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“I don’t know what his plan is.”
“Rumor is the governors’ security force has agents working for them.”
“He’s a thief.”
“Who better to hire than someone who knows the underbelly of the city?”
“True.” I laugh. “Eros.” I’ve never believed this new persona he’s pushing out. He was too much of a rule follower as a kid. People change. But usually not as much as they want.
Out of the hospital airlock, Holter picks a spot in the visitor docks. “Are you ready? It’s hard.”
I nod. “We might not have seen eye to eye for the last few years, but I’m not going to let that get in the way.”
Holter watches me from the driver seat. “Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.”
“You’re not coming in? Also, he’s unconscious.”
“You can talk to him, Nico. The nurses say he might be able to hear you.”
I incline my head to Holter. I’m not talking to my father when he’s lying in a hospital bed. Damn. I don’t even know why I’m here.
The clerk at the front desk is a veteran of theCentauri. “Commander Callis—Portsmouth. I...” His voice shakes.
“At ease. I’m here to see my father.”
“Of course. He’s on the second floor of the dome. Let me take you—”
“I can find my way.”
“Right, Glyden twelve on the right.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Nico.”
“Nico...” His voice cracks. Eyes follow me as I stride down the hall, burning into my skin. I don’t care, as long as they treat my father with the respect and care he is due.
I take the elevator, staring at myself in the reflective gold door. I don’t recognize my own reflection anymore. I’ve changed, and I’m not sure if it’s for the better or the worse.
The door to his room is closed, and I stand outside it wondering what the hell I’m doing here again.
A nurse comes up to my side. “Commander. Would you like to see your father?”
“That’s why I’m here,” I say too loud.
“Come in. He’s stable. I know he’d like to hear your voice.”
I glare at him. Damn him and Holter. They don’t know he’d want to hear my voice. He’s going to be pissed at me. Throwing away my career, playing with politics to change the way things work in the Veiled City. Picking up the mantle my mother lost in her death. He lost his mind when I was a teenager, when I told him I thought I should tailor my classes to become a governor of Glyden.Leave that to the Drakoses,he said.They’re the ones who want to control the nation. Leave it to them. Getting in their way is dangerous.
The nurse beckons me in.
I hesitate. I never hesitate.
“Come, Commander.”
My eyes flick to him. I don’t know him. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him before in my life, but then a lot of people call me Commander.
