“I know who you are. Trevor’s second coit. Good luck matching up to the original.”
The hell?
Shireena retracted her hand but did not lose her smile or grace.
“I hope we have the opportunity to sit down and get to know each other while you’re here. Trevor loves you very much, and I love him.”
Trevor glanced at the head table. No one appeared to have heard the exchange.
One small victory.
“Sure,” Connor said. “I’m not much in the mood now. Thought I’d swing by. Make a short appearance.”
“Yeah.” Trevor intervened. “Connor’s had a long trip. I think the time difference might’ve left him out of sorts.”
“Understandable. I’m thrilled you’re with us, Connor.”
Trevor sensed something was off from the start. The Enzathi compounded his paranoia. Now a disgraceful insult. He scanned the room, set upon a quick strategy, and pulled Connor aside.
“I dunno what just happened, C, but you need to get your head right. Tell Ana you’ll see her again tomorrow and can’t wait to sit down for dinner with everyone else. Be gracious. Then meet me up front. Got it?”
Connor winked.
“On it, bruv.”
Trevor found his Chief of Staff at a table alone eating cake.
“Were you going to say hello, Andreas?”
“I debated, Governor. I came as you asked, but these affairs don’t sit well with me. I do enjoy this cake. Very light.”
“Good. Finish up. Then show my brother to my office. I’ll join him after the party.”
Andreas set eyes on the uniformed mountain of a man.
“Ah, yes. I passed him on my way in. I ... uh ... you want me to leave him alone in your office? Are you sure, sir?”
Trevor rolled his eyes.
“Unless you prefer to entertain him.”
“No, sir. Not my strong suit.”
“Good.” Connor approached. “He’ll keep himself occupied. Feel free to head home for the night.”
“Happily, sir. Thank you for the invitation. The band is very spirited! Oh, yes. I heard from the Portmaster. She sent me the data you wanted. The upcoming arrivals.”
“Save it for the morning. Here he is.”
Trevor explained the terms to Connor and finished with:
“You had a long trip. Clear your head, and we’ll start again.”
He watched Connor follow Andreas out the door.
What in ten hells was that? Not the brother I know.
Trevor returned to the table, a list of excuses and distractions teed up. Ana’s attention veered away as soon as Connor left. She studied her pom, tossing up holos and customizing her comm settings. He leaned over to Shireena to upend an awkward silence.
“He’ll apologize next time.”
“It’s OK, Trev. Really, it is. You always said Connor had no filter. It’s what makes you most alike.”
“He was an asshole.”
She kissed Trevor and studied him with those moonstone eyes.
“Others have said the same. She’s a tough act to follow.”
Trevor cursed himself for pretending the comparisons to his wife didn’t affect Shireena.
Soon, he thanked the remaining guests and helped Effie and Reginald tote Ana’s gifts back to her flat. Twenty minutes later, Trevor found Lt. Stallion quite at home in the Governor’s office.
Connor sauntered between the wall art, a smoke cloud trailing. The office smelled of pungent yet sweet tobacco.
“What do you think?” Trevor asked.
Connor did not take his eyes off a panorama of Episteme Spaceport.
