“Shhh!” he whispered, pulling me close to him. I could feel his heart pound against my chest and his shallow breath on my neck. Heat permeated through me. Once I gained my senses, I said, “Sorry, this spot is already taken.” I had to get into the mansion, alone.
He pulled back and looked at me. “I thought you were vacating it.”
My face reddened. “I had already chosen this spot, but realized I needed to use the bathroom, so I was going to try to make it inside and back in time for a sneak win. Seriously, the guy is so far from the can, anyone could beat him there.”
“You think you can beat Austin until you find out how fast he is. He’s the wide receiver for a rec football team. They nicknamed him Wind.”
I totally wanted to take him up on the implied challenge, the competitive part of me burning to win, but I knew it would make it more difficult for me to complete my mission tonight. I had to stick with the bathroom excuse.
I looked him straight in the eye and said, “Maybe I’ll give him a run for his money when I get back.”
His firm grip on me relaxed. I crouched down, and he followed suit.
“Cross your fingers for me.”
“Maybe I should go with you,” he said.
“How embarrassing would that be? No, just wait here. When you see me next, I’ll be kicking the can in victory.”
He let go. I turned, and after checking the area again, I slunk up next to the house, slid along the exterior stones and through the door. I kept it slightly ajar and moved quickly to the west wing and up the stairs, not running into a soul. I could hear clanging of dishes and muted voices coming from the dining hall as I passed, but I thought it interesting that no one stood guard anywhere like earlier. A place like this called for security guards, didn’t it? That’s when I realized I must be on camera.
I changed my whole demeanor, acting like I belonged, relaxed and calm. I looked all around and murmured, “I should have asked where the bathroom was. Maybe up here.” I started up the stairs, running my hand over the intricately carved wood of the banister and singing a popular song under my breath, hoping that helped turn away the attention of the security guy who was sure to be following my progress. Please let me find the bedrooms camera free.
I tried the first door to my right. Locked. Then I tried the next one, and it was locked, too. All the while, I scanned the area for cameras and found no hint of any, but I proceeded as if there were some. I crossed the hall to the door I hoped led to Jericho’s room and turned the knob. Voilà—it opened. I pushed my way in.
The room was like a huge, open apartment. Viktor had been right. I spotted the bathroom right away and used it, just to keep up pretenses in case there were cameras in the room. I used the opportunity to get the bugs ready so that I could easily place them. I made my way to Jericho’s windows and looked out over the game. I couldn’t see much because it was so dark, but occasionally I saw someone move here or there. I was walking a fine line. I didn’t want security to be suspicious about what I was doing in his room, but I thought it would be more realistic if I acted as if I was in awe of everything. I brushed my hand over things, planting several of the listening bugs that way—on his couch, his lampshade, by his door, all in places the staff would be unlikely to accidentally come upon.
Then I went back to the window, took one last look and headed over to the door. It cracked open. I hurried under the bed in a panic. Only then did it occur to me that it would cast suspicion on me. I felt like a total idiot and was going to climb out, ready with an explanation that I was looking for an earring, when the bed bounced above me. Whoever it was had just jumped on the bed. It couldn’t be the guards, could it?
Then I heard the giggles and knew it must be a few kids hooking up. I rolled my eyes and shimmied toward the end of the bed to escape. I thought I’d have to crawl along the floor to prevent notice, but I quickly discovered the two people in the bed wouldn’t notice me if I were a train barreling through the room. I stood up and walked out the door, carefully shutting it behind me. Maybe there weren’t any cameras anywhere. Or perhaps security turned a blind eye during parties. It felt off somehow.
I turned to walk down the hall and bumped right into Viktor. “Ugh,” I said as air pushed out of my lungs. He didn’t move, just stood there like a solid wall, smiling at me.
“Not that kind of girl, huh?” He raised his eyebrows and pushed me into the door.
