Alpha

The world of the future is starkly divided. Those with the money to afford it can become Alphas, people with superhuman IQ. The rest? Mundanes, unable to get a job beyond being a mechanic or working in food service, if they can get work at all. But Nick, a mundane, disagrees with the system, and so does his dangerous friend Riki. Their dream is to build their own machine to raise IQ and give people the equal opportunity they deserve. The penalty for this, however, is death, and it must be done in secret. Unfortunately, Nick is new to crime, and he meets a handsome man in a bar after a hard day at work. When he finds out Julian is an Alpha, he‟s nervous, but continues with the flirtation, resulting in a hot couple of nights. When he finds out that Julian is an investigator, he realizes he has put his dream at risk. A noble goal, and a stupid risk, but will it pay off?

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author‟s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Alpha Copyright © 2011 Ravon Silvius ISBN: 978-1-55487-982-3 Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.eXtasybooks.com

Alpha By Ravon Silvius

To Eric

Chapter 1

“T

he American dream died with the publication of Manipulation of Tonic Alpha: Changing of Cognitive State in the January 2030 publication of Nature Neuroscience.” A smattering of applause greeted the statement. Nick adjusted his spattered work shirt, wishing he looked a little more professional. The florescent light above him buzzed and his blond hair gleamed a sickly color in the unpleasant light. “All of us have been wronged. By virtue of our parents‟ wealth, or more accurately, lack thereof, we missed our opportunity with the machine that was once called the great equalizer.” More applause. Nick wished they would be quiet and let him get to the main point. “But with your help and your silence…” Nick paused, surveying the room. Any one of these people could be a cop or an informant or even an investigator. None had showed the telltale signs of early treatment, the catlike grace and signs of genius intelligence and 1

Ravon Silvius memory that marked an Alpha, but that didn‟t mean people couldn‟t be bought. “With your silence, we can right this wrong. The principles behind the machine are not beyond our abilities. After all, Josephine couldn‟t have used it before inventing it, could she?” No applause greeted this and mutters filled the room. The name of the machine‟s inventor could be a curse word in the wrong circles, and Nick hurried on. “If we build our own, we can make sure that no one is excluded based on wealth. We can—” “You want us to help pay, yes? For the supplies, the labor?” A man in the back, someone Nick had assumed was a low level member of one of the gangs he addressed, spoke up. “Well—” “Let him finish.” Riki snapped. The wiry, darkhaired man gestured to Nick. “Go on. But cut with the…floweriness.” “Uh, yes, thank you. I have the knowledge and the plans for making a machine of our own, one that we can run using the money from our various…um, businesses.” He coughed. “The hardware is not a problem for me, and if we get the money, my informant will give us an algorithm we can use with five to ten year olds. I know that doesn‟t apply to everyone, but I feel that it is a step toward regaining equality. Uh, 2

Alpha questions?” “Are you a Josephine?” someone called. Nick‟s stomach flipped. “Not all idealists are.” Riki turned in his seat and called back with a dismissive sneer. “Oh yeah?” another man called out, a northern accent twisting his words. “How do you plan to avoid getting caught? Even if you can get the supplies and make the machine, how will you explain the young girls of poor parents, drug dealers and criminals suddenly jumping fifty IQ points? Children, even geniuses, aren‟t known for their ability to keep quiet.” Nick swallowed hard. The man had immediately caught upon one of the the major weaknesses of maintaining a black market machine. He, like most of the people here, didn‟t need daily treatments as a child to be intelligent and cunning, even if he would never reach the level of the average Alpha. But because he hadn‟t gotten them, he sat here anyway, a member of a ring of drug dealers, wondering if his children would get the opportunity to do better. Nick knew the only reason most of these people took the risk of listening to him was because of their desire for their children or younger siblings or nieces and nephews to get every chance they could. “Well…considering we would start the 3

Ravon Silvius treatments at age five, before the first tests are given, we would hope that officials would consider them natural.” Muttering broke out, and Nick‟s stomach sank. “It‟s this or nothing changes, isn‟t it?” he shouted, and the muttering stopped. “But your children would still benefit. No, it‟s not the best. Yes, maybe you would be arrested, should the machine be found. But what else can we do?” As he yelled, one of the flourescent bulbs burnt out above him, another repair he would have to make in the morning in this decrepit building. Riki nodded slowly. “We‟ll all think this over. After all,” he said as he stood up, motioning over one of his incredibly large bodyguards. “If they can‟t find the machine, they can‟t prove it. Innocence until proven guilty is still something this country holds dear.” He gave a wolflike smile. Nick shakily smiled back. The attendees left, staggered by necessity. Nick and Riki both knew that cops seeing large groups of people they thought of as riffraff leaving at once would be a dead giveaway of something going on. If he was ever confronted, he would call it an AA meeting, but even then they didn‟t have any Alphas involved. Nick slumped in his chair as everyone left save for Riki. The gang leader sauntered over and held out something that flashed in the flickering lights. 4

Alpha “Careful,” he said. Nick took it, pressing a button. A wickedly sharp blade popped out, nearly scoring Nick‟s fingers. “It‟s laser sharpened.” “What‟s this for?” Nick‟s skin crawled as he stared at it. Switchblades were illegal. Laser sharpened anything was illegal. “Please, Nick. You‟ve thrown your lot in with us. Making a machine of our own? You‟ve got twice the balls of any Alpha.” His silken voice sneered the last word. “You need to protect yourself. We can‟t do this without your mechanical skills.” “Thanks.” Nick pressed the button again and the blade retreated with a soft snik. “I appreciate you giving the speech. Some weren‟t swayed, but enough seemed to be that I know we‟ll get our money.” “No problem.” At least he got thanks after. Riki had nearly forced him to present the idea after Nick had mentioned his work studying the machine. And, of course, his history with Noah. “How soon?” Riki grabbed his coat, starting toward the door. They had discussed this before. “Call me tonight.” Nick said. “I need to plan a few things.” Riki left with a wave, which Nick hoped meant he had heard. A cleanerbot crawled up the wall 5

Ravon Silvius like an enormous cockroach, useless down here in the basement, and Nick programmed it to go upstairs before he left. He needed a drink.

6

Alpha

Chapter 2

“F

ucker!” Nick swore at the Mercedes that nearly clipped him before it executed a flawless turn down a side street. No one had ever been struck by an automated car, but that didn‟t stop the machines from terrifying pedestrians, and the rich Alphas or old money who rode in them certainly didn‟t care. Pulling his coat closed against the rush of wintry air the rushing car blew up, Nick walked the rest of the block to a neon sign that flashed the letter M. The bar had been called Melisande‟s once, but no one had bothered to fix the sign so now it was just M‟s place. Andre nodded at him as he entered. The bartender was an Alpha and remembered every single person who entered, including their tabs. Nick never ran one up, but also never had more than one drink on any given night. Other than the bartender, no Alphas tended to come here, and contentment settled in Nick‟s body 7

Ravon Silvius as he ordered his usual martini and took a seat in a corner booth. Andre liked jazz, and the music washed through Nick, erasing the worries the meeting had elicited. Riki would probably contact him tomorrow and they could argue about hiding the machine then. Aside from that complication, Nick believed he was closer than ever to realizing his dream. It didn‟t matter to him now that it would make him a criminal or that he by necessity associated with criminals in order to make it happen. He had given up on living the charmed life a long time ago. His gaze roved over the other people in the bar. A young couple chatted in the corner, kissing each other on the lips every so often. Andre lectured some woman with long, garish red nails— probably a prostitute. A group of older men played dominoes at a collection of tables, and at another a tall, dark-haired man sat, staring into his glass. Nick‟s gaze lingered on that one, a stirring beginning in his loins. The man‟s jeans were tight around his muscular thighs, and his biceps flexed as he brought his glass to full lips and sipped it. Dark eyes met Nick‟s gaze over the rim of the glass, and Nick looked away, licking his lips. When he looked back, the man had gotten up. Fuck. M‟s was not a gay bar and there were some 8

Alpha men who didn‟t appreciate being ogled by other men. Nick prepared an excuse, something he had gotten good at lately. It had been a long time. The excuse fled his mind as the other man moved, stepping lightly around the chairs and tables with the grace of a cat. Double Fuck. Either a gymnast or an Alpha. He slid into the seat across from Nick like liquid, a light smile on his face. At least he didn‟t seem pissed. “Having a nice night?” he asked. Nick stared, still slouched in his seat. “So far,” he lied. “What‟s that you‟ve got there?” He motioned to the martini. “I have something called a Ray, but all I can taste is the liqueur.” “Beefeater‟s.” Nick sat up straighter, clearing his throat. “Andre makes them pretty good—I mean, he makes them taste good.” Damnit, he may be mundane, but he wasn‟t illiterate! “Do they serve dinner here?” The man leaned back in his chair, getting comfortable. Apparently Nick‟s slip hadn‟t totally disgusted him. “I could use some food after the sweet drink.” “Mostly bar food. I‟d recommend the wings— hot, but good.” Nick‟s palms were beginning to sweat as he stared at the muscular man in front of him. Stressful thoughts of the machine and Riki were being eclipsed by thoughts of how he could relieve that stress. 9

Ravon Silvius “I‟ll do that then. Would you like some too?” He tilted his head just a bit, enough for Nick to see the defined line of his jaw. “Uh, sure.” Nick knew he stared as the man ordered the food, but couldn‟t help himself. Who was this man? He had never been here before— Nick may not be an Alpha, but he would remember a man this attractive. Given the way his body responded, it didn‟t matter to him that this man was probably an Alpha given all the opportunities Nick longed for. In fact, the idea of having this Alpha underneath him, or sucking him off, made him even hotter, and he shifted in his seat. Time to see if he was reading this situation right. “Are you new to this area?” Nick asked as the waitress tottered off to fill the order. “I haven‟t seen you around.” “I just transferred here today,” the man answered. “I‟m Julian. I‟ve just been exploring the area lately, getting the lay of land, so to speak.” Nick snorted. “Not much here.” “Well, there‟s this place, at least.” He looked around the room as the girl with long nails threw her drink at Andre with a tinkling crash, then left the bar, slamming the door behind her. Andre rolled his eyes. Nick raised an eyebrow. “Like I said. This isn‟t exactly the Ritz. We, uh, don‟t see many guys like 10

Alpha you around here.” Julian frowned. “You mean, people who‟ve gotten electroaltiare`d?” Nick nodded. He knew it. “Yeah. In case you can‟t tell, no one here save for Andre is an Alpha. And you.” “Alpha? Is that…like a slang term for electroaltiare`d?” His brow furrowed. “Yep. It‟s easier for us to say. You know, us mundanes.” Nick let a drop of real bitterness fall into the statement. Not every Alpha who spoke to him immediately realized he wasn‟t also one of them, that he was instead a mundane—someone who would never own a business or hold down a traditionally respectable job. “I…” Julian tilted his head like a confused dog. “We don‟t call you mundanes.” “What‟s the PC term? Oh yeah. Unaltiare`d, or just unaltered. Means the same thing, really.” Nick took a sip from his martini. Your move. “So…” Julian blinked slowly. “You describe it as mundane. Normal. Meaning…we Alphas aren‟t?” Nick suppressed a laugh. “You Alphas singlehandedly raised the average IQ to something like…what was it, one fifty? That used to be called Very Superior. Ever read turn of the millenium history?” “Why do you talk about it like it‟s a bad thing?” 11

Ravon Silvius Julian replied, real confusion etched on his features. Ah. And here, sitting in front of him, was the textbook example of a Josephine. Someone who saw only the good and none of the side effects. Someone blind to the insults that Nick had to go through every day of his adult life. “You Alphas aren‟t normal. You were given your intelligence, your grace, you didn‟t earn it. How much did your ten years with the machine cost your parents? Four hundred, five hundred thousand?” Nick grinned, a feral grit of his teeth. Most people he challenged this way snapped statistics back at him, quoting how many lives had been improved thanks to the machine, and some just gave him an icy glare that he had coined the pity stare. Julian just looked down. “I did it for fifteen years. It cost a million in the end.” Nick blinked. “Why?” “Does it matter?” Julian met his gaze again, a sad half-smile on his face. “I…guess not. It still means that your parents bought your success.” Nick bit off the end of the statement, but some of the heat left his tone. The waitress delivered the food, breaking their staring contest. “Thanks.” Julian nodded at her and then turned to the meal, picking up a wing and then dropping it with a pained exclamation. 12

Alpha Nick had to smile. “See? We aren‟t perfect,” Julian said with a grimace, shaking his hand. “Hm.” Nick picked up a wing, the calluses on his fingers protecting him from the worst of the heat, and sheared off the meat with his teeth. “Not bad.” “So what else is there around here?” Julian asked. “I mean, what are the usual social spots?” Nick raised an eyebrow as he chewed his food. “It‟s Chesterton. We have bars, and I think Alphas hang out at the university or at home, hooked to the net. That‟s about it.” “Oh.” Julian finally picked up a wing, wincing a bit as he put it in his mouth. “Where are you from anyway?” Nick tossed the bone onto the side of the plate. “Why come here?” “I used to work in LA, but I got transferred—” “LA? Damn, nice.” Nick leaned back. “You‟ve got a lot to get used to then. Mid city life won‟t suit you.” “I grew up in a small area in northern California. I think I can handle it.” “Not a lot of Alphas around here. Like I said, it‟s all the rich kids at the college and the business owners. You‟ll be lonely.” Nick waited with some expectation for an answer. Julian tilted his head. “I‟m not lonely. I‟ve already met one person—you.” 13

Ravon Silvius Nick laughed and shook his head. “Oh really? And what, you expect me to introduce you to all my friends or something? Or is one friend enough?” Julian shook his head. Nick knew that Julian realized what he was getting at. “I‟m not antisocial. I know that‟s what a lot of people say, that we prefer to stay at home hooked up, or read or create things, but not all of us are like that.” He smiled, biting into another wing and chewing thoughtfully. “I do like to draw, but inspiration comes from outside, at least for me.” Nick rolled his eyes. Great, an artist. He never thought you had to be an Alpha for that, too. “Well that must be nice for you. I take it you draw us mundanes, living our mundane lives?” “Animals, actually.” Why wouldn‟t this guy rise to the bait? He was an Alpha, he had to know Nick was trying to rile him. Frustration grew in Nick‟s chest. He had never met an Alpha quite like Julian before, not even in college where everyone at least pretended to be liberal. “So why don‟t you tell me what being an Alpha is like. Must be nice.” Nick picked up another wing. They hadn‟t gotten many and the plate was nearly empty. His mouth burned a bit from the spices. 14

Alpha Julian sighed. “I started at five, through twenty. Went through college at Berkely, majoring in political science, although my parents wanted me to be a doctor. I imagine my experiences are the same as yours.” He raised an eyebrow when Nick snickered. “I have my work, my hobbies, and yes, it is true that we sleep more than you.” “The same experiences? Tell me,” Nick dropped a half-eaten wing onto his plate. “As a privileged Alpha, were you ever told that there was no point in continuing engineering studies, even when you were more than capable, because you weren‟t an Alpha? Been turned down for job after job, because you‟re mundane, until you end up working as a low level building maintenance worker with a masters in engineering? Tried to compete in 3D snaplinks on the hook link and been derided, called a kid, because you can‟t hold more than six items—and six is above average for a mundane!—in your working memory, even though you were still winning?” “Yeah!” One of the domino players agreed from the table across the room. His friends muttered and a few laughed. Julian‟s eyebrows bunched, a small frown crossing his features. “I‟m sorry about all of that, though it isn‟t my place to apologize.” “Yeah, well.” Nick picked up the wing and bit it again. “My life sucks. What of it?” 15

