Dictator s Daughter Read online

  The next day, Sara asked Sean to remove Eli’s IV as per Dr. Randall’s orders. His condition had stabilized now and his fluid intake pleased the doctor. Sean pulled a chair over to the right side of the bed and propped pillows behind Eli to help him sit up.

  Sean positioned a Band-Aid and cotton ball where they could be easily reached and he sat himself down and took Eli’s arm. He straightened it out and started pulling on the tape. Eli winced.

  “So how old are you Eli?” Sean attempted to get Eli’s mind off the pain.

  “I’m, um, not supposed to say,”

  “Oh, OK,” Sean pulled another strip of medical tape off of Eli’s arm. “No one will tell me anything about you. Where did you get all of these bruises from?”

  “I was beaten while in hiding.”

  “Who beat you?”

  “I…I can’t say.”

  Sean looked at Eli who promptly turned his head away. “You can’t say because you don’t know? Or because you know, but don’t want to say?”

  “Yes,” Eli said quietly.

  Sean stared at Eli for a moment and decided to let it go. Sean figured questions weren’t exactly the way to go at this point. “Well, generally, defectors are on the run from Victor Rawlings, so I’ll just guess you are also.” Sean pulled the rest of the tape off of Eli’s arm. Then he used a cotton ball to apply pressure as he pulled out the catheter.

  “That would be a safe guess.”

  “Alright,” Sean kidded in a sarcastic tone, “I guessed something right.”

  Eli didn’t say anything he only looked at Sean.

  Sean noted Eli had interesting light brown eyes with copper shimmers in the right light. His dark brown/black hair had a coffee bean color and was a bit on the bushy side. Sean could tell Eli wasn’t ready to talk about the ugly details of his life, so he approached from a different angle. “Do you play sports?” Sean stretched a band-aid over the cotton ball.

  “A little.”

  “What’s your favorite sport?” Sean gripped his large hand around Eli’s small forearm and held pressure on the band-aid.

  “Baseball.”

  “Mine too. I’ll get you better and we’ll get out of here and throw a ball around. Deal?”

  “OK.”

  “There, we’re all done with that. I’ll go see what we’re eating for lunch. Be right back.” Sean scooped up all the tape and tubing and threw it in the trash can on his way out the door.

  As Sean exited the room and closed the door, Eli let out a painful heave of air. For the first time in about a week, Eli was alone in the room. He had an intense need to scratch his chest but that would prove to be difficult. Eli wore an elaborate padding over his torso to aid in his disguise. His disguise was of the utmost importance. The longer Sean believed him to be a fifteen or sixteen year old boy, the better.

  The fake name of Eli was short for Eliwese and Eliwese really needed to scratch her chest. She had many wounds and injuries under her custom-made padding; the complex body suit which hid her breasts and shaped her torso like a boy. Luckily for her, she didn’t have much in the breast department to try to hide. However, she did have a slim, delicate waist and round hips. The padding filled in her curves nicely, making her a boy; making her Eli.

  Eliwese decided to get herself to the bathroom and try to itch herself. She used the cane placed by the side of the bed and hobbled to the door. Her left leg was still splinted but the right leg was strong enough to support her.

  She locked the bathroom door hoping Sean would be gone for more than a few minutes. After taking care of business she moved to the sink to wash her hands and examined herself in the mirror. Her face was still a mess. Her swollen eye had greatly reduced, almost back to normal thanks to Sean and his constant vigil of keeping an ice pack on it during the first few days. The blue and purple bruises had evolved to yellow and green giving her cheeks and neck a putrid color. What must Sean think?

  Sean. Wow! She thought about the first day she arrived when he entered the room. She’d stared into his dark, caring eyes and discovered a sense of goodness all the way to the bone. His unselfishness and devotion to her needs for the last week further confirmed her initial judgments. But there was more, Sean was an incredibly handsome man with his lean muscular shape and his dark hair and those eyes. His nearness was intoxicating and she could gaze at him all day long. Just thinking about him gave her goose bumps; and that was saying a lot after what she’d been through in her short life.

