“You can yell at me later,” he said as he climbed inside. “For now, stay on the floor. The windows are reinforced, but the floor is safer.” He slammed the transport door closed, then swiped his right arm over the chip reader. “Take us to House von Hasenberg’s private entrance.”
The transport lifted off. I closed my eyes and didn’t try to get up. My head felt like I’d gone several rounds with my old self-defense tutor, and that lady had packed a mean right cross.
“Are you injured?” Ian asked, his voice laced with concern.
“No,” I said. It sounded like a lie, mostly because it was a lie. I worked on pulling my tattered public mask back on. Once I was certain I could maintain the facade, I opened my eyes and met Ian’s gaze. My voice was cool when I asked, “Are my siblings okay?”
Ian glanced away. “As far as I know,” he hedged.
“Who?” I demanded as I sat up. My head swam, but I refused to show weakness. When Ian didn’t answer, I asked again, my voice knife-sharp.
I had an older brother and sister, a twin brother who was younger by thirteen minutes, and two younger sisters. We were all close despite our parents’ attempts to drive us apart. If any of my siblings were hurt, the rest of us would rain hell and damnation on whoever was stupid enough to do it.
“I haven’t heard from Lord Ferdinand’s team yet,” Ian admitted.
Ferdinand was my oldest brother and heir to House von Hasenberg. He had done his best to shield the rest of us from the worst of Father’s fury, and although he hadn’t always been successful, we adored him for it.
I pulled out my com and checked our sibling group channel. Everyone except Ferdinand and Ada had checked in. Ada was off-planet and wouldn’t get the messages for some time, so I wasn’t worried about her.
I let the others know I was okay and the channel blew up with questions. No one had heard anything from our oldest brother and worry lurked behind every message.
“I’m assuming you have additional units en route to Ferdinand’s location?” I asked Ian.
His jaw tightened. “Yes, Lady von Hasenberg.”
The title gave away his irritation with me for questioning his ability to do his job, and I smiled internally.
“Where was Ferdinand tonight?” I asked.
“He had a private dinner scheduled in the Yamado quarter,” Ian said.
“With whom?”
“I am not at liberty to say,” Ian said. His tone said he wouldn’t budge, so I turned my questioning elsewhere.
“Care to explain how someone was able to shoot at me tonight?” I asked.
“I intend to find out,” he said with a scowl. “Do you know of anyone who wants you dead?”
I raised an eyebrow. “No, Director Bishop, I can’t think of a single soul,” I said sweetly. Ask a stupid question . . .
He sighed. “Anyone in particular?”
That was a harder question. No one came to mind, but that didn’t mean no one wanted me dead. I was the daughter of a High House and suspected of killing my husband. Before that, I’d publicly worked for Father, gathering information on our rivals using whatever means necessary. The list of people who wanted me dead was far longer than the list of people who preferred me alive.
“I haven’t had any active threats,” I said at last. “And despite what you and Father think, I don’t think House Rockhurst is stupid enough to bring the war to Earth.”
“You’d be surprised,” he said darkly.
I wouldn’t, actually. I’d seen the same data he had, and I saw nothing that indicated a Rockhurst attack was imminent. Of course, I hadn’t seen anything that indicated any attack was likely, so someone was playing their cards very close to their chest.
“Are you sure they weren’t shooting at you?” I asked. It would make sense because as the head of House security, he would be the first person tracking Ferdinand.
Ian shook his head. “The shooter had a clear shot at me from the time we stepped outside, but he only took the shot when you moved slightly ahead of me. He misjudged your speed and shot in front of you. You were the target.”
I swallowed. It wasn’t the first time I’d had a close brush with death and it probably wouldn’t be the last. But it never got any easier.
The transport landed. Ian waited a second, then slid the door open. House von Hasenberg glowed like the sun. Floodlights turned night into day and soldiers