Ravon Silvius “You don‟t seem depressed, at least.” Nick just glared at him. He wasn‟t depressed because he intended to make sure no kids he knew grew up with the same handicaps. Having a dream certainly helped the despair, though it hadn‟t helped others he had known. “It‟s interesting that you seem so vindictive toward me though.” Julian poked a wing, then thought better of it and took a sip of his drink instead. “I did none of these things to you.” “I‟ve been punished all my life for my father‟s finances,” Nick spat. “So now you punish me for my mother‟s?” Julian tilted his head. Nick dropped his gaze, throat tight. He hated it when he lost an argumentative point, and Julian being an Alpha just made it ten times worse. He wouldn‟t give in. “No.” He stayed silent for a time, trying to think of a retort. “I‟m punishing you for your ignorance of what nearly half the population‟s lives are like.” Julian inclined his head. “Touché. At least give me some credit for trying?” “Fine. You can have the last wing.” Nick pushed the plate toward him and stood, downing the last of his drink. Despite his perfect body and features, Julian was an Alpha. Nick didn‟t need this right now. 16

Alpha

Chapter 3

“W

hat? Wait!” Nick ignored the man‟s protests, throwing exact change for the martini onto the counter. Andre scooped it up without a word, raising both eyebrows as Julian vaulted over the table they had occupied. “Wait a minute!” Nick made it out the door and had just turned the corner, hunching a bit against a cold wind that whipped down the street. “Wait!” Nick nearly rolled his eyes. What kind of idiot just ran down a mostly abandoned street after someone? For all Julian knew, Nick could be leading him out somewhere to stab him. For an Alpha from a big city, he certainly didn‟t understand potential danger. Metal jingled as Julian caught up, breath fogging in evaporating clouds. “What did I say? I only agreed with you. I‟m ignorant. I don‟t 17

Ravon Silvius understand your life and never will.” Nick stared down the dark street, the wind still whistling around the corner to M‟s. “You came after me to say that?” “No. I came after you because I want to know your name.” Nick sighed, breath like smoke dissipating. “It‟s Nick. Short for Nicholas.” “Well, Nick, let me give you a ride home.” Julian held up car keys, the source of the jangling from before. Nick narrowed his eyes, staring with some incredulity at the man in front of him. Was this some charity crap? “I don‟t need one.” “You have a car?” “I live close by. It‟s only ten minutes.” “In this cold?” “I‟m used to it.” “C‟mon, what reason do you have not to take the offer? Some mundane pride?” He smirked. Nick curled his lip. “That and the fact that just because someone has a pretty face doesn‟t mean they can be trusted.” Julian smiled wider. “So you admit to finding me attractive. I knew you were staring.” “What of it?” Nick snarled. “Well, why don‟t you let me give you a ride and we‟ll see where things go? You‟re not exactly Hephaestus, you know.” 18

Alpha Nick tossed his head, cheeks heating as he thought back to English classes from high school. Right—the ugly deformed son of Zeus. “So I‟m not hideous. That‟s supposed to convince me?” “Is it working?” Julian tilted his head, white teeth flashing in the dark. “Fine.” It wasn‟t worth arguing any longer. Nick wondered what Riki would think of Nick, notorious for his hatred of the inequalities that Alphas represented, getting a ride home from one who obviously wanted something out of it. “My car is this way.” Nick walked slightly behind Julian. He felt reasonably sure this man didn‟t represent any danger, but he wasn‟t about to let himself get caught too off guard. He put his hand in his pocket, fingering the wicked knife Riki had given him. If this man didn‟t follow his directions to the letter… “After you.” Julian opened the passenger door. Nick stared. This was the back of the car… Oh. An automatic. Great. Not only an Alpha, but a rich one. At least it wasn‟t a Mercedes. “Just tell it the address.” Julian slid in beside him, knees nearly touching. “It will know the way.” And probably remember it forever. But he knew how to circumvent it. “Fourteen Chestnut Avenue. Post delete.” 19

Ravon Silvius “Just in case you forgot, I am an Alpha. We‟re known for our good memories.” Julian chuckled. Nick‟s cheeks flamed, but he didn‟t say anything as the car pulled smoothly out of the lot. It would take them no time at all to get there and then he could stop worrying about this man. And he had to admit, it was far more comfortable than walking in the cold would have been. He leaned back in the seat, breathing in the warm air. A hand ghosted on his thigh and he sat up immediately. “What the hell?” he yelled, even as heat began to pool. “C‟mon,” Julian whispered now, his voice sultry in the dark. “I‟ll stop if you want, but don‟t lie and tell me you weren‟t thinking about things like this in the bar. Again, I saw the way you looked at me before. Did you know your pupils dilate when you‟re aroused?” No, he hadn‟t known that, and it sounded like bullshit to him, despite Julian being right about what he had been thinking. “We‟ll be there in two minutes.” “It doesn‟t mean we have to get out the car immediately.” Julian‟s hand stroked his leg again. “Your choice. I‟ll stop if you want.” Silence followed the statement, and Nick‟s mind buzzed in the dark. Sex seemed to be the great equalizer—even Alphas wanted random flings. Considering the number of prostitutes 20

Alpha some of Riki‟s companions employed, Nick knew he shouldn‟t be surprised. But is that what he wanted? His body certainly did with the way it thrilled to the man‟s touch. Images filled his mind, predictions of how powerful it would make him to have an Alpha writhing beneath his hands. But it only made him return to the original question—is that really all he wanted? Would he ever see Julian again? One way to find out. “Alright, fine. Let‟s see if you can make me come.” The hand returned even as he spoke, firmly stroking up his thigh and palming his crotch. Nick‟s breath hitched, but he didn‟t let himself moan, even as Julian expertly opened his fly and scooted closer, his presence sending heat rushing through Nick‟s body. He leaned further against Nick as the car turned the corner, kissing his earlobe and trailing his tongue down his neck. His breathing came in short pants and Nick began to return the favor. “Oh…” Julian vocalized as Nick cupped him, his ministrations pausing, and his body tensed against Nick‟s, pressing him against the car door. “Been a while?” Nick smirked in the dark and took control, firmly shoving the man‟s pants down to his hips, the zipper scraping his hand. Nick found him already hard and liquid clung to his palm as he stroked him once. “Damn, you‟re excited. Not used to this?” 21

Ravon Silvius Julian didn‟t answer, leaning against Nick now and groaning instead. His hands were working more slowly, but with a graceful pattern, and Nick frowned even as tension coiled. No way would he let himself come first. He stroked the Alpha hard, more liquid dribbling onto his hand, focusing intently on his task as the other man‟s hands kept up their smooth, slow pace. The sound of breathing filled the car, the smooth rasp of their hands a counterpoint, and soon Nick heard a choked moan, and his partner began to pulse. “Not bad,” Nick managed, before succumbing to his own climax, biting back his groan. “Same to you.” Julian kept stroking until Nick‟s orgasm finished, then moved back into the other side of the car. “We‟re here,” he said between deep breaths. “I noticed,” Nick lied. Awkwardness hung over the interior for a few beats, along with the thick scent of their climaxes. “Thanks for the fun, I guess.” He fastened his pants, intending to bolt out of the car and indoors so he could shower. “Will I see you again?” Julian asked, freezing him in place. “Uh…” Shit. For booty calls, it had to be. “I‟m usually at M‟s. You can find me there at nights.” “I‟ll see you around then.” Julian leaned closer and Nick allowed the kiss, overwhelmed for a 22

Alpha moment with the taste of spice. His lips tingled as Julian pulled away. “Right. Goodnight.” Nick hopped out of the car, shoving the door closed behind him with more force than necessary. The door slowed, shutting gently, and then the car pulled away. “Fuck,” Nick said to no one in particular and then headed up the stairs to his apartment. Something told him that had been a bad idea before starting a project this big.

23

Ravon Silvius

Chapter 4

S

omeone offered him pie in his dreams and then the phone ringing brought him back to his apartment. The moon shone in through the window and Nick shuffled out of bed, blinking the fuzziness of sleep from his vision. Running his hand through his still-wet hair, he grabbed the phone. “Hello?” “It‟s me.” Riki sounded sharp, even on the phone at three in the morning. “Get on the hook. I want to play snaplinks.” “Okay.” Nick cleared his throat, trying to think. He had told Riki he would make plans, but after getting back he had done nothing but shower and then go to bed. Fuck that Alpha. “I‟ll see you in five.” Riki hung up, and Nick sighed, shuffling in the dark toward the secure hookup set Riki had set up for him. The screen turned on as he grabbed the two electrodes that would link him to the network. He debated—viewbar on or off? On, he 24

Alpha decided, putting on the helmet and attaching the electrodes behind his ears. He winced as he felt the pinch that told him the electricity flowed and then became immersed. He hated this setup. Riki had given him a quick changing address to hide his identity and location, but as a result, he presented as a formless blur. Watching his own virtual hands move, like the spastic movements of someone with a disease, could make him sick if he wasn‟t careful. How was your night? He heard the message in his head, not so much words as a general, mentalese understanding of the meaning, as the equally spastic blurry form of what must be Riki appeared. He looked much shorter here. Fine, he thought back, sensing the transfer of his awkwardness as he thought about Julian. Riki certainly picked up on it—you couldn‟t hide much on the hook, and the only way to lie was to withhold information—but didn‟t comment. I want you to meet someone. I have other work to do here. Go onto the grid. Um, how will they find me? Just go. Dread creeped up on Nick, and he wished he could shut his eyes as he complied. The changing address put him someplace new in the network every few milliseconds, and as soon as he 25

Ravon Silvius connected, billions of people surrounded him, whirling around him like stars trailing into vomit. Then someone grabbed him and the whirling stopped. He stood alone in a forest clearing, the chattering of birds audible overhead. This must be someone‟s private setup, but whose? Riki‟s didn‟t look like this. You must be Nicholas. He couldn‟t see the source of the androgynous voice. Riki told me about your plans. You don’t have the algorithm yet, right? Or the location? Right. Nick didn‟t like speaking to someone he couldn‟t see. This person must be using a much more advanced method of hiding their identity and location. Nick couldn‟t even sense any emotion, not so much as a flicker of curiosity. What do you have? I have the basic set up. The hardware. I’ve been planning it for a long time, but it’s not assembled yet, so it’s safer. Riki wants me to handle the software, and the advertising. Nick inadvertently sent a thought along the lines of, how huh? Having a machine is pointless if we only help those in the general area. That surprised Nick. He had thought that‟s all they would begin with. You say you know how to set up the machine, right? Yes. Anyone with engineering training can make 26

Alpha one that doesn’t function, if they can get their hands on the components—it’s getting the algorithm that’s dangerous, and coding it into the hardware that’s difficult. Riki told me he would handle that part—that’s your role, I guess? Yes. Nick couldn‟t keep himself from wondering what this person meant by advertising. Were they going to be transporting people to Chesterton from across the country? As much of an idealist as he was, Nick didn‟t see how that would work. Don’t worry—we’ll handle it. After all, you handled getting the supplies and the algorithm. Yes. Grief infected the word as memories bled into the hookup, of how he had done it. Noah‟s last request. Don’t worry, the person said, probably mistaking the grief for anxiety. The last step is the location. That poses a problem for everyone. Do you have any suggestions? I have been thinking it over. There are locations off the grid, but they are conspicuous for that reason. A private or abandoned spot will not do either. It must be a public place. Doesn’t Riki’s…organization own a few buildings? The demographics of the people traffic in Riki’s buildings won’t do. Too many Alphas and too few of us. Nick bled new anxiety. The only people who had access to information like that were government workers or hackers. That explained the secure 27

Ravon Silvius connection. So…maybe someplace outside the city? Nick had no idea what to suggest. The location must fulfill three requirements— heavily trafficked by us, friendly to children, and a place that could function as a tourist spot. If one like this doesn’t exist, then create one. I know someone who can make that happen. Riki‟s voice echoed, as though coming from somewhere far away. Nick couldn‟t see him either and his surprise flooded the hook. I need his name and number in order to check, the hacker answered. t’s Thomas Marm. He owns one of the last fast food restaurants, but it’s mostly a cover for his marijuana sales. I don’t know his issued ID though. I can discuss things with him tomorrow—you’re coming, too, right Nick? Yes… More drug dealers and Nick fought not to let his distaste show. That was Riki‟s way of getting back at the Alphas, not his. Why couldn‟t any of his contacts be friendly, safe people? The one who had the algorithm was safe compared to Riki, but he definitely could not be counted on to be friendly, not after what had happened to Noah. Sadness welled in Nick again as he thought about it. Yes, that’s fine. Nick, can you put me in contact with this friend of yours? He has the algorithm, does he not? The hacker 28

Alpha had picked up on Nick‟s racing thoughts. I can’t. He’s a naturalist. But if we can meet with him, I can ask him. Fine. I’ll meet with you both tomorrow night then to discuss how the meeting about the location went—same place. Finally, an emotion from the hacker, even if it was just projected humor. Nick prepared to unhook. Be careful, was the hacker‟s last warning as Nick opened his eyes to reality, looking out the window onto the blocky city. There were no stars.

29

Ravon Silvius

Chapter 5

T

he wrench made a horrible screeching sound as Nick angled it, but at least the water stopped leaking. Pressing the summon cleaner button to get the lake in the middle of the bathroom floor vacuumed up, Nick picked up his maintenance bucket and threw it over his shoulder. The sun slanted in through the windows of the fifth floor as he meandered past the mostly empty desks. Once upon a time, the workday had lasted until five, but now it was only like that for mundanes like him, and only if he couldn‟t fix whatever had broke before then. In a thirty story building, it usually took him a while. But not today. Riki had insisted on finalizing the location. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he headed down to the basement to change. Riki had told him the drive to where they needed to go would be a relatively long one, and he couldn‟t afford wasting time doing a good job when some Alpha with no common sense would just break 30

Alpha the sink again tomorrow. If he did his work too well, there wouldn‟t be anything left to do and he‟d end up unemployed and living on handouts like every other mundane he knew. Well, that or take up a life of crime. “What‟s it like having a real job?” Riki smirked at him as he met up with the man, slipping into the passenger seat of the ancient 2051 Acura. The car was a classic, and for good reason, as it lunged forward onto the road under Riki‟s direction. No automated car for him—Riki liked being in control. “Mostly soggy,” Nick answered. “Hm. Sounds unpleasant.” Riki flicked on his blinker and the automated car behind him in the next lane immediately slowed down. Nick liked to think the passengers got annoyed, especially when Riki changed his mind and didn‟t change lanes after all as he pulled onto the highway. “So, how much business does this guy do?” Nick asked, watching the rearview mirror as the automated car inched up behind them. He could not see the passengers through the tinted windshield, only a tiny red light blinking on the front letting Nick know it accelerated toward them and intended to pass. “What kind?” Riki glanced at him with a smirk. “Legal or illegal?” “Both, I guess?” 31

Ravon Silvius “He owns the building and the business, a franchise handed down from his parents. He sells only on the side and only to Alphas. He acts like they‟re entitled to the drugs, it‟s great.” He chuckled as he spoke. Nick frowned. “Won‟t that be a problem, if the place we‟re planning on using is overrun with Alphas?” “They‟re mostly teenagers, wasting their advantage like most of „em. The food is great, kids love it, and it‟s cheap so the poorer families eat there—we‟ll still outnumber the Alphas.” “Well that‟s good, I guess.” The tension didn‟t leave Nick‟s shoulders. He trusted Riki, but as they drove closer the import of what they were doing began to hit him. “This is it.” Riki pushed open the door, the scent of fried food assaulting Nick‟s nostrils. “Don‟t stuff yourself—the food is tasty, but filling as hell.” Nick had no intention of doing that. From what he had heard of the crackdown on the big three in history class, the health lawmakers had been in the right when they shut down the ability of fast food makers to create national chains. “So who do we talk to?” “Just order some food and sit down,” Riki hissed. “He knows me and will contact us.” 32

