Driven Snow (22 page)

“Doing okay, ma’am, considering.”

She placed a hand on her cheek. “I know just how you feel.”

“I don’t mean to intrude.”

She waved a hand. “Of course not. Life goes on.”

“I became very fond of Professor Kingsley when I was being tutored in physics.”

“How nice.”

“I was thinking I’d like to stop by and see him.”

What?
“Uh, no one but family is allowed.”

“I know. I thought maybe you’d give me permission to visit him, just for a moment. If there’s anything you need to go to the hospital, like flowers, or if he has a favorite book you like to read to him, I could do it for you. I know this has to be so hard on you, with all your responsibilities.”

She gazed at him. Such a handsome boy. Why would he want to go spend time in a smelly hospital? “Of course, how very thoughtful of you.”

“Maybe you could write a note saying it’s okay for me to see him?”

“Yes, of course. And your idea about the book. How nice. Please come in.”

He followed her into the vestibule and then the living room. Hunter sat forward on his seat. She glanced at Riley. “You know my cousin, Hunter?”

“Uh, no.” He stuck out his hand. “Hey, man.”

Hunter half rose, nodded, and shook his hand. “You’re Snow’s friend.”

Riley shrugged. “He tutored me in physics. But I think calling him a friend now would be pretty weird. Sorry about what happened to you. I saw it on TV.”

Hunter shrugged. “I’m not hurt. Just the loss of an old car. At least he wasn’t killed. That’s good.”

Riley nodded. “I guess.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Anitra put a hand on Riley’s arm. “Let me get you that permission slip, shall we call it?” She smiled. My, he was good-looking.

“And the book.”

“Oh, right.”

“Ma’am—”

“Just call me Anitra.”

He grinned and dimples popped out in his cheeks. “Anitra, could I get a glass of water? No telling what they’ll have available in the hospital.”

“Of course. Hunter can show you.”

Riley held up a hand. “Don’t bother. I don’t want to interfere with your reading. I loved that book.” He nodded at the paperback Hunter had set aside. “I’m assuming the kitchen is straight back.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“I’ll just be a second.”

He headed toward the back of the house. She watched his flexing ass. She’d heard he was gay. Maybe she could change his mind. He wanted a book. Oh hell, which one could she logically say Harold loved? She glanced at the shelves. Nothing. Maybe in his study. She looked at Hunter, who’d gone back to his reading. The novel probably had pictures based on the cumulative intelligence of these two boobs. “I’ll be right back.”

He nodded.

It took her five minutes to write the note and find a copy of a Hermann Hesse novel she felt comfortable claiming was a favorite of Harold’s. When she walked back downstairs, the TV was on and both men were staring at some horrible football thing. “Here you are, Riley.”

He stood instantly. At least he had manners. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Kingsley. I hope my visit can take some pressure off you.”

“That’s very kind.”

He shook her hand, and she kissed his smooth, postadolescent cheek. What a yummy boy. Once again, she admired the movement of muscle in his perfect posterior as he crossed the street to an old, beat-up vehicle.

Hunter’s chuckle woke her from her reverie. “You’re thinking a bunch of stuff you shouldn’t be thinking.”

“I am not.” She smiled. “And what if I am. He’s not underage.”

“Yeah, well, if you want a three-way, let me know. I wouldn’t mind a piece of that.”

“What a charming idea.” She stared back at the pile of newspapers beside Hunter on the couch. “We have to pack for Las Vegas. And I have to perfect a plan.”

A HALF
hour later, Riley Prince walked into the chemistry lab, where he met his friend Josh Froder. “Hey, man, thanks for meeting me.”

“No problem. What do you need analyzed?”

Riley held out the small brown stopper bottle he’d taken from the laundry room at Professor Kingsley’s house. “If you could get on this right away, I’d appreciate it. I’ll be back in an hour. I have to go visit someone in the hospital.”

SNOW WALKED
around the big living room of the Iota Pi house, making a move in each chess game, one after the other, and slapping the timers. Mr. P. had set it up so he could play every IPi brother who had any knowledge of chess all at the same time. Only Doc, Hacker, and Lib had real skill. The others just made for background noise, but still, it was good practice. When he’d beaten them all in less than twenty minutes, Doc rocked back in his chair. “Shit, man, you are awesome. And I don’t use that word lightly.”

