Page 14 of Claimed

The man was far more complex than anyone from the Moon had realized. It wasn’t just his own people he treated well and cared for, he also took care of people who could be considered his enemies.

“They don’t have much longer, anyway,” Cora said dismissively, waving her hand at the screen, where John scowled. “I’ve had some of my people spreading the evidence of Benson and Mirabelle’s agreement with the Moon, which includes leaving the community, but not with all the people who live there, leaving them behind in a district which can no longer produce food or water and where they’re becoming sicker from the air itself.

“My reports say they’re already on the verge of revolt; now that the drug is gone and the Moon is demanding a replacement shipment, Mirabelle and Benson are going to have to stay right where they are until they can provide it. And they’re going to have to start answering some hard questions to their people about what the reward is because all the damage they’ve done to their area makes it unlivable without outside resources. People are becoming panicked and angry. Removing their access to the food and water we sell them will only allow Benson and Mirabelle to stir up resentment against us, rather than where it currently, and rightly, is directed.”

John snorted. “I think you’re giving them far too much credit. They haven’t figured out on their own that Benson and Mirabelle care for nothing but themselves, despite how obvious it is.”

“Benson and Mirabelle are smarter than you give them credit for,” the Wolf said calmly. “Which is why we continue to supply their people, so they can’t use that against us. If we need to, we’ll send someone in to take care of the matter.” His eyes flicked to Jordan. “But we aren’t at that point yet.”

Trish tensed as worry rushed through her. Surely, she was just worried for herself though, right? If something happened to Jordan, what would become of her? She couldn’t possibly be worried about him for his own sake… could she?

Relief strummed through Trish as Jordan’s fingers slid over her back muscles. He’d obviously noticed her sudden tension. His fingers pressed into her shoulders, kneading and drawing her closer to him. Her spine slumped as she let her head drop into his shoulder, her breathing coming out on a small sigh as he massaged her. Across from her, next to Cora, Trace watched Trish and Jordan with obvious interest, and Trish’s muscles tensed again. Jordan’s fingers moved up to her neck, and sheclosed her eyes, swallowing hard as she let him rub away her anxiousness.

He’d shown no signs of wanting to share her with any other men, no matter how interested Trace seemed to be. If Trish begged hard enough, was upset enough, Jordan wouldn’t do it. Unless she’d done something very, very bad. But she hadn’t. Her pussy still throbbed from the reward he’d given her after she’d stayed away from Alex and Bella that morning.

The meeting continued as Jordan rubbed her neck and shoulders, only occasionally contributing to the discussion in that deep rumble of his. He supported the Wolf completely in how to deal with Benson and Mirabelle’s people, which surprised everyone except the Wolf. John grumbled about how Jordan was getting soft, implying it was Trish’s fault—though John called her ‘that girl.’ Jordan shrugged and began to massage the back of Trish’s scalp, his hand on her thigh beginning to caress her gently, leaving her to wonder if she had changed him… and how?

If it was true, she was glad. Trish didn’t like the idea of innocents being condemned because they had careless and selfish leaders. She definitely didn’t like the idea of a man who didn’t care, which meant she didn’t like John very much and was doubly relieved Jordan didn’t agree with the cold man.

The Wolf seemed pleased at Jordan’s reversal of opinion. It made things easier for the Wolf when his own right-hand man agreed with him. Not that Jordan ever disobeyed orders, but it was easier when he and the Wolf agreed.

John was correct, in part: Trish had been the cause of Jordan’s change of heart. After all, he’d disagreed with the Wolfabout this whole plan. He hadn’t wanted to give the Moon’s people a chance: he’d been with John on cutting them off from the Earth’s resources and letting them slowly run out of air, food, and water. Even with the allies they had on Earth, the population on the Moon wouldn’t be able to sustain itself with just the resources from those districts.

Today the Wolf, Cora, and several others had argued otherwise, and John had been outvoted. If John had won, if Jordan hadn’t taken Trish when he did, Trish could very well have been up on the Moon. As an orphan without connections to anyone powerful and wealthy, she would have been among the first to die. Jordan couldn’t help but think about that when voting now.