Alpha Nick dodged an excited boy who dashed by him, screaming, and his younger sister who looked to be shooting bits of paper at her brother through a straw. After typing in his food order and swiping his hand over the scanner, he watched his food get assembled on a machine behind the counter and then delivered via conveyer. He stared at it stupidly, unsure if he really wanted to eat it. “Sit down already,” Riki ordered in an angry whisper. “Haven‟t you ever seen a burger before?” His tone shrieked stop acting so nervous! Nick obeyed, wondering if Julian had ever eaten the equivalent of this prepackaged food. What made it so cheap? He had to admit that the grease added quite a bit of flavor, despite looking as though it were painted on in a shiny glaze. “Not bad, right?” Riki sat down next to him, his tray loaded with a burger, a milkshake and french fries that looked to be exploding out of their container. “Fries are the best.” “Right.” Nick wondered at Riki‟s exuberance here. He had a contented smile on his face, a stark difference from his usual tense countenance. “Riki! Haven‟t seen you in a while.” Nick nearly leapt out of his seat at the loud, friendly voice. “How cruel of you, considering you were 33

Ravon Silvius practically raised on this food. You look like you‟re wasting away.” Nick raised an eyebrow. Riki was built like a track star, a result of days spent outside managing his various illicit businesses. Or maybe running from the police, Nick thought unkindly. He was hardly wasting away. The man who spoke slid into the seat next to Riki, the booth seat creaking under his considerable weight. Riki shifted to accommodate him. “It feels like just yesterday your mother was bringing you in while she worked.” Riki smiled, a rare occurrence for him. “I‟ve been busy. You know how it is.” “Well, visit more! Come now, you have to give me some reward for all those extra burgers I let your mom take home for you.” Nick‟s stomach twisted in sympathy. He had known Riki grew up poor, but he hadn‟t known Riki‟s family was so poor that his mother had taken handouts to feed him. “I know, I know.” Riki‟s smile faltered a bit as he ate a french fry. Nick made a mental note to never mention what he had learned again. “So…Who‟s your friend?” Eyes set far back in folds of skin peered at Nick carefully as the elderly man turned his gaze. 34

Alpha “This is Nick, the one I told you about,” Riki answered. “Nick, this is Thomas.” “Well it‟s nice to meet you, Nick. Riki told me you‟d never eaten here before!” Thomas spoke before Nick could. “This place is a classic, built before the health laws cracked down on the fast food chains,” he spoke with pride. “There used to be a million of these places, all over the country. Now there‟s just the one. My family owned this franchise and, after the company went down, we were picked to remain.” Riki swallowed another bite of his burger. “We didn‟t come for a history lesson.” “Oh, but it‟s important.” The man slapped Riki on the back. “You see, back when this place was a powerhouse, a national chain, my great grandfather had money. But the government decided that no, the health of the American people was too important. The people were too stupid to stop eating our burgers so they told us to stop producing them. Then the lawsuit happened. We lost all our money, at the same time our chain—all the chains—went down. And now, without the money to pay for a new sign, much less the fees for the machine, we‟re trapped.” His eyes twinkled. “And that‟s why we‟re going to install a new playplace! Invitation only! Hearkens back to an older, better time.” His smile grew wider. Nick‟s heart began to race at the implication. He 35

Ravon Silvius thought that he and Riki would have to convince this man, a dangerous marijuana dealer, about the necessity. But he seemed to already agree. “Why don‟t you show us the room? Is it the one I think it is?” Riki asked, his tray now shockingly clear of the food that had covered it when he sat down. “Sure thing.” Thomas stood, motioning for the two of them to follow. A well built man nodded at Thomas as the three men went behind the counter, dodging around the conveyer belt, and entered a door in the back, which lead into a completely empty room with a rusted sink in one corner. “So many of the rooms are abandoned,” Thomas spoke. Nick shivered as he watched an enormous roach scurry through a crack in the wall. “Before, people did everything by hand. This company gave people jobs, back when having a job meant something.” Thomas sighed, then motioned Nick to hurry. Riki had already entered a dark room through a door at the far end. “This is perfect,” Riki said. Nick walked into the room. There were no windows here and he couldn‟t see how big the room might be through the oppressive gloom. How could Riki tell it would be perfect? “What‟s the security like?” Nick peered up at Thomas, wishing he didn‟t have to be the one to 36

Alpha ask. Why did Riki already seem set on this? “One key.” Thomas held it up. “No light from outside. This used to be a meat freezer and still is at times. It gets a lot of power that I‟ve been redirecting and shutting off at random so we won‟t get questions about power usage. And I employ security for my side business.” He flashed white teeth in the dimness. Nick began to make out shelves on the far wall and, as he got closer, he saw unlabeled bags. Marijuana. If someone found that, Thomas would be put away for life. And if someone found out about what they were going to do, they would be put to death without trial. Nick swallowed hard. “Nick, what do you think?” Nick jumped at Riki‟s voice. Riki tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. “It…seems good.” “You sound hesitant. Do you see something I don‟t?” Riki crossed his arms. “No.” Riki had all the connections, all the knowledge, of everything but the actual construction and the algorithm. Nick was superfluous here. “It‟s really fine. Perfect, even.” “We‟ll have to check with my contact again.” Nick assumed he meant the hacker. “But assuming he okays it… Can you get the supplies here? Will you be able to build?” 37

Ravon Silvius “It will take a bit of time,” Nick said. “And I need the algorithm first.” “You can stay here, you know,” Thomas said, putting a hand on Riki‟s shoulder and motioning to Nick. “We have a cot you can use, all the food you can eat, and a bathroom.” Nick didn‟t really want to stay in a building like this. He got the sense that Riki had stayed here once, when he was younger. But he did want to get the machine done. It had taken him years to establish Riki‟s trust, and he wasn‟t about to back out now. “I can do it over a weekend or two. I have work.” “Work, eh? Mechanic or security? Or we talkin‟ illegal work?” “Real work.” Riki laughed. “He‟s the mechanic in building forty three.” “Don‟t they have a precinct there?” Thomas‟s brow furrowed. “Among other things.” Nick‟s pulse quickened. “But they don‟t notice me. No one does. It‟s a forty story building.” “See that they don‟t,” Thomas muttered, opening the door. A roach-perhaps the same onescurried away again. “I‟ll expect you next weekend?” “Sure.” Nick nodded in respect as he left. Riki glanced wistfully at the room before leaving, a heavy bolt thudding shut behind them. 38

Alpha

Chapter 6

“W

here do you want to go?” Riki asked as they drove back into town. Nick had stayed quiet during the drive, unsure what to say. He hadn‟t expected Riki to have a history with Thomas—the older man seemed almost fatherly. It was a stark contrast to the cold, businesslike gang leader Nick was used to. “M‟s, I guess.” Nick immediately bit his tongue. What if Julian was there? “Alright. A drink or two sounds good after all that greasy food.” Riki parked a good distance from the bar, erasing any trace of the wistfulness Nick had seen from his features. Nick became very aware of the butterfly knife Riki had stashed somewhere on his person as they walked. He exuded a foxlike dangerousness, and Nick hoped that even if Julian did see him there, he wouldn‟t approach if Riki stayed around. M‟s was always more crowded on Fridays, and 39

Ravon Silvius a woman in a garish red dress stepped out from the door, opened her mouth to speak and then shut it when she saw Riki. She faded back into the darkness as they entered. “So,” Riki spoke quietly over the rim of his scotch glass once they had both ordered. “Surprised by what you learned today?” Nick nearly choked on his drink, another martini. “What do you mean?” “Don‟t play dumb. You had a college education, though it did you little good. Surprised that I grew up in the spare room of a restaurant? That my mother fed me burgers from the trash?” Nick couldn‟t read Riki‟s expression—it seemed the same as it always did, his dark eyes regarding him cooly as he swallowed a mouthful of his amber drink. “Thomas taught me everything I know.” “So you‟re saying I should trust him,” Nick spoke low, not breaking eye contact. “That, and not to fuck with him. And…” Riki pitched his voice louder. “What a great Oriole‟s game that was last night. 2-0, damn. Not bad on a cold night.” Nick‟s skin crawled. He knew he had to play along, that Riki had noticed something or someone dangerous. “I hope they win the series.” “They won‟t. The Yankees will win. They have the most money, they do every year.” Nick silently 40

Alpha cursed whoever it was that had made Riki suspicious. He knew very little about Riki, and while it made his heart pound, he wanted to learn more about the man‟s childhood. What had made him into the dangerous man he was now? Riki‟s eyes narrowed and he leaned slightly closer. “That guy was staring at us. You, actually.” He slid his gaze to the right. “Don‟t turn around.” Nick‟s stomach hit the floor. He could guess who it was. “It‟s probably nothing,” he whispered. “I mean, I‟m not bad looking, right?” Riki‟s mouth twisted into something between a smile and a grimace. “Doubtful. He doesn‟t look the type. We should go.” “Uh…I‟d rather stay.” Nick nearly gulped when Riki glared at him. “I like it here. I want another drink.” Nick‟s mind raced. Was it really Julian? Had the Alpha come here to see him again? Nick‟s fingers curled around his martini glass as he thought about the night before, the panting Alpha in his hand. “Suit yourself.” Riki stood and grabbed his coat, peering down at Nick. “Get on the hook tomorrow morning at six. Be careful. Don‟t fuck around, we can‟t afford it right now.” “I know,” Nick said to the man‟s retreating back. But in his mind, he couldn‟t bring himself to fully agree. Unsure what to do now that Riki had left, Nick 41

Ravon Silvius finished his drink and ordered another before scanning the room. His mouth went dry as he spotted Julian—who grinned and stood as soon as their eyes locked, sauntering over to his table and sitting down. “So who was that?” he asked, leaning in close. “He looked…vicious.” An apt descriptor for Riki. “An old friend of mine,” Nick answered, hoping his anxiety wasn‟t obvious and Riki‟s parting words replaying themselves in his head. The running commentary stopped when Julian shifted, his muscular thighs obvious through the jeans he wore. “Remind me not to piss him off,” Julian said with a grin. “You want the wings again? They were quite nice last time.” Nick‟s face heated at the memory of the taste of the wings on Julian‟s lips. “Sure.” “So,” Julian began after he had ordered. “I take it you‟re a regular here?” A spark of suspicion flared in Nick‟s chest. “Why do you ask?” “I asked Andre. He said you‟re here alone a lot.” Julian grinned. “I‟m not lonely, if that‟s what you‟re implying.” Nick‟s heart picked up at the prospect of more verbal sparring with the Alpha and blood began to pool in his groin. “I never said that. I just wondered if you were 42

Alpha here often—in case I wanted to find you.” The words sent another spike of lust through Nick‟s body. Maybe a second drink had been a bad idea. “And what would an Alpha need a mundane for?” he asked, running his fingers up and down the stem of his glass. Julian‟s eyes followed them and he licked his lips. Nick tried to see if his pupils were dilating, but the waitress set the wings down between them at that moment. As soon as she left, they locked eyes again. Julian‟s eyes seemed slightly darker, but it was hard to tell in the dim light of the bar. The Alpha ate a wing, licking the sauce off with more relish than he needed to. Nick jumped when a foot grazed his leg and his body shivered as the toe of the shoe moved up his calf. “We Alphas use mundanes for a lot of things,” Julian said with a smirk. “Oh, believe me, I know.” Nick‟s voice came out breathier than he intended. “Too good to do things for yourselves, right? You‟re above a hard day‟s work. Everything is simple for you.” Julian‟s smile faltered for a brief moment, the foot leaving Nick‟s leg. “We work harder than you think.” “Oh yeah?” Nick challenged. “Then why does the work day end at three o clock, so you can all 43

Ravon Silvius take your naps? Why were all the Alpha students sleeping through class and wasting their tuition, from high school through college? “Not all of us are like that,” Julian said with a frown. “Right, of course not,” Nick muttered. “Some of you had your parents pay your tuition.” “No, that‟s not true either.” Julian sighed. “Think about it. Yes, people who were electroaltiare‟d are more intelligent, on average, than those who weren‟t. But what if someone would have been below average before that? What if someone would have been…impaired before that?” Nick raised an eyebrow. “Then they‟d be damn lucky their parents are rich.” “No, they would work hard, even with the electroaltiaresis. They would work just as hard as any mundane who was naturally above average.” His voice rose, just slightly enough that Nick realized he cared about what he said. This was no longer verbal sparring. “They would earn their place in society, and their career, and value what was given to them.” Nick stared at Julian. This was the last thing he wanted—more depressing information about people‟s childhoods. First Riki grows up on fast food and lives in an abandoned employee lounge, now the most attractive man he‟d seen in a long 44

Alpha time narrowly escaped being mentally handicapped and wanted reassurance. Well, he wasn‟t getting it. “How nice for the rich retards. Mundanes can‟t earn anything, irregardless of their base level of intelligence.” Julian‟s eyes widened and for a moment Nick thought he might be getting a punch in the face. “It‟s regardless,” Julian corrected with a smirk. “Regardless of their base level of intelligence. Irregardless isn‟t even a word.” “Did you earn that knowledge, too?” Nick pouted into his drink. “Yes, in fact I did,” Julian said with affected smugness. “But you were given the ability to remember it, like all the other Alphas,” Nick replied, sliding the plate of wings toward himself as he took one. “You‟re no different from them.” For once, he didn‟t mean it purely as an insult. “I suppose I‟ll give you that point,” Julian said and grabbed the plate back. He seemed happy about losing the argument. An uncharacteristic tenderness formed in Nick‟s chest at the realization. Wait, was he seriously happy that Julian had been given even more of a special treatment because he‟d otherwise be stupid? He was happy that someone was an Alpha? 45

Ravon Silvius He thought about it as he ate. Wasn‟t that what he was trying to do? Give people opportunities they would otherwise never have, because they couldn‟t help their parents‟ lack of wealth? Was it the same when the person needed the treatment, truly needed it to succeed at all, versus just being given it because their parents could? Maybe…Maybe Julian did understand. “So, do you want another ride home?” Julian asked with a small smile as Nick finished his drink. “Or do you want to see what an Alpha‟s home is like?” “Let‟s see how much better you live than me.” Nick growled, his arousal swelling again. Maybe Julian understood, at least a little, what Nick had to go through. Or maybe Nick was fooling himself because of physical attraction. Either way, he followed the Alpha to his car, Riki‟s warning fading in his mind.

