Renee’s shoulders slumped. “That costs more than you have in your
account.” She rubbed a hand over her brow. “Do you think it counts if I kill
the POI myself?”
That was
a lot
of money, considering I owned the entire
town of Oppidum. “Kinda against the protection ethos.”
I tried my best not to laugh. The pair were so drunk they couldn’t
stand. So drunk that they didn’t notice all the bumps and bruises they’d
sustained during their . . . activities. They didn’t even notice us. “If it
counts, they’re gonna be feeling it when they sober up.”
“Roberta, are you . . . ?”
Again, there was Professor Owens. What, was she a puppy dog? Did
she need to follow Renee everywhere? Renee turned, and smiled. “As you can see,
they are fine. I’m fine.”
Fine and cranky as anything.
Owens looked past her to the statue as Renee thumbed at it. “On
the other hand,
that
may take some fixing.”
“You
can
fix it?” I asked. I didn’t know what Jed had used
but it looked permanent.
“The perks of having a brain, Riley,” Owens shot at me. “You
should try it sometime.”
“Want to find out how well it works when I—?”
“Samson!” Renee elbowed me in the side. Her shrill warning cut
through the lovebirds’ haze and Miranda belatedly covered herself up.
I grabbed Jed by the scruff as he darted toward me. He couldn’t
stand straight let alone sprint. “I got an idiot to sober up. Control that
mouth of yours.” I scowled my best scary scowl at Owens. “Wouldn’t look so
pretty without teeth now, would you?”
The inmates back in Serenity would have heckled me for that
pathetic line but I’d never been much for cat fights. Owens got me riled and I
didn’t know why.
I must have sounded more threatening than I thought though ’cause
she stepped aside, shielding Renee from scary ol’ me as I hauled Jed out the
door.
I didn’t miss the dumbstruck expression on Renee’s face. If her
mouth had hung open any more she could have caught flies.
Yeah, I could be badass—I winced as another wave of nausea washed
over me—sort of.
Chapter 19
RENEE HAD SPENT much of the evening attempting to sober up her
best pupil, which had sent her mood further south. As she sat on the seat beside
a snoring Miranda’s bed, she was tempted by the hope that the girl would suffer
a bit in the morning. At least then she might not be so stupid ever again.
Renee ignored the voice that reminded her she’d been in the same
state not long ago. Aeron had been there for her. She was always there.
Renee sat there, in semi-darkness, as light from the hall seeped
under the door. All she could do was think. Her mind kept replaying Aeron’s
obvious dislike of Owens. She knew why Owens had issues with Aeron. She was
meant to be a hardened criminal.
Owens was a typical alpha-female charmer. Renee had doubted she’d
ever been told “no.”
It made her chuckle, the very un-Aeron cattiness. Granted some of
it was for show. She was doing a remarkable job in her first undercover post.
For some reason, Renee could
feel
an undercurrent. There was something
else going on behind those deep beautiful eyes.
Aeron had reacted that way to someone before. In St. Jude’s, with
Brad Jewel, and he’d been attempting to seduce Renee.
It was the same aggressive attitude, same body language, and same
pointed show of physical prowess. If it had been anyone else, she would have
called it proprietary, she would say Aeron was jealous . . .
Renee shook her head at the empty room. Aeron didn’t get jealous.
She didn’t dislike people or get catty. No, that would make her . . . well . .
. not Aeron.
Renee sighed and stretched out her neck. Aeron Lorelei confused
her at times. She was stubborn, difficult, and oh so utterly adorable.
Renee hung her head. Why couldn’t she just stop feeling this way?
Hope wriggled in and whispered that maybe Aeron had sensed that
Owens was making a beeline for her and wanted to show Renee she wasn’t happy
with that. Logic told her not to be so stupid. If Aeron felt anything of the
sort, she would just come out and say it.
Aeron didn’t do games.
Owens was different. There was something about that easy smile and
charming manner that made Renee uncomfortable. On the surface all was as it
should be. Owens had been diligent, interested in her students if not strict.
She could just
feel
something wasn’t right.
Renee rolled her eyes and got to her feet. It would be wise not to
get drunk anytime soon . . . or ever. It was bad enough she’d seen Nan, twice.
Things were getting weirder every day. She had no reason to be worried when
Miranda wasn’t in class. Sometimes she would practice alone on the top floor
and forget the time. Yet, she
knew
.
Maybe she needed to see if Nan was around. If
it was a delusion maybe it could tell her what she needed to be committed for.
“Roberta?”
Renee stared up at the ceiling for a moment, wondering if someone
up there was enjoying making her life difficult.
“Yes, Nikki?” She plastered on a smile and turned to the door and
Owens’s annoying clear blue eyes.
“I’ve fixed the redecoration effort.” Her smile was smooth. “Just
came to check on our star pupil.”
