Absolute Zero (17 page)

Stay calm. Stay calm.

“Trifle.”

“As in where you live? Where you—”

“Mandy, shhh.” Scott looked around. “Yes.”

“How’d Jess find him?”

“Idiot checked into a hotel,” Jasmine said.

“What?” Georgia asked. “Why on earth would he do that?”

“I’m really not sure what makes a mad-man tick. You know?”

“So, you’re leaving, Scott. Right? Change the name, all that stuff, right?”

“No. Jasmine’s been hovering around him to listen in.”

“Wait, how long have you known this and not told us?” I asked.

“Two days.”

“And yet you wait to tell us on our birthday? What’s up with that?”

“I didn’t want you going half-cocked after him, Mandy. Georgia, too.”

“Getting mad here.” I pushed out of the booth. “We should go.” Georgia was by my side in an instant.

I stumbled on my new high heels and grabbed the top of the booth to steady myself. I clenched my teeth so hard a headache sprawled from my neck up to the top of my head.

“But, Mandy. He’s been hovering around Zach’s place.”

“This night’s just getting better and better,” I said. Georgia’s arm went around my waist.

“Scott, we’ll wait outside while you pay.” She tugged at me. “Come on, Mandy.”

Oh my gosh. Zach was in trouble. Or could be. What did Andrey want with him? Hand-in-hand Georgia and I walked out of the restaurant.

“Men. They have no idea about sensitivity do they? Bringing this crap up on our birthday.” Georgia shook her head as we walked to Scott’s car. I sure missed the Mustang. Sure, I had a great little car that he bought for me, but still, the white Mustang was Dad’s car…so it was a bitter sweet sight.

“Why’d we even try to do college, G? I mean, really, like we’ll ever have a normal life. Look at all the crap that’s happened lately. The balcony, the two Agents at the store, the car hitting me, drunk guys I’ve had to subdue—”

“Oh, man.” Georgia gasped. “What if—”

“I don’t think I can handle any other news, G.”

“Deal with it, sis. All those things rattled out together like that just made me think of something.”

I turned her around to face me and kept her hand in mine. “Where are you going with this?”

“What if someone has been watching us? You know? Like observing that stuff.”

“But it’s random stuff. How could they know to be there watching? I mean, side of the road stuff? Drunk guys at parties.”

“True.”

“And why? The Center already knows what we can do. I mean, we tore up their building. These things are miniscule in comparison to that. Doesn’t show anything.”

“True. Okay, well, shoot that theory. I just thought—”

“I can see what you were thinking. I mean, a little fire outside the smoothie store. Balcony. You know, someone could have planned that if you think about it, right?” The breeze sent some hair flapping against my forehead.

“Maybe, but it’s still pretty far fetched, don’t you think?”

I shook my head. “Topic change, please.”

Georgia laughed. “Your brain about to implode like mine?”

I nodded.

“So, what was Nate doing tonight?”

“Him and Tim were just going to hang, I think.”

“They’re pouting without their girls, huh?” Georgia laughed. “We could invite them down for cake if you want?”

“No boyfriends, remember?”

“We didn’t have dinner with them. Plus, Jasmine said she wanted to meet them. You know, to check them out with Jess.”

“Maybe. Let’s see what Scott says about Andrey.”

“Ready for that cake, Georgia,” Scott said as he burst through the doors, Jasmine close behind him.

I hated that I noticed Jasmine scanning the area with careful eyes. I really did believe she’d protect my brother, but now Andrey was back on the scene everything just rang so much truer. He’d freaking killed my mom and dad!

We piled into the car and once Scott maneuvered it onto the road I asked, “So you’re watching after Zach, right? Keeping him safe?”

“Sure we are. Jasmine’s been hovering. Planted a few booby traps around so she could watch and listen.”

“Too bad you two broke up. It’d be easier if he was with you,” Jasmine said.

Okay, that stung a little.

“Jas!” Scott said.

“Sorry.” Jasmine glanced into the back seat. “I didn’t mean to stab you in the heart like that.”

“Maybe we should drive to Trifle and talk to him. Tell him what’s going on. So he can stay alert.” I gulped, hoping that someone wouldn’t be me.

“Might be a good idea,” Scott said. “Tomorrow maybe you could drive down and meet up with him.”

Crap.