46

Alpha

Chapter 7 lips were on his as soon as the car pulled Julian‟s out of the lot, his breath hot and his tongue tingling with spice. Nick shoved him off with a curse, but didn‟t use much force. “Desperate again? After just last night?” He laughed. “Want to take it slow because you won‟t last long?” Julian taunted back breathlessly and kissed him again, this time grabbing Nick‟s wrists. His tongue swiped at Nick‟s mouth and Nick let him in, tasting the slick muscle as it plundered him. “Fuck…” Nick moaned into the kiss, turning his head to the side. Julian responded by biting his earlobe. What was he doing? This was only the second night, he barely knew this guy, he was an Alpha, and Nick had real work to do, a dream to pursue…but if his swelling erection had any say, he was going to get much closer to Julian tonight. How dangerous could it be? As long as he met 47

Ravon Silvius Riki tomorrow at six on the hook, it didn‟t matter what he did until then. “Fucker!” Nick shouted as Julian bit his ear again, harder this time. He turned and caught the Alpha‟s lips in his, scraping them with his teeth. “Is that how you treat all your conquests?” “Only the disobedient ones.” Nick could hear his smirk in the dark. In response, Nick grabbed Julian‟s crotch, palming the prominent bulge. The Alpha broke their sloppy kiss, gasping against Nick‟s chest, and began to rut against his hand. “Ah..that‟s more like it,” he nearly purred. The car began to turn, and Nick took advantage of that and Julian‟s distraction to turn him, moving so that he now lay on top, their still clothed erections flush against each other. “I‟m not doing this just for you.” He growled and began to move. Julian groaned and gripped Nick‟s shoulders tighter, moving his hips to maximize contact. Nick watched the shape of the Alpha in the dark, the other man‟s eyes screwed shut, his panting loud in Nick‟s ears. His grip on Nick‟s shoulders grew tighter as their movement continued, the coiling pleasure rising. “Yes…please..ah…” Nick smirked and shut him up again with his tongue, Julian‟s saliva wet against the side of his 48

Alpha mouth, and then broke the kiss with a gasp, shoving Julian down as he moved his hips away from the thrusting man. “Can‟t you wait until we get to your place?” He growled in his ear. “No.” Julian shoved him again, Nick‟s head banging against the car window. Nick pushed back, harder. “You really are a desperate fucker, aren‟t you?” “Is there a reason to wait?” Julian asked. Nick opened and shut his mouth for a moment, thinking of a retort. “I take it you‟re not used to depriving yourself, you spoiled fu—” Julian laughed and put his hand over Nick‟s mouth just as the car pulled to a stop. “You talk so much, we‟re here already. Unless you want to do it here?” Nick had half a mind to bite him, but suppressed the urge, shoving the other man‟s hand away instead. “Lead on then,” he growled. The Alpha owned a house, which pissed Nick off more than it should have. He didn‟t have time to think over it long though, considering Julian pinned him against the door as soon as he shut it behind them. “God you‟re persistent,” Nick managed before Julian shoved his tongue in his mouth. “I want to come.” Julian thrust his hips against Nick‟s. “Now.” 49

Ravon Silvius Even as he snaked his hand down to the man‟s pants, rubbing him through the fabric, Nick wondered what the hell he was doing. Riki would have a conniption if he knew where Nick was. Even if he wasn‟t currently working on a very illegal project, Nick knew he took a huge risk in becoming so intimate, so quickly, with a man he barely knew. A man who was an Alpha! But as Julian rutted against his hand, groaning onto his neck, Nick didn‟t see any reason not to trust him. Especially, he hated to admit, considering he was an Alpha. He didn‟t have as much of a motivation to commit crime as his fellow mundanes would. A moan and then Julian‟s shuddering interrupted his thoughts. Nick could tell from the spreading wetness on the fabric he touched that the man had just come into his pants. “That was quick,” he snarled. “Is that all you‟re good for?” “Oh no.” Julian sighed into his ear, then licked the lobe. “That was just the easy one.” He pulled away, grabbing Nick by the hand and steering him through the house. Paintings and statues—some of naked men—flashed through Nick‟s field of view, and he nearly tripped over a loose wire that led to a fancy looking hook set before Julian dragged him into the bedroom. Nick knew that if he had made a mistake, this was the 50

Alpha part where he got tied up and killed. Instead, Julian started kissing his neck, giving soft little sighs. “Naked?” he asked, tugging on the belt to Nick‟s pants. “This is still okay?” “Yes.” Nick undid his fly, his erection springing up at the newfound freedom. Julian smiled as he saw it, wrapping strong fingers around the thick member and giving a gentle tug. Nick gave in to a gasp at the heat that ran through him. “C‟mon to the bed?” Julian asked, smiling at the sticky precum that coated his fingers as he released Nick‟s cock. Nick walked, not letting Julian guide him again, and eyed the bed with an inner sigh. There must be at least one feather mattress decorated with lacy pillows and silk sheets. What did Julian do, that he made so much money? The Alpha‟s hands rubbed up and down his hips, moving his pants down until they fell to the floor with a metallic thump. Nick stepped out of them and removed his shirt, relishing the cool air across his naked skin. “Oh?” Julian leaned down and rifled through the pockets of Nick‟s fallen pants. “I hope I didn‟t break your…phone.” He trailed off as he picked up the knife from Riki. Nick glared at him, chin jutted out and muscles tense once more. “Do you know how to use that?” Julian put it 51

Ravon Silvius back into the pocket, kicking Nick‟s pants away as he began to take off his own shirt. “No.” Nick nearly bit his tongue with the honesty. “It was a gift.” “Interesting gift.” Julian sat down on the bed in front of Nick, naked now save for his socks, which bothered Nick a little. “What? Stop scowling and enjoy yourself.” Julian grabbed Nick‟s erection again, rubbing it once, twice, before grabbing his ass with the other hand and pulling him down onto his lap. The fucker was strong. Julian‟s member began to harden again against Nick‟s thigh. “So you let me come. Want me to do the same for you, or want to have fun until we both can?” “Let‟s just see how the night goes.” Nick tilted his head up, their tongues twining, the Alpha‟s breath hot on Nick‟s lips as they kissed. Soon, sooner than Nick expected, Julian‟s renewed erection poked him in the stomach, and he broke the kiss with a gasp. “Not bad.” He rolled over and began rummaging through his drawer, pulling out a condom and some lube. Nick frowned and grabbed for the condom, managing to catch the Alpha by his wrist. Julian saw his aim and pulled him down on top of him, giving a quick thrust of his hips, the lube dropping onto the bed and 52

Alpha rolling among the covers. “Oh, you want this?” He laughed. “Never taken it before?” Nick growled. “Perhaps you haven‟t.” Julian stroked him with one hand and pleasure began to mount at the other man‟s quick, sure touch. “I was patient enough to wait.” Nick hissed, and twisted the skin of Julian‟s arm with one hand, a trick he had learned from an older boy when he was in elementary school. It had the intended effect and Julian cursed. “Alright, fine,” he said with a mock wounded look. Nick grabbed the condom. “I can‟t stand up to your dirty mundane fighting techniques.” “Let‟s see if you can stand up to me,” Nick said with bared teeth. “Everyone knows Alphas can‟t take much physical punishment.” “Any evidence to back up that claim?” The fire faded from Julian‟s retort as he hungrily watched Nick put on the condom, smoothing it out on his thick cock and dribbling on liberal amounts of lubrication. “I‟m about to give you some.” Nick smirked as he shut the lube with a snap, putting his hands on Julian‟s hips. “Get on your knees.” The bed creaked as Julian complied, rubbing against Nick with the firm globes of his well 53

Ravon Silvius muscled rear. “Are you going too…oh.” He arched his back a bit, fingers splaying on the bedspread as Nick shoved a finger inside, tilting it in a crooked motion. “You like that?” He put the other hand on Julian‟s shoulder, pulling him back as he put in a second. The muscle clenched around his fingers, deliciously tight. Experienced, but not too loose, and Nick‟s cock twitched in anticipation. “More.” Julian moaned and moved himself against Nick‟s fingers. “You‟ve come once already, you greedy slut.” Nick shoved in a third finger, harder than necessary. Julian hissed through clenched teeth. “You‟d better be able to last for me.” Nick placed both hands on Julian‟s shoulders and laid his body on top of him, entering with a sharp thrust that sent pleasure shooting through him, forcing his eyes shut as it rolled through his body. “You‟ll come long before me,” he whispered in Julian‟s ear, and the man shuddered as Nick began to move. The sounds of sex filled the room, Nick‟s breathing harsh, Julian‟s coming in quick pants and moans. Skin rasped against skin, and fiery pleasure mounted in Nick‟s abdomen, Julian‟s tight hole taking him in completely and oh so tight… 54

Alpha “Harder.” Julian gasped, spreading his legs wider and hanging his head down. “Harder!” Sweat dripped from them both, mingling on Julian‟s back and dripping onto the bedspread. Nick increased his pace, almost pulling all the way out before slamming back in, monitoring Julian‟s responses as he did. The big man‟s muscles clenched as Nick thrust at a particular angle, and he did it again, covering Julian‟s body with his and reaching one hand around to stroke him. He didn‟t stroke gently, pulling at Julian‟s dripping cock with near fury as his own pleasure mounted. There was no way he would let himself come before the Alpha. “Ah…ah!” Nick smirked just before the orgasm hit, feeling the body underneath him shudder and relishing the sound of Julian‟s cum splattering on the bedspread. A few thrusts more to milk the rest out of him and then Nick came, too, white flashing behind his eyes as he emptied himself into the Alpha. They both fell onto their sides, Nick pulling out and throwing the condom into the otherwise empty trashcan he found by the side of the bed. Julian turned to face him. Nick blinked at the sudden intimacy. “You enjoyed that, I take it?” A red flush faded from Julian‟s neck and chest, and his eyes were still glazed with pleasure. 55

Ravon Silvius Nick had to admit, he liked the sight. “Not as much as you obviously did,” he replied with a smirk. Despite having somewhere to be in the morning, Nick didn‟t want to rush to leave. Instead, he lay on his side, coming down from a mindblowing orgasm and watching Julian come down from his. Not a bad way to spend the evening. The Alpha blinked slowly. “So where did you learn to screw like that? I‟m obviously not your first.” He spoke without any trace of anger or condemnation, but Nick still narrowed his eyes. “And I obviously wasn‟t your first either,” he retorted. What did he mean learn? “You‟re the first here,” Julian replied. “And you‟re the first—ah, mundane I‟ve been with.” “No kidding.” Nick let sarcasm drip from his tone. “Was I your first Alpha?” “No,” Nick bit the word, a demand to drop it. “Hm.” Julian stroked Nick‟s cheek, and he let it happen, the man‟s fingers soft and soothing, but annoyance curdled in his stomach at his own enjoyment of the touch. “Are you tired? I always get tired after sex.” “You must have a lot of experience to know that so well.” Nick paused for a moment, then added, “You slut.” 56

Alpha Julian grinned and cupped Nick‟s cheek. “You‟re cute, you know.” “Fuck you.” Nick pulled away, sitting up in bed. “I need to leave early anyway. I have…work tomorrow.” “What?” Julian sat up, too, putting his hands on Nick‟s shoulders. “So you don‟t mind arguments, but you get mad when I give you a legitimate compliment?” Nick gritted his teeth. For an Alpha, he was pretty stupid. “I‟m not some fucking cute kid,” he spat. Julian rubbed his back and Nick pulled away. “That‟s…not what I meant.” “Would you call one of your other Alpha lovers cute?” Nick demanded, turning to meet Julian‟s confused gaze. “Yes…if he was.” Nick took a deep breath. “Cute implies youth, or inferiority. You call me cute, and it‟s like…like you‟re talking to a pet.” “But I‟m not. You‟re assuming something about me, that‟s wrong, based on your own experiences.” Julian didn‟t accuse, he merely frowned and reached out to rub Nick‟s shoulders. “How about I call you sexy instead?” he asked with a smile. Nick‟s face reddened. “How about…” you take me home but the request died on his lips. 57

Ravon Silvius He didn‟t want to go home, at least not yet. He wasn‟t short on time, and Julian…Julian was fascinating, and sexy, and yes, even cute, in the way the Alpha meant the word. He was the only person lately who Nick felt comfortable talking back to and arguing with. Riki was cold and could be cruel when it suited him, and Nick knew nothing about him, as he had learned today. His contact wasn‟t precisely a friend and most others who frequented M‟s that he talked to were mere acquaintainces, not friends. His heart flipped when he thought about it. Would Julian be more than a friend? He couldn‟t afford it, not now, and not with an Alpha. But he lay back down, against Julian‟s body, and closed his eyes. “How about we just rest for now,” he said and relished the feel of Julian‟s hands on his body. “It‟s not just you Alphas that get tired after sex.” Julian hummed with pleasure underneath him, and rolled over so that they lay curled up, Julian spooning Nick. “That‟s fine with me.” “I…I do need to work tomorrow though,” Nick nearly whispered. “I need to be home by 5.” “Don‟t worry.” Julian said, his breath hot on Nick‟s neck. “I know what it‟s like to work odd shifts.” Contentment and sleep stole up on Nick, so that he didn‟t bother asking him to elaborate. 58

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he car stopped in front of the apartment building, the sky pinking with the first blush of dawn, and Julian reached out and grabbed Nick, pulling him down for a kiss before he could leave. “Will I see you later?” he asked. “What‟s your number?” Nick bit his lip, his mind whirring. If he gave it, that would imply he wanted a relationship, something he couldn‟t afford right now. But he couldn‟t imagine telling Julian no, not now. What harm could it do? He could always ignore his calls. He gave him the number and his knees weakened at the bright smile that crossed the brunette‟s face. “I‟ll call you tonight after work?” “Sure.” Nick broke into a smile, too, as the car pulled away, and he didn‟t care if Julian saw it. Of course, now he had to meet with Riki and Riki‟s strange invisble hacker contact. The smile 59

Ravon Silvius faded as he entered the house and prepared himself mentally for the hook. He couldn‟t have Julian on his mind while he was online or Riki would want information that he didn‟t feel comfortable giving. At least he didn‟t have much of a chance to feel sick this time—the hacker caught him early and the whirling gave way to a cozy looking living room setting. Hello? He tried to contact anyone, Riki or the hacker. I’m here, Riki answered. How was your evening? Nick tried very hard to control his thoughts. Fine. His caution leaked a bit, but Riki would understand that. There were several reasons to be cautious. The location you’ve chosen is very secure. It is on the grid, but it is not well patrolled by any enforcement. Sales in the area are generally low though, so a sudden spike may be noticed, the hacker supplied, the voice still distressing with its lack of emotion. These would be off market sales, Riki replied. Yes, but children and their parents will want to eat when they visit, will they not? Some humor bubbled in Nick‟s chest. The hacker sounded like some sort of robot. Fine. I’ll convince Thomas to lower prices, or to start up some new ad campaign to explain away the rise in sales. That playplace thing he mentioned might work. My concern now is your contact. 60

Alpha Nick sensed a change as the hacker regarded im, and he leaked renewed nervousness. How do you know him? From college, Nick answered. He was a friend of a… thoughts and emotions spiraled out of control into the hook. Friend of an old lover of mine, gave up on technology and advancement when the friend, my lover, died. Believes in natural living, not an Alpha, believes it causes harm. Why, if he believes the electroaltiaresis causes harm, would he want to help us? The hacker‟s calm voice settled Nick‟s thoughts. Because he knows me and trusts me, Nick replied. He does not want it for himself or for his family, but also believes people should have the chance to make the choice for themselves. I like him already, Riki said, approval glowing from him. But can we really trust him? You will have to visit, The hacker said. I have no information on those who are off the grid. The government keeps basic information, such as social security and financial information, only of a commune as a whole, not of individuals, as long as they don’t leave. So we go today, Riki said. After work, Nick? And then we’ll tell you what we learned. Yes. Nick and the hacker replied at the same time. Another stressful day. Nick arrived to work late, though no one would 61

Ravon Silvius notice, considering the building didn‟t tend to fill up until ten. The first message on his screen told him that the coffee machine had broken on the twenty-seventh floor—the precinct. Great. Just keep your head down. That‟s the advice Riki had always given him when dealing with police in any fashion and wandering into their domain, especially when they hadn‟t yet had their coffee, could be a nerve-wracking proposition. At least the dogs were cute and Nick patted one of the enormous shepherds on the head as he passed by. He groaned when he saw the mess. The coffee machine hadn‟t just broken, it had exploded. Halffinished coffee dripped from the base of the machine onto the floor, and the entire area smelled like burnt french roast. Now he had to act like an old-fashioned janitor as well as mechanic because the cleanerbots couldn‟t wipe down the innards of the coffee machine. He knelt down on the ground, swiping at the spreading puddle of coffee, and for the next half hour, he became absorbed in his profession, ignoring the graceful movements of the Alpha officers around him and their snide grumblings about not being able to drink coffee. Fucking Alphas and their ten hour a night sleep requirement. “Nick!” 62

Alpha Nick jolted and sat on his heels from his kneeling position. Was that Julian? “Hey, you should have told me you worked in this building.” He turned around to see the tall brunette, clad in the uniform of an investigator. Nick‟s heart hit his throat and stuck there. One thought boomed in his head—if Riki found out, he would kill him. “What are you working on there?” Julian smiled down at him, his eyes kind, a sharp contrast to the vicious glare that Riki was currently giving Nick in his mind. “It…it will be fixed soon,” he managed, turning back to his work. “Hey, don‟t worry,” Julian‟s voice sounded distant, drowned out by the humming of the machine. “People here don‟t mind that much. Hey, can I call you tonight?” Why didn‟t he just go away? Nick‟s hands shook as he reached his keycard around the machine to fiddle with the settings. “Sure. Later though. Like eight or so?” “Sure thing. I guess I‟ll leave you to it then.” Julian sounded confused, almost hurt, but Nick couldn‟t risk looking at him. The Alpha would be sure to see the panicked fear in his eyes. As soon as the job was done, Nick retreated back down to the basement. His heart pounded in 63

Ravon Silvius his head and his stomach roiled. He had fucked up. He had fucked up royally, and all for two nights of arguing and fucking with a man—an Alpha, for fuck‟s sake! As soon as he had realized Julian was an Alpha, he should have told him to get lost. Now he was stuck trying to stay unnoticed and accomplish his dream with an investigator attracted to him. An investigator…no wonder he had been able to tell Nick‟s emotions that first night and pick up on his arousal. Nick thought he was just sensitive, not a fucking trained questioner with enhanced vision. He slumped in his desk chair, ignoring the beeping that told him a sink was broken on the thirtieth floor. He had to break it off, tonight.