Renee sighed. “Well, there’s nothing left in her stomach, that’s a
definite.” Miranda murmured in her sleep. “I hope she plays well with a
hangover.”
Owens leaned against the doorjamb. Her hands tucked in her jeans
so her thumbs poked out. Manicured nails, short. “The principal will spit venom
if she doesn’t.”
Renee nodded. “Good thing they drank themselves into too much of a
stupor or I’d be worried about the long term implications.”
Owens raised her dark eyebrows. Her tanned skin had the smoothness
of a model’s. In fact, Renee wondered just why she
wasn’t
a model. Most
people would buy any product that she was selling. And now she was staring.
Wonderful.
“She should be fine now.” Renee cleared her throat, ignoring the
amused look on Owens’s face. “Thanks for the help.”
“Roberta?”
There was something about the tone that set alarm bells ringing.
She felt a soft hand on her arm and slammed her eyes shut.
“Yes?” Squeaky at best.
“Are you . . . okay?”
Renee opened her eyes. She hadn’t been expecting the concern or
the real genuine warmth in Owens’s voice. “Excuse me?”
“Riley,” she said, eyes clear and open but Renee’s instincts still
didn’t believe it was genuine. “It’s got to be hard with your sister. I just .
. .” She sighed and ran her free hand over her short hair. She hadn’t let go of
Renee’s arm. “I put two and two together.”
And made five.
Renee swallowed the truth and the pinball machine of emotion
thundering through her. Weird emotions, which were filled with too much energy,
considering she was exhausted. “Serena and I didn’t get along. Riley had nothing
to do with it.”
“She’s missing. You said . . . it’s no coincidence that Riley has
showed up here, right?” Owens was too nosey for her own good. Far too
inquisitive for a teacher. Renee’s defenses kicked in.
“If Samson
is
Riley, if she had an issue with my sister, it
has nothing to do with me.” It sounded cold but she hoped it would make Owens
back off.
The words “honey trap” flashed before her eyes. She could work
with that.
“No?” Owens still hadn’t let go of her arm.
“No.” Renee removed her arm as not to spurn but not encourage
either. She would need to keep Owens on side. “After my ex-husband, she’s
nothing.”
Owens’s lips twitched in a smile. She wore clear gloss that caught
the yellow light from the hall. “Right, because he was a criminal?”
Renee clamped her mouth shut. She hated anyone thinking that Aeron
was anything of the sort. She was a hero, a beautiful, wonderful hero. “Far
worse. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“So liking scum runs in the family?” Owens cocked her head. “Maybe
there’s a better way?”
Renee had no intention of finding out what that meant. “If you
find me a good
man
, send him in my direction, won’t you?”
She strode past Owens, not missing the amusement dancing across
those glossy lips. Owens could see right through the act, Renee could tell that
much.
Before Aeron, she could have pulled it off. She had blended into
whoever she needed to be. Loving Aeron had done something to her. She couldn’t
not
be herself. The more her little Missourian was around, the more she was Renee
Black.
Not helpful.
Aeron liked Renee, she drew her out with a smile or, like now,
even the thought of her.
Renee wandered back to her villa. Her emotions were soaring and
plummeting at random. Now she wanted to burst into tears and curl up in bed.
Not only had she gone and fallen in love with someone who was
clueless about it but loving her had compromised Renee’s strongest trait.
Being in love had erased every skill she had undercover.
It sucked and it was mean.
She picked up a pillow from her sofa and punched it.
Really freaking mean.
Chapter 20
JED, MY DEAR little Casanova, had chucked his
guts up for Texas most of the night. I didn’t know how much he’d drank but by
the morning I was ready to clonk him over the head with the bottle.
Thankfully, Frei had come to my rescue and fed him a hangover
cure. It had made him a lot less green. She’d found him amusing as he whined
about his headache but my humor seemed to have deserted me.
Go figure.
She’d advised that I confine him to bed for the day and had told
me what to say to Harrison in order for us to get away with it.
By lunchtime, I couldn’t keep my eyes open without effort. My
group carried on with their fitness regime while I sat at my desk staring into
nothing.
“Riley, we need to talk.” The sound of Owens’ voice was unwelcome
and my grumpy mood would achieve nothing good.
“Get lost.” I couldn’t be bothered to raise my head off my fist.
It was too much hard work.
“Let me make this clear,” she snapped, slapping a paper down on
the desk. “I know who you are.”
Same old headline declaring “The Face of a Killer.” I wondered if
the vulture who wrote it had royalties or something. It sure seemed to follow
me around wherever I went. It didn’t matter that it was the doctored version,
that the name said Alex Riley not my real one, it still irritated me.
“You want me to sign it?” I threw it to the floor and glared at
her.
Owens flinched. I must have looked how I felt. “Did you kill her?”
Who was she on about?
Wait. Who? Oh no.
My heart pounded into a speedy rhythm.
