Our original plan was to arrange any meetings in public and avoid both lairs, but Tessa’s bold move would put us right in the heart of it — and at their mercy. Distracted with the change in tactic, I almost missed the scowl flash over Boris’s face.
“Brilliant, Tessa,” I said in an attempt to back her up, even though it was the stupidest idea I’d ever heard. What dangerous game was she playing?
“That’s what I thought,” she said. “This way, we can take you up on your invitation. We certainly couldn’t spend time with you and not balance it with them. I’d really like to live to see my eighteenth birthday.”
“Me too.” Now her dangerous scheme intrigued me. A brilliant way to gain access to resources and information we wouldn’t have had otherwise. “And I’d love to spar with Kyle.”
Orange laced the sky as the sun descended. It would be dark soon. The longer we stayed, the less safe we were. The need to leave gripped me. I sent Tessa a visual of us in the dark, so she’d take the hint.
“I heard about you, Hayden. We could use someone of your talents.” Boris studied my face then nodded. “I give you my word that no harm will come to either of you. Until you join us officially though, be careful. We don’t want to lose you.”
“Wait.” Tessa’s brows furrowed. “We haven’t decided a hundred percent. Really, we haven’t had enough time with either side. I mean, we’re pretty sure we’re picking you, but we’ve only just begun, right? We still want to keep our options open.”
I couldn’t tell by Boris’s face whether he was angry or in awe of her. Did he realize he’d been out-maneuvered? “Of course.” He waved a hand. “One can’t be expected to make a decision so soon.”
“Exactly. Well, we should go. I need to get home.” Tessa smiled. “It was great to meet you.”
“Here’s my cell phone number.” Boris rose from his side of the bench and handed her a card. “Don’t hesitate to call me personally if you need anything.”
His personal card with a cell number? For a recruit? Why the special attention? Boris obviously saw something unusual in Tessa.
“Thank you. I will,” she said.
Once Tessa and I were driving away, my muscles eased their assault on my shoulders. I flexed and unflexed my fingers on the steering wheel, willing the rest of the tension to leave. “Jesus, Tessa, what were you thinking? It would’ve been nice if you’d clued me in.”
She shrugged. “Sorry. The idea came to me and it’s not like I could pull you aside for a chat.”
“It was quick thinking.”
“Yeah.” She grinned.
“But stressful.”
“We should spend more time with them. It would be more convincing.”
“No problem. I’d get in that sparring with Kyle.” I stopped at a red light and glanced at her. “Hey. What do you say I drop you off at your house, then I go home and do some stuff? Boris’s people won’t be hunting us any time soon.”
“What about Rena? She’s still a whacko. But…” She watched for my reaction. “I could call Chait and hang out with him until you and I meet up again.”
Not an option. But I needed a few minutes alone, so I could surprise her with an evening out. “Why don’t you ask him to watch Rena instead of you?”
Chapter Twenty-seven
Tessa
I was still laughing to myself as Hayden pulled up to the curb in front of my house. Hayden revealed his jealousy too easily. I wouldn’t complain that he wanted me for himself.
“Did you text Chait?” he asked.
I dug out my phone from my purse and typed. Hayden needs to go home 4 a bit. Can u keep an eye on Rena til he comes back? I grinned. “Yes.”
“I should wait until he answers.”
“I’m fine. Let me know when you’re on your way back.” I leaned over and kissed him then got out and made a dash for the front door.
Hayden hesitated as if deciding whether or not to leave. Seconds later, he drove off and I went inside. The place was deserted. No Bree. No babysitter. Right away, I looked for the note my mom usually left, telling me Bree’s whereabouts — which usually required me getting her from somewhere.
Scanning the scrawled words on the white sheet my mom had left on the kitchen counter, I mentally debated the evening. Bree had to be picked up soon and I’d be babysitting all night. Despite the driving need to be with Hayden, Bree was number one. But she didn’t stay up late, so I could still have alone time with Hayden later.
My phone beeped and I dug it from my purse that still hung on my shoulder. The text from Chait read, Can’t find her. No one knows where she is. Be right over. Stay there.
Dropping the phone in my purse, I set everything on the counter. Crap. Where was Rena? An uneasy feeling spread through me, sending a rush of adrenalin and pumping blood faster through my veins.
“Hello, Tessa.”
I spun around. Rena emerged from a shadow in the far corner of the living room.
Not good.
I forced a smile and pretended to be happy to see her. If she knew I suspected her intentions, she might speed up her plans. Whatever they were. I willed my shoulders not to bunch up. “Hey, what’s up? Chait here too?”
“No.” Rena skulked toward me, setting off alarms in my head.
“Oh. Did you want to do something, hang out maybe?” I motioned to the couch, left the dining room and walked past her toward the living room. “Come sit.”
She twitched. Good, I’d thrown her.
“Something happen? Did you want to talk about it?” I sat then pointed at the other end of the couch.
Rena followed, but instead of sitting, she loomed over me, arms held stiffly at her sides. “You’re too much like your sister. She did nothing but cause trouble everywhere she went.”
“Did I do something to upset you?” I rose from the couch, stood toe to toe with Rena and, as discreetly as possible, scanned the room for a weapon.
“You think I don’t notice the way David looks at you?” Her fists balled at her sides.
I tensed, then made an effort to appear relaxed. “Can you be more specific?” If I could keep her distracted…
“He watches you like he used to watch Zoe.” An unnerving flame kindled behind her eyes. “The two of you with your blond hair and pretty smiles. You can’t leave the boys alone.”
“I don’t want David. Even if I wasn’t with Hayden, I’d go for Chait.” I waved a casual hand in an effort to lighten the mood then smiled and returned to the sofa. Her words sunk in. My sister? What did she mean about Zoe? “Seriously, Rena, if I had any interest in David, I would’ve made an effort.”
“Didn’t you? I can’t believe you think I’d fall for that. Even if I bought your flimsy reasoning, I still saw you with Boris.” She pulled a large blade from the waistband of her jeans. “Recruits don’t meet with Boris so soon. Unless they’ve already chosen sides. Everything you’ve told us is a lie. And when I tell David and Chait, they won’t care if you’re dead.”
I needed to stall Rena while I found a weapon. Arguing with her wouldn’t make her more pleasant. I held up my palms as if trying to hold her back with sheer will, then leaped onto the sofa and over the other side. “Hold on. What was that about Zoe?”
Rena slinked around the couch toward me, the long blade gleaming in her hand. “She had to die. And so do you. If I allow you to live, you’ll mess everything up.”
Nodding, I ignored the surge of terror permeating my bones and urging me to run. She’d catch me before I got to the front door. There had to be something I could hit her with. A lamp wouldn’t stop her. The couch was too awkward. In my peripheral vision, I noted the heavy bronze statue on the fireplace mantle. I needed Rena mollified the next few seconds, until I could get to the statue. “Of course. I mean, you can’t let someone come between you and the man you love. You have to do what you have to do.”
Rena smiled a sad smile but that faded and I knew my time was running out. “I’m so glad you understand. It’s too bad though. If David weren’t in the picture, I think we could’ve been friends.”