Souvenir of the Valley

Thin metal blinds, bent and broken in multiple spots, did little to stop the neon colors of the billboard across the street from illuminating the bedroom. The screen was huge, blocking the view of at least ten stories of apartments. It flashed between bright reds, greens and whites just often enough to keep Sophia awake.
She appreciated the visual nuisance. It kept her from falling asleep.
The ad was so big that lights were hardly needed to see the apartment, despite it being a hair past midnight. She wondered if it was better to have a view monopolized by the ever-changing billboard or to have your window blacked out completely, forced to stare at the back of the screen.
The apartment itself was a small studio. The bed she laid in sat behind a folding screen with a kitchenette on the other side. She doubted it was ever used.
The bed’s thin sheets felt rough against Sophia’s exposed skin. It was cheap standard issue cloth that smelled musty. It held wet sweat against her back. She tried not to think of the other fluids it held onto.
The sheets likely hadn’t been changed since her last appointment here. How hard was it to dispose of them in the laundry shoot? He’d get his deposit back. Buying a fresh pair from a vending machine cost less than ten credits after the refund.
That was a whole lot easier than washing them by hand in the bathtub with your mother until they were thread-worn. Midtower residents didn’t realize how good they had it.
The ceiling above her had exposed pipes striped in yellow, blue, and red depending on what they held. Occasionally the pipe’s colors shifted as the billboard filtered through its ads. But the white light always returned to show the pipe’s true colors.
She never understood if that industrial style was a cost saving method or something ’glom associates considered stylish.
If her apartment had hardware exposed it meant something was broken. Usually bad enough that something needed to be done about it.
Sophia rolled over to face Harv who slept next to her taking shallow breaths. She pulled her long black hair out of her face draping it behind her shoulder. It’d need a good brushing before her next client.
She rearranged the lumpy pillow, another piece of standard issue crap that was past its prime, and rested her head near his. She leaned her chest on his right arm. The humid air of the night made her skin felt clammy where it touched his. If she was laying on his other side she’d be chilled by leaning against the metal of his ‘hanced arm.
Similar to Harv, her arms weren’t the same. An intricate ivory tattoo ran from the tips of her right fingers down her body to her left toes wrapping around her torso like a beauty pageant sash.
Some compared the artwork to a circuit board, others thought it was a labyrinth. It was subtle on her pale skin, only able to be appreciated up close, with time. Time that didn’t come cheap.
Harv slept lightly. He always fell asleep after her visits. It made him good about paying upfront, unlike some other customers. Sophia usually left quietly and let him be. So she almost felt bad having to wake him up tonight.
His hair was a short corporate flat top. The longer hair on top had felt like feathers to her hands when she was running them through earlier. The shaved sides were rough like sandpaper. She enjoyed the contrast.
Pieces of metal, holding small computers, were inset into his skin around his left eye. It was a common microfuser. It expanded his mind and enabled the operation of his ‘hanced arm. The small lights inset in the metal above his cheekbone stayed dark and unactivated as he slept.
She placed her intricately tattooed hand on his chest. Short dark chest hairs, flat on their tip from a recent trimming, poked out of the flesh in the center of his chest. Clear evidence he was willing to do some preening for her.
Her long watchet-blue nails trimmed like an almond stroked his chest lightly. She disrupted the short hairs but they always folded back in place after she passed through. It seemed fitting.
Harv’s leg moved towards her. She made room for him by placing her leg on top of his. That far under the covers trapped exceptionally hot and humid air. It caused her thigh to stick to his immediately. She regretted her positioning and wanted to shift herself. But it’d wake him up with a start, so she settled with the discomfort.
A few more strokes of his chest and the microfuser flashed to life. In a darker room the lights would be blinding. In the light of the billboard, they were just another flash of color. Harv’s eyes weren’t open yet so Sophia closed hers.
She ran her fingers against his chest in precise patterns that would make it appear absent minded. After a short moment she felt his head turn to face her. She blinked her eyes open and looked at him.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” Harv said. “Just wanted to appreciate the merchandise before it disappeared.”