  She shook her head back and forth in an effort to shake the thoughts out. She had to focus. She had a purpose and would not stop until she completed it. But still, maybe once she had, perhaps she would come back here, to this house, to this family, and live the life she had always dreamed of.

  She rubbed her face hard with her hands and felt the aches of her bruises and winced at the self-inflicted pain. The movement of her arms made her ribs hurt too. Her itchy chest brought her mind back to reality and she carefully removed her zip-up sweatshirt and reached over to the left shoulder of the pad suit and uncovered the zipper. It started up at her collarbone and zipped down the front of her shoulder and then turned and followed under her arm and then down her side. The suit was complete with padded short sleeves to give the illusion of biceps. Once she had the padding opened up, she examined her body in the mirror.

  “They really did a number on me,” she said in an exhale of disgust. She had more bruises than unhurt skin. It repulsed her to look in the mirror. This was definitely the worst beating she had ever received and she was glad she’d been unconscious for most of it.

  She had an ace bandage stretched around her breasts to help flatten them out as much as possible and she knew better than to try to take it off. Her injuries and limited range of motion would make it impossible to wrap it back on. Instead, she used a comb and gently scratched at her itches through the bandage. She smiled at the thought of having to ask Sean to help wrap her breasts.

  Downstairs, Sean checked the kitchen for his mother but he couldn’t find her. He wandered through the house, but still couldn’t find her anywhere. So he went to the kitchen and fixed some food for Eli.

  Sean prided himself on being self-reliant and independent. He knew his way around the kitchen and he could make a mean beef stroganoff. There wasn’t any household duty that intimidated him. As he finished making an excellent turkey sandwich, he heard his mother and father coming up the stairs from the basement.

  “Well, I just don’t think this will work,” Sara said.

  “We have to try,” Paul replied.

  “Shouldn’t we tell him?”

  “No,” Paul said, “at least not yet.”

  Then they emerged from the stairway. They both looked at Sean with a static charged silence and a moment of awkwardness, and then Paul quickly changed the subject as they continued on through the dining room. Were they talking about him or Ryan? Sean’s curiosity tried to get the better of him, but he put a halt on it. If they didn’t want to tell him something, there was probably a good reason.

  He took the plate of food up to Eli and as he opened the bedroom door he saw Eli trying to walk out of the bathroom. He was using the cane to support his injured left leg, but was having difficulty because of his injured left hand.

  Sean hurried over to the table putting the plate down and rushed over to help. “Hey, you’re supposed to let me help you with walking.” Once he had helped Eli over to the bed, Sean handed him the plate of food. “There you are, Mr. Tough Guy.”

  “Thank you,” Eli said.

  “I made it myself, hope you like turkey,” Sean beamed proudly. He felt like a big brother helping out a grateful younger brother. Ryan had never been grateful toward Sean, ever.

  Lyndee came to his bedroom door holding the cordless phone, “Sean, its Chandra.”

  He thanked Lyndee and took the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Hi Sean, it’s been a week, I miss you.”

  Sean glanced over at Eli and quietly said into t
he phone, “I miss you too.”

  “What was the big emergency with your new crosser?”

  “Oh, it’s a young boy and he’d been severely beaten.”

  “That’s it?” she asked rather impatiently.

  “Really-badly-beaten,” Sean reiterated.

  “Can we get together yet?” She didn’t seem to be phased by Sean’s comment. Well, that was Chandra for you. If it didn’t directly concern her, she wasn’t all interested.

  “Well, I’ll have to talk to my mother about getting together,”

  “Why?”

  “Because she needs to be able to take my shift, I’ll call you later.”

  “I hope you realize how patient I’m being.”

  “You are very patient,” Sean reassured her.

  “And how lucky you are to have a patient fiancée?”

  “Yes, I am lucky to have you.”