So, yes, Jordan had changed his mind. Because there were people on the Moon other than the leeches.

With Trish snuggled into his body, curled trustingly in his lap, Jordan was aware of everything he could have missed out on. He ran his fingers through her silken hair, enjoying her presence and the way she had relaxed on his lap while focusing on the discussion.

Since they had the drug now, John and Cora agreed to send some of their top people to work with Dr. Margolis on synthesizing the antidote. They were already using the previous antidote to try to stave off the effects.

Whether or not any of it would work, time would tell. In the meantime, the Wolf would continue to hold Alex and Bella—at least, Jordan assumed. The Wolf didn’t seem to have had his fill of the pair yet. The man hadn’t shown any signs of losing interest, despite his penchant for doing so. Normally, it took quite a bit to keep the Wolf’s focus for more than a matter of weeks, although it often didn’t take more than that for the Wolf’s captives to become devoted slaves to his sexual prowess.

If Jordan could figure out how the man did that, he might use it on Trish.

Except she might not be her if he did. So, he wouldn’t. Even when she fought him, resisted him, Jordan wanted her.

He tightened his grip around Trish, ignoring the way Cora and Trace looked at him and Trish as the meeting wound up. They had both hinted at their interest in playing with Trish, but Jordan had shut them down.

Trish was his.

Back in the main room following the meeting, Trish knelt on a cushion at Jordan’s feet, relieved he didn’t have her on his lap anymore. He must have gotten tired of feeling her squirming against his erection—or maybe he was trying to indulge her sense of modesty. Maybe this was more reward for her: not being on display in front of everyone.

His hand never left the top of her head, and he occasionally stroked his fingers through her hair, keeping a connection between them that made her feel entirely too comfortable. Trish didn’t try to move away, though. After all, why fight such a little thing? Because she’d become used to it? Because some part of her liked it? She would save her energy for the larger fights. That made sense, didn’t it?

The doors at the end of the hall opened, and Alex and Bella were led in. Trish couldn’t help but feel some guilt about keeping away from them by choice. They were all prisoners; shouldn’t they be in this together? But Trish could remember what they couldn’t. She knew why Bella had been punished. Trish was the one who had caused everything to go wrong last time.

And now, she also knew the tunnels weren’t the escape she’d hoped. Especially not when Bella had behaved so recklessly once she’d been told about them. Telling her again would probably be another mistake, but it didn’t stop Trish from feeling both conflicted and guilty.

More than that, would telling them be the correct thing to do? While she didn’t understand the Wolf’s plan, he seemed to think Alex, Bella, and the drug would be integral to it—and maybe his plan wasn’t all bad. Was he a kidnapping, raping, mind-fucking, sadist? Yes. On the other hand, he was also a good leader, he cared about saving innocents, and his plan would probably help save others.

Everything wasn’t as black and white as she’d always thought.

It would be so much easier to just call the Wolf and Jordan ‘the bad guys,’ but they weren’t all bad. There were redeeming qualities to both of them. Heck, his own people regarded the Wolf as a hero and Jordan as someone to respect and emulate. Not that it was any comfort when Jordan was spanking her or the Wolf was torturing Alex and Bella but…

Trish didn’t know what to think, anymore. The people on the Moon weren’t all bad, either, although those in charge might be worse than the Wolf—but did that excuse his depravities? She couldn’t bring herself to answer that question affirmatively, but Trish couldn’t wish him defeated either. It was a scary thing to face, especially when she was looking directly into the eyes of his two current victims.

The soldiers escorting Alex and Bella led them over to the side of the dais, and Alex pushed Bella behind him on the cushions. He and Bella were on the far side of the dais from Trish, but she could see them cuddle and comfort each other. Alex even stroked Bella’s hair in the same way Jordan was stroking Trish’s. The comparison made her stomach churn withconflict, so Trish moved her gaze away. That left her looking at Cora and Trace, whose attention kept turning to Bella and Alex.