Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(44)

"Any idea where Desert Gall is?" I asked.

"I wish. I'd like to shove my foot up her ass."

"Me, too," Tanner and I said in unison.

Elaine nibbled on her bottom lip, dropped her gaze again. Her gloved fingertips traced Tanner's arm, and she watched the movements as though mesmerized. "Wh-what are you going to do with me?"

"We'll take care of your food requests and iPod as promised, that much I know," Tanner said and released her. "The rest, I'm sad to say, is up to our boss." A little whimper escaped her lips, but she didn't ask him to touch her again.

The cell I'd hooked to my waist started buzzing. I reached for it, saying, "For now, I'm going to have Tanner take you to - "

The rap on the window was harder than ever.

"To my house," I finished determinedly. Bringing her there was a risk, but I couldn't have her thrown back into some dank cell. I just couldn't. "You might have to go to lockup for a little while first, though.

And as Tanner said, we've got to talk to my boss, convince him of the wisdom of my plan." Hope had been blooming in her expression, but it quickly died. "Hey, don't worry about it." She laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. "I'm used to cells like the one here and we both know he's not going to allow me to leave."

I threw a glare over my shoulder, hopefully pinning Rome with my anger. "We are not like Vincent. We are not cruel. And if you were my daughter, I would never allow such a thing to be done to you." I knew the remark would hit its target. Because Sunny, Rome's daughter, could mist through walls, Rome feared PSI - or some other agency - would one day try to use her.

Tanner pushed to his feet and squeezed Elaine's shoulder. "When Belle puts her mind to something, it gets done. Don't worry."

Slowly a smile curled the corners of Elaine's lush pink mouth, and she angled her head up to him adoringly. "Thank you."

He returned her grin, even reached up and caressed a fingertip over her cheek. "My pl - " Immediately she lost her smile.

He did, too. His knees gave out and he crumpled to the ground in a motionless heap.

I spent the rest of the dayand night glued to Tanner's side, trying to hold myself together. Maybe Rome, Lexis and John met to discuss the Desert Gal/M-Squared case at lunch, maybe they didn't. I didn't particularly care. I had only one concern right now. Tanner. And I refused to leave him.

So far, he hadn't even twitched. At least he was now breathing on his own, which was a big improvement from a mere hour earlier.

Cody had called me a few times, but I'd been too focused on remaining calm to pick up. If my emotions overtook me, I'd have to leave. The room, the building. Because I couldn't risk hurting Tanner further.

"Gonna stay here another day?"

The question came from behind me. I didn't turn, even though a warm flutter started in my belly and spread to my heart. Rome. I hadn't allowed myself to think of him, hadn't allowed myself to wonder what he was doing and who he was doing it with while I'd been here. "However long it takes." Rome had come rushing into the room the moment Tanner had fallen. Without a word, he'd scooped him up and carried him to the medical wing of the building. If he hadn't been there, I would have broken down, would have floundered, lost, not knowing what to do.

Tanner and I might not be blood-related, but he was my brother in every way that counted. I needed him.

"Is he...okay?"

The question came from Lexis, soft, hesitant.

I straightened as if I'd been jolted with lightning, but still I didn't turn. Seeing Lexis pretend to care might unleash a fury so potent, so alive, the small tether I had on my control would be severed. "Get out of here. Now!" My fingers curled around the bedrail, knuckles leaching of color. "You have no right to come near him. No right to upset him again. "

Silence. Footsteps.

"She's gone," Rome said. "You shouldn't have chastised her, Belle. She's worried about Tanner, too.

And by the way, you look like hell. Even in that skirt."

Finally I turned. I couldn't help myself. He was indeed alone, leaning against the door frame the same way Tanner liked to do. Actually, Tanner had picked up the action from him. To emulate him, I think.

"You should probably leave, too. We'll fight, and that won't do anyone any good." He remained in place. His dark hair was in disarray, stress lines around his mouth. His lips were red and moist, as if he'd chewed on them. Or maybe they were still red from the blistering kiss I'd given him.

"Quite a few days we've had."

Fine. He wanted to stay, he could stay. But small talk? Not gonna happen. "Make yourself useful and go convince John to sign Elaine's custody over to me."

Expression hardening, he shook his head. "Not a chance. We've got her back in lockup and that's where she's going to stay. She took down an agent, Belle. You're just lucky we're gathering everything you promised her."

"It was an accident, Rome." I ran my tongue over my teeth and gave him my back again. I'd expected the refusal, just not that it would be delivered with such ironclad determination. "I want her out."

"Why? Were you lying and don't really care about the boy on that bed? You said he was your best friend and there he is, practically comatose. Don't you want to punish the one who put him there?"