Rising Tomorrow (Roc de Chere Book 1) by Mariana Morgan (essential reading txt) 📕

the bed,’ Gonzalez said. ‘He flicked through his wrist-comp for a while, but I don’t have a cam angle to confirm what he did. Now he is stretched on his back watching the door. And he looks nervous, impatient,’ Gonzalez added, watching the other man’s foot bouncing up and down. There were plenty of other nuances, like the fact that Wagner had checked the clock three times in as many minutes, but there was no point overloading Eloise with information.

‘Raymond? How fast can you come in?’ Eloise asked, wishing her voice sounded stronger, but she had no control over it.

‘Five seconds from current position to get to the dining hall on the first floor. Based on the luxuriously set table his servants just finished preparing, that is where he is going to take you next. Once you’re there, I’m going to move closer,’ the lieutenant reassured her.

Five seconds did not sound long, but her brain struggled to assess just how much could happen in that time.

Breathe. Breathing comes first. Focus. In and out.

‘Okay, I’m going back out,’ she announced a couple of minutes later, forgetting that the video feed had already told them she was dressed and heading for the door.

In the bedroom she tried to smile at Wagner, but failed, despite the warm, charming grin the man bestowed upon her. His twitchy leg froze as he ogled Eloise.

‘Ms Moretti, I shudder to think when you last ate properly. May I offer you dinner, and we can talk while we eat?’ He gestured at the door, something odd flashing in his eyes, but Eloise couldn’t think straight through the anxiety and the blood pounding in her head. In fact, the closer she was to Wagner, the worse it got.

‘I… I don’t actually remember when I ate last.’ She hesitated, changing what she had been about to say.

The trip down the marvellous wooden staircase, through an equally lavish hall and into the palatial dining room went silently, Wagner leading the way this time. The food smelt delicious, and Eloise heard her stomach rumble loudly. Ironically, she genuinely couldn’t remember when she had last eaten.

The two Leech servants finishing laying the table were exceptionally well trained, unobtrusive and silent. Eloise struggled to notice anything particular about them. The girls looked young, no more than about sixteen, making them barely legal. For a moment Eloise wondered if Wagner even cared about obeying the child labour law. But then again, a job was a luxury for a Leech, so it wasn’t like someone was actually going to object to under-sixteens working.

‘Don’t eat anything Wagner isn’t eating!’ Eloise’s earpiece crackled, and she jumped.

‘Everything all right?’ Wagner asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

‘Yes… yes, just a flashback,’ she whispered.

‘Ms Moretti, I did try to insist I meet you in a proper hospital, and I still believe you should check yourself in to one for observation. I can call a doctor here just as easily if you prefer?’

Eloise looked at him, her brain frozen as she grappled with her spiking anxiety. She was desperate to find a suitable reply, any reply, but blankness enveloped her.

‘Talk first. You need to talk first,’ Gonzalez whispered, keeping his voice softer this time.

‘Yes, a doctor,’ Eloise whispered, ‘but I need to talk to you first. I need to understand.’

Wagner watched her for a few heartbeats, and then nodded for the closest Leech to serve the food.

***

‘Banshee here. Please confirm you want me in the air?’ Flying a Stealthy in a luxuriously relaxed ellipsoid pattern took very little effort, and Ingram had plenty of spare attention to not only listen to Eloise and Wagner but to check the woman’s vitals, reported by her BCC.

The Elite woman was a mess. Again.

‘Affirmative, Banshee. Stay where you are. She can do it,’ Gonzalez confirmed, before addressing Eloise. ‘Moretti, snap out of it. You are playing a VRP. You are playing a fucking VRP you wrote yourself. Snap. Out. Of. It.’

***

Eloise inhaled sharply, desperately reaching for a glass of red wine that the Leech had just poured. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had alcohol, but it was bound to help. It was a fact of life that alcohol loosened people’s nerves. She needed the wine. Lots of it.

She took a big swallow and instantly gagged, half of the gulp down in her stomach but the rest still in her throat. She coughed, the wine splattering over the table.

‘I’m sorry,’ she stuttered between fits. ‘I had no idea. I have never—’

Dammit, it tastes vile. And burns.

Wagner only seemed amused, watching the dark red stains. Almost as if he was enjoying her inexperience.

‘Not to worry. Not to worry at all. Leech, bring some water for Ms Moretti and a dry plate. You can worry about cleaning the mess when we are done.’

‘Yes, Mr. Wagner.’ One of the servants bowed deeply and scurried off.

Within seconds, Eloise was holding a glass of water in her shaking hands while the Leech girl placed food on a new plate.

‘Now out, both of you.’ Wagner waved his hand dismissively, craving privacy. He was slowly losing patience, contemplating whether Eloise really was clueless or whether she was playing him. He tried to look unbothered, but his suspiciousness didn’t escape Gonzalez’s attention. ‘Please, Ms Moretti, eat, but I would appreciate it if you could tell me exactly what is so urgent you had to see me instantly.’

His tone was no longer warm and compassionate, and Eloise felt herself stiffen. This was not going the way she had imagined.

When Gonzalez had told her about his plans, she saw herself boldly strolling through the whole experience. Enjoying the kick, the way she always did when playing her adult VRPs. A bit of a mystery flavour to a VR scenario was a self-indulgent treat she enjoyed deeply. She imagined playing Wagner the way she had countless men and women in VR, half seducing him while easily staying focused on her mission. There was no panic in her fantasies. There was no thumping heart trying to jump out of