Sophia let out a soft giggle. Harv wasn’t the type of customer who appreciated an eye roll, even if he deserved it.
“It’s fine,” Sophia said, “I think I’ll need to be going soon.”
Harv’s microfuser flashed. “I still have five minutes or so.”
He pulled his hand away from his side and the movement tugged at Sophia’s skin where she touched his. He placed his arm between her pillow and head then pulled her closer to him by pressing his arm against her spine.

It wasn’t difficult to move her. She was a small woman. A feature most clients payed well for.
The computer in his eye gave him the ability to call up certain data: date, time, messages, even the score of the most recent sonic ball match. If Sophia wanted that she’d need to use a hand terminal, or an analog watch. She had plenty of those, beautiful timepieces gifted to her from clients over the years.
Harv could be lying about the time, probably was, but she couldn’t call him on it without getting out of bed. And right now she needed the time.
“The merger tomorrow’s going to be hell anyway,” Harv said. “Glad I could book you before it.”
“My pleasure,” Sophia replied.
Harv’s arm was long enough to reach her butt and he groped it almost absent mindedly. That was not the direction Sophia needed this conversation to go.
She scooted her head down to rest it on his chest, and reoriented her leg in the process finding something comfortable enough, considering the situation.
Now Harv’s hand stroked the small of her back. She could feel him running his fingers over the tattoo on her left hip. The ivory tattoo left small ridges that only flesh hands, or extremely expensive bionics, could make out. Most clients found the texture intriguing. Which meant the tattoo was doing its job.
“The merger,” Sophia put on her confused voice. “You said you were hitting Potter tower?”
He’d gone on and on about the merger at the beginning of their session while she massaged knots from his shoulders and information from his mouth. But there was one necessary piece he’d been aloof about.
“Potter tower,” Harv laughed.
It shook his chest under Sophia’s cheek.
“That’s entry level work. We’re hitting Excela. It’s a Baumein stronghold, has been for years. It’s a four thousand footer with top security throughout.”
“Oh really?” Sophia sounded surprised, as if he hadn’t repeated that info three other times this evening. “Security with guns and fancy metal enhancements?” She reached across his stomach and stroked his metal wrist. She didn’t know if his model was nice enough to have sensors there. It likely didn’t. But a gesture of fascination and admiration always played well with ‘hanced businessmen.
“Oh they have more than just guns hun. The reason it’s been so hard to merge it over to us is their ALMS system. Even if we land a squad on every non-residential floor it’d just overload any unapproved microfusers in the area, making people like me go overclocked then braindead.”
“But someone like me, without a microfuser, could walk in just fine.”
“If you wanted to. But a ground floor security bot could take you out no problem. Which would be a real shame.” He stoped stroking her to squeeze the flesh of her hip with a small chuckle.
“So how are you going to get through the ARM system? I’d hate to loose you as a client.” She squeezed his hip back, her hand hardly fit around his hip. She doubted he minded.
“ALMS system, babe. And that’s the genius of this merger. I convinced 19 Baumein associates to switch over for a promotion. And they haven’t resigned yet, which means they’re still approved to enter Excela.”
He wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t already know. But he was talking which she appreciated.
“Nineteen is a lot,” she sounded impressed, it was barely an act. Corporate allegiances in the valley were hard to change, it’d put your whole family at risk of death or worse, unemployment. “How’d you find so many?”
“It’s an exec family. Pardenzo or something like that. Everyone in the family from the grandfather down is upset because Baumein converted his grand-daughter to a tower-mind. Because of his status they haven’t had to resign and they’ve got access to take ALMS offline.”
And that was the identifying info she needed. Barely cost her any overtime work. “And without the alarms you can walk in without a problem? And I’ll get to see you for our next appointment?”
“You bet babe, and I’ll be much higher in the tower instead of this shit hole. Could start scheduling you every week with my raise.”