“Or not. Maybe Jasmine can just keep a close eye on him. Or, Scott, you could mention it to him instead of making Mandy talk to her
ex-boyfriend
like that,” Georgia said.

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry, Mandy. I can do that for ya,” Scott said.

Sometimes guys were just…dense.

I sent my sweet sister a quick smile of thanks for having my back the way she did. I so did not want to go talk to Zach about things. I had kind of hoped he’d stay out of my line of sight for a while. I got all confused when I saw him. And mad. And cold.

“He and that ditz of a girlfriend have been into the store a couple times. What’s up with that?” Jasmine asked.

“Really?” I asked.

“That
B
always asks if you’re working, too.” Jasmine shook her head.

Boy, I would love to frost that Samantha over a good one. But why was Zach going along with that kind of crap? He wasn’t cruel like that.

“Back to keeping Zach safe,” I said.

Jasmine sat up and cleared her throat. “I really think Andrey’s just sniffing around, looking for you two. Obviously he doesn’t know where you are, otherwise he would have tried to take you.”

“Georgia, too.”

“Right. And, I’m thinking that he knows you and Zach are dating, or were, and once he finds out you guys are no longer connected, meaning, once he sees that blond bimbo hanging on him and you’re not around, he’ll get tired and leave.”

“But Scott’s right there. What if he tries to grab Scott?” Georgia asked.

“You think I’m going to let that happen? I’m faster than Andrey, remember?” Jasmine huffed. “No way he’s getting his steely hands on my guy.”

Scott reached over and rested his hand on the nape of Jasmine’s neck. Jasmine’s oath to protect my brother rang loud in my memory, but my stomach churned with fear. Unless it was the garlic mashed potatoes I ate with my steak.

“You sure we shouldn’t bolt?” My voice cracked again. Damn I hated sounding weak.

“You two stay up where you are. Do the college thing, but keep your eyes open.” Scott steered the car toward our apartment. “Jas and Jess will keep working on things on our end. Watching out for what Andrey’s got in mind.”

“Why aren’t we planning how we can kill that son of a bitch?” My eyes burned, and my heart hammered.

“Who says we aren’t?” Jasmine cocked her eyebrow up.

“What?” I grabbed the back of Scott’s seat and pulled myself forward, Georgia doing the same with Jasmine’s seat. “Really?”

“Need to find out more about the situation. He might lead us to the mobile Centers. Or he might be working alone. We just need more intel.” Jasmine smiled. “And I seem to remember you being sick of running away, right?”

I was, more than anything, I was.

But my mother’s murderer was back, and everyone I loved was in danger
once again
.

Chapter 23

“W
ow. You’re pretty strong, Mandy,” Nate said, as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I think you’re going to crush the ball if you hit it any harder.”

I sucked in a deep breath. Sweat poured down my back. “I’m liking this racquetball thing. Never played before.”

“You’re doing pretty darn well.”

“I’m a quick study. Plus, anytime I can crush something like I get to crush that little blue ball I’m all good.” I’d just been imagining Samantha’s head on the ball each time. And Andrey’s.

“It’s good for working out the aggression, that’s for sure.” He tossed me the ball. “Okay, serve it up. It’s got to be past the center line there, remember.”

“I keep forgetting that. But hey, I got one point off you last game!”

I slid the protective glasses up my nose and dribbled the ball on the floor again. My shoes squeaked as I turned and bent over. My legs burned. My lungs flamed. And my arm ached, but I loved it. Smacking a ball around a little box with Nate sure was fun.

The snap of the ball hitting the wall echoed as I served it up. I faced forward. The ball whizzed by me, heading toward the corner. Nate was good at hitting those pocket shots. I darted forward and flicked my wrist, barely nicking the ball. It grazed the front wall. Nate thundered toward the wimpy shot, his shoes squeaking against the shiny floor. I wasn’t sure how he got that far so quickly, but he did and, of course, smacked the ball hard and away from me.

“Oh man.” I darted back, chasing after the ball.

I didn’t really understand how to hit the ball hard against the back wall to get it up front. I’d only had one class for PE so far and read the rules. But hey, I’d give it a try. I flicked my wrist, and the strings of my racquet made contact.

With considerable force, I might add.

The ball torpedoed off the back wall and right at my face. I ducked, and it missed me by a millimeter. I screeched, dropped to the ground, and rolled to the side, then popped up to my feet. The blue ball streaked toward the front wall, bounced off and right past Nate.

