Slick as Ides (27 page)

I step inside and find Riot on the couch, his hands clasped together and resting on his lap.

“You saw your dad, didn’t you? You only get that devastated look in your eyes when you’ve been around him.” He studies my face.

“Yeah, I did,” I say, sounding out of breath.

“Why?”

“He had contact with Nick. I want to protect them both.” I shuffle past him to get to the kitchen. I’m thirsty as hell.

“I don’t get you—both of these men have done nothing but hurt you, yet you push me away, when all I’ve done is tried to love you and treat you well. I mean, goddamn, Nick assaulted me, and you forgave him and even had sex with him right after. I should be pissed as hell at you, but for some stupid reason, I’m not. I can’t ever be angry with you.”

I double over, clutch my knees and take in a long, winded breath. “I think we need to get you out of here. You’re not safe.”

“Ides! I’m fucking talking to you about us!” he yells.

“There
is
no
us
! How many times do I have to tell you this?” I holler back.

“There would be if you’d stop this!”

I grab his leather jacket, slung over the back of the chair next to me and throw it at him. “Put this on. We’re leaving. We can’t stay here. We can talk about this in the car!”

He’s motionless, and his jaw pops open. “This place is a fortress. There’s no possible way Nick can get in anymore. Why the hell would we leave?”

“Because I swallowed a goddamn chip Nick made, and who fucking knows what it’s going to do! I don’t want you getting hurt because of this.” I choke on several sobs until he’s off the couch, and he’s pulled me into his arms.

I beat at his chest, pushing him away. “No! No! I won’t!”

“Dena, c’mon. I’m not gonna do anything,” he says, his voice low and soft.

“I can’t . . . I love him, and I can’t live without him anymore. I want him to find me. I want to run out in the street and scream until he takes me away from this.” I fist his shirt and tuck my head into him so he can’t see the anguished faces I’m making.

“Okay . . . We’ll go wherever you want.”

He pets my hair.

“We’ll go to San Diego. I have a few friends there, and then we need to split from each other. I need to go into serious hiding, and I’ll be moving around a lot. I think this is the best way,” I ramble.

Snot drips down my upper lip, and I snort a laugh. Nick would’ve taken care of that for me if he was here, but he’s not.

And now he won’t ever find me. Riot has no idea how to care for me and deal with all my shit I carry on my shoulders.

“I’ll go have my stomach pumped first, and then we’ll leave.” I sniff.

“We need to get that chip out of you now,” he says.

“I know. Urgent Care?” I ask.

“No, I can get it out of you,” he replies.

“I’m not going to force myself to puke.” I pull away.

His arms stay extended, his hands resembling claws.

I shudder at the thought I allowed him touch me.

Not only could he be covered in germs, but he’s not Nick, and I simply can’t bear it.

I need my Vapor.

I need his touch, his voice in my ear.

I need Riot gone.

“Don’t do this . . .” His face drops as I back away. “I want to help.”

“Are you going to hurt me to get this thing out?”

“No. Well, I don’t know if it’ll hurt, but there’s something I’ve been working on, and oddly enough, I think it’ll do what we need it to.” He grins sheepishly.

“What is it?”

“Let me show you,” he says, leading me over to his workstation of sorts.

I’ve relegated a section of the living room over to him so he could work in peace.

I never pry, but if he wants to show me something, I’m happy to see it and give feedback.

“It’s kind of a mini, metal detector,” he says, smiling wider, beaming at me. “I created it so . . .”

“So if I walk into your shop with my slimboy, you know I’ve got it in my pocket,” I say, filling in the end of his sentence.

He blinks and nods, but his head barely moves.

“Sorry . . . I’m not trying to undermine you, but it’s . . . Well, it’s about supply and demand in the business.”

I take a deep breath. “It’s fine. I do get it. No hurt feelings here.” I stare at the small metal object, no bigger than a bottle cap.

“It’s attracted to microchips and microprocessors, and it’s even got a magnetic pull on it. I can strengthen the intensity so it can make the chip inside you come back up.”

“That sounds incredibly painful.” I grimace.

His head snaps back, and he gives me an incredulous look. “And
what
? Getting your stomach pumped is going to be a picnic on a wonderful spring day? That shit’s gonna hurt just as badly. You shouldn’t have swallowed it.” He hands me his piece. “For all you know the thing’s poisoned as well.”

“Give me a break. Why would it be poisoned?” I throw my hands up for a moment and then let them fall. I get back to the point—“What’s it called?”

“It’s called the Ides of Time.” He snickers.

