better, faster if they stayed that way. At least until it was done doing its job. Getting her healthy was just the first stage of this process. Time to work on the second.
He opened his comp and dialed a number that was likely to be popular over the next few days.
When a computerized voice answered, he read off a series of numbers he’d memorized. When a voice came on the other end, he stated, “I need an ID for one young female.”
Silence.
He held his breath. There was no guarantee that he’d get his request fulfilled, but he didn’t know where else to go. Dani needed a solid ID to go anywhere. And she needed to be tagged. Thankfully, he and Milo made a lot of money. Because taking care of Dani was starting to become a major expense.
“Anything else.”
“Yes.” He winced. It was from here that things could get dicey. “I need a tagging completed.”
The person on the other end sucked in his breath. But when he spoke, his voice was calm. “That is an expensive process.”
“I know.”
“You have the funds.”
“I have the funds.” There was no point in elaborating. They either believed him or they didn’t. And he’d pay the price, regardless. He had no choice.
Silence. He waited. If this person refused, it would be one person more who would know his secret. And such a secret would be dangerous, especially for Dani.
“When?”
“As fast as possible.” Then he reconsidered. Maybe not so fast. Dani was still healing. He didn’t want these people to know why she had no ID or tags. And they might if they saw her now. If it could be in a few days, that would give her longer to heal. He had no idea how long it would take, but she needed every day. He’d have to take her out of his place soon. But she needed to be strong enough to handle everything that was coming.
His world was not for the faint of heart.
“Tomorrow morning. No food or water for 12 hours prior.”
And the voice rang off.
Levi stared down at the comp in his hand. “That went well.” Maybe. They didn’t give him a price. They didn’t ask for his address. They didn’t ask any medical details about who was being tagged. Were they going to contact him again or just show up on his doorstep?
He walked back over to where Dani slept in the pod. She’d taken to the pod as if it were the answer to her prayers, and given the fact that it was easing her pain, it probably was. Stunningly beautiful in sleep, Dani was both a problem and a gift. He stood, enjoying the sleeping beauty when he realized he really didn’t want to leave. That more than anything sent him bolting from the room.
Back in the kitchen, he came face to face with Milo.
Milo, dark overtones in his young voice, asked, “Did I just hear you correctly?”
Levi’s stomach sank. Milo would need to know eventually, but Levi didn’t feel up to a fight now. “What did you hear?”
Milo looked around furtively. Levi rolled his eyes. “We’re in our home, stealth is on. No one can hear us.”
“You can’t be sure of that,” Milo cried. “What if someone has this place bugged?” He reached up to grab his hair with both hands.
Levi stared at his brother in disgust. “You care now?”
Round glazed eyes stared back at him. “You don’t understand. I can’t have people knowing about her.”
Levi narrowed his gaze. “Why?” he asked, his tone ominous.
Milo shifted uneasily. Not quite a bounce, but neither was he standing steady. And that wasn’t good. “Milo, what are you talking about?”
He leaned forward. “It’s my technology. My design. My invention.”
“And?”
“And if people find out, they will steal it.” He wrung his hands.
“Damn it, Milo, this isn’t about keeping your code secret. This is about a young woman whose life you destroyed. You do realize she could die, don’t you?”
Milo stared in the direction of the healing pod. That he seemed to be considering the pros and cons of Dani’s death pissed Levi off. His brother was
He opened his comp and dialed a number that was likely to be popular over the next few days.
When a computerized voice answered, he read off a series of numbers he’d memorized. When a voice came on the other end, he stated, “I need an ID for one young female.”
Silence.
He held his breath. There was no guarantee that he’d get his request fulfilled, but he didn’t know where else to go. Dani needed a solid ID to go anywhere. And she needed to be tagged. Thankfully, he and Milo made a lot of money. Because taking care of Dani was starting to become a major expense.
“Anything else.”
“Yes.” He winced. It was from here that things could get dicey. “I need a tagging completed.”
The person on the other end sucked in his breath. But when he spoke, his voice was calm. “That is an expensive process.”
“I know.”
“You have the funds.”
“I have the funds.” There was no point in elaborating. They either believed him or they didn’t. And he’d pay the price, regardless. He had no choice.
Silence. He waited. If this person refused, it would be one person more who would know his secret. And such a secret would be dangerous, especially for Dani.
“When?”
“As fast as possible.” Then he reconsidered. Maybe not so fast. Dani was still healing. He didn’t want these people to know why she had no ID or tags. And they might if they saw her now. If it could be in a few days, that would give her longer to heal. He had no idea how long it would take, but she needed every day. He’d have to take her out of his place soon. But she needed to be strong enough to handle everything that was coming.
His world was not for the faint of heart.
“Tomorrow morning. No food or water for 12 hours prior.”
And the voice rang off.
Levi stared down at the comp in his hand. “That went well.” Maybe. They didn’t give him a price. They didn’t ask for his address. They didn’t ask any medical details about who was being tagged. Were they going to contact him again or just show up on his doorstep?
He walked back over to where Dani slept in the pod. She’d taken to the pod as if it were the answer to her prayers, and given the fact that it was easing her pain, it probably was. Stunningly beautiful in sleep, Dani was both a problem and a gift. He stood, enjoying the sleeping beauty when he realized he really didn’t want to leave. That more than anything sent him bolting from the room.
Back in the kitchen, he came face to face with Milo.
Milo, dark overtones in his young voice, asked, “Did I just hear you correctly?”
Levi’s stomach sank. Milo would need to know eventually, but Levi didn’t feel up to a fight now. “What did you hear?”
Milo looked around furtively. Levi rolled his eyes. “We’re in our home, stealth is on. No one can hear us.”
“You can’t be sure of that,” Milo cried. “What if someone has this place bugged?” He reached up to grab his hair with both hands.
Levi stared at his brother in disgust. “You care now?”
Round glazed eyes stared back at him. “You don’t understand. I can’t have people knowing about her.”
Levi narrowed his gaze. “Why?” he asked, his tone ominous.
Milo shifted uneasily. Not quite a bounce, but neither was he standing steady. And that wasn’t good. “Milo, what are you talking about?”
He leaned forward. “It’s my technology. My design. My invention.”
“And?”
“And if people find out, they will steal it.” He wrung his hands.
“Damn it, Milo, this isn’t about keeping your code secret. This is about a young woman whose life you destroyed. You do realize she could die, don’t you?”
Milo stared in the direction of the healing pod. That he seemed to be considering the pros and cons of Dani’s death pissed Levi off. His brother was
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