“Sounds wonderful,” she said in her most damsel-like voice. She kissed his chest, then rolled away from his arm and off the edge of the bed. It didn’t matter how much bigger than you they were if you were one step ahead of them.
“I still got a few more minutes,” Harv whined.
Sophia picked her galaxy blue silk gown up off the floor and wrapped it around her. Quick to get out of, and more importantly, quick to get into.
She pulled her hand terminal out of her pocket, the glass tablet showed the time was 12:33. She showed it to him; as if he needed the information.
“I can be quick,” Harv said with a grin.
“You can’t afford overtime yet, and you know none of my services are quick.”
Resigned he reached for the vape on his nightstand and took a drag.
“But call me if you get that new apartment.” She bent over to grab her purse that leaned against the foot of the bed. The loose neckline of the dress hung low.
It didn’t reveal anything Harv hadn’t already seen. But it held his attention nonetheless. Smoke, tinted by the red and green lights of the billboard, poured out of his mouth as his jaw hung open.
“At the very least get some new sheets,” she added with more sass than she’d normally use for Harv’s tastes.
She headed to the door swinging her hips. The hem of her dress fluttered around her thighs. The outfit didn’t hide much because she understood marketing as well as any conglomerate exec.

Sophia’s mouth was full. She tasted copper with hints of salt and umami that reminded her of the cheap algae soups she had when she was younger. But Sophia doubted the expensive ‘hanced fingers in her mouth, or the Baumein executive they were attached to, had ever been near a dish that cheap.
This client, Veronica, always enjoyed pushing the sensors of her numerous ‘hances to the limits. And Sophia was here to deliver that, along with some information. Veronica was paying handsomely for both. On an executive salary she could afford to, it was a corporate expense.
Veronica sat in a high back arm chair with wings that wrapped ever so slightly around her head. The arms were covered in thick padding that curled like a fresh cinnamon roll. They hung right in Sophia’s eye line.
Cinnamon rolls were one of her favorite breakfast treats. Especially when baked fresh with white frosting drizzled on top. That was something worth salivating over.
Sophia didn’t realized how much she was looking forward to breakfast. Her shift would be over in a few hours. She’d get home to sleep just after the hazy morning clouds evaporated out of the valley.
The chair was upholstered in smooth white leather. It was unlikely to be the real stuff, but you never knew with a Baumein employee. They loved aesthetics.
The room was a reflection of that. Lavish to the point of excess. It expressed Veronica’s status in the company, along with a few of her personal obsessions.
Abstract paintings hung on the wall. Some reminded Sophia of insects she’d find crawling around the cheap apartments of her youth. Others she was confident were merely splotches of black paint.
The paintings surround the four post bed. Each post of the bed was hand carved wood. She’d observed those up close before, might wind up in a similar position tonight.
The comforter of the bed was as white as the armchair. Sophia knew the sheets under it were smooth silk. Veronica always used red sheets. When the fluffy white comforter was pulled back the red sheets always reminded Sophia of her mother skinning a stray cat for dinner once as a kid.
Resting in fine silk wasn’t Sophia’s favorite, but she didn’t mind rolling around in the material for a bit.
Plus she knew a maid-bot had replaced them this morning. Veronica could summon the helpful bot with a command in her microfuser. One of the many programs the executive used the computer for.
The most expensive items in the room, even if you assumed the armchair was genuine leather, stood sentry in front of the bed. Three bionic bodies in rose gold, dark metallic purple, and silver chrome were lined up against the wall. They were the centerpiece of the room. Technical masterpieces that out classed hand carvings and fine paintings.
These torso-less shells were arms and legs attached to each other from armpit to hip with an interlocking metal sheet. The custom gap in the bodies fit Veronica’s torso perfectly.
Each body suited a different purpose. From corporate boardrooms to espionage Veronica had the ‘hance for any job. Presently the executive wore one with extra sensors imbedded in it. Perfectly suited to make the most out of an appointment with Sophia.
