Rebel Princess - Book 2 (The Hope Saga) (12 page)

“Yeah, lots of people trust you.”

“That’s great to know.” He paused, then continued, “I’m worried about you though. I think you’re better off on the surface. I want to help you go up to the surface with your dad, Sherry, and Ben. I’m trying really hard to pull some strings.”

My jaw dropped. “You’d do that for me?”

“Absolutely.” His face shone with concern. “There’s a madman running loose down here somewhere, and you might be on his hit list. You’re my friend. I’m trying to get Brett a pass too.”

“Really?”

“I want to see you alive and happy. I know you’re dad’s dying to see you, and I know you won’t want to go without Brett.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of my father. I hadn’t seen him in so long, and I missed him terribly. I thought about him every day, and it was difficult to be away from him. As I thought about him yet again, memories flooded in. I recalled dancing with him as a little girl, how I always giggled and laughed while I struggled to keep my balance on top of his feet. I still broke down and cried about being away from my dad sometimes, and I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs about how unfair it was that Dante and his ridiculous rules were keeping us apart. I would never forget Dad’s unconditional love, his laugh, his embrace, his butterfly kisses, and I could not wait to see him again. “Please don’t toy with me,” I said, hoping Walter wasn’t just filling me with false hope. “My heart can’t take it.”

His gaze narrowed. “I’d never joke about something like this. It hasn’t been approved, but I’m working on it.”

I swallowed hard. “Dante will never give the go-ahead.”

His eyes were so soft, so compassionate. “I’m trying, Sky, okay? I’m doing everything I can.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Walter. That means so much to me.” I let out a trembling breath. “It’s the sweetest thing anybody has ever done for me.”

He blushed a bit and said, “I’m on the clock and gotta go find the others, but let’s catch up later.”

“Okay. I’d like that.”

“Great.”

“Bye.”

“See ya later,” he said with a smile, then walked off.

I couldn’t wait to tell Brett the good news. He was at work, but as soon as he got off, he met me in the greenhouse, where we had the most privacy, and I let him know the good news. “We’ll legally be allowed on the surface,” I said. “If Walter can pull the strings, will you go?”

“Of course! I want to have a life with you.”

“Me too, baby.”

“As long as it’s legal.”

“It will be.”

“But what if my dad rats you and Rachel out about sneaking up there before? If you get caught, it’ll ruin everything.”

“Let’s just wait for Walter to give us official permission. Then we’ll be able to convince your dad, because we’ll be playing by the rules, and—”

Brett shook his head ominously. “If he doesn’t want us to be together down here, why will it be any different on the surface? He’s not gonna go for it, permission or not.”

“I don’t have all the answers. All I know is that I wanna be with you.”

He kissed my lips, and I cherished that moment. “I want to be with you too,” he said, pulling away. ”I wanna be with you forever, Sky.”

Chapter 16

It was another week before I had an opportunity to spend any more precious alone time with Brett. It about drove us both crazy, and I desperately needed his touch and his kiss.

At school, our teacher instructed us to break up into groups in the library. 

Rachel whispered to me, “Your secret admirer is leaving me more notes.” She slid the red notecard over to me.

“You can’t save her. Only I can. You’re going to die,” I read quietly. I then looked at my friend. “I can’t believe this. This is getting out of hand.”

“Yeah, it’s not cute anymore.”

“You’re right. It’s flat-out creepy.” I swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry, Rachel.”

“I talked to Brett this morning. He got the exact same one.”

“I’ve gotta figure out who’s doing this.”

“Well, unfortunately, Mom saw the note before I did. She’s going to talk to Mr. Tams about it later today.” She pondered for a minute, then looked at me intently, with worry in her eyes. “Who wants to kill us, Sky? And why?”

“I wish I knew.”

“It’s really freaking me out, ya know. I couldn’t sleep last night. I always have the heebie-jeebies, like someone is watching me.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m always glancing over my shoulder, expecting somebody to jump out at me.”

“And then there’s the strangler. I feel like locking myself up tight and throwing away the key. It might be the only way to stay alive.”

“We can’t let this guy manipulate and terrorize us that way. If we give him all the control, he wins. Psychos like him get off on that sort of thing.”

“Do you think he’s the same person, or do we have two freaks running amok out there?”

“I don’t think the strangler would be interested in Brett.”

“Then they’ve gotta be two different people with two different agendas.”

“That’s what I’m thinking. The strangler is out for sick thrills, but the secret admirer likes me and knows about a plot being hatched to kill the three of us. I’ve got this gut feeling that it has something to do with us going out on the dock.”

“We shouldn’t have gone up there.”

“Rachel, wild horses couldn’t have stopped me.”

“Okay, class,” our teacher said, interrupting our private conversation, “choose one person to go get the book you need for your study group.”

I was elected quickly, so I headed to the huge shelves of books. I walked up and down the aisles, looking carefully at the call numbers. Just as I bent over to look at the spine of a large, blue book, strong arms wrapped around me. When I spun around, my heart sped up in sheer exhilaration. “Brett!”

“Wow. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

“You too,” I said with a sigh. “Rachel told me about the new note,” I whispered. I’m so sorry.”

“We only have a minute, so let’s not talk about that. I’ve missed you, baby.”

“Okay, I won’t mention
him
.”

He glanced around to make sure the coast was clear, then pulled me into the small room off to the left, where the thick reference books were kept. Slipping away for that private moment together was pure bliss. On top of that, it was sexy, spontaneous, and, most of all, entirely forbidden. That only made it all the more appealing for a rebel like me. 

Brett placed his strong hands on my hips, his touch sending shivers down my spine. “I’ve missed you, Sky,” he said.