He stood frozen, watching me with wide eyes.

“What?” I stood straight and ripped off my glasses. “Is that a foul or something?”

“Ah, no. That’s a great shot.” He stepped toward me.

“Oh, good. Why didn’t you go after it?”

“Never thought you’d get it.” His eyebrows arched. “You sure you never played this before?”

“Nope. Just read the rules on Monday during the first class and here we are. Why?”

“Because you’re packing some serious power in your little wrist snaps there.” His lips curved into a sweet smile. Sweat dribbled down the side of his face and ringed around his armpits. Sure, most people would probably view that as pretty gross, but I liked it. Made him look sexier than he usually did. “Serve it up. Let’s see if I can get a point off
you
this game.”

My cheeks flamed. Always the clumsy one in gym, having to hold things back, it was nice to actually get to play for real and not have to focus.

Nate snatched up the ball and tossed it to me. I palmed it, put my glasses back on, and went to the serving line. One big step into it, and I swung for the fence. The ball ricocheted off the wall and zoomed by me. I bent down, ready to handle anything Nate dished out on his return.

What I hadn’t expected was a stinging slap to the back, right between the shoulder blades.

It sounded liked someone clapped their hands together, and it echoed just as loud against the walls. The wind whooshed from my lungs as a flaming sting streaked up my spine to the base of my skull.

I think my teeth rattled, too.

“Oh my gosh. Mandy!” Nate yelled.

The wooden floor met my knees with bone-crushing pain, and my racquet clacked against the floor. My constricted lungs didn’t let much air in, but I gasped for it anyway. Maybe a little would seep in. I could only hope.

“What the hell was that?”

“Mandy. I’m so sorry!” Two warm hands rested on my shoulders. “Shit.”

The door creaked open and slapped against the wall. “What the hell are you doing?” Zach’s voice echoed off the walls.

I must have imagined that.

I looked up and saw Nate’s golden, brown eyes staring down. But right beside them, Zach’s steele-gray eyes glared at Nate.

I coughed and air finally made it through my feisty lungs. Maybe my brain would start working again, and I’d realize I didn’t see both Zach
and
Nate. After several blinks and deep breaths, the two images remained.

“Ah, hell.”

Nate helped me to my feet.

“I’m good. Holy crap, what was that?” I asked.

“Yeah, buddy. What the hell?” Zach pushed Nate to the side.

“Zach. Stop. What are you doing here?”

“Are you okay, Mandy?” he asked.

“I’m sorry. The ball didn’t go exactly where I’d planned,” Nate said.

“I’d say.” I reached back to feel between my shoulder blades. “That hurt like a son of a monkey.” Felt like someone poured acid on my skin. At least it wasn’t a dart or a silver bullet.

Nate’s wide eyes pleaded with me, begging for forgiveness. The corners of his mouth were downturned. Zach pushed his shoulder again, and he stumbled, never taking his gaze from mine.

“Zach. Knock it off. It was an accident.” I shoved him aside. “What are you even doing here?”

“What was your name? Nate? Dude, first I see a bruise on her face last week, now you’re pegging her with racquetball balls. What the hell?”

Nate arched an eyebrow at Zach, then looked back at me. “Maybe we should just bolt.”

“Yeah. That’s cool.” I glared at Zach.

“I’ll get our stuff.” He gave Zach a long, hard look before he turned on his heel and moved to the corner of the court where our stuff sat.

I planted my hand in Zach’s chest. “Go.”

He leaned close. “You’re really okay?”

“Zach, what the hell, man? What are you doing here?” I shook my head and stepped to the side. He mirrored my movement.

“I saw you come in here so I swung by to see you.”

“Why? Where’s your girlfriend?” I glanced behind him.

“At class.” He glanced back in Nate’s direction, then stepped closer to me. “Scott talked to me the other day.” He arched his eyebrows and nodded toward me. “About our mutual friend.”

“He said he would. You haven’t had any run-ins with him, have you?”

“No. You?”

I shook my head. “Now go. You need to stay far away from me until we get all this crap figured out.”

Zach strutted toward the tiny door. “Dude, you better start taking better care of her.”

“Goodbye, Zach,” I said. My voice echoed off the walls. The loud noise didn’t help the throbbing ache in the back of my skull. Okay, neither did the slamming door.