Page 9

Chapter 3

“Her parole’s been deniedagain? That’s the fifth time.” Eden gripped the edges of the seat as she stared at the screen in her quarters.

“Your mom’s not getting out until she reforms.” The prison warden, an enormous cyborg with glowing green eyes, stared impassively at her. “We have incidents of fighting, two counts of smuggling illegal contraband into the prison, and a concealed weapon. Parole is not an option at this stage.”

Eden squeezed her eyes closed for a second. “How’s she doing?” The torrent of emotions that ran through her weren’t easy to unpick. They’d keep a therapist in business for a decade.

A part of her was relieved there was no chance her mom was getting out soon. But even though she was a lousy parent, there was that blood bond lingering between them.

“Her last check was satisfactory. But she continues to use drugs.”

“What the hell? She’s in a private reform prison. You’re supposed to stop drugs getting inside. You’re supposed to get her better.”

“The prisoners are inventive. As are the people who visit them and pass over the drugs.”

“So get her clean. Get her off the drugs. That’s why her behavior’s erratic.” It wasn’t the only reason. Her mom had always skated on the dark side.

The warden looked down. “I have an incoming request. Our governor would like to speak to you.”

“She would? When?” Eden was used to dealing with the cyborgs who oversaw the prison security at their monthly update meetings. But Nichol Pascal oversaw the project, and Eden had never spoken to her. This couldn’t be good news.

“Now. Patching you through.”

Eden tensed as the image of a stern-faced woman in her mid-fifties with dark eyes and a silver bob came into view. “Eden Franco?”

“That’s right. You wanted to speak to me?”

“Yes. Thanks for taking the time. We have concerns about your mom.”

“I’ve been hearing about them. You need to get her off the drugs.”

“That’s not the issue we’re most concerned about.” Nichol pursed her lips. “You haven’t been to see her. As part of our rehabilitation program, regular visits are advised.”

“I’m... on a mission. It’s in deep space. It’s difficult to get to her.” And that was the excuse Eden kept telling herself.

“Our rehabilitation program can only be effective if we have family support. It’s the package of measures you signed up for.”

She knew that. She was paying through the nose to get her mom better, without any success. “A visit is impossible.”

The visits to prison had always left Eden shaky. They dragged her back to a past she wished she could change. She was seventeen the first time she saw her mom inside. She’d been put away for eighteen months for handling stolen goods, intent to supply, and ABH after shoving a cop when he’d tried to arrest her.

Eden had brazened it out, but it had terrified her. But what had scared her the most was what was waiting for her back home when she left the prison. Her mom had put her boyfriend, a real sleaze called Scott Kolinsky, in charge of her well-being.

The only thing he’d done well was get wasted and try to feel her up on the regular.

Her insides trembled. She sat up straight, keeping her expression neutral. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“A visit from her daughter could help to ground her.”

“It won’t. I can promise you that. We’ll only fight. She’ll blame me for being in there.”

Nichol glanced at the screen beside her. “Because you supplied the information that led to her most recent arrest?”

“You got it in one. I can’t support her any longer. I mean, I’ll keep paying for her stay with you, but I live on a spaceship most of the time.”

“I’m aware of your work. Your mom talks about that.”

Eden grunted out her surprise. “She probably thinks I turn tricks on an outpost in deep space.”