The Knight, page 2
“I can help. I speak six languages—that could be useful. Mom can help even more—you know that. She’s got her PhD in economics, Daddy. You need an economist.”
“This movement wasn’t something we put together in a basement somewhere, you know. I came late to the party but people have been planning this for years. Smart people.” People who would have been better leaders than Adam, probably, but who, for one reason or another, hadn’t been suitable. “We have economists. We have translators.” He wanted to keep going, wanted to point out that they had security guards and military police who would be happy to politely but firmly escort unwanted visitors out of the country. But everything would be much easier if he could persuade Kara to leave of her own accord.
The comm by the door buzzed. Too early for dinner, surely; Remy was good at making things happen, but he’d barely have had time to get to the kitchen. “Enter,” Adam said, and the door slid open to reveal Morgan’s smiling face.
“I heard we have some guests of honor,” Morgan said with a charming half bow. “Mrs. Challoner? Ms. Challoner? I’m Morgan Winters, Chief Political Officer of the Provisional Government. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
He extended his hand as he crossed the room, and Antonia took it. “Dr. Antonia De Luca,” she corrected. “In Europe, we don’t view women as possessions of men.” But her smile was smooth and easy, and she brought Kara forward for a handshake without hesitation. “But we gave Kara her father’s surname. The hyphenate was a little much.”
Morgan barely slowed down. “Of course. My apologies. With so many similarities between our nations, I forget the little differences.” His smile was still just as charming as Antonia’s. “Not that I think our naming conventions necessarily mean that North Americans ‘view women as possessions of men’.”
“Of course not. The naming is just one indicator.” Antonia rested her hand almost possessively on Adam’s arm and tilted her head in his direction. “I certainly hope that one of the first goals of your new government will involve addressing the status of women in this country.”
“It’s on the list, Toni,” Adam said. He’d heard Antonia’s lectures on the topic many times before and absolutely believed she was right, but things weren’t as simple in reality as they were in theoretical conversations. Adam needed to get back in control of this conversation. “Morgan, I’m glad you’re here. I’m hoping that Antonia and Kara will be joining me for dinner, and then I’m hoping we’ll be arranging safe travel for them back to Europe. Can you look into that for me?”
“Leaving so soon?” Morgan’s disappointment seemed genuine, if a little overdone. “That’s truly unfortunate. The family image, the stability it conveys… that could be truly beneficial for us. Right now, the people want to trust you, but they don’t feel that they know you. A First Lady and a presidential family would go a long way toward humanizing your persona.”
“'Humanizing my persona’?” Adam didn’t like the sound of that. “Interesting idea, but my wife has a doctorate in economics and my daughter speaks six languages. I’m sure they aren’t interested in being used as mere symbols, feminine window dressing for a male display.” He refused to let himself look at Toni, as tempted as he was.
“But things here are in a careful balance, and you don’t want to upset it,” Kara said quickly. “You want to make sure people trust you, so you can keep doing all your important work.” She smiled. “We can talk about that over dinner, but I think Mom and I could definitely contribute. You don’t need a translator or an economist, but apparently you need a family.” She held her arms out as if presenting herself for admiration. “Ta-da! Here we are!”
“No,” Adam said. He couldn’t even begin to count the ways that this was a terrible idea. “No,” he said again.
“Will you join us for dinner, Mr. Winters?” Kara asked with a charming smile. “I’d really like to hear more of your ideas.”
“Well, I don’t want to intrude on a family reunion. But I do have some suggestions on how we can make this work for us.”
“You won’t be intruding at all,” Kara assured him, and she linked her arm through his before looking at her father. “You can make arrangements, right? There’s room for one more?”
It was absurd. Adam thought he had a chance of controlling a whole damned country? He couldn’t even make his own family do the smart thing. “For dinner, fine. But you can’t stay here, Kara. It’s not safe.”
“Let’s discuss it over dinner,” she said. Her smile was confident.
Damn it. He’d spent his whole life protecting her from cruelty and teaching her that anything was possible. Now, she was loose in a world that was full of evil and impossibilities, and she was too naïve to understand it. He wanted to preserve her innocence, but not at the expense of her safety. He looked over at Toni, who looked warily back at him, then nodded. Truce. They were both parents, and they’d both do whatever they could to protect their daughter. Adam thought of the reports that were starting to be uncovered, the true depths of the sadistic horrors perpetrated during the previous regime, and his stomach tightened as he thought of any of that getting anywhere close to his baby girl. Innocence be damned; he’d do whatever it took to get her out of the country.
Chapter 2
“IT WAS very exciting,” Kara said, her eyes wide as if she were reliving the event rather than just remembering it. “We flew so low we could see people’s faces as we passed them. Not that we saw many people, of course. The pilot was excellent—he chose a very remote path for us.”
“Is this a possible security concern?” Adam looked at Morgan. “Why didn’t our systems pick up on that?”
“I’ll look into it,” Morgan said. “But I know that we’re having some trouble sorting through the different surveillance systems. In the cities, with the population density, there are distinct networks for private surveillance, public surveillance, and military surveillance. In the more remote areas, I believe that all three ran on the same network. Shutting down the private surveillance tools may have interfered with the military sensors, as well. It’s one more argument for putting the private surveillance back online.”
