Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(84)

I hated that I'd hurt him. With all the crap he'd endured throughout his life, I didn't want to be the cause of more. I just wanted what was rightfully mine.

I don't know how it had happened, but Jean-Luc had done the impossible. I'd despised him, but he'd made me like him. I was coming to realize that while the memories he had of me were not his, he truly was sincere in his affection. It was not faked, as I'd assumed. With or without them, he wanted the best for me.

Rome pressed his back into the white wall, his arms across his massive chest. He glared over at me.

"Who is he, anyway? A recruit of John's?"

"Uh, not exactly." I sat on the edge of the bed and stuffed my hands into my pockets. My clothes were damp from the most recent ice bath. My hair hung in tangles and the black dye was dripping down my face and shoulders. I probably looked like I'd been beaten up, dragged through a gutter and left out to dry. "Listen, he knows Desert Roach. He told me she'll have a breakdown if we destroy her pride. And like you taught me, when an enemy has a breakdown, they start making mistakes. They're easier to pick off."

A moment passed as Rome thought that over, his head tilting to the side. Then he grabbed his phone, pressed a series of buttons and faced me again.

"What'd you just do?" I asked.

"Texted John to hunt down her bank so we can freeze some of her accounts. Should have done that already, but..." He shrugged. "He may be able to do it, he may not. Depends on her connections, and where her money's located."

"How does that destroy her pride?"

"Without funds, she can't pay her associates. Not only would that embarrass her, if she truly cares about that kind of thing, but it will keep scrims from coming after you for that one mill you told me about."

"Oh." Why hadn't I thought of that?

"Now, no more stalling. Tell me about Jean-Luc. Yeah, you finally gave me his name on the way here, but I want more."

Now or never, I supposed. I braced myself for a major freak-out, fingers clutching the edge of the mattress. "Well, you kinda sorta just met - " my shoulders hunched, as though trying to protect my vital organs " - Memory Man."

Rome's mouth dropped open, and I suspected he'd been rendered speechless. For a long while, he just stared over at me in astonishment. Finally, a stunned "Let me get this straight" emerged from him.

Oh, no. He was using the voice. The one that proclaimed trouble was on the way.

"You trusted a known enemy, someone who helped destroy my life and yours, to save my life. More than that, you trusted a known enemy, someone who helped destroy your life, with your goddamn life. " I gave a weak nod. "Yes, that about sums it up." As I spoke, my cell phone vibrated in my pocket.

Rome took a step toward me, but I held up one finger as I moved the phone to my ear. "Hang on a sec.

This could be important."

His eyes bugged. To my surprise, though, he did stop in his tracks.

"This is Belle."

"Hey, Viper."

"Tanner?" My lips curled into a wide smile, and my gaze met Rome's. He was still frowning, more fiercely than before, so I turned my back on him.

"The one and only. How are you?"

"Don't tell him where we are," Rome said, clearly still pissed.

I ignored him, gasping in excitement. Tanner sounded normal, as if he'd never been hurt, never scared ten years off my life. "Who cares about me? Oh my God. How are you? I hated leaving you, I hope you know that, but I - "

"Stop. You did the right thing. Besides, guilt isn't a pretty emotion on you."

"Have I told you recently that I love you? So really, how are you? When'd you wake up? Tell me everything." I could feel Rome's gaze boring into me, probing deep. Imagining strangling me? "No matter how long it takes."

A growl escaped Rome.

"I woke up yesterday, and I've grown stronger by the minute," Tanner said. "Word is Sherridan and Lexis have been taken by Desert Slut, and that Rome found where she's hiding them."

"What? He knows?" I whipped around, glaring. "You know where the girls are?"

"Not me," Tanner said as Rome nodded. Without guilt, the jerk.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded.

"I just did," Tanner said, confused.

"Not you," I told him. "Are they okay?" I asked Rome.

He shrugged, his expression growing weary. "Sherridan's been experimented on. She's not doing so well. Lexis is locked inside a cage. She's been pushed around a little because she refuses to answer their questions."

My stomach cramped painfully. No. No, no, no. I stood. "We've got to get them. Like, now." Rome shook his head as Tanner said, "John doesn't want you to go after Desert Skank until I get there."

"Why?"

"Hello. So you don't destroy the world. Look, pick me up at PSI's private little airstrip in the morning.

And don't tell me where you are now," he said, echoing Rome's earlier words. "John doesn't want anyone to know. Just in case. Once we're together, we'll go kick some Desert Bitch ass." Desert Bitch, the elusive enemy. So far, I'd still had no real contact with her, yet she'd managed to wreak havoc on my life. My friends' lives. It was time to take her down! "I'm controlling my powers." Kind of. "I can do this. I know I can. Just tell me where they are, and I'll go get them now." Waiting might kill me.