Snow stared at the brand-new, beyond cool shoes Mr. Pennymaker had bought for him. “Thanks. All you guys were great.”

“Snowden!”

He looked up at Mr. P. striding in the front door. “Hello, sir.”

“Snow, your modesty is charming, but I want you to practice a modicum of arrogance. It’s needed and expected in a Grandmaster. Try again.”

Snow took a deep breath. He looked directly into Doc’s eyes and extended his hand. “Thank you for the compliment. You were an excellent opponent.” Then he snorted, and both he and Doc burst out laughing.

Mr. P. smiled. “Much better. Until that last part, of course.” He clapped his hands together. “Have you tried on all of your lovely new clothes?”

“Yes, sir, but—”

“No buts. You’re going to require most of the wardrobe in Vegas. After all, you have to look the part of a champion. Ask any actor. They’ll tell you, half the performance is just in the wardrobe.” He looked around at the IPis. They tended to gather when Mr. P. was around. Apparently he’d done some special service for each of the brothers. He’d taken Romeo off the streets and saved him from being a rent boy and was paying a big part of Doc’s tuition since his family was dirt poor. People had assumed Bash was stupid until Mr. P. revealed he had a genius IQ, and he’d bailed Hacker out of jail. Twice. All the IPis loved him immensely. “Now, boys, get packed. We leave early tomorrow.”

Snow stepped forward. “Sir? Everyone’s going?”

“Of course. You don’t think one of us would miss an event like this, do you? Gormet has a big van we can all fit in.”

Wow.
They all wanted to go with him. He grinned. “Are you kidding? My wardrobe will take up a whole van by itself.”

Later, after dinner, he sat in the study, staring at a book of chess moves.

“Doesn’t look like your eyes are moving, my dear. Not much reading going on, is my guess.” Mr. P. stood in the doorway, a red flower in the buttonhole of his checked suit.

“Just thinking.”

“May I join you?”

“Please do.”

He sat on the couch next to Snow. “What’s on your mind?”

“Just wondering how good she is. Most of the other players are known quantities. Some of them are very good and, under the right circumstances, a few can beat me. But I don’t know about her.”

“Yes, she’s stayed well hidden.”

Snow blew out a long column of air. “And win or lose, when I finish, nothing’s changed. The professor will still be in the hospital—or worse. I’m still expelled and being investigated by the police. I have no money I can count on to repay you.” He didn’t say, “And I still won’t have Riley.”

“We’ll cross all those grand bridges when we come to them.”

“Yes, sir, but I want you to know that I plan to get a job to pay you back.” He breathed in. “I’ve been thinking. I’m a pretty damned good physicist, and tech companies need people with my skills. I figure they’ll overlook a police record to get them.” He laughed.

“Now there’s the arrogance I was looking for.”

“Oh no, sir, I didn’t mean—”

“Snowden, quit while you’re ahead.”

Snow looked the little elf in the eye. “Yes, sir. I will.”

“MRS. KINGSLEY,
welcome to the Five Diamonds. I hope your stay will be memorable.”

“Thank you.” Anitra smiled and adjusted her large-brimmed hat. She glanced at Hunter, who was standing with the bags just inside the hotel entrance.

The clerk checked the computer. “We have you in a two-room suite, as requested.” He looked up. “For you and your cousin, I believe.” He said the word “cousin” like they used the term “niece” in
Pretty Woman.

She deepened her look of distress. “Yes, since my husband is so ill, my cousin has been taking care of me. Should my husband’s condition change, I’ll have to depart quickly, and Hunter will see that I make it back to California without injuring myself in my haste.”
Hmm. Too much?

No, the idiot fell for it. His expression changed instantly. “I’m so very sorry, and wish you great success in the tournament.”

“Thank you.” She took her keycard and walked slowly toward Hunter. A camera flashed
. Oh, good.
She turned and smiled.

A young woman crowded forward. “Are you Anitra Kingsley?”

“Yes. Yes, I am.”

“Wow. You’re even prettier than the pictures in the paper. I can’t believe you’re a chess champion.”

“You must never assume a pretty woman is dumb, my dear. Look at yourself.”
Lay it on thick.

The woman clutched a hand to her chest. “Oh, thank you. Can I have your autograph?”

