Page 9 of Ruled By Their Desires

Staggering back, reality hit her. Shit….

She did know him, he’d used her uncles nic name for her and knew, it wouldn’t be the last time she saw him. He was familiar because he was. He didn’t look the same but in the pit of her gut, she had that sick feeling. The voice had sounded just like him right then, just rougher, sexier. And more intoxicating. He’d never used that voice with her before.

Damn it. If her father had asked for their help, he wasn’t going to leave it at that. She had to make this meet happen.

Three days later, they all filled the conference room looking at the screen on the wall. They’d asked her several times how she’d been contacted, and she’d played it safe saying she’d found the damaged burner on her while undressing to shower after the rescue and debrief, finding the message on it before it shut off permanently. She had the phone to show them, nothing was retrievable.

Standing at the rear along the back wall not wanting to draw any attention she stood with a line of other agents and hoping it stayed that way. She’d been on tender hooks since that night. Her mind a mess. Her dreams full of… him. She’d been lucky that the Director had taken her call and listened to her. The large table in front of the view screen was full of all the decision makers in the Free Human Alliance, including the Director in the middle of his staff. Sarah was his daughter and now hiding in a new location only she and the Director were aware of.

At the appointed time, the screen flickered a couple of times as they joined the connection before clearing. On the other side of that screen sat a very similar desk she recognised with one man sitting at it and a line of Cyborgs at his back.

Oh shit…..

She inwardly cringed. Then the screen split in two and another Cyborg she now recognised only too well stood in the middle of it. Looking damn sexy, arms folded, legs splayed apart. He looked….. determined.

Fuck… this was gonna hurt…

No one spoke for a moment.

Both sides weighing each other up. Finally, the person she knew the best at the desk on the screen leant forward.

“First, we are not your enemy, but we do have a common enemy that needs to be gone if we are going to survive this war. To do that we need to work together but first, we are going to agree, your word and ours on pain of death, for amnesty for all those that are lost to either of our sides, detained with or without their permission for whatever reason, or have chosen a side, rightly or wrongly in the eyes of anyone else…..” That sounded directed at her. She held back her sneer and gritted her teeth.

“You have some of our people?” The Director asked.

“We do. They have sanctuary here by choice, we’ve identified a few in our training camps too and you are welcome to speak with them.”

The Director didn’t have to ask if he had some of theirs, that was a given considering the request. He looked at his cabinet and they nodded in agreement. “Agreed.”

“So to clarify, any harm that befalls anyone on either side as a result of personal connection in whatever way to the opposite side, will result in the aggressors death and safe return of the person concerned, either yours or ours. Failure to ensure their safety and we go to war. We are agreed yes?” He asked again.

“That sounds like a threat. You don’t trust us?” The Director asked.

He laughed and she held in a smile. It was so familiar. “It is a very real threat. I’m a Native American, our history is long with mistrust. We don’t trust easily because we’ve been shit on so often. Trust is valued and earned.”

“You have that with the Cyborgs with you.”

“We do and far more.”

The Director gave a nod. “Yes. We are agreed.”

“Excellent.” The older man told them. Then everyone on that side of the screen in what looked like orchestrated synchronism turned towards her.

Fuck this was going to be bad….

“Your uncles are pissed you’ve not visited,” every Cyborgs behind him nodded at her.

Double fuck…

“Or come by for some training that you clearly need.” Typically, he stressed the need bit.

O goody, he wasn’t happy.

The people in the room with her looked confused. “Your mother is going to have plenty to say about that too. She, we, haven’t heard from you since you joined them in over a year.”

Damn it…. Now people in the room were starting to twig.

“And you, are seriously trying my patience getting caught by those KC mother fuckers and not getting yourself out. Yes, I know you had your reasons to stay. But you put their lives before your own and that’s, not fucking good enough. You were trained better.” His voice was raising.

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