Veronica sat above Sophia, her head laid back in the arm chair, eyes closed. Her dark brass forearm rested on the armrest of the chair. The servos in her fingers were unengaged, easily pushed around with Sophia’s tongue. The sensors were still online, Veronica’s soft hums were evidence of that.
Lacy white lingerie covered the little remaining flesh of Veronica’s body. The white popped against her rich sepia brown skin. Veronica’s torso was organic and curvy. Sophia would think the woman was beautiful even without payment.
Veronica had a full chest, the kind Sophia imagined she’d wind up with when she was growing up. It wasn’t in the cards for her though. And Sophia, like everyone else from the bottom of the valley, got by with what little she had.

Each appendage of Veronica’s body was replaced with a ’hanced limb. Metalic legs with interlocking metal sheets on her bulky thighs reached up to her hip bone.
She wasn’t hastily amputated from the waist down like a manticore. Veronica’s procedure was done by a corporate doctor. She could afford the time and precision.
Time and precision that kept all necessary nerve ending intact allowing her to interface with the most advanced bionic sensors available. Which in turn made her well suited for the profitable corporate espionage that Baumein paid handsomely for.
Sophia knelt on the ground in the red silky underwear that Veronica had just given her. It fit snuggly, the client knew her measurements well. She’d get to keep it if it survived the night.
Her black hair was pulled back in a neat bun, a few curls hung like window curtains around her eyes framing it nicely, in Sophia’s opinion.
She’d taken an hour in a cheap hotel room after Harv’s to clean up. It took a while to brush the knots Harv had put in hair out. She then put no small amount of effort into her makeup which suited Veronica’s tastes. To a Baumein executive, appearances were everything.
Which was why Sophia knelt in front of the woman, posing in such a subservient role. The executive likely couldn’t see the power imbalance without it being played out overtly in front of her.
The client enjoyed acting out interrogations. With the right pay Sophia would give Harv’s information over easily. But for a few extra creds she was willing to cater to Veronica’s fantasies.
The servos in Veronica’s hand hummed to life. Her fingers brushed the hair out of Sophia’s eyes, twirled around her cheek and cupped her jaw. The palm of the metal hand felt cold on her chin.
“Where will your little Mandlestadt boyfriend be visiting tomorrow?” Veronica’s tone was measured and deeper than normal.
Sophia blinked nervously and shifted her eyes towards the ground unable to move her head. “Ankor tower,” she answered in a tone that could only be picked up by ‘hanced ears.
“Do not lie to me.” Veronica pulled Sophia’s jaw up to face her. “These hands are sensitive enough to feel any variations in your heartbeat. I’ll know if you lie to me again, and you won’t enjoy the consequences.”
Veronica’s cold fingertips squeezed Sophia’s cheeks causing her lips to pucker. The touch was firm but not painful. Both women knew the ‘hanced hands could do much more.
There were protections in place. Logs of where Sophia was, who she was with. In the old days sex worker unions would protect them. But those had dissolved ages ago along with the rest of the unions in Galleria Valley.
Now it was up to the individual to take care of their protection. Some workers got picofusers, small microfusers that didn’t blemish the face… as much. With those you could imbed small enhancements, a dentata, or silently request extraction in a pinch.
Sophia’s father never allowed her to get even those enhancements. He was a crotchety deep doc fully aware of all the complications ‘hances caused. He was happy to expose his customers, and himself, to the risks, but wouldn’t approve of his daughter doing the same. She still resented him for it.
But she’d made it her calling card, and couldn’t afford to loose business by getting ‘hances. High profile executives like Veronica didn’t consider marred skin on a partner desirable. Most executive spouses had no microfuser for this reason. Bare skin around the left eye announced your wealth. Unlike others in the valley you could afford to live without maximum productivity.
So Sophia turned to other means of protection. Ones that wouldn’t necessarily save her life, but were strong enough to make her comfortable taking on high profile clients. Mack, Sophia’s partner, ran a crew that could get into the highest offices and most private of penthouses. Mack had inherited it from Mr. Louise and the gang’s power terrified every employee short of board members.
