Page 69 of City of Love

A rise in the volume of shouting grabbed her attention, and she saw what Gideon was referring to. The gunman was getting twitchy as Matthew and Margot began arguing.

Arms at her sides now, Margot turned her palms forward in supplication. “I never meant for any of this to happen. Yes, I admit it, Matthew. At first it was about money. I’d made some bad investments and was in trouble.”

He spread his arms, his brow rising. “Why didn’t you just ask me for help? You know I have the resources.”

She shook her head, her eyes growing glossy. “Because I was embarrassed. And I didn’t want to ask you—”

Lexi interrupted. “You didn’t want to ask a man for help.”

Matthew huffed and looked away. “I didn’t think I was just any man.”

Margot dipped her chin before continuing. “At first they told me they only wanted to observe the technologies of this world. They said they were going to record the portal music—that’s all—maybe talk to some people here who had abilities, convince them to teach their skills to people in our world.”

Matt crossed his arms over his chest. “Just record the portal music? You didn’t think that in itself was enough of a problem?”

She ignored his comment. “When the Group realized these people weren’t likely to help, they came up with plan B, as it were.” She turned away from Matt and locked eyes with Lexi. “To just… take people. They started working on creating the capture devices at that point, and with the corporations involved and the money behind the project, it didn’t take them long.”

Gideon remained still and silent as Vikkras spoke in a soft tone. “And yet you still didn’t say anything to any of us. Still didn’t think it was becoming a bad idea?”

“I did balk then, yes. I told them I couldn’t help them anymore, wouldn’t help them. And they freaked. They worried I’d give them away, which I would have, of course,” she said, looking from one face to another, settling back on Lexi’s. “That’s when they started making threats. Either I did everything they asked of me and kept my mouth shut or they’d start hurting the people I cared about. They threatened my family, they threatened Matthew, they threatened you, Lex. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“Yeah, well, you saw how well that worked out.” Her hand automatically went to where the now-faded bruise had been on her forehead.

“Lex, I swear, it’s true I put the capture device on your sweater that first night. I figured you’d pop right home to our world and you’d be fine. I thought you’d get to understand the visions you’d been having, go home with a great story, and that would be the end of it. I didn’t plan on you falling in love and wanting to come back.” She glanced at Gideon, a small whimper escaping from her throat. “The second time, that was all Benjamin. You were never supposed to be involved again. I was shocked when I saw your face that night and learned what happened.”

Matthew paced as he spoke. “And still, you didn’t say anything.”

Lexi sensed the gunman growing restless and confused. His gaze zigzagged between Margot and Matthew. The situation was going from critical to code blue.

“From then on they dictated every damn move I made. I started thinking it might be best if I stayed involved so I could keep an eye on what was going on.” Her movements became frantic, she made a half-step toward Lexi. “That’s why I encouraged you to stay away from Gideon, babydoll, to keep you safe.” She gestured toward Spencer. “I came here today to prevent him from—”

“Stop!” They all turned to Spencer, who still held the gun against Gideon’s temple. “Everyone just shut up.” Sweat formed on his brow and he wiped it with his free arm. His trigger hand was getting more and more twitchy, almost spastic.

“Um, hold up a sec,” Lexi said, all eyes pivoting to her. “How exactly has Spencer been staying full-time in this world? I mean, if you guys at PG have a secret way of easily transitioning someone to live full-time in this world, I’m totally down for an information trade of some sort.” She wasn’t exactly sure where her façade of flippant nonchalance was coming from, but if flippant nonchalance would buy time to keep that gun from going off, she’d force her trembling limbs rock steady and give an Academy-worthy performance. “You can’t just be playing the music every four hours, can you? Cuz, boy, that would be tedious. Am I right?”

Margot’s brows pinched in confusion as her stare toggled between Spencer and Lexi. “Actually, yeah. He has been,” she said. “I suppose it must be tedious, but he’s getting paid well enough.”

With his free hand, Spencer whipped the phone out of his pocket. “No big deal. Got the music recorded right here. Just press play every four hours and keep on truckin’. The wonders of technology, bro.” He waggled the phone right up in Gideon’s face. “Technology.”

Lexi ignored the strain in Gideon’s demeanor as he tolerated his assailant’s actions, instead she noted the way Spencer’s eyes darted here and there, focusing on nothing in particular. The way his jaw muscles ground in jerky motions when he wasn’t talking.

“See, that’s the bitch of the thing though.” She crossed her arms under her breasts and cocked a hip, all while holding down the bile in her throat. Ignoring, too, what she assumed would be a look of condemnation from Catherine Moss over what the Mayor probably perceived as chumminess with Spencer. Damn, she deserved that Oscar statue. “You can’t play the music every four hours for very long before you start getting sick. I mean, really sick. Brain sick too, from what I’m told. And you’ve been here for what, Spencer, a few weeks? With the portal guarded now, you can’t even slip back and forth when you need to. You must be feeling a teeny bit out of sorts.”

Margot picked up the thread. “She’s right, Spence. You’re not thinking clearly right now. Maybe that’s why we’re in this mess? Maybe you’re a little confused? It’s okay. You just need some R&R back in our home world. Catch a few Eagles games on a nice big screen. Let’s take a breather and figure this out.”

His shoulders relaxed a tad as his eyes settled and held onto Margot, and Lexi thought maybe they’d pulled it off. If only he lowered that gun arm just a hair as his fried-to-a-crisp brain tried to work things out, Gideon could make a move.

No such luck. Having come to some muddled conclusion, he straightened his spine and pushed the gun harder into Gideon’s head.

“This is all fucking irrelevant and I’m done listening to this crap. We have a situation here. It should’ve been easy and done. Now I’m looking at seven fucking people I need out of my way. We’re going to do that right now and then you’re helping me get back home.” He lifted his chin toward Margot. “After that I don’t care what this crazy ass world does with the bodies or what they make of it all. I’m over and out.”

He pulled back the hammer on the pistol and everyone shouted. Margot tugged her own revolver from the waist of her jeans beneath her loose shirt, and there was a collective gasp. With feet planted and two arms outstretched, she pointed at Spencer.

Alana stepped forward. Her face pale as flour, she raised trembling arms toward Spencer. Rooted in place and silent with fear until now, she’d finally found her voice. “Please wait, let’s talk about this. Wouldn’t you love to walk away, Spencer, and forget this place even exists? Go back to your friends and family with a clean conscience?”

Vikkras pulled her back, but her calming tone radiated from her words. For a fraction of a second the gunman’s shoulders relaxed, and he bent his elbow, lowering the pistol a little away from Gideon’s head.

And the world burst into action.

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