  “Good. Maybe our engagement should be longer than three months.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because, what would normally take other people three months to plan, will end up taking us nine.”

  “I’m sorry, Chandra.”

  “You always say that but I don’t know you mean it.”

  “I really am sorry, Chandra. Look, I’ll go check with my mother and call you back.”

  “Fine, goodbye,” Chandra steamed and hung up the phone.

  Sean pulled the phone away from his ear and pressed the off button.

  “Who was that?”

  “My fiancée,” Sean said staring at the cordless in his hand.

  “Your fiancée? I didn’t know you were engaged.” Sean noticed Eli’s voice had a surprising ring to it.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “But you didn’t end your call with an ‘I love you’. Don’t engaged people say stuff like that?” Eli took a small bite of the sandwich Sean had given him.

  “Well, she hung up on me before I could say it,” Sean defended himself.

  “Your fiancée hung up on you?” Eli asked incredulously with a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.

  “Well, not exactly like that.”

  “I have always imagined when two people truly love each other, they would always say ‘I love you’ no matter what.”

  “Well, you don’t know Chandra like I do. I know she loves me, she just loses her patience now and again.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Finish your sandwich. I’ve got to go find my mother.” Sean left the room feeling a little frustrated. He and Eli’s first real conversation between each other had left him angry; angry at Chandra, angry at Eli, but most of all at himself.

  Without even meeting Chandra, Eliwese could tell what kind of person she was. The one-sided phone call exposed Chandra’s true self; selfish, manipulative, domineering and abrasive. She had him wrapped around her finger. Eliwese knew the type; that type of people, both male and female, had surrounded her all her life.

  What Eliwese hadn’t ever seen or experienced was someone like Sean; kind, compassionate, thoughtful, gentle, yet strong and dependable under dire circumstances. He had integrity, manners and a good heart; plus he was gorgeous! Eliwese thought to herself that this was the kind of man she had always dreamed of finding but, because of her father, would never get. She had resigned herself to merely dreaming of someone wonderful, convinced that such a man existed only in fairy tales.

  The most frustrating part was this amazing man was going to settle for Chandra when he could have so much more. Perhaps Chandra’s looks were off the charts pretty, Eliwese didn’t know, but beauty fades. Chandra would never appreciate Sean for his qualities. She seemed the type of girl who would always be unhappy with her man.

  If the opportunity presented itself, she would point out his fiancée’s bad qualities. Hopefully, she could plant some seeds of doubt in his mind about her. Eliwese wanted to make sure he didn’t end up with this spoiled controller; but, at the same time, she knew Sean was the one who had to make the decision in the end.

  Eliwese finished her delicious sandwich, savoring every bite simply because Sean made it himself. She sat on the edge of the bed planning her agenda in her mind. Her purpose for crossing was foremost in her mind and she would be successful no matter what. She had mentally prepared herself to do whatever was necessary to succeed.

  Failure wasn’t part of her vocabulary.

  She just needed to figure out a way to accomplish her goal without bringing harm to her mother or sister.

  Chapter 3

  Ten days had passed since Eli arrived, ten long days and nights without so much as a clue to his life in Rendier. His wounds were healing nicely and the swollen eye was nearly down to normal but the further Eli’s health progressed, the tighter his lips seemed to become. Getting him to talk about himself or his life was impossible and the frustration was growing within Sean.

  Chandra hadn’t let up about getting together and she would be joining him for dinner this evening. Sara didn’t want Sean being away from the house for too long, so going out for dinner was out of the question.

  Sean wasn’t looking forward to her visit for a couple of reasons. One, the mystery surrounding Eli had him unnerved; why weren’t there any news reports, warrants or even any private investigators searching for him? Two, Ryan was missing most of the day lately; where did he go and what was he doing? And three, Chandra exhausted him; her endless chatter about wedding choices and who to invite stressed him out. She constantly criticized how Sean’s parents had so much of a say in his daily life; but more than that, her self-absorbed attitude left no room for anyone else. She reminded Sean of Ryan with her ‘the world revolves around me’ mentality; hmmm, maybe they should be engaged.