“I know. I’ve been dying to make out with my future husband.”

“You know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“I guess sneaking around can be pretty hot after all,” I said. “Do you feel like a bad boy, Brett?” I teased.

For an answer, he cupped my cheeks with both hands and kissed me deeply. He kept his tongue to himself that time, but our lips pressed together in perfect harmony, as if they were made for each other. He then moved his warm mouth to my cheeks, eyelids, nose, and lips, peppering me with those delicious kisses before he returned to my mouth and gently sucked my lower lip.

I pulled him closer. “Let’s French.”

He chuckled. “French?”

I smiled. “Do you want to discuss semantics, or would you rather kiss me?” I asked, casting him a seductive, I-need-you-now look.

We went at hit hard and heavy for a while, practically devouring each other, until we heard voices outside the door and were forced to untangle ourselves from one another.

“C’mon, before we get busted,” he said.

“But I don’t wanna stop,” I said with a wink. “Half the fun is getting caught.”

With a naughty grin on his face, he crashed his lips right back into mine for one last, hot kiss.

Back at the table, I could barely concentrate and stuttered as I shared my thoughts on the Civil War. I couldn’t help but zero my gaze in on Brett, and his eyes locked on mine from across the room. I slumped against the chair, my heart hammering a million miles a minute. I decided, right then and there, that nothing was going to keep me from the man of my dreams, the love of my life—not Brett’s parents, nor fate, nor Dante’s rules, nor the universe itself. 

Chapter 17

After school, Rachel and I went for a run. We wanted to stay in top shape so we’d have no trouble surviving on the surface. We knew we’d have to hunt for our food up there, and that would be no piece of cake—literally or otherwise. Staying toned and fit was necessary if we were going to make it in the new world and pull our own weight.

After our run, we stopped and gasped for breath, letting our hearts slow to their normal rhythm. That was quickly thwarted by paranoia when I heard footsteps approaching. 

“It’s probably one of the guys,” Rachel said.

I called out a few familiar names, but no one answered; in fact, it was suddenly quite eerily silent. Entirely freaked out by the lack of response, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. Every muscle in my body seemed to tense. My only consolation was that I had a weapon in my purse and knew how to fight if I had to.

Rachel groaned and rubbed her neck. “We shouldn’t be here without bodyguards.”

“Yeah, I know, but I get tired of being followed around and locking myself in everywhere. I have a life to lead.”

“And what if we end up dead?” she whispered, her eyes wide.

“He never kills two girls at a time. Besides, he’s outnumbered. We’re well trained, and the two of us can take him out if we have to.”

The footsteps picked up again, and a chill crept up my spine. I hurried over and pulled a kitchen knife out of my purse that was sitting by the wall; I’d made sure to carry it with me ever since the bodies of young girls had started turning up. I inched closer to the entrance, the knife shaking in my trembling, white-knuckled grip. I listened closely at the door and heard someone shuffling around, followed by that unnerving silence again. I wondered if he was waiting to pounce like some kind of jungle cat, waiting to take me out. I took a few more brave steps and hurried out the door and into the corridor.
Whew. All clear,
I thought, but then I saw the flowerpot sitting neatly by the door, clearly a gift for me. I froze, and my breath caught in my throat. I instantly knew I was being stalked, even while I worked out, and that unnerved me. “It wasn’t the killer,” I said when I walked back in the room. “It was my stalker.” I turned to meet Rachel’s gaze. “He couldn’t have gotten that far.”

“Huh? You’re going after him? Are you crazy?” she asked, her mouth set in a hard line.

I craned my neck to see if anyone was running down the hall, leaving the scene. “If we hurry, we might just catch him. C’mon”

We took off down the corridor at lightning speed, hoping to catch up with whoever had left the colorful flowers, but we had no such luck.

“Dang it,” I said. “Where’d he go?”

She glanced around. “I’m not sure, but he’s gone.”

“I have to know who it is,” I said, furious.

“Hey, what’s that in your hands?”

“Just one of his infamous little love letters. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of reading it.”

“But there could be a clue in there.”

I blew out a long breath, knowing she was right. I opened the creep’s red notecard and read it to her: “You’re all supposed to die, no matter what you do. You can’t fight your destiny, and death is lurking all around you. But don’t worry, Sky. I’ll save the one special person I hold dear in my heart. I’ll save you.”

“Wow,” Rachel said. “He got a little wordy in that one. I think we’re dealing with a certified nutcase here.”

“What did he mean by that, by saying we’re all supposed to die? Does he mean everyone or just the three of us?”

“Who knows? The only thing we do know for sure is that he’s going to save you. And why doesn’t he give us a date?”

“Because he’s crazy.”

“Maybe he’s talking about the strangler. Maybe he thinks he’s going to save you from him.”

“But the strangler only goes after girls, and Brett isn’t a girl.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Ya know, we could debate this all night. There’s no clear-cut answer. He’s vague and says just enough to scare the crap out of us.”

“Maybe that’s his m.o. He just wants to instill fear in us so you’ll feel some sort of obligation or sympathy for him when he allegedly saves you. He said he holds you dear in his heart. Maybe this is the only way he can force you to have any kind of feelings for him.”

“I can’t believe he’d actually think I’d want anything to do with him after this. I have no idea who he is, yet he thinks I’m gonna live happily ever after with him while my boyfriend and best friend die? What an idiot.”

“I talked to Brett this morning.”

“Really? Did he look as hot as ever?”

She smiled. “Of course, but back to the point. Brett had a casual conversation with Mr. Tams and found out that your Aunt Sarah was the one who told him about the notes. That’s how he knew the details. Not much of a surprise, I guess, if she’s sleeping with him like you said.”