Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

waited, his attitude a mixture of uncertainty and anger. Cal was the first to speak.
    “You’ve got to help us, Seth.”
    Seth still didn’t speak, even when Maia she sat next to him .
    “We have to stop what’s going on here,” she said, “You’re the only one who can do it.”
    “ I f I don’t, what are you going to do, Maia, kill me? S pike my coffee again?”
    “No,” Lucier said moving closer, “but they’ ll kill me and probably arrange to kill Maia, if not technically, at least to the world.”
    “She knew the repercussions when she pulled the stunt with those two phony art thieves,” Seth said. “Frankly, nothing would please me more than for Maia to be here on a permanent basis. At least that’s the way I felt before tonight.”
    “My father said he’d get rid of all the troublemakers. That means Anat and Cal too.”
    Seth shook his head. “He wouldn’t.”
    “I’m afraid she’s right,” Diana said. “I heard him and Edward Slater discuss their plans, and Maia, Anat, and Cal weren’t part of them . Don’t forget what they plan for yours truly. ”
    Maia raised her hand to his cheek. Seth shrugged it away and crossed his arms over his chest like a stubborn child.
    “ S omeone in this compound is violating our child , Seth , maybe all the childre n. Is that all right with you?”
    “ Impossible . ” Seth said defensively. “I’d know.”
    “You’re sure? Because I’m not.” Tears rolled out of her eyes before hiccupping sobs shook her body. Anat moved to her and put an arm around her shoulde r.
    “Anyone with half a sense of reality know s that kidnapping babies from their birth parents is a crime,” Lucier said. “ By turning a blind eye, t hese people, you included , crossed the line. If murder is involved, you’re an accessory.”
    Seth picked a residue of adhesive off his cheek, rolled it in his fingers, and flicked it into space. He expelled a ragged breath. “I didn’t know about the babies until they were brought here. I objected.” He focused on Lucier, then glanced at Maia. “I’m not a militant, nor am I a hero. Neither is my nature.”
    “ H ere’s your chance to change,” Cal said. “ Y ou might find doing so will save the lives of the people in this room , not to mention your children. I’ll even venture to add all the children in this compound, because their treatment defies everything that ’ s moral. ”
    Maia reached out her hand again, but Seth refused to look at her. “Please, Seth. Help me get the children ―all the children― away from here. They need help. I can’t stop you i f you want to return.” She spoke in a whisper. “You must know that , deep in your heart. For once, don’t be the loyal soldier. The war is over.”
    * * * * *
    S teel got the wad of cotton out of his mouth, but no one would hear if he scream ed bloody murder. That was the whole point of situating the cabi ns away from the main compound and soundproofing them―doubling the silence .
    Th e son of a bitch cop had tied him up good. He was exhausted from trying to extricate himself. Every time he moved, one of his wrists twisted and stressed his forearm to the point of snapping. With his ankles tied to opposite sides, he couldn’t use them to raise himself. The lemon meringue had crusted on his face, its glop still clouding his vision, and the cloying smell was turning his stomach.
    The strips of cloth holding his feet were his best bet. He shimmied down as far as possible to get some movement in his legs and, scraping his heels against the posts, worked off his shoes. Now, if he could just stretch the cloth enough to slide his foot through the binding. He pointed the toes of his right foot and pulled and push ed.
    “Damn , ” he howled. Fucking cramp. Spasms curl ed his toes, sending excruciating pain into the arch. When he tried to straighten it, a knot tightened in his calf and worked its way up his leg into his thigh. It felt like a vice clamped around his quadriceps. He lifted his middle up to stretch, but the contractions shot stabs of pain into his hip, and his arm wrenched from the maneuver.
    He needed to walk out the cramp , but how in hell could he tied to the goddamn bed ? Relax, Steel. Let your body unwind. Easier said than done when his whole body ached with every move . Deep breaths .
    The pain diminished in small twitches, but he tried again without pointing his toes. That’s what set off the cramp in the first place . This time, he pulled