Sophia trusted Veronica to follow the rules and limits outlined in their contract, as long as Sophia didn’t mess with the executive’s business. Unfortunately, tonight, Sophia needed to subtly push that limit. And if she wasn’t careful Veronica would catch her and the executive would push back harder.
“He’s going to Excela. Thirty minutes after first shift starts.” Sophia waivered her voice nervously. She hoped her heartbeat played along as well. It’d ruin Veronica’s immersion if it didn’t. The woman’s sense of touch was as crucial to her perception of the world as her eyes and ears.
Plus, Sophia needed to have control of her body for what was to come. For her own safety and the safety of others.
“How many?” Veronica’s question came out fast and fiery.
“Three platoons are scheduled for the initial appointment. A dozen more are approved to join once it’s clear the merger will go their way.”
Mergers like this would get minimal support until it was guaranteed the mission was a success. Otherwise the attacking conglomerate would be on the hook for damages to the offices and apartments and human lives. Expenses like that could bankrupt entire departments.
Everyone knew who ran the mergers. There were only two conglomerates in the valley since the War of Acquisition. But that didn’t mean it could be proven. And if it couldn’t be proven, reparations for damage couldn’t be collected.
Offices would recover. Both conglomerates had the funds to repair. It was simply the cost of doing business in the valley. As for families caught in the crossfire… Sophia knew from experience they’d never get back on their feet.
“You know they won’t make it long enough to use the backup,” Veronica said. Her voice was smokey and confident.

“Yes, ma’am. I know.”
Veronica’s lips twisted into a smile. Sophia made a play to move away. The woman’s metallic hands held her firmly in place. “You’re not going anywhere anytime soon,” she said.
Sophia’s empty stomach was disappointed by this fact. She should’ve ordered room service at the hotel. Would’ve cost extra but it would’ve been worth it.
She couldn’t be distracted now. There was work to do. Real work that’d benefit someone other than the valley’s conglomerate. Taking a deep breath Sophia did her best to focus.
“How do they plan to get past the ALMS system?” Veronica asked.
“They don’t know about it,” Sophia said. Her heart raced. She didn’t work to calm it down. She was permitted evident lies like this. It was part of the play. It also lulled Veronica into the security that she could pick up on Sophia’s lies. Causing her to trust the woman when her heart was still even if it wasn’t honest.
Weeks ago Mack had Sophia practice lying to an older model of the arms. In the back office of a low valley bar she lied to it to it until she was confident only the lies she wanted known would slip past.
She’d spent a decade controlling her expressions and emotions. She knew how to display only the emotions that customers wanted to see. That practice came in handy. But the sensors of the hands were delicate. Always able to spot her lies.
Until Sophia learned how to handle the appendage just right. Putting her back on familiar ground.
“Do you think I’m stupid?” The woman sounded genuinely miffed. Veronica pushed Sophia’s head away and she fell backwards. She fell to the ground landing on the thin padding of a rug.
In one swift movement Veronica lept out of the chair and dragging Sophia off the ground by her bun. Veronica sat back in her chair and laid Sophia face down over her knees.
“I told you that you wouldn’t like the consequences.” The woman’s left hand went to Sophia’s butt, mostly bare under the red lingerie.
Sophia was more concerned about the woman’s other hand. The cold metal ran up her spine, past the tattoo that crossed her back, and rest between her shoulder blades. Inches from her heart, the sensors could pick up the finest variations in her pulse.
“What are they doing to get past the ALMS system?” Veronica asked again. She lifted her hand off of Sophia’s butt, daring her to lie again.
“A Baumein exec family,” Sophia blurted out nervously. She barely had to act. “Pardenzo is the grandfather’s last name.”
Veronica paused. After a moment Sophia turned to look at the woman. The executive’s gaze was fixed across the room, the lights of her microfuser flashed under her eye.