“No,” Adam said firmly. “The people will never trust us if they see that we don’t trust them. The cameras need to stay off.”
“The red lights need to stay off,” Morgan amended. “We can’t advertise that we’re watching people, can’t use the cameras as threats to keep them in line. But I’m sure our brilliant engineers could find a way to activate the cameras without turning the red lights on.”
“To what end? ’Cause I’m sure our brilliant engineers can also find a way to get the military sensors online without reactivating any cameras.” Adam tried to keep his voice level. “The cameras are a huge part of what we’re fighting against. Totalitarian control, constant surveillance… there’s no point to any of this if we’re just as bad as the people we replaced.”
“That’s a little dramatic, Adam,” Morgan said, and then he turned toward Kara and Antonia. “I didn’t meet Adam until after the revolution. Our identities were closely guarded secrets in order to protect everyone in case of capture. And when I finally did meet him, I was amazed by how mild-mannered and unambitious he is. You can’t imagine Adam being a dictator, can you, ladies?”
Kara snorted. “Actually, yes, I can. Let me tell you a few stories about growing up in his household!” Her smile was warm, her eyes dancing, and Adam felt a surge of love so strong it almost made him ill. She was his, damn it. His joy, but also his burden. He’d stayed in an unsatisfying marriage for years longer than he should have, lived a good chunk of his life in Europe because it was a better place for Kara to grow up, done everything he could to protect her, and he would not allow all that to be for nothing.
He took a steadying sip of wine and made his voice serious. “Get ready for a little more dictatorship, Kara, because I need you to get out of the country. We’ll find a safe way for you to travel, but you can’t stay here.”
Kara shook her head emphatically. “If it’s safe enough for you, and for the hundreds of millions of people who live here, why on Earth would I need to run?”
“It’s not safe enough for the people who live here! But they don’t have a choice. You do.”
“That’s right, my choice. Just like you’ve made your choice.”
“This is my country, Kara. I know you don’t think of it that way, but I grew up here. I live here now. These are my people, and I’ve neglected that responsibility for too long.”
“So, what, this is some patriarchal noblesse oblige trip you’re on? No one else can take care of the poor, stupid peasants, it has to be you.”
“More like humanité oblige. It’s not something I have to do because I’m special, it’s something I have to do because I’m not. I’m just the same as everyone else, and it makes no sense that I should be able to walk away when they can’t.”
“But why doesn’t that argument apply to me too?” Kara wasn’t fighting, really. She was asking a genuine question. Fortunately, it was one for which Adam had a genuine answer.
“Because you’re European. You’re mother insisted on you being raised there, but she didn’t have to fight me very hard. She wanted to keep you away from nonsense like this. You aren’t running away, you’re just going home.”
Kara nodded slowly, and for one short, glorious moment Adam was sure that she was convinced. But then she smiled almost sadly and said, “But being European doesn’t remove me from humanity. So if being a member of the human race gives you an obligation, it gives me one, as well.”
“I agree,” Toni said.
Adam swiveled his head toward her. “You what?” He tried not to let the feelings of betrayal into his voice, but he didn’t shy away from expressing his amazement.
“I agree.” As always, Antonia was calm. “We do have an obligation to help. But, Kara, we can do that just as well, if not better, at home. We can lobby our government to support the movement, and we can make sure that people understand what’s happening, and how important it is.”
“It would be a great way for you to use your gift for languages,” Adam agreed quickly.
But Kara didn’t seem convinced. “So I stay over there, clean and safe, and I expect people to believe what I say? Why? I mean, when they see who my father is, they’ll think I’m just a shill. If I stay here, and work, it’ll be like Morgan said; I can help people here trust Dad, make him look more stable. Here, I have an advantage, a way to be useful. In Europe, I’d be just another spoiled rich girl spouting off about something she doesn’t really understand.”
Adam really wanted to punch Morgan in the face. The man was smiling at Kara, and when he turned to look at Adam, his oily sincerity was on full power. “I really believe we can keep them safe, Adam. We’ll have an evacuation plan in place, of course, and they could be the first ones to leave if the situation warrants it. But them being here, them being seen to be here, will go a long way to making the people feel confident in you, and, of course, in their own safety. If the leader has brought his lovely wife and daughter over from Europe, then obviously the leader feels that the country is safe. It’s a slight increase in risk for Antonia and Kara, but a dramatic decrease in risk for everyone else.”
Adam needed people to stop talking to him. He needed a quiet, dark room, with Remy’s arms wrapped around him, Remy’s soothing voice murmuring inconsequential things in his ear. “Remy,” Adam said thoughtfully.
Morgan frowned at him. “What about him?”
Adam ignored the caution in Morgan’s voice and reached for his comm unit. One button, a short wait, and then Remy’s face was on the screen. Adam gave himself a moment to savor the beauty displayed, then said, “Remy, would you be able to come by my office? I’d like some people to meet you, if you don’t mind.”