Chapter 14
I made myself be rational. “I had to take my chance and get a look at his room. I decided to use the bathroom while here and when I came out, I had company.” It felt good to think of showing him. At least he couldn’t use the room as he’d intended. I reached behind me and opened the door. When I stumbled in, I was surprised to see the couple look up at us. The two said, “Already taken, Viktor. Find your own room.”
He chuckled behind me and pulled me out of the room saying, “Have fun. Sorry to have disturbed you.” Then he turned to me. “No. I think you had your mind on something else.” He took me to the next door—one I hadn’t tried to open earlier. I hoped it was locked. He tugged on the handle, pushing on the latch. The door didn’t budge.
Thank heavens.
He swore. “We’ll find somewhere else.”
I was about ready to yank my arm away from his grasp when I heard Carson’s voice.
“There you are. I was starting to wonder if you fell in.”
I chuckled quietly as Viktor let go of my arm. Carson deserved a huge kiss.
“Shouldn’t you be worrying about your own date?” Viktor snarled.
“I couldn’t find her. I’ve been waiting for Amber to get back from the bathroom so I could see Wind kick her butt in the race for the can.”
I took a step toward him. “I think you might be in for the shock of your life.” I took advantage of being free of Viktor’s hold and walked quickly toward Carson. I could see a mischievous look in his eye that told me he knew he was saving me, just like a good friend should. I could hear Viktor stalk up behind me and didn’t let him get close enough to grab me. I bounded down the hall and stairs, the boys following behind. I heard them talking, and the tone was not nice.
I didn’t even try to make it back to my hiding spot. When I opened the door, I high-tailed it for the can. Carson had been right. Out of nowhere, I saw Wind speeding for the can. Lucky for me, I was faster. Thank you Division training. I picked up my speed a notch, not enough to make me appear weirdly fast, but fast enough to beat him by a few seconds. He was mad, too. He stomped his feet and glared at me. I turned my attention to the boys on the steps, who stood there, opened mouthed, staring at me. I grinned a big toothy grin, then bent over and pretended to breathe hard as Wind marched up the steps and snagged both boys, hustling them into the losers’ section of the yard, which now held about twenty kids. I watched as the boys drank their shots. The large group of kids laughed loudly. So much for their squabble. I stood alone in the winner’s section.
The man wrote our scores down on the grid on the board. I was the only one with a positive number besides Wind. His score was double mine already. I was hoping to be it next so that it would be easier to win the whole shebang. If I could win the big prize, it would bring me up close and personal with Jericho, who would most definitely give out the prize. The funny thing was I hadn’t seen him come in this round of play. By the time the last flare shot into the air, all but ten had been caught, and I still stood by myself. Winning was definitely not the real prize in this game. I looked back at the losers and several were taking more shots. Alcohol was the prize for sure. I spent the time searching for Jericho.
Wind got credit for conquering the ones who didn’t even try to come in, too. They slowly meandered in, all looking a bit disheveled and definitely off balance. The crowd cheered, whistled, and catcalled as they came in. While Carson seemed a bit tipsy, Viktor was full-on drunk already. I would definitely be driving home. In fact, most of the kids couldn’t run a straight line by the end of play. W
hen all was said and done, Wind beat my socks off, but I was the only other person in positive digits. I made a super sad face while Wind opened the big box after Jericho appeared and gave it to him. It was a laptop, and a nice one at that.
Wind turned to me in a very dramatic fashion, bowed, and handed it over to me. “She beat me. She wins.”
Lots in the crowd guffawed, and others said, “No way.”
I let myself be as grateful as was humanly possible, screaming out and jumping up and down. Then I hugged him, hard. Only a slight smell of alcohol was on his breath. His smile was huge. Now was my moment with Jericho. I turned to him and said, “Thank you, Jericho. There is no way in the world I thought I’d ever have something as cool as this.” I moved toward him, cringing inwardly at the thought of having to hug him, but hoping I’d get his phone in the process. “Thank you so much.” My arms wrapped around him and he shifted, changing the hug to a grossly inappropriate one. I wiggled out, just barely refraining from stomping on his foot and kneeing him in the groin. I am Amber. I am Amber.