“Baumein doesn’t employ anyone by that name,” she said. She had a twisted grin like a tomcat about to catch a mouse. “But you’re not lying. Or you’re very good at lying.” The executive looked down at Sophia and raised the unmarred eyebrow of her right eye, intrigued by the woman laying in front of her.
If Sophia didn’t have a dozen other things on her mind that look would’ve made her melt into the woman’s brass palms.
“Tell me more,” Veronica’s voice was calm, alluring, and inviting. She rested her hand on Sophia’s butt stroking the intricate tattoo that covered her left cheek. Trying to massage more details out of Sophia.
“The family is upset. Their daughter—granddaughter—was turned into a tower-mind. I don’t know more.”
“You sure?” Veronica’s metal hand separated from Sophia’s rear.
Sophia thought for a moment. Anything that would make her information legitimate and verifiable was necessary to get the pay. “There’s 19 of them. That’s all I know.”
Veronica paused. Sophia stared at the hardwood floor in front of her. Following the grain in the wood to keep her heartbeat steady.
“Pascuzzo,” Veronica said almost distracted. “Bellina Pascuzzo was hired as a tower-mind six months ago. Her grandfather formally petitioned but her scores were too high not to employ her.”
Sophia let out a sigh of relief and made it bigger than it needed to be. Veronica would appreciate her playing up her nerves.
“That’s good information. Clever girl.” Veronica stroked Sophia’s bum and back as if she was rewarding a well trained pet. “Anything else you need to get off your chest about the job?”
Sophia brought of the information that Mack wanted her to pass along to the front of her mind. Then pushed it back. The more authentic she hid the information the better it would play out for her. Hopefully.
“No,” Sophia made her voice tiny as she spoke.
Veronica landed a quick smack on her rear. Sophia let out a squeal. It’d startled her more than it hurt.
“I told you that you wouldn’t like the consequences,” Veronica said. “Now, tell me what else you know.”
“The Syndicate is going to use the merger as cover,” Sophia rushed the words out to make it sound like she was betraying Mack and their crew. “Hoping you’ll divert forces away from the weapons cache next-door at Potter tower.” Sophia breathed quickly. The cool metal hand on her back sent a shiver down her spine.
“They’re coming in with heavy arms,” Sophia added. She didn’t say it like a threat. She offered the information like whip-cream on a waffle, just a little extra treat. And that part was true. When Mack showed up they’d have the weapons necessary to get the job done.
“Potter tower doesn’t have a weapon’s cache,” Veronica said as if she was presenting basic metrics at a board meeting.
Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. Sophia didn’t know for sure. It was the line Mack told her to spill, so she did.
Sophia examined at the wood grain and wondered if it was real. Unlikely. Some luxuries were beyond even Veronica’s reach.
“Potter tower does have a weapon’s cache,” Veronica corrected herself. She wasn’t talking to Sophia. “A big cache. In such a small tower. What are they thinking?! We’ll never move it in time.”
Sophia quietly hummed with interest. The executive turned her attention to the woman in her lap. “Betraying your boss.” She made a tisk sound with her tongue. “But it’s not your fault. These hands can get a lot out of you.”
Sophia let out a small whimper of shame and wriggled in Veronica’s lap. She concealed the resentment at calling Mack her boss. No one ever understood their relationship, she doubted anyone ever would. It didn’t matter to the task at hand.
Veronica’s hand began to vibrate, massaging Sophia’s back. “Now, let’s see what else these hands can get out of you.”
Sophia pressed her back against the hand. She wanted the stress of a long day’s work out of her shoulders. But right now she had an appointment to finish.

Sophia buzzed into the penthouse with a pink box filled with a half dozen donuts balanced in her hand. She closed the door with her foot and placed the box on the counter. The great thing about working late was that it was easy to get the freshest donuts first thing in the morning.
“Mack, I’m back,” she shouted down the hallway and towards the master bedroom. Her voice echo off the hard granite surfaces. White rock with black swirls covered the counters.