“Now?” Remy sounded confused. “I mean, of course I can….” But his hesitation made it clear that he thought Adam had lost his mind.
Adam didn’t let himself stop to think about what he was about to ask Remy to do. It was unfair, maybe even cruel, but Remy was strong, and Kara needed to be protected. Still, it would probably be best to give a little warning. “My daughter is insisting on being part of this movement. I’d like her to hear a firsthand account of what our former government has done to people who dared to defy their authority.”
Remy’s expression didn’t change, but there was a tiny pause before he said, “Yes, sir. I’ll be right in.”
The slight hesitation in someone normally so smooth, the formality that Adam had worked so hard to move beyond—Remy wasn’t pleased. Adam felt the familiar, anxious churning in his stomach, but tried to ignore it. This was for Kara. His baby girl, his treasure, his best accomplishment and proudest legacy. Remy would understand.
“Remy is one of the few survivors of the Colony Seventeen massacre,” Adam said quietly.
Kara frowned at him. “I know about Colony Seventeen, Dad. We learned about it in school. I’m sure they’ve censored things here, but in Europe, we heard all about it.”
“Did you hear that the colonists sent diplomatic envoys to the European colonies, as well as to the European Union itself? Did you hear about the pleas for aid and refuge that fell on deaf ears?” Adam shook his head at her shocked expression. “No? Because Europe isn’t quite as golden as we’ve made it seem. And you need to understand that. If you go back now, before you get involved here, they’ll protect you. But if you get involved in this and make yourself an enemy of the old North American government, and that government ends up back in power, Europe may not give you shelter. Morgan can talk all he wants to about setting up escape routes, but they won’t do you much good if there’s nowhere for you to escape to.”
The comm panel by the door buzzed, and Adam gave Kara a long look before saying, “Enter.” The door slid open and Remy walked inside. He seemed relaxed, but wouldn’t meet Adam’s gaze. Damn it. But Adam would have to deal with that later.
“Thanks for joining us, Remy. Antonia, this is Remy Stone. He was instrumental in getting us access to the network for our takeover.” Adam didn’t think it was cowardly that he didn’t explain exactly how Remy had done that. If Remy wanted people to know he’d been a whore and had planted transmitters on his clients’ mobile comms, Remy could tell them. But it wasn’t something Adam was going to bring up in a short introduction. Besides, he had more important information to convey. “Remy, this is my wife, Antonia. We haven’t been together for several years, but we’ve never divorced, either. I never mentioned her to you because it never really came up, but she and Kara are my family.” That was probably a little awkward, but it was honest. And it cleared the way for Adam to get to the real reason for Remy’s presence.
“And this is Kara, my daughter.” Kara wasn’t all that much younger than Remy, Adam realized as he saw them look at each other. But Remy had been through so much and Kara had been so protected that Adam felt as if they were several generations apart. “She’s determined to be a part of the revolution, and I’m determined to get her back to safety.” Adam really wished Remy would look at him. It was hard to do this without eye contact. “I know it’s a painful memory, but I need her to understand how ugly things could get, here, if things don’t work out.”
Remy still wouldn’t look at Adam, but his gaze was level in Kara’s direction and there was no hesitation before he spoke. “I could tell you about Colony Seventeen, but it really won’t help you understand. Colony Seventeen will be like a parent scolding a naughty child compared to what they’ll do here, if they get back in power. The colony was on a distant planet; the rebellion there was only a threat to money, and to pride. Here? People have lost their homes, their fortunes, their sense of security and invulnerability. Making people afraid is an excellent way to make them absolutely savage, and if this movement doesn’t work, the people who come back to power will have been terrified, outraged, and demoralized.” His level, emotionless voice made his words all the more chilling. “Their revenge will be absolute.”
For the first time, Kara looked shaken. She stepped forward, then stopped herself, then took another tentative half step, her gaze never leaving Remy’s face. “So why did you do it?” she asked quietly. “Why are you taking the chance?”
Remy looked away quickly, still not in Adam’s direction, and when he looked back, his expression was fierce. “Because I’ve been terrified, outraged, and demoralized, and I want absolute revenge.” His face softened and his voice was quieter when he added, “And because I have nothing to lose. Not like you.”
Kara looked at Adam, then, and he could see his younger self in her eyes. The indecision, the instinct to do good without the knowledge of how to go about it. But in Kara, he saw strength he’d been missing, and he wasn’t surprised when she shook her head and smiled at him. “So that’s why we need to be sure that it works,” she said softly. “That’s why you need to make your position as secure as possible, and make sure that people trust you. If having a wife and daughter around make it more likely that the movement will succeed….” She stopped, and then turned to her mother. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to speak for you. I don’t know if a wife is necessary, if there’s a daughter. Maybe you could go back, and I can stay.”
“Cara mia,” Antonia said reproachfully. “How could I leave? How could I survive, if I lost both of you?”
“So it’s not just your life you’re playing with,” Adam tried. He was pretty sure the battle was lost, but he couldn’t give up, not without making every damned effort. “Your decision here affects your mother, as well.”