“Of course.” She signed the girl’s program for the tournament, then walked over to Hunter, who looked bored and impatient. She smiled at him like a cousin, then muttered, “Calm down. Getting people to pay attention to me is what we want, right?”

“I suppose. Let’s get upstairs.”

Before they made it to the elevators, two more people took pictures.
Hope they’re reporters.
Finally they got to their suite on the fourteenth floor.

Hunter dropped the bags and looked around. “Not bad.” It had a small sitting room with a nice view over the Strip and two doors leading to bedrooms.

She checked the blue couch and two chairs. “It’s okay. I wanted a lanai suite by the pool. It would have been more impressive. But this one was all I could afford.” She threw a pillow from the chair to the couch just for a little vent.

“When do you get the bank accounts?”

“Not till the old coot dies. I tried to get Harold to transfer over the bank account into my name, but I couldn’t push too hard without him getting suspicious. We were only married a few hours legally, and I couldn’t wait any longer or I would have had to have sex with him.” She shuddered. “Anyway, his lawyers will only give me an allowance, since he never authorized the transfer. That’s until he finally croaks and I inherit in our community property state. Then I’ll have it all.”

He chuckled. “And a whole lot more.”

“Oooh, I like that as a motto. ‘I want it all—and a whole lot more.’ I think I’ll have it embroidered on a pillow.” Their laughter mingled.

She unpacked, and he put his things in the other bedroom so the maids wouldn’t get suspicious. They’d have to hide the cum stains on the sheets. When she walked out, he was already dipping into the hotel’s porn collection on the TV. “Save that. I need to go down and register for the tournament, then let people see me. You have to watch for Reynaldi.”

He sighed. “Okay. Yeah.” He flipped off the TV.

“You know what to do. Make it look like a robbery or something, okay?”

Hunter nodded.

“Get it done, because my last line of defense is tricky. It’s hard to pull off, and it might not work, even if I can do it.”

“Yeah, sure, I’ll get the job done.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t last time.”

“Not my fault.”

“It never is, Hunter.” She slid on her sunglasses to add that air of mystery, and smoothed the slinky black dress that clung to her world-class ass. “I am going to win this tournament one way or another. My future depends on it. So does yours.” She ambled toward the door, hips swinging.

“Great dress.”

“Thanks.” She pursed her lips in a mock kiss. “I’m in mourning.”

CHAPTER 20

HACKER WAS
at the wheel when they pulled into the driveway of the Five Diamond Hotel. It had been eleven hours, but with seven of them to drive—Snow didn’t know how and Mr. P. was excused—they made it straight through with only stops for peeing and food. The tall hotel with its metal surfaces that shone like diamonds in the bright sun stretched above them.

As they waited for the valet, Mr. P. turned in his seat and looked back at Snow. “Ready to wow them?”

Snow exhaled long and slow. “I’ll try, sir. It doesn’t come naturally.”

Mr. P. gave him a once-over. “Excellent job, Romeo. Quite natural. You look very lovely yourself.”

“Thank you, sir.” Romeo had “styled” Snow, trimming his ink-black hair, waving it, and brushing it to a high gloss. He’d even added a little eyeliner, mascara, and some lip color to enhance the whole picture.

Snow smiled. “You do look great.” Romeo’s hair was almost as dark as Snow’s, though not as long or wavy. It had been brushed away from his stunning face, which was framed by a pure white shirt under a sleek black suit. “In that outfit, you could be a movie star.”

Doc looked back. “Or a Mafia don.”

Mr. P. raised a finger. “We shall keep them guessing. Some people will have read the stories about Snow, so seeing him escorted by a man so nearly his match in beauty will confuse them. It will also attract cameras and reporters. You know how to behave, Snowden.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good. The rest of you too. Ready?”

“Ready, Mr. P.”

The van pulled into the valet space. While not a limo, it was a very upscale Mercedes van, thanks to Gormet’s upscale family, so Mr. P. had judged it impressive enough to create the needed impact.

“Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to the Five Diamonds.” The valet opened the door, and as agreed, Bash stepped out. Clad in a dark suit and sunglasses, he carefully pressed a hand against his pocket, fingering a supposed weapon. He surveyed the group of fifty or so people gathered outside to see the chess masters. Doc climbed out behind Bash and took a spot on the opposite side of the door. Short but stocky, he still managed to look mean. Snow peered through the window and wanted to laugh, but that wasn’t in the script.