Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(12)

"She'll survive, she'll even aid," was all Lexis said, though her tone was curt.

John nodded, satisfied. "Fine. She stays."

As happy as I was that John had just relented, I refused to be grateful to Lexis for her part in it.

"Have a seat, Miss Smith. Nothing you hear goes beyond this room. Understand?"

"Yeah, hello. I've seen this movie."

Such disrespect. She'd learn. As for John, I wasn't surprised he knew her name, even though I'd never introduced them before. John knew everything. Everything except why the love of my life no longer knew who I was.

"Wow. The inner sanctum. Never thought I'd be allowed here." Sherridan's shoulders were squared proudly as she scanned the spacious office, probably noting the expensive oak desk, the plaques on the walls and the massive bookshelves. "Hey, there's not a chair for me."

"You can sit in my lap," Tanner said. "You know you're always welcome there." I blinked in surprise. That had sounded like the old Tanner, the Tanner I knew and adored. Was he finally healing? Or was this an act for Lexis's benefit? Either way, I was proud of him.

Lexis stiffened. Cody frowned.

"Best seat in the house." Sherridan grinned and plopped herself on Tanner's lap. "Someone catch me up."

I did, and her expression of sympathy nearly undid me, thereby completely obliterating my claim to John that she calmed me down. Somehow, I maintained a neutral facade, my tears drying. I'll do whatever it takes to remind Rome of our love. This is just a minor setback.

"Here's the game plan," John said, taking over. "There are twelve victims of Pretty Boy and Desert Gal's cruelty currently in lockup. Divide them up, interview them and compare notes. And be careful.

The guy who hurt Rome may not be the only scrim found in those cages. It was wrong of us to assume they were all innocent. No telling who the bastard had in there."

"I'll interview Rome," I said firmly. He wasn't in lockup, but he was a victim of cruelty.

"I will interview Rome," Lexis countered, her determination clear.

Uh, what now?

"I will," she repeated. "He'd want me to, I know it."

Oh, no, no, no. Hell, no. She still loved him, the truth was there in her emerald eyes, and she hoped to win him back - which was the real reason she'd dumped Tanner, I realized.

Ho. Ly. Shit.

The truth slammed into me, and I sputtered for air. God, I was stupid. I should have seen this. I wasn't a psychic, but I damn well should have seen this. All along, she'd known this would happen. Not because she'd dreamed it; she hadn't. Despite her earlier assertion, she couldn't see the past. She only saw the future. She'd simply wanted to cover her tracks. She'd known this would happen and she hadn't warned me. She hadn't warned Rome. She'd let him walk into that warehouse completely unaware. Just to win him back.

That...that...There wasn't a name vile enough for what she was. How was that for love?

I opened my mouth to scream at her, maybe shoot a little fire.

"He remembers me," she said, cutting off any tirade I'd planned. Her chin lifted a notch. "He's more likely to tell me what he knows."

True. And the knowledge destroyed me. Well, more than I already was. "You're not going near him.

You knew this would happen, you bitch, and you did nothing to stop it."

"No," she said, violently shaking her head. "That's not true. John, you have to believe me." A muscle ticked below his eye, but he remained silent. He needed both of us, couldn't afford to anger either of us, so he was taking the coward's way out.

Not me. To help Lexis understand the depths of my determination to keep her away from Rome, I braced my legs apart and spread my fingers at my sides. Unleashing the hot tongues of my fury just then was not a problem. They swam in my blood and licked down my arms, catching fire at my fingernails.

My eyes narrowed on her, red spots forming. "Just try to keep me away from him and see what happens."

She was shaking a little, but she jumped to her feet in challenge. We faced off.

"Viper," Tanner said. A warning. "You're edging too close to total meltdown. Not that I mind your target, but still."

Lexis's expression hardened.

"Calm down, Belle," Cody said. "Please."

The "please" didn't faze me this time.

"Kick her ass!" Sherridan whooped. "Send her back to hell." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cody focus on my friend, who was looking anywhere but at him.

Why? Whatever was going on in her head, I'd find out later.

I blocked all of them from my mind, focusing on Lexis even though my next words were not for her.

"John. What's it going to be? I talk to Rome, and everyone walks out of this room alive. Or she does, and everyone says hello to third-degree burns."

"Or," Lexis gritted out, "Belle, who has worked for you for only a few months, goes to lockup, where she belongs for threatening us. I've been with you for years. I've proved myself and my capabilities over and over again, and I've never questioned your leadership. More than that, Rome now responds to me.

Me. "

One more word, and she would be eating fire. I wasn't even going to try to control myself. Even now, steam curled from my mouth, wafting toward the ceiling.