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o tell me more about this guy. What‟s his name? He‟s a naturalist—how big is his commune?” Riki asked as he drove to the place where they would meet Bryce, the man who had the algorithm they needed. Nick stared at the other cars, seeing very few drivers, and tried to focus on Riki‟s question. “They call themselves the Flower Children, after some movement back in the 1960s. They‟re really against unnatural enhancement—no hookup, no machine, no drugs, no nothing. They believe in purity of mind.” Riki snorted. “Okay. But they are a licensed commune? Or just off the hook?” “As far as I know they‟re licensed. They own the land, but I‟m not sure how many acres, or how many members they have.” “If he‟s such a naturalist, why does he have an algorithm for the machine?” Riki asked. “I know you said you knew him in college.” 65

Ravon Silvius “He was a computer scientist, and so was…his friend.” It still hurt to say Noah‟s name. “His friend, and my lover, was an Alpha, so he had all the opportunities he could ever want. He wanted to work on the machines, work with kids and improve their lives. But…” Nick trailed off. He didn‟t want to finish the story, not to Riki, and not when he could barely sit still due to his nerves from what happened this morning. “I suppose I‟ll trust you,” Riki said, sensing his reticence, and they drove with quiet after that. Nick could tell Riki was deep in thought, and he thought as well, about Noah and Julian both. He couldn‟t tell Riki about Julian. He had to break it off with him quickly and cleanly. But how? And more importantly…did he truly want to? Julian may be a detective, but then why hadn‟t he arrested Nick on the spot for the knife he had carried? Why bother with a mundane at all? The big brunette certainly didn‟t fit with all of the other experiences Nick had had with Alphas in positions of authority. Maybe, like he had said the night before, he did understand. Maybe…maybe he could even help them. No, don‟t be stupid. Trusting and hoping for the best was what had gotten him into this mess in the first place. “We‟re here,” Riki said, the car pulling up to a 66

Alpha gravel road. “You‟re in the lead now.” Great. Focus. Forget about Julian. “Let‟s go,” Nick said. They turned the car up the gravel path, parking next to a faded sign that proclaimed them to be in Suurbia. The b had faded long ago. Riki looked up at the cloudy gray sky, breathing in deeply. “Smells nice here.” “It‟s outside a city. Of course it smells nice.” Nick started walking, hunching against the cold breeze. Up on the hill lay a scene from books he had read of the early aught‟s, reminding him of his own childhood spent reading for hours about the history of human living. Apparently this had been common once, a mere century ago. Instead of houses clustered together with only an alley in between, or apartment buildings with less than that, each house on the cul-de-sac they stood in front of had its own garden in front of the building. In back, Nick could see expansive yards, where a few kids ran unrestrained, tumbling down the sides of the grassy hill and running toward the forest. No one had fences here. Nick sighed. There was so little space left. “So where do we go?” Riki asked, his eyes narrowed. “There‟s no one here.” His voice dripped with something that in someone else Nick would have construed as anxiety. “He lives in Number twelve.” 67

Ravon Silvius “There are only twelve houses!” Riki exclaimed, following Nick as he walked down the dirt road. He couldn‟t imagine how delivery trucks got here. “So this is, like, what, some kind of mix between normal living and machine farming?” “Not quite. A while ago we farmed, too. This is more similar to what was once rural living.” Riki shook his head. “Let‟s just meet this guy and get out of here. It‟s too…open and quiet.” He craned his head to look up at the clear blue sky. “Too easy.” Nick didn‟t know what he meant by that and didn‟t ask. After a flurry of knocking, they waited on the stoop of house number twelve, and soon enough a man with red hair and a face nearly as red from sunburn answered. “Nick! And…” “This is Riki. He‟s helping us out,” Nick answered. “Nice to meet you,” Riki said as Bryce let them both inside. No one spoke for some time, Bryce staring at Riki and Riki staring back. Finally, Bryce asked “Can he be trusted?” Riki snorted. “Smooth.” “Yes. He‟s…very professional.” More professional than me. Nick squelched that thought. “I take it it‟s safe here?” 68

Alpha “Government doesn‟t rig us. And if they did, I‟d know.” He held out a hand. “I know what you‟re here for. You have my money?” Riki held out a credit tab, and Nick blessed the man‟s resources. He wondered if his speech had anything to do with the sum, or if it was purely Riki‟s various illegal earnings. “Excellent.” He took the tab, then turned his back on them and headed into the kitchen. “Hold on.” “He moves quickly.” Riki smiled, a feral glint of teeth. “I like him.” “Right.” Nick shifted from one foot to the other. He had hoped Bryce would act warmer, considering he had told him over the phone that he would help with Noah‟s work, but it seemed he still didn‟t quite forgive him. He probably never would. “Here it is.” Bryce returned with a data key, holding it up in one hand. “Noah‟s secret honors thesis, a recreation of the original algorithm for young children. He may have been an Alpha, but I bet he was a genius of Josephine‟s level even before that.” Riki frowned. Nick looked at the floor. “He certainly was.” The old feeling of insignificance returned. Why had Noah even bothered with them? “Wait.” Riki held up a hand. “This was a 69

Ravon Silvius college project? Why would anyone let this happen?” “I did say secret, didn‟t I? He didn‟t tell anyone besides us.” Bryce closed his hand around the key. “He knew as well as we do that it was illegal if done without a government supervisor. He wanted to give people like Nick and I a chance.” “He sounds….like a good man.” Nick could hear the grudging respect in Riki‟s voice. “He was. Even at the end, when…he made poor choices…” Bryce stared straight at Nick. “He was a good man.” Riki looked at them both. “I‟ll take the key. I have ways of keeping it safe.” “You can trust him,” Nick said, voice hollow. Bryce handed Riki the key without a word. “You can trust us both.” Nick had to say it. “I know…I know you think it‟s my fault Noah died. I still feel bad about it. But…” He trailed off, not knowing what to say. He couldn‟t say it was Noah‟s own fault for using drugs, even though believed it was partially true, not to Bryce. “I will make his dream a reality. It‟s my dream, too.” “I wish you luck,” Bryce said. Taking the hint, Riki turned and headed toward the door, and Nick followed. “I figured someone who modeled their society off…hippiness would be more friendly,” Riki 70

Alpha remarked as soon as the door closed and they had made their way down the road. Dust kicked up under Nick‟s feet as he walked. “Yeah…I‟m sure you‟ve guessed that he has a reason not to like me.” “The thing with…what was his name, Noah?” Riki stared at Nick, his expression careful. “What happened?” “I don‟t really like to talk about it,” Nick replied, quick and smooth. He didn‟t like to remember Noah in the end, genius Noah, helpless against the addiction. And yet now he worked with a gangleadeder and drug dealer in order for Noah‟s dream to come true. If Bryce knew what Riki did…Nick shuddered. “Well, at least it didn‟t take long.” Riki checked his watch, then looked at the sky. “Bright out here,” He muttered. “I‟ll be able to get some extra work done. Want me to drop you somewhere?” “Just home is fine.” Nick could only imagine what Riki meant by extra work. “We have everything we need now. You need to decide how you want to work the construction—contact me on the hook tonight?” “Tomorrow?” Nick found himself saying and then warmth buzzed his stomach. He wanted to see Julian. Even if it was just to break it off…he wanted to see him. 71

Ravon Silvius Riki cocked his head. “Sure. Tomorrow then, in the evening. You should probably begin to get things ready—collect the supplies. We can start this weekend or next, depending on how soon Thomas can be ready.” “Great.” Weight settled itself on Nick‟s shoulders as he got into the car. Soon, he would begin the final stages of realizing his and Noah‟s dream. It felt good, but so much more enormous now that it had finally begun.

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iki dropped him off in front of his building before the sky had started to darken, the gray haze of the city unblemished. Nick spent a while wasting time, flipping through the channels while he waited to see if Julian would call. He couldn‟t be quite sure if he wanted him to or not. The obnoxious, periodic blares of sound from the television grew tiring, and Nick gave up and settled on a movie about the history of domesticated animals. Judging from the monotonous tone of the narrator and the vast amounts of unnecessary detail, it was designed by and for Alphas. Annoying, but also hypnotic, and Nick found himself drifting off. He woke to the sound of wind shaking the fire escape, the room dark save for the blueish light from the television. Some documentary about the Marianus Trench had replaced what had lulled him to sleep, and he sat up with a sigh. Eight PM. He checked his phone, and saw the 73

Ravon Silvius missed call. Julian Othes, followed by his government ID, called at six-thirty-one, six-thirtyfour, and a minute after seven. No messages left. His stomach sank. So he had rejected him, without even meaning to. The decision was made. He didn‟t put down the phone, staring at the screen while his heart pounded. Is this what he wanted? Riki, the machine…his dream, Noah‟s dream. Would going out with Julian really put all that at risk? He would be calling an investigator‟s attention to him, and vicariously to Riki, since Julian had seen them together. The penalty for conspiring to create an unregulated machine was life in prison, for creating one, death. Would Julian enforce that? He was the first Alpha Nick had met who had ever shown an interest in mundane life since Noah—but he was no Noah. Then again…a straight up rejection, now, would only put them more at risk since Julian hadn‟t gotten a proper explanation. He would want to know why, would look into Nick in more detail, especially if he got rejected just after Nick found out about his profession. If he did go out with him and then break it off cleanly—that would make more sense, wouldn‟t it? Hands shaking, Nick pressed the return call 74

Alpha button. It rang three times and then he heard the Alpha‟s deep voice. “Nick?” “It‟s me. Sorry I missed your calls…it was, uh, a long day. But I saw that you called.” “I had an idea.” Nick could hear the happy smile in Julian‟s voice. “I thought…maybe I could take you to a club. It‟s a place a little ways to the south that some guys at work discussed. Lots of people go, not just those who‟ve been electro-er, Alphas. It‟s a gay club, so people wouldn‟t look twice at us.” Nick almost laughed at the idea that their sexuality would be what people raised eyebrows at. “Sure,” he said. “It‟s late, but tomorrow is Friday and that sounds fun.” “Great! I‟ll come over right now and pick you up. Dress well!” He hung up, the phone beeping once in Nick‟s ear. Nick had to smile as he pocketed his phone. He loved to hear the happiness in Julian‟s voice. That, at least, did remind him of Noah. “You look nice.” Julian‟s gaze roved up and down his body as Nick climbed into the backseat next to him. He had worn tight fitting black pants and a long coat—not exactly high class, but as stylish as he 75

Ravon Silvius could pull off. Without the coat, the shirt he wore would fit snug against his broad shoulders. Julian wore clothes that reminded Nick of obnoxiously rich Alphas from college—but he made it look good, his muscular thighs still obvious in pale khakis. Thought fled as Julian leaned in and swiped his tongue on Nick‟s lips, pulling him closer. “It‟s too bad we have somewhere to be,” he whispered huskily. “Oh, so you can control yourself?” Nick asked. “Only if you want me to.” Julian licked Nick‟s earlobe. He seemed to have a thing for that. “I brought supplies if we need them—it‟s a bit of a drive.” This time he bit down. “Well, if it‟s a bit of a drive,” Nick said, pushing Julian away. “Why don‟t we take it slow?” He kissed Julian lightly on the lips, his palms on the other man‟s muscular chest. This was nice, he didn‟t want to think about anything else. Life flitted around them as as they drove, time slowed as they kissed. Nick‟s mind emptied all of the concerns about the risks he took by doing this and worries about the project vanished with the feeling of Julian‟s mouth on his. It seemed the Alpha wasn‟t just in it for sex—Nick sensed real tenderness and caring in their embrace and hoped Julian meant to project it. The Alpha‟s hands rubbed Nick‟s back, moving in slow rhythmic 76

Alpha circles, and Nick stroked Julian‟s chest in return, dipping low periodically to elicit a pleased groan. They broke apart for air at the same moment, their breathing melding with the whoosh of the air outside the car, and Nick leaned into an embrace, putting his head on Julian‟s chest and closing his eyes. “Are you alright?” Julian whispered. “You act as though you needed to relax.” “Is there something wrong with that?” Nick couldn‟t inject any real defensiveness into the words. “Not at all.” Julian held him tighter. “Is it something you want to talk about?” Damn his perceptiveness, which must come from his training. The thought made Nick tense, and he knew he needed to distract Julian from it. “No.” Nick moved his hands lower, stroking Julian‟s erection through his pants, and the Alpha bucked his hips with a gasp. “Do you do yourself often?” Nick asked as he kept up his stroking. “You‟re always so needy and responsive.” “No, I…oh…” Nick pressed himself against the Alpha, unzipping the man‟s fly and palming his balls. “Answer the question,” he demanded with a smirk. “You‟re a cop, can‟t you do that?” “Faster, please,” Julian moaned. 77

Ravon Silvius Nick took his hands away. Julian gave a pained groan. “I want to watch you do yourself,” Nick said, rubbing himself through his pants. “I destress by masturbating sometimes. Don‟t you?” “But…what‟s the point, if we‟re together?” Julian looked genuinely confused. “C‟mon. I‟ll reward you for it, I promise. And then we won‟t be distracted at the club.” Julian blushed and Nick almost laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of it. He had already been inside the guy, so what was the big deal? “C‟mon, I want to watch you.” Nick licked his lips. “It would make me happy.” “I…” Julian blushed darker, wrapping his hand around his length. He sighed as he started to stroke. Nick quickly unzipped his own fly and began on himself. Julian‟s eyes went wide as he saw Nick, and his hand began to move faster. “See?” Nick said between breaths. “Voyeurism adds a lot. Now keep watching.” Nick picked up his pace, mindful of finishing first. He truly did want to reward Julian for this, especially since he had seemed so hesitant. He still seemed to be, his face redder than usual, even when Nick touched him and his movements not quite as precise. His gaze was fixed firmly on Nick, and every so often he would lick lips that grew dry from his panting. 78

Alpha Nick‟s pleasure grew, pressure building. “Watch,” he repeated and then shuddered, cum welling up into his fist. His eyes shut of their own accord and he fought to recover quickly. Julian‟s eyes had widened further and his lips parted as he stared at the dripping cum. “Oh…” He gasped, his hand squeezing harder, neck flushed a dark red. “My turn.” Nick shoved Julian‟s hands away, ignoring Julian‟s gasp and taking the Alpha‟s leaking erection into his mouth. “Nick!” Nick smiled and moved his head, swirling his tongue around the tip and bobbing his head to add suction. He didn‟t particularly enjoy giving head and couldn‟t keep his gag reflex at bay for long, which was why he had planned it like this. He could do well for short periods and knew Julian wouldn‟t last. “Nick, I, I‟m coming. Oh fuck, I‟m going to come!” The Alpha gasped and moaned loudly, hips bucking. Nick pulled his mouth off Julian‟s erection, tasting the first bit of salty cum before he let the rest shoot onto the seat, using his hand to milk it out. Julian kept shuddering and pulsing, moaning again at Nick‟s touch, rope after rope of cum surging as Nick stroked him through his orgasm. “Oh God.” Julian relaxed like liquid against the 79