“Worthington?” I got to my feet, getting woozy. “Where is she,
what’s happened to her . . . ?” Stars popped before my eyes and I gripped onto
my desk.
Owens stood there, staring at me. I closed my eyes, trying to fend
off passing out and to cover the fact I’d just slipped up, big style. I was a
vicious criminal. Why would I care about anybody? The wooziness got worse.
“Roberta is fine,” Owens said in a cautious tone. “I meant Serena,
her sister.”
Uh oh.
How did I get out of this? Renee had always told me that a
convincing cover meant keeping it close to the truth, with a twist. I could do
that. The truth with a twist.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shoved my hands in my
pockets.
Owens narrowed her eyes. “You
didn’t
kill her?”
“
Why
would I do that?” My heart sped up until my knees
wobbled. I took a deep breath. “Miroslav, sit down already!”
I rubbed my clammy hand over my face. So I couldn’t feel as much
but feeling something wasn’t fair. I was meant to be burden-free.
“Wait,” Owens said, drawing me from my panicked plotting. “You
sound like you
care
.”
“Whatever.” I didn’t know where she was headed but I was confused.
Confusion and exhaustion were not a good mix for me.
She narrowed her eyes. “Explains it.”
It did?
“Does Roberta know?”
I was way past confused. Know what? This was why bumbling dimwits
like me were never sent undercover.
“What do you think?” I hoped my best shrink-like answer would
conceal how lost I was.
I needed Renee, or Frei, or maybe a life raft.
“Take it the ex-husband is back.” She folded her arms like we were
having a team talk.
Renee’s cover was in place, sure, but I had no details. I wasn’t
even supposed to know her.
“Ask her.” I was too tired for this. I spotted my escape route in
Harrison storming toward my office. “I got work to do.”
Owens followed my gaze and her eyes narrowed as they fell on
Harrison.
“Good luck with her.” She tapped her nose. “Thanks for the heads
up.”
What heads up? Oh man, Renee was gonna kick
my butt. “Sure.”
Owens offered Harrison a tight smile as they crossed in the
doorway. Harrison didn’t afford her the same.
“Jed.” One word that said it all.
Here went nothing. “He’s sick.”
She put her hands on her hips.
“Sick?” she snapped. “He smells a bit funny for someone who’s
sick.”
I shrugged. “The kid thought he was tough. If he’s gonna walk the
walk . . .” Because
I
drank? Let’s hope I never had to back that one up.
“So you got him inebriated?”
“Yeah,” I muttered. Although I got the urge to cower under her
scrutiny, I stood up straighter. “He’s sniffing around your prize jewel. Do you
want her swayed by his pathetic bad boy routine?”
“Miranda?” Harrison’s eyes lost their edge and widened.
“No, Miss Texas.”
Harrison glanced out of the window. “He hasn’t . . .”
I did not ever want to know or think about it. “Thanks to
Professor Worthington and me, don’t think so.”
I would have been caught on camera heading into the block with
Renee, so it was better I keep it simple. Truth with a twist.
“Professor Owens was just delivering an update. Miranda’s fine and
they’ll be keeping her extra busy.” I smiled my best arrogant smile. “Not like
they realize her worth.”
Harrison tapped her long nail to her thin lips. “It’s better we
just get rid of him—”
“No.” I fixed her with my best stare. Idiot or not, Jed was not
going missing. “He’s got potential. He won’t go near her again.”
Harrison shook her head. “She’s too valuable to risk.”
“Jed will stay away or I’ll deal with him.” I gave my best “I’m a
scary criminal” face. “He’s worth a lot of money to me.”
It sounded cold and creeped me out. Harrison responded with a
wince. “Very well. If you’re sure.”
“Oh I’m sure. Runt will be too tired to move.”
Harrison glanced around the room as if searching for a gun or
knife.
I hardened my gaze as much as I could. “Wouldn’t go looking for
things you don’t want to find.”
That sent her scurrying.
I would have laughed if I didn’t want to stand in a shower and
disinfect myself for just saying it. I slumped down into my chair—I’d had to.
The students needed me to.
Jed, Miroslav, and the others, they all needed me to keep it
together and keep it convincing. It wasn’t helping much. It was so exhausting
being mean. So much effort went into pretending to be somebody I wasn’t. It
felt like such a waste of precious energy just maintaining the illusion.
Looking on the sunny side, I, at least, wasn’t mean for real. I
could be grumpy, sure, but I didn’t want to hurt nobody.
Well, unless you counted pickle juice, which I didn’t.
That thought made me smile. I kinda liked being me. I liked not
holding onto all the negative stuff that hurt. It had taken me a long time to
let go of it, a long time to accept that I was okay with being in my own skin.
It felt good to acknowledge that. As much as I’d messed up in the
past, I couldn’t change that. I was a better person for what I’d gone through.
I was a happy person, happy just to be. I had been locked in my shell once, and
there was no way I was ever going back.