Undercover(49)
Sera went to him, putting her arms around him, and he instantly felt better. Comforted. “You can’t understand because you have a sense of right and wrong. I didn’t find anything on your father at all. Or anyone else in the Walker Family. Kendal might believe in universal fascism. He might believe in the power of credits no matter the cost to humanity. He might hate your father or you or your older brother. He could resent being born to a mistress and not a wife. People’s motivations are often a mystery. But yours aren’t, Ash. You’re a good man. You’re doing the right thing, even though it will cost you and your Family. I wish I found other things, I really do. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not yours to apologize for. Brandt, send this list to the comandante, and let’s get some arrest and extradition papers drawn up to have people brought to Ravena.” Ash stood, keeping an arm around Sera. “We’ll go to Mirum and handle the marital papers and the mistress situation first. You will have the protection of both our status as well as your status as military corps. Then we go to my Family’s compound. I need to tell them about you, about us, and then confront them about this mess.”
He had a lot to deal with. Resentment that he’d done the right thing and nearly lost Sera and would never be able to marry her made him edgy. He’d done the best thing for the Family, while Perry had turned his back on a millennia of rank by the Walkers.
By the time Ash finished with them, everything he’d needed to say for years would be said. He could only pray his father backed him against his uncle.
“And then what? Our cover will be blown for all future operations. What do you suggest we do about that?” Sera asked.
“I brought this up to the comandante. He feels it’s time for Brandt and me to be open about our military service and loyalty to the Federation. At a time when people’s faith in the Families will be shaken, we can be a symbol that not all of us are traitors. It keeps the people having faith in rule by the ranked, keeps the peace. And it helps us openly be with you as well.” Ash leered at her, and she rolled her eyes.
“And the perfect cover of two obscenely handsome playboys?”
“With all the prosthetics and other image-enhancing capability, it won’t be difficult to go undercover in different ways now. Other teams do it all the time. It’s just another cover. I’m sick of people thinking I’m some moneyed spoiled brat.” Until he said it just then, Ash hadn’t really articulated it out loud. The saying of it liberated him.
She shrugged. His lovely woman just raised her shoulders and sniffed. “Okay. Well, let me change. Because I can’t get married and be a mistress in work pants and my hair a mess. And I need to tell my family. I can’t get married and have them find out via vid screen.”
“I understand. I’d like to meet them after this is all settled.” Brandt kissed her forehead. “Can they keep it quiet until we’ve announced it? I think the surprise will keep everyone off balance, and that will work in our favor.”
“Absolutely. My Dai is career corps.” Sera winced. “He’s, well, he doesn’t like you much, Ash. So let me talk to them alone first, to clear things up a bit. They’re not likely to take the triad thing well at first. Mai is very religious.”
Ash sighed. “I understand. You’ve not gotten much of a great reception from my world, either. We’ll work this through. Go on. Brandt and I will deal with all this stuff down here, and you conference your parents and get changed.”
Sera trudged up to her rooms, lightened a bit from telling them about the involvement of their families but also burdened by Ash’s personal pain. She couldn’t imagine learning Paul had betrayed their people, or anyone in her family.
She wished Paul was with her right then to call her parents, but she had to deal with that on her own. She changed into a pretty skirt and boots along with a dark sweater and fixed her hair. They may as well see her dressed up a bit, hopefully take the edge off at least a small amount.
Settling in, she took a deep breath and connected to her parents’ home.
Her father’s face popped up, and when he saw it was her, he smiled broadly. “Hello there!” He turned away from the screen. “Malta, it’s Sera.”
Sera heard her mother in the background, and soon her face joined her father’s. She loved them both so much. They were both the kind of people she strived to be; courageous, honest, hardworking, kind, loving to one another.
“You look beautiful, Sera. Are you back now?”
“I am. Listen, Mai, Dai, I’ve got this on secured, so I need to tell you something you can’t repeat until I give you the all go.”
They both nodded, giving her their assurance. “First of all, I’m here in Sanctu, but I’m finishing up a mission. When I complete it, I’ll come straight to you. Second of all, you’re going to start hearing news, so I need to tell you first. I’m marrying Brandt Pela within the hour.”
Her mother began to cry, and her father demanded answers. Sera held her hand up.
“Wait. There’s more.”
“Sera, that’s never a good sentence,” her father said.
She laughed. “It is good. I’m also going to file as Ash Walker’s mistress.”
Instead of screams, both her parents got utterly silent for a long time.
“Did you just tell us you’re marrying one man and becoming another man’s mistress? A man who you left for asking that very thing ten standard ago?”
She knew that tone. Her father often got grumpy about things but rarely truly angry. He was truly angry just then.
“It’s so much more complicated than I can go into right now, but please trust me. Ash is a good man. Better than you and I knew. And Brandt is a good man as well. I’ll come to you after this is over. We’ll talk. Please.”
“You can’t just throw something like this at us and expect us to take it without an explanation.”
“Mai, I love you both so much. I will explain, I promise, but I can’t now. I need to go. I just wanted you to hear it from me first.” Sera pressed her hand to the screen and ended the communication.
Chapter 28
Sera came downstairs to find them changed into military uniforms and looking unbelievably handsome.
“Wow. Look at you two.” She fanned herself and walked around them to catch the look from behind. “Impressive. I feel underdressed. Shall I change into my uniform as well?”
Ash took one hand and Brandt the other. “You look beautiful. You can change after we deal with the ceremony and paperwork. For now, let yourself enjoy it a little bit.” Brandt kissed the hand he held and slipped a ring on. Sneaky man.
Sera looked at it. The flat band was embedded with stones. Nothing flashy but beautiful, classic. Totally her. “Oh. It’s perfect. I love it. I’m, well, I don’t have anything for you.” She blushed.
He laughed and kissed her quickly. “I’m glad you like it. I thought it was perfect for you. We can deal with rings for us later. This was a surprise for you, I know.”
She turned to Ash, who slid a ring on her other hand. “What?” He grinned. “You didn’t think only Brandt would give you a ring did you? You’re mine, too. I wish with all I was we could marry, but we will declare our forever anyway.”
Ash’s ring was the mirror of Brandt’s, only with a warmer-colored metal.
Emotion choked her. “I’m so . . . I just never expected to feel this way for anyone again. To have this with you, Ash, when I thought it lost forever . . .” She shivered, without words, turning to Brandt. “To find it with you when I least expected it. To feel it for two men and have it be all right, it just seems like a dream.”
Both her men looked at her, stepping forward to embrace her. “We love you. We have the forever you’ve deserved for so long,” Ash whispered in her ear.
“I know. I believe it. I’m so happy. I love you both so much.”
“Then let’s go and do this,” Brandt exclaimed.
“We can borrow one of Paul’s vehicles. I’ve left him a note about it.” Sera led them outside.
“Were you able to get in contact with your parents?” Brandt asked as they got in.
She winced as she navigated out of the drive and headed toward Mirum. “Yes. I told them we’d come to see them after everything was taken care of. They’ll keep the news quiet until then.”
Ash laughed from his place just behind her. “That was a fine bit of avoidance, Sera. I take it they didn’t react well?”
“They’re shocked about the triad thing. They’re not that opposed to me marrying Brandt, but they’re upset about my being anyone’s mistress, much less yours. They’ll get over it once I can explain. Once they see things are different now. But after . . . after things ended, I was a mess for a while.”
“How much of a while? Tell me,” Ash asked quietly, his normal demand absent from his tone.
She sighed. “It’s not important. It was a long time ago. I’m not there now. We’re together again. Let it go.” She didn’t want to be in that place again, and she didn’t want to take him there, either.