“You eat my pizza, and I’ll get revenge.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I solemnly assured him. “Mostly because you always have those nasty bell pepper things on yours.”
“Kyle muttered something about getting all cheese to keep it simple.”
“Kyle is a very wise man.”
He snorted. “Is that what you call it?” His eyes closed, but the skin around them remained tight with discomfort.
“I’m sure there are other words.”
Philip mumbled something in response. I stretched out on the bed with a couple of feet between us, closed my eyes and tried to shut out the gnawing worry about Kyle and Jane and Philip and everything else.
At some point I must have succeeded, because the sound of the front door woke me from a doze. A few seconds later I heard Kyle say, “Food.”
Rubbing my eyes, I got up and went out to the main room to see Kyle setting two large pizza boxes on the table. Naomi wasn’t there, but the bathroom door was closed, and I heard the shower running.
“Hey. Cool. Thanks,” I said.
He gave me a small smile. “Anytime. No bell peppers, right?”
“Yeah, nasty stuff,” I said, surprised and pleased that he remembered my dislike of them. Or . . . maybe it was all part of the insider game. Know your players.
Really, Angel? I did a mental eye roll at my overactive paranoia. Why on earth would the fact that bell peppers make me gag be important info?
He flipped open one of the boxes to reveal pineapple and onion on one side and pepperoni and bell peppers on the other. “Half cheese and half ham and mushrooms on the other,” he told me. “Brain packets in the fridge.”
“You’re awesome,” I said fervently and shoved aside the nagging doubt about him. At least for the moment. I grabbed a plate and got a peppered slice, squeezed brains onto it and brought it into the bedroom. “Hey, ZeeBee,” I said, nudging the bed a bit. “Food’s here. You need to eat.”
He groaned softly, and I realized he hadn’t been asleep. “I’ll get it in a sec.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Dude, if you don’t eat a couple of bites right now, I’ll chew it up and spit it into your mouth which would be beyond gross for both of us since there are bell peppers on that slice.”
His eyes opened, and he slowly pushed himself up to sit. “The only reason I’m doing this is because I believe you’d try it.” He pulled the plate close and picked up the slice.
“You know me too well.”
“Craaaaaazy,” he said, then wisely took a bite.
“It’s been working for me so far.” I watched him to make sure he ate a few more bites, then gave an approving nod. “All right, eat what you can and then nap.”
“You sure are bossy for a runt,” he grumbled, but he kept eating.
“You sure are perceptive for a grunt,” I replied sweetly.
“If I wasn’t so damn nice I’d make you eat those words,” he said, then popped the last bite of the slice in his mouth, wiped his fingers and carefully reclined again. “You’re lucky.”
“Sure am,” I said, smiling to hide my worry. The lines of pain in his face hadn’t faded one bit. I gently patted his cheek, then turned out the light, left the room, and closed the door quietly behind me.
Kyle stood by the window, looking out at the city lights. Naomi, wrapped in a hotel bathrobe, sat at the table, eating a slice of pineapple-onion, without brains, I assumed. I got a slice and squeezed brains onto it, then chowed down in silence. I really wanted to ask about the whole Saberton thing, but even more, I really wanted to talk to Philip about it first. Naomi was already on edge with the Andrew stuff, and she was prickly enough to jump down my throat if I happened to suggest or even imply that her boyfriend might be the insider.
Kyle turned and reached for his jacket. “I’m going to head down to Saberton Tower and see what the security looks like.”
Shit. Too late to get Philip’s take on this, but I didn’t like the thought of Kyle and Saberton going out on a date tonight without a chaperone. I stuffed the last bite of pizza into my mouth. “I’ll go with you!”
Naomi gave me a What the hell? look, but Kyle simply shrugged and shook his head.
“No need,” he said as he tugged his jacket on. “It’ll be more conspicuous with two.”
Damn it, this little recon expedition sure would be a convenient way for an insider to pass information along to Saberton. I struggled to think of a plausible excuse for why I should go with him, but totally failed to come up with a single damn thing.
I forced a laugh. “I’m that noticeable?”
“Not you,” he said as he checked placement of hidden weapons. “Two people.”
Double damn. I really didn’t want to wake Philip unless it was an emergency, but I didn’t seem to have a choice. I carefully kept my scowl hidden and reached for another slice.
Kyle started for the door, then glanced back. “You could hang on the next street over, but I wouldn’t want to leave you on your own.”
I dropped the slice back into the box. “I can handle myself well enough for hanging out,” I replied quickly.
He dipped his head in a slight nod. “Get your coat.”
“Angel, what are you doing?” Naomi regarded me, brows drawn together. “There’s no point in you tagging along.”
“I want to go,” I said with a shrug. “What difference does it make?”
Her mouth thinned. “It forces Kyle to keep you in mind in any tactical plan, and he doesn’t need you there.”
An unspoken You’d be dead weight hung in the air like a flashing neon sign. My throat tightened, and for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with suspicion of Kyle. This wasn’t her defending him. She simply had zero faith in me. And why should she? So far I was barely managing to keep up with the others.
“Yeah, sure,” I croaked out. “I’d better go check on Philip.” I spun and hurried out of the room, then detoured to the bathroom and closed the door. No reason to wake Philip until I got control of my dumb angst and hurt feelings.
I heard Kyle say something to Naomi, but I couldn’t make out the words, and I didn’t really try. I turned the water on and splashed some on my face, then jerked at a light rap on the door.
“Angel, get your jacket.” It was Kyle.
Damn it. Now I felt like an idiot, since this was obviously a pity invite. Fuck it. I’d take it. Maybe if I hung around he wouldn’t be able to do any Saberton business—whatever the hell that might be. He wouldn’t want to blow his cover, right? Right.
I shut the water off, then grabbed a towel and wiped my face before exiting the bathroom. I didn’t want to look at Naomi, but I couldn’t help but sneak a quick glance on my way to the closet. She had a piece of pizza in her hand but she met my eyes, and I didn’t think I imagined the I really shouldn’t have said all that but I’m too wrapped up in my own stuff to fix it, and you’ll forgive me, won’t you? in them. I gave her a tiny nod then got my jacket and followed Kyle out.
Kyle didn’t say anything, and I wasn’t about to start a conversation. He remained placidly silent all the way down in the elevator and through the lobby. He finally spoke once we stepped outside. “You mind walking a few blocks before we get a cab?” he asked. “Air feels good.”
“Don’t mind one bit,” I said. “I like seeing all the stuff here.”
He glanced right and left before crossing the street, and I fell in beside him, grateful that he kept his stride short enough for me to walk at a comfortable pace. We skirted a tiny plot of grass and trees, then continued down a cross street while I drank in the whole New-York-at-night vibe. A crowd of well-dressed drunk men who couldn’t be much older than me clustered in front of a bar as they conversed in loud, cheerful voices. They went silent and parted as we approached, instinct telling them to make a clear path for us, for Kyle, and as soon as we were past the boisterous conversation resumed, louder than before. I glanced at Kyle, but his expression remained as unruffled as ever. He was either oblivious or so completely used to that sort of thing it didn’t even register anymore.