Read Online Love in Retrograde by Charlie Cochet - Free Book Online

something to make him sleep, but he was too edgy. All he could think about was Mars and Jordan. What if they made Jordan disappear? What if he showed up facedown floating in the Thames? How would Kelly face Lucius knowing he’d done nothing? Sitting up, he tapped his nightstand’s interface. A groggy voice answered.
    “What?”
    “Lucius, Jordan is going to get himself killed.” Kelly relayed his conversation with Jordan, not leaving anything out, not even the part about Mars. He confessed everything. “I know I messed up, but you have to do something to stop him, or you’re going to lose him for good.” There was a long pause on the other end before Lucius replied.
    “He’s on his way home now. Leave it to me. He’ll probably kick my arse to the curb after this, but if it’s to keep him safe, then it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. If I’m not in first thing, you’ll have to cover for me. Make certain Mars is on that transport. Once he’s gone… there will be no finding him.”
    Kelly’s heart splintered in two. This was for the best. He promised he’d do his part. Whatever Lucius was up to, he hoped the man would be there as soon as he could. Having Lucius present would help fortify his nerves. He doubted he’d be needed, but just in case.
    The next morning, everything was off to a shitty start. Kelly had arrived at work only to be told he’d be standing in for both Jordan and Lucius, since neither had shown up for work. As Dr. Skye’s assistant with clearance on Project Mars, Kelly would be attending the “filtering” process for Mars.
    The room was as clinical as it could get. A white lab with gleaming glass fixtures, glass interface panels, glaring white lights, and at the center a padded white chair with steel clamps. The society director entered, followed by a group of highly decorated and strict-looking government officials.
    “Dr. Sutton, this is the director general, Sir Carlton Preston, the intelligence service commissioner, Sir Ingmar Sherman, and the chief of defense staff, Dame Arline Abraham.”
    All parties nodded their greetings, and the society director extended a hand. “It’s time. Please, if you will, Dr. Sutton. They’re most keen to inspect their investment before the test run.”
    Investment. That’s all Mars was to them. It made Kelly feel sick. Holding his tongue, Kelly nodded, leaving the director to kiss ass and escort the officials to the observation room at the end of the lab. Mars stood stock-still, his expression stern and his gaze straight ahead as he was poked and prodded by several researchers. He appeared indifferent. A stone statue.
    A tall dark-haired man in a white lab coat tapped away at one of the glass interfaces.
    “Let’s begin the filtering process. Dr. Sutton, strap the specimen into the chair, please.”
    Kelly motioned to the chair, but Mars didn’t move. Hesitantly, Kelly placed his hand on the small of Mars’s back, causing him to draw a sharp breath before he moved forward. He took a seat on the chair and lay back as the biotechnicians explained to the government officials which cells they would be neutralizing.
    Couldn’t they see the pain in Mars’s eyes? The fear?
    Mars had experienced so much in his short time on this planet. How could those bastards ignore it all? How could they live with themselves knowing they were about to destroy a man’s humanity?
    Kelly leaned into Mars as he tapped the clamps shut around Mars’s wrists. “Why are you letting them do this to you? You’re stronger than all of them. You can get out of here.”
    “I want them to reprogram me,” Mars replied quietly.
    “What? Why?” How could he accept his fate so easily? With all the power inside him, how could he just lie there and surrender?
    “Because then the pain in my heart will stop, and although you may doubt its existence, it’s as real as the tears in your eyes.”
    Kelly blinked, unaware that he indeed did have tears in his eyes. This