Ravon Silvius seat, getting his breathing under control. “That…that was amazing.” He moaned again, a satisfed sound. Nick couldn‟t keep from smiling. The man was shamelessly sexy. “I‟m glad you enjoyed it.” “I don‟t masturbate often,” Julian admitted. That explained a lot. “I just…I don‟t have time, or I‟m too tired or distracted when I do have the time. But when I‟m with others, the barriers come down.” His face still looked flushed and he reached into his bag to pull out a few napkins, using them to wipe off the seat. “So now that you aren‟t so distracted,” Nick rubbed a finger behind Julian‟s ear, eliciting a shudder. No wonder he bit his so often. “Tell me about this club. Where are we? I‟m not familiar with places frequented by Alphas.” “Like I said earlier, it‟s not just Alphas.” Nick curled his lip at his own lack of memory and cursed Julian for his perfect one. “Well, alright, it‟s probably more Alphas than not, but you won‟t be unusual there.” “And you did say people from work recommended it…will they be there?” That was the last thing he needed. “Doubtful. Most aren‟t gay. They found out I was and told me about it.” “Wait, how did they find out?” Nick swallowed hard, praying his face hadn‟t paled. “Did you tell 80

Alpha them about me?” “No, not at all!” Julian threw the soiled napkin to the floor and pulled Nick closer. “Some of the guys were asking how I felt about one of the women in our precinct who had apparently shown interest in me. I told them then, I never mentioned you.” “Oh.” Nick quelled a flash of jealousy that reared at the mention of the woman, silently cursing his own juvenile stupidity. “Good.” “Why don‟t you want people to know I‟m with you?” Julian asked. He tilted his head with a soft smile. Fuck. “We work in the same building. It would be awkward.” “Less awkward than if I had dated the woman who worked in the same precinct?” Julian‟s smile widened. “Fuck you, you know it‟s more than that.” Nick squirmed out of his arms. “And who says you‟re with me? We‟ve been together three nights.” “And we‟ve both come each time. I‟d say that‟s a pretty good record.” Julian‟s smile faltered though, his joke falling flat. “Do you not want to be together then?” No, I don‟t. Just say it. “That‟s not what I said.” “Then what‟s wrong? You‟ve been tense all night.” “I…I don‟t know.” Nick sighed and then fell 81

Ravon Silvius into Julian as the car lurched to a stop. “It‟s nothing.” He disentangled himself, kissing Julian‟s chin as he did. “It‟s a stupid personal thing that doesn‟t matter. Let‟s keep enjoying ourselves, alright? Just…forget what I said.” Julian grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Sure.” They both exited the car and immediately booming music assailed Nick‟s ears, creating a bass beat that thrummed through his whole body. If it was this loud outside… “Wow. That has to be breaking a few noise ordinances,” Julian said with a wide smile. “C‟mon, let‟s enjoy it, like you said.” He broke into a run. Nick followed. He had to shout to be heard by the enormous Alpha bouncer, who waved them both inside after checking the ID on Nick‟s neck with an old fashioned clicker on his hand. He didn‟t check Julian‟s and Nick knew it wasn‟t because he looked too young. The annoyance that elicited vanished when he saw the whirling lights inside, the booming music nearly overwhelming. The bar on the immediate right contained drinks he had never seen before, of many different colors—or maybe it was just dye. Either way, he headed over, staring up at the display like a kid at a candy store. Julian followed and waved the bartender over. 82

Alpha “A Rob Roy for me. Nick?” He looked down, the strobe laser lights making his dark eyes glitter. “Uh…” What was a Rob Roy? “A martini. Beefeater‟s, straight up with a twist.” “They apparently make anything here.” Julian leaned back against the bar, his eyes closed, body moving slightly to the beat of the music. In the far corner of the dance floor, a pair of women, both Alphas, danced some couple‟s dance Nick didn‟t recognize, stepping in a complicated pattern as they twirled. He watched them for a while. Could Julian dance like that? Alphas moved so gracefully…if he could, Nick would only slow him down. Their drinks arrived, the bartender sliding them toward them before rushing off to serve someone else. More people filed into the club, fashionably late. Julian clinked his glass against Nick‟s, then took a sip without announcing what he toasted. Nick followed suit. “Would you rather sit down, or dance?” he leaned in close to ask. “Dance, of course,” Nick replied. “We are at a club, aren‟t we?” “You know how?” “Nope,” Nick forced nonchalance. “But I can‟t be the only one, can I?”

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ick‟s head spun as he rocked his body with Julian‟s, the Alpha taking control of both their movements. Nick had resented the style of dance at first, the Alpha leading him around the floor like a child. But soon enough he had given in, and a few hours in he was able to sway and move with the music, the actual steps easy to automatize, especially considering Julian‟s firm lead. It helped that the music energized them both, the rhythm providing some of the guidance Nick needed. The floor had filled up quickly, Alphas usually dancing in couples and some Mundanes, like Nick, dancing alone or in larger groups, none of them attempting actual dance steps. There were no other pairs like Nick and Julian, a coupling of Alpha and Mundane, and he tried not to let it bother him, keeping his attention focused on Julian. The brunette rubbed Nick‟s back as they danced, slowing their steps so the music pounded 84

Alpha around them rather than through them. “Are you alright?” A mere moment of tension and he picked up on it. Nick could not believe how perceptive the man was. “Fine. Really.” He kissed him, broke off and glared at a man who had stopped to stare and then held Julian‟s shoulders more firmly. “Let‟s keep dancing. I like this.” “Happy to oblige.” Julian smiled again—he always seemed to after Nick kissed him—and began to move them. “Who taught you to dance?” Nick asked as the music slowed, some of the lone dancers vacating the floor and heading over to the bar. “College. I…had a crush on a guy in the dance club. I didn‟t even like their usual selection of music and he wasn‟t gay, but I did it anyway. I didn‟t have much self control, I guess.” “You do now, I hope?” Nick said quickly, clinging tighter to the broad shoulders. Julian sounded like Noah. You know I have no self control, the man had said as he kissed him, eyes fever bright and his pupils the size of pinpoints. “I do now. Not around you, lately.” He kissed Nick again. “But I need plenty of control in my line of work.” “I can imagine.” Nick found the mention of Julian‟s profession less frightening than he knew he should. “What…what kind of work do you 85

Ravon Silvius do?” “Investigative, mostly. I look for the first pieces of evidence of widespread illegal activity—mostly drug and prostitution rings.” So he and Riki would probably clash sometime in the future if Riki ever made a misstep. “At least, I did in LA. Here, I haven‟t quite found my niche yet.” “That‟s too bad,” Nick murmured. “I‟m sure something will turn up, although most of what goes on here that I‟ve seen so far is pretty small.” Julian sounded indifferent. “I tend not to take cases where people aren‟t actually getting hurt.” Nick raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” His heart began to pound and he tried to calm himself down, willing himself not to react more than would be proper. Julian twirled him, then pulled him closer. “Well, it‟s just that in all the histories I‟ve read, past law enforcement was so different. It‟s fascinating, really. So many things used to be legal, and for a time things were becoming more lenient, not less. There were no more problems than there are now and so many fewer laws and regulations. But since electroaltiaresis was discovered, people cling to the control of…the elements of society that don‟t use it.” Nick tried not to laugh. “You‟re just figuring this out now?” 86

Alpha Julian cocked his head. “Well, sometimes I wonder if it‟s not just you mundanes they‟re trying to control.” A chill went up Nick‟s spine. “What do you mean? At least you can vote. You can influence the government.” “Sure. Maybe I‟m just a bit paranoid. It comes from working in law enforcement.” He spun Nick again, leaning him back on one leg in a dip so low his knee buckled. “So…” Nick‟s head swam, from both the implications of what Julian said and the spinning. “What kind of cases would you want to take? Anyone can argue that they aren‟t hurting someone.” “Well, that‟s the thing.” He pulled Nick in close so that he could smell the tinges of the alcohol on Julian‟s breath. “I‟m an Alpha, and I‟m expected to use my intelligence to gather information, solve cases and interrogate. But I‟m not allowed to make any judgements. If someone is illegally dealing painkillers to elderly patients who otherwise couldn‟t afford them, I arrest them regardless. It‟s…not how I want to do things.” “So don‟t,” Nick replied simply. “Don‟t report them.” Julian must be aware of how fast his heart beat at that moment. “But then I wonder if I‟m truly not reading the situation correctly.” He stared at Nick with a sad 87

Ravon Silvius smile. “Sure, I can judge one situation. But what do I know about the grand scheme? How one person‟s actions effect society?” “You actually believe the Ocasla model?” Nick said, his voice dripping scorn. No mundane bought into that theory, invented by an Alpha, of the superior role of society as a whole. “No. But I do know I‟m not nearly intelligent enough to fully understand it.” Julian sighed. “If I was, then maybe I could actually do something about it.” Nick gripped Julian‟s hands tighter. “I‟m sure someone will, some day.” “I can only hope. Until then, I will do my job. I guess I just have to have faith.” Nick laughed, bitterness seeping in. “You do that. I lost mine a long time ago.” Julian tilted his head, a sad smile on his face. “I suppose I can understand that.” They danced for some time in silence, Julian‟s brow knit and gaze pensive. Nick liked the look of it—he always seemed so relaxed, it was a nice change to know that a Mundane like him was capable of inspiring deep thought in an Alpha. A moment of excitement spread through Nick as he considered Julian‟s words. Perhaps not all the officers were content with the stark disconnect between Alpha and Mundane, between those who were given every opportunity and those who were 88

Alpha considered inferior—were inferior, mostly, Nick admitted to himself. Perhaps…perhaps some would have no problem with what Nick planned. Maybe they—maybe Julian—would look the other way. It was an addicting thought and Nick put effort into squashing down the bubble of hope that rose in his chest. Not now. It was too risky to bring it up or suggest anything of the sort. But maybe…maybe it meant he could stay with Julian, at the very least. He moved into the dance steps with renewed energy, chafing at Julian‟s lead, and the Alpha laughed and indulged him, deep thoughts for the moment forgotten. When the DJ announced midnight, they finally slowed, Nick breathing hard after a quick techno remix of Canon. Nick leaned against the taller man, his body flushed against him. “Thanks for tonight,” he said quietly. “I needed to relax.” Julian rubbed his back. “No problem at all. I enjoyed myself as much as you did—maybe more.” He kissed Nick‟s ear again, raising goosebumps on Nick‟s chin and neck. “This club is more restrained—perhaps next time we can go somewhere a little more lax?” He snaked his hand around and squeezed Nick‟s rear. “I…I would like that.” Nick tilted his head up and initiated an open-mouthed kiss. He meant it. 89

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he following morning, Nick woke to the beeping of his alarm clock, a stark difference to his usual routine of getting up earlier than the annoying buzz. He hadn‟t gotten back until one, staying in Julian‟s car for a not-quite-quickie before returning home and falling into bed. He showered as fast as he could and had nearly finished buttoning his work shirt when a knock came on the door. “What the hell?” he said to the mirror. Probably a mistake, someone knocking on the wrong apartment door. That or a trick of the thin walls, someone hammering a picture up in the apartment below him. Another knock, then a pound. Definitely not a trick of the acoustics and definitely his door. He marched over, top button still undone, and flung it open, intending to tell whoever it was to fuck off. The words died on his lips. Riki stood there, dressed casually and eyes 90

Alpha smoldering. “We need to talk.” Nick stepped aside, letting the dark-haired man in. Riki shut the door behind him, body tense with restrained anger. Nick‟s heart began to pound. “What‟s going on?” “Where were you last night?” Riki asked, his voice silk. Fuck! Adrenaline rushed through Nick‟s body like a punch in the gut. “Let me explain before you jump to any conclusions,” he said, his heart pounding so hard that he tripped over his words. “Go ahead.” Riki leaned back against the wall, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. The corners of his mouth looked white. “I met a guy who I hit it off with. The one who was watching us in the bar, he was watching me. He was an Alpha, but he was also…” Fuck. Nick didn‟t know how to say what he wanted. “I‟m attracted to him, and he is to me. He has no idea about what I‟m doing.” He paused, not knowing what else Riki might know about Julian. How had he even known about them? Riki wasn‟t gay as far as Nick knew so there was no way he would have been at the bar. “You know, you‟re so stupid I believe you,” Riki said. “Save for one thing—you do know he‟s an investigator, right?” Nick swallowed hard and nodded. “I found out after.” 91

Ravon Silvius “And you didn‟t get rid of him?” “I…” Nick didn‟t know how to articulate the feelings from last night, the trust that Julian wouldn‟t hurt him or turn him in. Had it been an illusion? It sounded stupid to him now, even as he thought about it. What did he really know about Julian? “You know what investigators do, yes?” “They…investigate.” Riki‟s cold glare made it hard to think. “They question suspects and gather information.” “That‟s only part of it. They spy,” Riki spat. “Using whatever means necessary. Saying whatever you want to hear.” “No.” Nick‟s stomach twisted. That didn‟t make sense. He had been the one to instigate things with Julian. That first night, when Julian had caught him staring…it wasn‟t a setup, it couldn‟t be. Riki was being paranoid! “Yes. And only you would be stupid enough to fall for it. They must have information on us. What have you told him?” “Nothing,” Nick spoke through a sensation of being strangled. “I told him nothing.” He had seen the knife and known Nick‟s anger with their broken society…that was all. Riki blinked, moving away from the wall like a cat waking from a nap—then struck, pushing Nick back against the far wall. The back of his head 92

Alpha banged so hard that a flash of light washed over his vision. “Tell me absolutely everything you talked about with him.” Riki squeezed his wrists together, hard enough to bruise, with one hand, and held him by the shirt with the other. The back of Nick‟s head already ached, but none of these injuries would be obvious to anyone who saw him on a day to day basis. Of course not. Riki was well practiced at things like this. “Prove to me that you haven‟t betrayed our cause.” “Why would I?” Nick didn‟t try to fight. “It‟s my cause, too!” “Just tell me.” Riki growled. Nick swallowed down a wave of nausea and told Riki everything he could remember about what he and Julian had talked about on their three dates. When he mentioned knowing Riki, the man gritted his teeth. When he mentioned how intimate they had gotten, Riki slammed him against the wall again. “Why would you take such a stupid risk?” Riki squeezed his wrists tighter. “You‟re not actually stupid, not for one of us. Why?” “I don‟t know!” Nick protested, wriggling against the wall. “I thought…I thought he was similar, had similar ideals. All those things he said—” “Were exactly what you wanted to hear. What 93

Ravon Silvius he fed you, like a child,” Riki spit the words. “You‟ve never had any history with cops or investigators. I have. Trust me.” He let Nick go, and Nick slid down the wall into a sitting position. “I…no. I can‟t believe it.” The only moments of relaxation he had been able to snatch, while he fought for his dream, crumbled in his memories. “Believe it,” Riki snarled. “I know you‟ve had a hard time, but what you‟ve experienced is nothing compared to what I have, what most of us mundanes have. You at least went to college, got to pretend you were the same as the Alphas. None of us had that chance—we learned early on where our place was, and it was always at the hands of investigators, police if we were lucky.” “I am the same as you,” Nick protested, meeting Riki‟s eyes. “Why else would I help you?” “If you‟re the same, then realize the danger!” His eyes flashed. “Get rid of him!” “But—” Nick realized his mistake as he spoke the word. “But what?” Riki advanced, looming over the man on the floor. “There is absolutely no reason for you to stay with him. Unless you really are betraying us, in which case I will kill you.” His mouth formed a line, his eyes suddenly dead, and a cold dread wormed its way into Nick‟s gut. He knew Riki would. He‟d probably 94

Alpha killed before. “No!” Nick edged up against the wall. “There‟s no need. I‟ll leave him.” “I gave you that knife because I trusted you,” Riki said dully, not moving. “You‟ve betrayed that. Now I have to watch you—and I will.” He turned away, walking to the door. “Leave him by the end of the day. This weekend, we will start construction.” He turned blazing eyes on Nick as he opened the door. “You have one chance. I expect to see you on the hook tonight.” Nick only allowed himself to breathe when the door snicked shut. His wrists throbbed with a dull ache as he got up, and when he leaned against the wall for support, the back of his head protested with a fiery pain. How had Riki known? How would he watch him? Nick‟s heart wouldn‟t slow and he splashed water on his face in the bathroom, trying to control his breathing. He didn‟t know what to regret as the cold feeling of shock began to dissipate. His dream was to build the machine and that was far more important to him—to society, suffering under the current divide—than anything else. He regretted betraying that cause, even if it was indirect. Riki, too, deserved some pity. The cold gangleader had placed too much faith in Nick and he had let him down. 95

Ravon Silvius Worst of all…Nick didn‟t know how he was going to leave Julian. What Riki said…it couldn‟t be true. Riki had to be lying, or at least biased and misinformed from his experiences when he was younger. But the more Nick considered it, the more unlikely that seemed. Riki hadn‟t gotten so far in the world from such humble beginnings by being wrong. “Noah….” Nick spoke to the mirror, water dripping into the sink from the tip of his nose. “What the fuck should I do?” As the shock left, a spreading sadness replaced it as the knowledge filled him. He would dump Julian. There was nothing else he could do.

