Chapter Twenty-Seven

From behind her bar Natasha gazed out the picture window of her penthouse. Flowers in every color imaginable created a circular maze bordered by tall, elegant trees.

“It’s a beautiful view,” Arlianna said. “I see you still have a green thumb.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Natasha picked up a holo-mote, pressed a button, and the view changed to the ocean, which lay on the other side of the building. “Red or white?”

“Whatever you’re having.” Arlianna leaned back against the couch, resting her hands on her lap. But Natasha knew she was far from relaxed. Not Arlianna. Her guard never went to sleep.

Slowly and deliberately, Natasha searched through the dozens of bottles on her wine rack. Finally, she settled on a Merlot. She filled two glasses, walked across the room, and handed one to Arlianna.

“You still have these?” Arlianna held the glass up in the air, her eyes on the logo.

“Only that one. The one with my initials. Yours broke years ago.”

“Accidentally?” Arlianna asked.

“Shall we say, accidentally on purpose.” Natasha sank onto her plush white couch, facing Arlianna.

“It doesn’t have to be like this.” Arlianna set the glass down, untouched. “You turn yourself in. I’ll guarantee you probation. Tell them the mis calc was accidental. Renn will go on hiatus until it clears over. And then afterward they can live happily ever.”

“You expect me to believe you?” Natasha asked. She’d trusted Arlianna one too many times.

“I expect you do the decent thing. The right thing.” Arlianna swept a stray hair off her forehead. “Nat, this isn’t like you.”

“You don’t know me anymore.” Natasha swirled her glass, watching the wine move counterclockwise and then back in the other direction.

“I know you have a soul inside you. Somewhere.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Arl. That was never my intention. But I can’t go on trial. And you can’t promise me anything.” She gave Arlianna a second to deny her accusation before going on. “But I can promise that if you leave it to me, I won’t hurt the girl. I’ll simply get rid of Renn. As for the mission, I’ll report an error in the calcs.”

Arlianna shook her head. “I can’t have you harming my apprentice.”

Natasha’s eyes locked onto Arlianna’s. A stare down. A game they played when they were kids. But now they were two older women. And Natasha was done playing games.

Natasha took a sip of her wine. “Ah, delicious.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Then I guess we’re at an impasse.”

She stood up and walked over to the bar. Pressing the holocom, the face of Lexi appeared in the room. “Show our guest out.”

“Natasha, please.” Arlianna got up and walked to the bar. Her tattoo shifted into a flower.

“Begging is so unbecoming of you.” Natasha refilled her glass.

“I’m not begging. I’m asking. We’ve all made mistakes.”

“The only one I ever made was trusting you. You were never really my friend.”

“That’s not true.” Arlianna reached for Natasha’s arm, but Natasha was quick. She grabbed Arlianna, twisting her, holding her in a tight grip.

“I can’t be defaced. No one, you hear me, no one is ever going to know about this. Now get out of here.” She shoved Arlianna toward Lexi who stood by the door.

“Please, let’s work this out. I don’t want to hurt you, either. But if I have to…”

Natasha chuckled. “You would.”

“Be reasonable.”

“Of course. What other way is there to be?”

With that, Natasha picked up the holo-mote, changing the view to the mountains, which lay to the east of the building.

She was going to be reasonable, all right. She would spin Jessica into orbit, sending her from time to time. Renn would follow, of that, she was sure. And if Arlianna got in her way. Well, then, so be it for Arlianna.