The penthouse wasn’t as gaudy as Veronica’s place but it was far finer than most of the places Sophia visited or slept.
Metal walls were cheap in the valley because of the local mines. This penthouse was covered in them. A few were dented with bullet holes from the recent raid. Sophia had been threatening to get them repaired but Mack refused. They liked the damage for the same reason they liked leaving the scars from street fights on their skin. It reminded them to not get too comfortable in the valley.
Sophia eyed the navy blue barstools. Faux leather wrapped around a padded surface. She wanted to sit down and rest her legs. She didn’t think it’d be comfortable due to the rest of her appointment with Veronica.
“How’d it go?” Mack said coming out of the bedroom. They wore a tight black turtle neck with black canvas pants covered in countless pockets and loops. Two holsters hung on their belt, the cyan grips of their guns poked out the back.
Their short neon green hair was slicked back with soft gel so it’d slip under a helmet and stay out of their eyes. Black eye shadow covered their eyelids.
Mack was dressed for an important merger, just like half the valley this morning.
“Fine,” Sophia said with a shrug. She pulled a jelly filled donut out of the box and slid it across the counter to Mack.
Mack walked to Sophia instead and gave her a tight hug with a peck on the cheek. Sophia enjoyed being wrapped up in Mack’s soft arms and broad shoulders. The hug was warm and reassuring. She leaned her head on Mack’s shoulder for a moment of peace.
After awhile but not nearly long enough Mack let go and grabbed a chocolate glazed donut and fit half of it in their mouth with one bite. “Veronica knows about the weapon’s cache?” Mack’s words were muffled from the flakey donut, but Sophia understood them just fine.
“Yup. Potter tower. She was able to verify the info too. A very helpful touch that saved my ass.”
“Thank the gamer kid you found the other day, he’s the one who input the info.” Mack finished the donut with a couple bites then headed for the coat closet.
“She thinks you’re going after weapons there.”
“Good,” Mack said. “Execs always think we need more firepower. They’ll be too busy guarding that I can get the hydroponic equipment slipped out the back easy.”
“Mr. Louise trained them to think that way.” The former Syndicate boss couldn’t get enough. Couldn’t give back to the valley that raised him up. Couldn’t see Mack sneak up behind him so they could inherit the Syndicate.
“He was no better than the execs,” Mack grumbled. “But I’ll make the most of it,” Mack said with a smile.
“You always do.” Sophia took a few more bites of her donut finishing it off as Mack pulled a shotgun out of the back of the closet. “Good luck. And be safe,” she said.
Mack slung a bullet proof vest over one shoulder and pulled out a riot helmet from the top shelf. “If everything goes well I’ll be back by lunch.”
“If you’re going to be home that early don’t wake me up.” Sophia licked the icing and jam off her tattooed finger tips.
“No promises,” Mack said with a wink. They shrugged the bulletproof vest over their other shoulder.
Sophia rolled her eyes and headed to bed. This penthouse was high up in the valley and far from any of her clients. She didn’t have to worry about veiling her emotions here. She yawned unabashedly as Mack closed the door behind them.
She fell back into the plush bed, sheets unmade from Mack’s night in it. The pillows still smelled like their partner’s sandalwood shampoo.
It’d been a rough night for her. Most of the valley was about to have a rough morning. It was impossible not to get caught up in the rush of the valley.
Even if you didn’t want to be a part of it it’d still blow through your door or window. Cripple your mother and arrest your father for unlicensed medical procedures.
Sophia knew she had to get wrapped up in it. Mack knew it even better. So she partnered with the mob boss and made the best of it.
Today the Syndicate would get hydroponic equipment deeper into the valley. Hopefully into the hands of people who’d share the bounty, instead of sell its harvest with inflated margins.
People could barely work on algae stew and certainly didn’t have the energy to fight back with empty bellies and malnutritioned kids at home.
Sophia rolled onto her stomach, curled up with a pillow, and fell asleep, trying not to dream about mergers past. She tried to dream about the good this merger might bring.