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t rained—or at least, it probably did, the sky blotted out by the automatic metal sheets that spread between buildings, sluicing the rainwater down proper channels. As a result Nick waited in the dark outside M‟s, phone in hand, avoiding the curious stares of those who went inside and the annoyed glances of those who stumbled out. He had called Julian minutes ago, telling him to meet him outside. The Alpha must have sensed his distress because he hadn‟t sounded happy when he agreed. Nick saw the bright flash of headlights and recognized the tall form in the backseat. The car pulled up to the sidewalk, the door opening as Julian leaned out. “Come inside?” Nick‟s heart twisted. “I want to talk out here.” Julian hopped out of the car, shutting the door behind him and pressing a button on his keys. The car pulled away, presumably to park itself. 97

Ravon Silvius “What‟s wrong?” Julian said. Nick motioned that they walk. Julian tilted his head, but followed in silent agreement. He couldn‟t find the words until they reached the spot in the alley where Nick had first agreed to a ride home. He had to do this in person—he owed Julian that much. He wondered if Riki was watching, or if one of his cronies watched, waiting to report on what Nick did. “I can‟t….I don‟t think I should see you any more,” Nick finally said, not looking at the other man. “It‟s not working for me.” He waited in silence, pain arcing through his chest. This was wrong, and for a moment he hated Riki, who thought he could push him around like this. But it was the right choice. If he had done this earlier, or just refused to get in the damn car the first time, this wouldn‟t have to happen. It wouldn‟t have to hurt so much. “Can you at least tell me why?” Julian‟s voice sounded lost. Nick turned apologetic eyes on him. The darkhaired man stood, his expression hard to see in the dark. The night was made more oppressive by the blocked sky. Julian reached out, and Nick pulled away, his foot scraping on the asphalt. He couldn‟t let himself fall into that net again. He had to do this, for Noah‟s dream. For his own dream. 98

Alpha “It‟s not you,” he said, staring into Julian‟s eyes, hoping he could pick up on Nick‟s sincerity. “Please, just know that.” “Then what is it?” The pain there sounded piercingly real. Investigator or no, there could be no way Julian had started this relationship to get information. Riki had to be wrong, at least about Julian. Nick swallowed hard, his body wracked with virtual pain as he destroyed the first real relaxation and happiness he had ever experienced since leaving college ten years ago. What could he say? This hurt him as much as it did Julian? Probably true, but also foolish and cruel. He couldn‟t tell the truth, not like that. But he had to tell Julian something. He deserved that much. “I told you…that you weren‟t the first Alpha I‟ve been with?” “Yes.” Thankfully, Julian didn‟t try to press him, didn‟t try to guess. Nick wasn‟t sure if he could take it if Julian had. “I met someone, years ago in college, that I still remember,” Nick began, the words flowing, barely restrained. “He was an Alpha. I was the first mundane he met, and one of the few mundanes in school. There were probably a dozen of us, maybe less, and we quickly bonded together, like…scared 99

Ravon Silvius deer or something. “Noah befriended us.” Saying the name hurt a little less than usual, but maybe it was because he was already in enough pain. “He was different, even from the other Alphas. He was…he was a fucking genius. Alphas are smart, I know, but Noah…he was probably a genius even before.” Nick took a deep breath, his breath frost. “He was the Alpha I slept with, who I dated for three years, someone I looked up to and loved. He was…perfect, in a way. The shining example of what electroalteresis can do for someone. He could do anything,” Nick gave a choked laugh, “and mastered things in moments that took others years. He was so curious, all the time. Any hobby I had, he did with me, and did it better. He could be friends with anyone, understood everyone…” He trailed off, watching Julian. The Alpha stared at him, eyes wide and sad. “What happened to him?” Julian asked finally. “I had friends he shouldn‟t have met,” Nick ground out, suppressed guilt welling back up out of half-healed wounds. “Mundanes, we…we try to get by any way we can, you know? I was stupid back then, and Noah…got involved, wanted to try it out.” “A drug,” Julian said, voice pained. “Which one?” “I don‟t know,” Nick shrugged, voice hoarse. 100

Alpha “Coke, Dtrata…all of them, near the end.” “Overdose?” Julian whispered. Nick didn‟t respond, took another step away. “It was my fault. I dragged him down, ruined him. If it weren‟t for me, he would be somewhere off making trillions with a handsome Alpha like you by his side.” Silence greeted the statement, Julian watching Nick. He made no move to come toward him. “I‟ve erased that part of my life,” Nick said, no longer meeting Julian‟s eyes. “I‟m content now, working and not involved with any of it. But you…no matter the happiness you brought me, you remind me of it. Of him. I‟m not ready to be with… Not with an Alpha.” Nick finished with a sigh. “I can‟t be with an Alpha again.” “Nick…” Julian reached for him, then lowered his arm. “I‟m sorry. I wish I could—” “I‟m sorry, too,” Nick said. He turned his back on Julian and started walking alone down the alley. Numb. Nick didn‟t particularly want to feel anything so he didn‟t. It made business with Riki over the hook much easier and talking with the hacker about his mistake marginally less painful. At least the hacker didn‟t judge him for it, treating the whole issue like an episode of a nature channel. 101

Ravon Silvius Do you have his ID? I can look him up to see if he could be a threat. Nick sat on a virtual orange couch, the color somehow making him hungry even though he was mostly disconnected from physical sensation. Nick gave the ID number, the image of the flashing name and number on his phone from the night before welling up in his mind. At least you were the one to interact with him—he will have your ID, but you have no criminal record that I would even need to erase. The hacker almost sounded happy about it. Interesting. Seems like he underwent the procedure for quite a long time. What does that mean? Riki cut in. There was a pause. Nick didn‟t answer. More than ten years avails one little if there is not some other reason. Let me check. Ah, yes. His IQ—and his brother’s—was below average to begin with, hence the extended time. Not entirely necessary, but it seems his parents wanted it done. There’s quite a history here of testing. Nick could almost imagine the hacker, the androgynous faceless shape perusing Julian‟s entire life history without any emotion. The thought didn‟t sit well. He wondered what happened to Juian‟s brother, but didn‟t want to ask. Looks like his vision was enhanced—normal for an investigator. He could probably read your emotions 102

Alpha very well, not to mention being able to spot you across the room. No wonder he had approached him that night. Hmm…looks like he’s traveled a lot. Speaks Russian, Mandarin, Spanish and Japanese. His work in LA seems to have been focused on prostitution rings— mostly busting those who try to buy from overseas. Stupid work, Riki cut in. Any pimp who forces his employees to work for him is bound to fail. At least Riki wasn‟t completely corrupt, Nick thought bitterly. I will keep tabs on this Julian, make sure he doesn’t get information—at least not electronically. I warn you, I can’t keep him from finding information physically if he decides to pursue it. Is there a risk of that? Riki bellowed on the link. No. He has no idea about any of it. I told you before, Nick replied. Good. And my record—clean? As a whistle, to use the old expression, the hacker said. Almost too clean, considering you don’t work a regular job. Keep it that way, Riki ordered. It’s better they’re suspicious with no evidence than having something to nail me with if they ever decide I’m a threat. Very well. But again, physically I can do nothing. Have you ever gotten caught? Nick asked Riki, not really caring one way or the other. Directly, no. But others talk when they do, and names get entered. And then they get erased. Feral 103

Ravon Silvius glee entered the link. When will construction begin? the hacker asked. It’s important that— I’ll start tomorrow, Nick answered. I don’t have much else to do. Very good. I will come back into contact with you periodically. A presence vanished. Nick realized that the hacker was gone. Riki‟s blurry form appeared instead, standing to the side of the orange couch. A blue couch appeared on his right. You’re starting tomorrow? Riki asked. I don’t have anything else to do, Nick replied. You saw to that. He could not keep a tendril of anger from the declaration. Don’t be an idiot, Riki lashed him back. An affair with an investigator while you break one of the most strict laws in the world? We could be in jail for life for even discussing this. As soon as you pick up a hammer tomorrow, the penalty becomes death. I know, goddamnit. Nick stood and walked around empty space. It’s not…it’s just not fucking fair. It doesn’t make any sense. That’s why we’re doing this, Riki yelled across space. People like us are obsolete. Not needed. Unaltered families limited to one child, no jobs available, trapped in a, a caste, practically…the Ocasla model will see us extinct, if you believe that. I don’t believe in that model. You know why it fails? Riki was suddenly next to 104

Alpha him, his form dizzying. Why? Nick didn‟t move away, watching Rki‟s spinning form and simultaneously interested and enraged that Riki could still inspire such loyalty. Because we’re going to succeed. As Nick signed off, he wished he could feel the same confidence. The clock across the room bled green numbers into his dark room—eleven-fifty-seven. Work tomorrow, then over to Thomas‟s to live the life of a vagrant engineer for who knew how long, with no Julian to offer any hope of relaxation. Nick ran a hand through tousled hair as he readied for bed. The week had been overwhelming, and not in a good way. He hoped it would be worth it in the end.

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re you ready, Theresa?” the man asked, his hat pulled low over his eyes. The tiny girl nodded, her eyes huge as she regarded the machine. She held a soft drink in one hand, clutching the plastic cup so hard that the cylinder had squeezed into something resembling a trapezoid. Nick stood to the side, holding up the cap and praying nothing would go wrong. He had tested the machine, the algorithm useless to him and doing nothing but eliciting a few fleeting thoughts that he could not quite remember. But for Theresa, it would be a priceless gift. “It won‟t hurt,” Nick said, anticipating the question. Noah had told him all about what the experience was like, and he found himself echoing his dead lover‟s words. “You will feel like you‟re reading a book that you can‟t see—like you‟re reading a book in your head. You won‟t be aware of what‟s going on around you, but we‟ll still be 106

Alpha here so there‟s nothing to worry about.” “Come on, Theresa. Sit down there.” The girl‟s father pointed to the chair next to Nick, his finger shaking only slightly. Nick hoped Riki found someone else to act as the technician soon—they didn‟t need him save for repairs after this. Of course, Nick had wanted to see the first time it was really used. Riki did, too, though he stood outside, probably stuffing himself with french fries, more interested in the results than in how it was done. Nick had to admit, actually carrying it out was a mindless, tedious job. Hooking up the electrodes to their proper locations, making sure the girl was comfortable, and beginning the algorithm…there was no reason a mundane couldn‟t perform this task, save for security reasons. It only made him feel more justified about his work as he flipped the switch and let the current run through the cap, stimulating Theresa‟s brain. The girl relaxed, her glassy eyes moving back and forth. Nick could only imagine the actual current, running in the predetermined pattern designed for a five year old child‟s brain, stimulating neurons exponentially in the most beneficial way possible. After just a year, the girl would be far ahead of her peers. “It‟s working?” her father asked, staring at his daughter. 107

Ravon Silvius “Yes.” Nick leaned against the wall and waited. Each session took thirty minutes. “You may as well get comfortable. Grab something to eat if you haven‟t already—it will make it look less suspicious.” “I‟d rather stay.” Nick nodded, not bothering to argue. Three months of work had led to this day. Three months of eating greasy fast food, commuting to work in Thomas‟s car, and sleeping with roaches that were larger than any bug Nick had ever seen. But they had done it. Nick fingered Riki‟s knife in his pocket, more a symbol of his success now than a weapon. Riki had never mentioned Julian again after that night with the hacker, but he had never acted as warm as he had after the meeting again. The Alpha still made his way into Nick‟s thoughts more than he would have liked. But he had made the right choice, hadn‟t he? He hadn‟t seen Julian once, avoiding the precinct at work as best he could and not looking at Julian if he happened to be there. Keeping his head down was something he excelled at. The Alpha had made no attempt to talk with him again either, Nick‟s phone staying silent in his pocket. He tried not to let it bother him. It had only been three dates, after all, and it was better this way. 108

Alpha It just annoyed him that he had to keep reminding himself of the fact. Every night he dreamed of Julian, of the Alpha‟s warm smile and graceful movements, of their night together at the club when he had taught Nick to dance and their passionate lovemaking. Feelings of safety, of belonging, that Nick couldn‟t find anywhere else since Noah had died, had to be shoved down and away as he set himself to his task every morning. Julian had probably moved on by now. An Alpha like him, with a good job, would attract any number of people. Nick hoped he hadn‟t found another mundane. And that, of course, assumed Julian hadn‟t talked to him because he needed information. But if he had, he never would have accepted Nick‟s dismissal so readily. That hurt the most. The time flew by and the machine powered down. Nick didn‟t have a sound to signify it, the only sign the fluttering of Theresa‟s eyelashes. “What was it like?” her father asked, rushing over to her. She looked up at him, her gaze confident. “Strange,” she said, then paused. “I…there‟s words in my mind that I…almost know now.” Nick‟s heart picked up, and he smiled for the first time in weeks. It had worked. It had really worked. God, they had to be even more careful now and they would need new algorithms for 109

Ravon Silvius older children and eventually fake identification…but they had done it. “I‟m sure that you know to keep what happened here quiet?” Riki‟s voice boomed from the doorway and the girl flinched. “I know, Riki,” her father answered. Nick stepped outside to let them talk, discuss security, raising an eyebrow as he passed a woman he didn‟t know. She didn‟t look at him, too busy staring at her computer. Outside the building, he breathed in the fresh air, glad to be rid of the stagnant, salty scent of the fast food. He still couldn‟t quite believe it was done. Theresa could use this algorithm for five years. Five years of basking in success until they needed to get the second, to finish her advancement. But even if they didn‟t…Theresa‟s intelligence would overcome all of theirs by the end of the five years. If they were successful…mundanes truly would die out, save for the communes, and not in the way the government modelers intended. A flash of icy cold went through Nick. What if this was what they had intended? No Alpha had bothered to help them, but relying on the mundanes to help themselves? After all, Josephine had been mundane… He nearly jumped when the woman from before walked up next to him. 110