  Dinner came and went without a hitch, well, without any major hitches. Ryan wasn’t present, and Sean noticed on more than one occasion his parents spoke in hushed voices about his absence.

  Lyndee looked positively radiant because she’d received a letter from her boyfriend, Brock. It had been several weeks since she’d heard from him personally. He lived in Densfield, a good fifteen hours away, with Grandma Elsie and Grandpa Zach Bronson. Brock had been a crosser in the Cutler home two years previous and he and Lyndee had fallen in love. However, the heat on his head hadn’t ever lessened and it wasn’t safe for Lyndee to marry him. Brock defected after Victor’s soldiers raided the insurgent underground; slaughtering any and all they could find. Brock, being their leader, was to be publicly executed the next day but was able to cross the border successfully with the help of a mysterious turncoat.

  Because of the sensitive nature of Brock’s past, the fact that most of Rendier viewed him as the next leader of their country once Rawlings was ousted and that Lyndee was in love with him led Grandma and Grandpa Bronson to the decision of volunteering their home to Brock for his protection.

  **********

  Sean helped clear the dishes from the dinner table and took them to the kitchen. As he put them in the sink, Ryan sauntered in the back door.

  “Where have you been?” Sean asked.

  “None of your business,” Ryan said rudely as he walked over to the leftover food on the counter and started picking at it.

  “You know, if you’d actually do your job around here, things would run smoother.”

  “Maybe I don’t want this job.”

  “This job is your life, like it or not.”

  “Maybe I want a different life,” Ryan said as he carelessly dripped some gravy down the front of his brown leather jacket.

  Sean looked at it and shook his head, “Right, like you’re going to find another job paying as much for the little amount of effort you’re used to giving.” Sean’s frustration level was about maxed; he was tired of watching his own father pick up the slack and do the duties of two people all because Ryan wouldn’t do his share.

  Ryan took the whole platter of leftovers to the small table and sat down, “Sean, haven’t you ever thought for yourself?”

  “What do you mean?
”

  “All our lives, we’ve been stuck doing what Mom and Dad want us to do. We haven’t even had a choice in the matter. We are expected to eat, drink and sleep crossers, all because it pays well. Well, I’m tired of it. Hell, I don’t want the crappy life. You and Lyndee are stuck here and can’t get out.”

  “I’m not stuck doing anything I don’t want to do. This is our family business. It’s been handed down,”

  “Oh don’t even start with that ‘proud to help crossers’ sanctimonious crap! You are a drone doing everything mommy and daddy tell you to do. Your personal life… Ha! You don’t have one. You fiancée won’t stick around; she’ll get tired of it, just like all your other girlfriends. Personally, I want a real life; one I am in charge of.”

  “Ryan, you seem to fail with everything you’re put in charge of. Without Mom and Dad to give you orders and direction, you’ll flounder out there in that great big world. And one more thing, don’t call me a drone. I choose this lifestyle; I like helping people.”

  “You don’t know what you really like or want; you mindlessly do what you’re told. You never question, you never disagree, and you don’t have your own mind. I don’t want to reach your age and realize I’m just like you.”

  It was hard for Sean to ignore the insults Ryan had dispensed, but he knew if he didn’t get off this topic soon, he would find himself in a fistfight with his brother.

  “So, what do you have in mind for a job?” Sean asked through gritted teeth.

  “Don’t know. I’m just looking at this point.”

  Sean let out a frustrated growl and threw his hands up, “Oh, that’s just like you, all talk but no action. You stir things up just for the sake of stirring. I’m outta here!” Sean pushed his way out of the kitchen, through the swinging door dumping him in the dining room.

  Beyond the dining room in the living room, Chandra sat on the couch opposite his mother. They were talking all sorts of nonsense to do with the wedding. Sean could tell by the way his mother was acting she wished for any reason to get out of this conversation, and then she saw Sean.