I had the phone.
“I’m not that grateful. Down boy.” I backed up down the stairs, my hands up under my coat working on opening the battery compartment of his phone. Whatever happened, I couldn’t get caught.
“I was just showing you how grateful I was that you were grateful.”
His smile creeped me out. I took another step back, bowing my head down to hide the revulsion I felt. “Point taken,” I said.
As I held the open phone in one hand still under my coat, I used the other to reach for the bug in my pocket. Someone bumped me from behind, and I lost my balance and control of the phone. The battery cover flipped through the air and landed on the step next to Jericho.
I stifled an anguished cry and as if on instinct, I flew myself forward, slamming into Jericho and bringing him down with me. I let his phone fall to the ground and in a flash, let mine drop too, forcing the battery cover off as I grabbed it from my pocket. The bug remained taped to the interior of my pants pocket. Useless.
“Oh, my gosh,” I said trying to get up and off of Jericho. “I’m so sorry. Someone bumped me and—”
He pulled me close. “I know what you were doing.”
I froze.
“You do?” I blurted.
“I do.” His hot, breathy whisper hit my ear like a muggy night in Memphis.
I’d been compromised, and my phone was disabled. By me. I had no way of signaling the guys that I needed an extraction. How had I messed this up so quickly? I readied myself to spring up and run for all I was worth. I may have screwed up this mission, but I wasn’t going to give myself to him to torture.
His tongue licked the outer edge of my ear, and he said, “Meet me in the theater later, and we can get things going. You don’t need to play games to get me. I’m more than willing.” Then he licked my ear once more.
“I just might,” I whispered. I pushed off him, sickened and yet very, very relieved. I stood up, and he rolled over to his knees before standing which gave him the perfect view of one of the broken phones.
“Ah, crap. My phone!” He picked up the phone and then glanced at me before searching for the battery and back of it. “Wait. Here’s another one.” He held up another backless phone.
“Is that mine?” I shrieked. “Oh, please don’t be broken. Please. My parents will absolutely kill me, and I’ll be phoneless.” I snatched it from him and winced noticeably. “It is!” I got to my knees and searched for the battery and back. Everyone started looking around, and two other kids brought us the parts. I quickly put mine back together and then sat on the steps to try it out. Jericho was doing the same thing, but Viktor took the opportunity to sit between us. Territorial swine. I turned my body away from him. Jericho’s date asked him a question, and they started talking.
Jericho’s phone rang as I put my phone up to my ear. He laughed when he saw it was me. Ace had programmed all the kids’ numbers into my phone.
“What are you doing, hot stuff?”
I played along. “Nothing. Just at a lame party at this really lame guy’s house.”
“Well, I’m going to the movies tonight. Why not ditch the party and come to me?”
“Really?”
“Yep. I’ll be waiting.”
He then stood up and walked back inside with his date in tow. Viktor stood and held out his hand to help me up. I took it, and we walked back inside.
I’d dodged a big one, and all I wanted to do was get back to the brownstone as fast as I could. It wasn’t to be. I needed to shake Viktor so I could spend some time with Jericho and give his phone a second try. That meant we couldn’t go to the movie. We’d have to go for the dancing. And being with Viktor in the theater was a bad move all around. No. I’d dance with Viktor, take a chance to get away from him and then get the bug into Jericho’s phone. A bad feeling settled in my gut, and I thought better of the plan. While it would have given me a second opportunity to get the bug into Jericho’s phone, I figured if he were to find a bug in his phone after tonight, he’d have to suspect me. I couldn’t risk it. No. I would not be getting close to Jericho today. Dancing it was. Safety in numbers—and no couches or recliners.
We moved toward the room. Viktor followed behind and placed his hands on my hips. I lurched forward. It was an involuntary motion like my body was rejecting his very touch, and I smashed right into a guy in front of us.
