” Cash asks, clearly annoyed by the turn of events.

Sascha shakes his head. “They dropped contact with Torenze not long after releasing the data about the Miller System.”

“Right around the time you asked for their help in securing my safety,” I remind Cash. “You agreed to work with them. To develop a relationship.”

“So, what, they were just waiting to see who to place their bets on?” Cash replies, outraged.

“They have enough connections to make those sorts of gambles.” I was never too closely involved, but I know they’re major players. My master’s associates did anything they asked; they still are, if the fact that I’m not dead indicates anything. They called off the hit on me and made it stick.

“Does that mean we don’t trust them?” Sascha asks, a worried look on his face. “We need them—the lawyer, the sponsors….”

“And they need us,” Cash says, a smile on his face. He glances at me. “I’m assuming they already would have arranged for me to be arrested or killed if they weren’t interested in me, correct?”

I nod, confirming it.

“Then perhaps I need to get my lawyer over here to discuss all of this.”

Chapter 32
Choosing Sides

I’m not sure what prompts me to be so confrontational with Edson; for all I know, she’s as far into this as the Argova family, and I might end up murdered on the street or “eliminated” in prison, as Sy’s last master was. But I’d rather know than worry about the safety of my life and my slaves.

“Care to explain why your associates and Oliver Torenze have been working behind my back?” I demand, the moment she answers my com call. “Or to tell me what happened with my data analyst and—”

“Mr. Michaud, stop speaking,” Edson cuts me off. “You make the most rash decisions when your pretty little pet is in danger. Give me twenty minutes and I’ll come over and meet with you in person. We can discuss whatever’s gotten you so upset and review your case.”

I pause. I should speak with her in person, it protects us from any number of surveillance mechanisms, but I’m not sure I want to agree to that. My bravado isn’t as strong when I have a moment to think about the repercussions.

“Mr. Michaud, would the Argova family have invested this much into your success if they weren’t interested in seeing it through? I have an important development to share about your case, anyway.”

“All right,” I agree. I hang up the phone. “She’s coming over.”

Sy looks like he’s doing his best not to smile. He plays better in this world than I do.

I glance at Sascha, who’s still engrossed with the tablets. “Did he hurt you, Sascha? Torenze? I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I need to know.”

He shakes his head. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I was more shaken by Sy than I was by him. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t enjoy it by any means, but it wasn’t as bad as it was last time. I knew what was coming. I’m just glad I didn’t have to come home and deal with it alone.”

I smile at him. “Never,” I promise. I would never abandon him like that.

“What do we tell the lawyer? Or the public, for that matter?” Sascha asks. “That your slave bodyguard broke a few handfuls of laws and found some incriminating evidence? Sy is not getting caught in the middle of this.”

I nod. “I hadn’t thought it through. You’re right. We can’t put him or you at risk, and we won’t. Make sure you have the data backed up somewhere safe; we won’t let her release any of it until we have a plan.”

Sascha nods, appeased by my idea. I hope it’s good enough, but we are quickly running out of options.

Edson arrives soon, looking more inconvenienced than anything else. Sy lets her in and escorts her to where we’re sitting, and she casts an expectant look at me.

“The Argova associates have been in business with Mr. Torenze for many years,” she reminds me. “In both legitimate and grey market endeavors. But I suspect you already knew that.”

“Yes,” I agree. “What I didn’t know was the extent of your involvement with him, particularly as it involved destroying my project.”