Alpha “You‟re…” She mouthed a number, “Nicholas?” “Yes.” He turned to look at her, but she didn‟t meet his eyes. “I wanted to thank you for your help,” she mumbled at the ground. “Uh…I guess you work for Riki?” he asked. “We met on the hook,” she mumbled again, her hair falling in her face. Not used to social interaction, apparently… Oh. “The hacker!” he said, lowering his voice at the last minute. “I‟m Rachel. It was hard work modifying your code so they thought you were elsewhere. I put you at M‟s often. Oh, I…believe it is customary to shake hands?” She finally looked up, her gaze skittering away as Nick looked at her. “Sure.” Nick smiled and shook her hand. “Thanks for your help, too.” “No problem.” She walked back inside. Nick tilted his head. Not an Alpha…but a natural genius. A rare thing that only made his previous thought more likely. He tried to push it away as Riki exited the building, grabbing him by the arm. “Let‟s go. We shouldn‟t all leave at once.” Nick knew better than to argue with the abrupt request and followed Riki to his car. He wished he could just take out the ID chip in his neck sometimes, but knew that would be like ripping 111

Ravon Silvius away his entire identity, consigning himself to life off the grid and in an entirely different realm of surveillance. He wasn‟t ready to live like Bryce, not yet. “Your part in this is done, if you want it to be,” Riki said once they were in the car, turning cold eyes on him. “I know you gave up a lot.” Nick‟s mouth dropped open. “What do you mean?” The engine hummed to life. “Don‟t play dumb. I know this isn‟t really your desired life. Not when you could be fucking around with Alphas like that one I made you leave.” “Julian.” “Yeah. You did your job just fine. It‟s over now. I have someone else to run the machine. We could call you in maintenance, just like your real job, if you want, but if not—” “I do want to!” Nick shouted. “Could have fooled me.” Riki narrowed his eyes, staring ahead at the road where an automated car‟s light blinked to change lanes. The car didn‟t follow. “You‟ve seemed awfully quiet these past few weeks. You don‟t seem to appreciate what we‟re doing.” “That‟s not true!” “I said that wrong. You may appreciate it, but…you‟re not as happy as you should be. This is your dream, isn‟t it?” 112

Alpha “Yes. Yes, it is.” “Then what‟s wrong? It can only be that…Julian,” Riki replied. Nick sighed and stared out the window. He was proud of what he had done, for Theresa and the other girls who would follow. The look on the girl‟s face… Yes, the weeks had been hard, but now his work was finally being put to use. Why would he give up now? Why would Riki think he would give up now? “I do miss Julian. I…I think I may have loved him. But…” Riki glanced at him before looking back to the road. “Riki, I don‟t want to just leave it all…I mean, give it all up. I didn‟t do this just for Noah, and it‟s not like we‟re done with it at all. The machine is done. But what about the other algorithms? What about security? What if it breaks, or we need a new location, or a million other things? I helped start this. I want to see it through.” “What if you‟re arrested? Put to death?” Riki asked. “Then I…it will be for a good cause, won‟t it?” A smile ghosted across Riki‟s lips. “Rachel is working on the algorithms for older ages, basing them off the first. If anyone can do it, she can. I wouldn‟t worry about that, at least.” “That‟s good. But what about keeping the girls 113

Ravon Silvius quiet? And the documentation? High IQ doesn‟t matter without documentation saying it was done.” “Two problems we have yet to solve. Rachel is working on the latter, and the former…the parents are on our side, at least.” Riki turned the car hard. “Thank God ID chips aren‟t issued until thirteen. That will be an issue when we get the new algorithm.” “Do you think we‟ll really be able to pull this off?” Nick asked as Riki turned again. M‟s loomed in the distance. “If we don‟t, we‟ll at least inspire others,” Riki said, voice hollow. “If we‟re blown, the whole net will hear about it. Rachel will see to it.” Nick swallowed hard. “Good.” “Let‟s get something to eat.” Riki parked haphazardly in the lot. “You‟ve apparently been at M‟s quite often the past few weeks. Act the part.” Nick shivered in the cold as he got out of the car. He hoped the drinks were still as good. Andre kept the place too warm in winter. Within minutes of sitting down and ordering his drink, Nick shucked his jacket and sweater, down only to his undershirt. “Classy,” Riki remarked. “Too much time spent in Thomas‟s room?” “It was always freezing in there,” Nick replied. 114

Alpha “I got used to it.” “Ah well. You‟ll readjust. Frankly, I‟m still cold.” Riki snapped his fingers and a waitress hurried over with his drink and the hot food he had ordered—wings. Nick‟s heart gave a lurch at the memory of his time with Julian. Never again. He had made his decision. “Want one?” Riki pushed the plate over. “Not really.” The memory of the first time his and Julian‟s lips had met, with the tingly spice of the wings on shared between them, made him lick his lips. Riki raised an eyebrow. “Take one if you want.” “No, it‟s alright.” Nick leaned back in his chair, unsure of what to talk to Riki about. Despite their success, nothing seemed to have changed at M‟s, the same shiftless crowd hanging around, the same group playing dominoes in the corner. Nick‟s skin crawled with a strange sensation of distance. He didn‟t belong here anymore. He was on a different level of…what? Criminality? His whole life he‟d been ignored and only now did it seem so important that it continue. “Do you want your drink or not?” Riki said with a laugh. Nick looked back down at the table to realize the waitress had put his drink there without him noticing. He picked it up and sipped it, trying to 115

Ravon Silvius keep his sudden nerves under control. “Why don‟t we go for a walk.” Riki patted him on the shoulder, motioning to the door. Nick nodded and followed, the drink forgotten. In his own way, Riki was just as perceptive as Julian. They walked in silence down the alley, Riki hunched against the cold. “So are you really with us, then?” Riki finally asked. “I know this was all partially your idea to begin with, but you‟ve seemed…not to understand quite how important and dangerous it is. Not until lately.” “That‟s…” Nick swallowed. It was true. He‟d been so caught up with Julian in the beginning he hadn‟t stopped to think, and once he had left him, he‟d been so upset by it that he hadn‟t realized just how big his project was. “You‟ll need to get used to that feeling. Constant vigilance, constant anxiety.” Riki wasn‟t smiling. “That‟s part of the reason I gave you that knife in the beginning. To show you just how dangerous your life would become.” “I got lucky, didn‟t I? With Julian, I mean.” “Incredibly.” Riki turned away, not meeting Nick‟s eyes. “Let‟s hope it stays that way. I‟ll contact you on the hook tomorrow. We need to find someone to run the machine—you‟re still involved, but you can‟t keep going there every weekend. I want you to be the mechanic, not the 116

Alpha tech.” “That‟s fine. six o‟clock?” “See you there.” Riki walked back down the alley, blending into the shadows. Nick walked the rest of the way home alone.

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Ravon Silvius

Chapter 15

T

he cold from outside had seeped into his apartment while he‟d been gone, and he turned on the heat and lights with a wave of his hand as he sat down and flicked the TV on. Another documentary—this one on the dissolution of fast food chains. Thomas would love it. Nick rested on the couch, motionless and uncomfortable, the handle of Riki‟s knife digging into his hip through the pocket. The monotone voice of the historian droned in the background. He had achieved his dream. Noah would have been thrilled, his blue eyes flashing with triumph at another problem solved. Nick wasn‟t that smart. Every problem he solved just created ten new ones. All that they needed to do swirled through his mind, hypnotizing him at the same moment that it promised to keep him awake all night with anxiety. 118

Alpha A knock at his door jolted him out of his reverie. Riki? It had to be. At least Nick hadn‟t done anything dangerously stupid this time. Maybe he wanted to give him more instructions on how not to be a complete idiot. Nick opened the door and froze. Julian. There was no warm smile, his brown eyes cold. “Good evening, Nick.” Fuck. What would Riki do? “What are you doing here?” Nick sputtered and cursed his own inability to intimidate. “I‟m here to talk. Can I come in?” “I broke up with you. Months ago.” Nick hoped none of his neighbors could hear him. “Why now?” “Because now I have these.” He held up a sheaf of papers, his mouth a thin line. “Evidence.” Nick‟s mouth went dry and his stomach hit his feet so fast he though he might pass out. He must have swayed because Julian caught him and maneuvered him inside, the door shutting behind them with a soft click. “I‟ll ask you once, and please don‟t lie. Is this all true?” Julian put the papers on Nick‟s coffee table, the blue light of the documentary on fast food flickering over them like fire. “Off.” Nick choked and sat down to look at them. He had half a mind to contact Riki, a fast emergency call that would have him here in 119

Ravon Silvius minutes. But what good would that do? It would only bring him down, too. Photographs. Most of it was photographs, power and electricity information—less refined than Nick expected of a police investigation. Pictures of Nick‟s empty apartment cross referenced with his presence there from reports on the grid, pictures of M‟s with grid information stating he should be be there, but he wasn‟t…and pictures of Thomas‟s place with electricity information. A picture of Riki with Thomas and another man holding a bag. Nick‟s brow furrowed and he tried to take deep breaths. Julian didn‟t know what it meant. There wasn‟t enough here. “You broke up with me two days after realizing I was an investigator. You should have waited a few.” “What am I being arrested for?” Nick spat. “I could bring you up on many things.” Julian didn‟t opt to sit, staring down at Nick as he stood over the table. “The most obvious being hacking into the grid. That takes skill, Nick, that I wasn‟t aware you were capable of. An Alpha accomplice?” Nick didn‟t answer. He hadn‟t wanted to see Julian again and certainly not like this. “There‟s enough evidence here to implicate you for anything from theft to dealing. I‟m guessing it‟s the latter. All of that crap you fed me about 120

Alpha Noah was a lie, wasn‟t it?” That sparked Nick‟s anger. “Never!” He stood up, banging his shin on the table and sending the evidence onto the floor. “I would never lie about Noah! Didn‟t you look him up, too, in your fucking stalker investigation? What, couldn‟t take no for an answer?” Julian didn‟t react. “This is the guy I saw you with.” He pointed down to the picture of Riki and Thomas. “Nothing on him, which is weird considering how many times he‟s been implicated by the people we do manage to bring in. Your Alpha accomplice again?” Nick didn‟t respond. “And then you set up at a fast food remainder. You do realize that the police also know those are the best places to run drug houses, right? We don‟t need a warrant to search it since it‟s owned by a mundane. If I brought them this—” Nick swallowed rising bile. This was his fault. If he had just stayed away from Julian, told him to fuck off as soon as he realized he was an Alpha…now everything was over before it had even begun. “Fuck you,” Nick whispered. Riki probably would have tried to stab Julian by now, silencing him, but Nick couldn‟t do that. “You Alphas can already do whatever you want. Go ahead, search it. Search my apartment. The only reason you 121

Ravon Silvius haven‟t already ruined every Mundane‟s life is because you‟re so fucking lazy. You fucked me and got your information. That‟s all you wanted, wasn‟t it?” He wished he knew how Julian had picked him out. Maybe they had tracked his meetings from the beginning, maybe it was just some weird Alpha thing. Nick didn‟t care. Riki had been right. He wished Noah were still alive. “Nick,” Julian said. Nick met his brown eyes. He pulled out another sheaf of papers from his jacket pocket. “I did look up Noah Richards. He created an algorithm, one to be used in electroaltiares, as a project in college. He kept it secret, but the machine on which he worked on it ended up entrusted to the school where they found evidence of the deleted file. The machine had assigned it a signature, a common security measure attached to any code of longer than one hundred lines that details the goal of the code. The signature was attached to a piece of hardware which was moved off of the grid. Don‟t feel bad— no one but those who work law enforcement know about the signatures.” Nick sat down on the couch, closing his eyes. Of course. Julian had just been fucking with him. “The signature code emerged back onto the grid three months ago. And just today, the copy signature was used—the same time you were 122

Alpha supposedly at M‟s, but wait—you weren‟t. I was there. And I don‟t need to tell you how I know you knew Noah.” Silence hung in the apartment. Nick lowered his head. “At twelve PM today, it seems five year old Theresa Williams was the first poor mundane to become an Alpha.” Julian dropped the papers on the table. Nick waited. He wasn‟t sure what for—the click of handcuffs? Maybe Julian would just shoot him right here. He didn‟t expect the lighter. With a snap, the papers on the table were engulfed in flames. Nick leapt up, his back scraping against the back of the couch. “The code, like I said, is a hidden signature— your accomplice should be able to find it and deactivate it now that you know it exists. I‟m the only one who knows—people here are awfully trusting. I‟ll tell them I found nothing.” Julian smiled at him through the flames, the paper curdling into ash on the table. “What…what the fuck…” “I told you. I don‟t believe in the Ocasla Model either.” Julian watched as the paper burned, the fire dying on the treated table and smoke filling the apartment. Windows slid open automatically. “You…you‟re an accomplice now,” Nick 123

Ravon Silvius stammered. “You‟re helping us?” “I‟m helping you.” Julian knelt down on the floor and blew the ashes off the table with a breath. “I‟m not Noah. I‟m not as smart or as talented. But I liked what I read about him. And I like what he‟s begun.” “You…fucking bastard. You were fucking with me that whole time!” Nick shouted, standing up to face Julian, but he couldn‟t find any anger. There was only relief. “No, I was making sure you weren‟t a dealer. There are other ways to fund this sort of thing. I can read your emotions quite well, and…I‟m sorry.” “Sorry?” Nick spluttered. “What the fuck were you trying to do, give me a heart attack?” Nick hid his face, a burning behind his eyes threatening to spill over. Fuck, he wasn‟t a kid! “I thought I was dead. I thought everything was over.” He didn‟t know why he said that. Julian knew what he had thought, just as well as he did. Julian stepped gracefully over the table, sitting down on the couch next to Nick. “I‟m helping you. Like I said, I‟m not as good as Noah—I‟m not even very talented for an investigator. But I‟m on your side.” Nick blinked hard, erasing the hot tears. Could he really believe him? All of the angry words Riki had shared with him, all of the suspicions he had 124

Alpha elicited flickered through Nick‟s brain. But Riki had been wrong. Julian hadn‟t gotten close to Nick in the first place out of any suspicion. And if he truly did have all that information— more than enough information to arrest him— what more could he gain by tricking Nick further? “Please believe me.” Julian read Nick‟s distrust. “Just because I‟m an Alpha doesn‟t mean I‟m your enemy.” “Riki…” “Riki will take convincing. As will many of your other accomplices, I‟m sure. But Nick…please, please let me help. This is important to me, too.” “Why? You‟re an Alpha already. Why do you want to help us?” “Not every family who can afford to pay for electroaltiaresis can afford it for all of their children.” Nick recoiled. “But…I thought you said you had extra time with the machine?” “I did. My parents could afford to save one of us, not both. They chose me.” A cold chill went through Nick. “What happened to…” Rachel had mentioned he had a brother. Nick hadn‟t thought much of it since then. “My brother was impaired.” Julian didn‟t meet Nick‟s eyes. “No allowances are made for that sort of thing. He tried to function, to work, but…he‟s 125

Ravon Silvius dead now.” Nick put a hand on Julian‟s arm. He was no investigator, but the pain in Julian‟s eyes had to be real. “I‟m sorry.” “With a machine like the one you‟ve made, that won‟t happen, will it?” “No. It won‟t.” Nick‟s chest filled with hope. If Julian helped…if he decided to trust the Alpha, they would have a cop on their side. Not just a cop, an investigator! Someone who could get them the data they needed, help them keep off nonelectronic files that Rachel could not access, and even better—get the documentation that would proclaim the children as real Alphas. With Julian helping them, everything would be so much easier. And Julian had even more of a reason to help with this task than Nick did. “You can help, but remember the risk. If any one of us gets caught, it‟s all ov—” Julian leaned over and kissed him hard, swiping his tongue in Nick‟s mouth and silencing him. Nick shuddered at the sensation, the pleasure and warmth and love for the other man returning in a rush. He stared at Julian in a daze as the Alpha pulled away, a smile on his face. Nick had missed that smile. “It‟s not going to be over any time soon, Nick. It‟s just beginning.”

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About the Author Ravon Silvius lives in a tiny apartment with two tiny cats in a tiny town in the United States. Despite the cramped living quarters, Ravon enjoys coming up with big ideas for novels, with some plots coming from Ravon‟s findings as a neuroscience researcher and others coming purely from Ravon‟s imagination.