“Sorry,” I said. “I tripped.”
He laughed and stumbled to the side. “You’ve been doing that a lot tonight.” Viktor had consumed a ton of alcohol, but he seemed to still be able to control himself. I took that to mean he drank often. Most of the songs were fast ones, making it harder for Viktor to misbehave. I had to be on my guard for every slow dance. For most of them, I conveniently needed a drink, the bathroom, or some fresh air.
Viktor had run out of his own liquor and was taking it off everyone else. He would try to get me to drink too. “You’re no fun, Amber. Come on.” The longer the night wore on, the more frustrated he got with me.
I would say two words, “designated driver,” each and every time. I kept one eye on Jericho. He would disappear and reappear. Sometimes with his date and sometimes without. I wondered what he was doing.
Everyone thanked Jericho as we left the house. He gave me a truly inappropriate hug that made me blush. When Viktor’s car pulled up, the valet turned to me and said, “Your laptop is in the trunk.”
“Thanks.”
He opened the driver’s side door, and I climbed in. I hoped they didn’t allow anyone to drive home smashed.
“That was pretty cool that Wind gave you that laptop. He was basically saying you’re the queen of speed.” Viktor gave me a creepy smile. “One day I’ll test that speed.” I shook my head and closed the driver’s side door.
There was a lot of chatter in the car for about fifteen minutes, and then it got quieter and quieter until everyone fell asleep. Out of nowhere, Viktor reached over and took one of my hands from the steering wheel, holding it in his. He looked behind him and then looked at me. Carson and his date were in the far back, and Mikado and his date along with the boy with platinum hair and his date were directly behind us.
“Uhh,” I murmured, and tried to pull my hand away from his. “I’m driving.” He squeezed tighter and talked low.
He slid over to me, way too close. “I want to tell you about something I think you’ll love.” He looked behind him again. “Looks like we’ve lost everyone.”
I peered behind us in the rearview mirror to see everyone leaning on their dates, mouths open in unflattering ways. I pushed air out of my nose and tried to pull away, but I was already pushed up against the door. He held tighter still.
“Seriously. You’ll like what I have to say.” He relaxed his hold on my hand, but not enough that I could easily pull it away. “I know a fairly easy way for you to make some money, and you won’t have to play any games.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I don�
�t think so,” I said, totally misinterpreting what he was saying and not knowing it. I yanked my hand out of his.
He laughed. “You’ll be perfect for this. Seriously. Hear me out. It has nothing to do with selling your body.” He laughed again. “Man, you’re so suspicious. I know someone who gives great jobs to teens who need them. You’ll make awesome money, and it’s fun.”
“What is it?”
“I can’t tell you here.” He peeked behind him and then back to me before looking at the road again. “It’s not easy, but it’s lucrative. After watching how fast you are, I think you’ll love it. Meet me for an early dinner tomorrow, and I’ll tell you about it.”
“Dinner, huh?” What was he talking about? What kind of business was he running on the side? And what did my speed have to do with it?
He smiled. “All your money troubles will disappear.”
After that, he slept too. I thought back on my first day at Bell, watching the kids in the auto outbuilding with S-Dub. I looked over at Viktor. Had he been one of the mentors I’d seen? I remembered the niggling feeling I’d had as he’d walked away from me that day in the cafeteria. That’s what I’d been trying to recall—I hadn’t seen his face in the auto theft class, just his back, the way he walked. Now that I was putting the two together, it seemed obvious. I had seen Viktor in Shareweather’s class that morning. His strut was unmistakable.
My mind spun, trying to process the implications. Maybe I wouldn’t have to make nice with Jericho after all, seeing as I already had a very strong in with Viktor. Of course, he could be just another peon. Still, it was another option. The only question was, was it any better?
I pulled up to the brownstone and put the car in park. I shook Viktor awake. He wiped a string of drool from his mouth then reached his hand out for the keys, making an obvious move to try for a kiss at the same time.
Hotwire Page 11