Razor: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance(24)

“They won’t make an example of you,” I said determinedly. “I’ll make sure of it, if it’s the last thing I do.”

Mason tossed me a wry smile from beneath his hood. “You kill me, Carly, all determined and shit. But don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

We reached the library steps a minute later and Mason pulled me aside at the entrance for a last warning.

“Remember,” he said, his deep voice low and ominous sounding, “don’t talk to anyone. I need you on the lookout. Come get me if you see anything suspicious.”

“Can you please stop that? You’re making me nervous as hell. I wouldn’t even know what looked ‘suspicious’ anyway.”

Mason was being more uptight than I was. But I suppose he had a right to be. He knew more of what we were dealing with than I did.

He gave me a look and walked over and opened the library door, motioning for me to enter first. “Seriously. Remember what I said. Anonymous has eyes everywhere.”

It was a chore to not roll my eyes as I walked inside. I knew these so-called hackers were a powerful group, but Mason made it seem like they wielded power that you would see in one of those fake action movies, where they tap into security cameras everywhere and can see everything.

It was hush in the library with groups of students sitting at tables, huddled in study groups. It was a familiar sight for me, as the library had been like a second home when I was slaving away for my degree.

Mason made a beeline, following the signs to the computer room, which was near the back of the library.

“Keep watch for anything unusual. Trust no one,” Mason warned, glancing around the library as we reached the entrance to the room. With a doorless entry and glass for walls, you could see right in. There were several students inside, two girls and one guy engrossed with pecking away at their keyboards. “I’ll try to be fast as possible. Twenty minutes at most.”

Giving me one last warning look, Mason entered the room and sat down at a computer that was furthest from the other students and then began typing.

His fingers flew so fast across the keyboard that they were just one big blur.

“Okay,” I muttered to no one in particular. “I’ll go sit and watch for the boogeyman.” Looking around, I doubted we had anything to worry about here. But when we left, that might be another story.

I walked over to a row of shelves where I could pretend to browse books, but still keep my eye on the library and Mason.

Drifting from isle to isle, I wound up in the non-fiction women’s health section. I picked up a book about the dangers of unplanned pregnancy, fortunately something I never had to worry much about.

I’d become engrossed in a section that detailed a girl’s harrowing experience of having to choose between having her baby or losing her career when her deadbeat boyfriend left her with no support, when a deep voice startled me.

“Interesting, isn’t it?”

I looked up into frosty, blonde hair, hazel eyes and an easygoing smile. Dressed casually in white khakis and a preppy shirt, the stranger was tall and handsome with straight pearly whites.

Instead of responding, I glanced over at the computer room, uncertain. Mason warned me not to talk to anyone, but looking at the guy in front of me, he seemed harmless.

He’s obviously a student here, I thought, noticing how he seemed to just blend in with the surroundings.

For a moment, I debated walking off and leaving the guy hanging, but then I thought about how rude it would seem. Besides, it would only invite suspicion and maybe make a scene.

There’s nothing wrong with engaging in a little small talk, I thought. It’s not like I’m going to start spouting off on how I’m on a secret mission to help my stepbrother expose the scumbag mayor for the murderer he really is. Besides, he’s kind of cute.

I flashed him a friendly smile. “Yeah, it is.”

He gave me a look, looking my figure up and down. “You pregnant or somethin’?”

What the hell? Do I look pregnant?

I froze for a moment, shocked at such a direct question, and then laughed. “No, I’m not.”

His grin was easygoing. “Didn’t think so.”

“So a girl can’t pick up a women’s health book without being pregnant?” I asked. “I can’t just educate myself?”

“Sure they can,” the guy replied, “but when they’re as beautiful as you, well, you can’t help but think some lucky sap has . . .” he grinned as his voice trailed off and he surveyed my body.

I didn’t even respond. Was that supposed to be a pickup line?

“So did you find what you needed?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m just, uh, looking out for a friend.”

“Oh really? Sounds like your friend has a lot of work ahead of them.”

I glanced over at the computer room and then down at my cell. Seventeen minutes had passed — just about the time that Mason said he would be finished. I needed to start drifting over that way so we could leave as soon as he was done.

“Listen, um . . .” I began.

“Aubrey,” blondie supplied.

“Aubrey. It was nice meeting you and all, but I’ve got to go.” I turned to leave.

“Wait,” Aubrey said sharply.

I raised a curious eyebrow. His voice had a note of a command in it.