I laugh and swipe it out of his hand. “Get a new name, you silly man, ‘cause even I know that’s kinda morbid.”

He covers his mouth as he chuckles and takes a seat.

“Okay, settle it over your stomach, and it should probably be object-to-skin.”

“You’re just trying to get me naked,” I say, quirking a brow at him.

“Maybe.” He shrugs with an arrogant grin.

“Fix the intensity of the pull, then I’ll turn around and slip it inside my shirt.” I jerk my chin at his equipment.

He bites his lip at the corner and tries to hide his smile.

“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” I chuckle.

“Maybe,” he repeats.

His belly bounces with a silent laugh.

“Fucker—I need this out,” I say, kicking the couch next to his leg.

“All right, all right. Patience . . .” He types in a few commands a moment later and tells me it’s ready.

I turn around, put it under my shirt, and it’s the oddest sensation to feel this tugging inside my gut. Even stranger is the pull on the Ides of Time as I move it in a northerly direction. It’s like playing with a Ouija board—like some unseen specter is directing it.

A few seconds later, I’m choking the microchip back up. And as soon as it’s out, I gag out a, “Oh, fuck! That’s gross!”

I go running through the house with a glob of mucous on my hand, surrounding a chip.

I drop it in the sink as I proceed to vomit right next to it.

Riot’s hand juts, out and he snatches the chip up.

“Don’t take it!” I screech through bouts of throwing up so forcefully, I can barely breathe.

“I’m just cleaning it up,” he says, voice filled with innocence and shock at my territorialism about it.

He stays at my side, does as he said he would, and then sets it on the counter next to me.

I proceed to bark out orders, and he follows them implicitly.

After brushing my teeth twice, using mouthwash and then a vinegar rinse, I can stop gagging and retching.

“Thank you,” I manage to whimper as I head to my room with the chip inside my fist.

“You’re welcome.” He smiles, but it’s tight, and he looks lost.

Well, shitty monkey balls. I can’t deal with that look, so I lock myself up in my room.

It’s gonna be a long night as I unravel the contents of this chip.

I’ve already been trying to figure out how I’ll move his other mind-bending invention into the public’s eye.

And I thought my brain never ceased going a hundred-miles an hour. His creations are much more detailed and involved and so thoughtful it takes my breath away.

Mine are kids toys compared to his.

This chip though . . . What can he want with this?

* * *

“You look like you’ve had an all-nighter in hell,” Ty says, smiling.

“Shut up. You have no idea what I’ve been through the last few days. That man has a mind unrivaled by . . . Well, I don’t know. My brain’s mush at this point. I’ve been trying to break into its secrets, but he’s got this sucker so tied shut, it’s damn near impossible.” I yawn and rub my sore eyes.

“Take a break. You deserve it. Stephen’s been pissing and whining about the weasel and how it just can’t break the cobra. So, you’ve done it.”

“I’ve done part of it,” I correct him. “It’s not over yet. I’ve cut through his defenses, but I’m not ready for my actual plan of attack yet. Riot’s been psycho lately. I need to get rid of him.”

“Kick him out,” he says, staring at me like this is a simple math equation.

“I can’t do that. He’s too domesticated now. He won’t survive in the wild.” I take a deep, chest aching breath. “Besides, I owe him, even if he has fucked me over several times. He’s done more good than bad, and I’m not going to ignore the things that should be honored. He’s a good guy at heart, just a little misguided at times. I’m planning on taking him to San Diego and dropping him off there. Can you help me out?”

He flashes those teeth at me, and I want to barf immediately. God, lasers can’t cut through that yellow coating on his teeth. He should keep them permanently hidden behind those lips of his. They’re big enough.

“Of course I can. My ex-girlfriend lives there, and she’s got tons of hacker friends in the area. What’re you looking for?”

I shrug my left shoulder, all energy drained from my body. “A woman in the scene. She needs to be smart, cute, funny. Riot needs a companion.”

“Since when are you into the dating service?”

“I’m not, but he’s not gonna let me go unless he has someone else. He thinks he’s in love with me. After working for me for almost a year, I’ve somehow made him a little screwed up in the head, too.” I slump against the wall and yawn.

“Everyone’s in love with you. They can’t help it. You’re the unattainable. Why do you think Vapor’s so hot on your ass all the time? Men love a challenge. The minute you give him everything, he’ll walk away. I guarantee it. He doesn’t really love you. How can he?”

“Gee, thanks, Ty. You inspire me to reach epic heights with this pep talk of yours.” My eyes narrow at him and go moist on me.

“I’m only telling you what you need to hear. I’m not gonna kiss your ass like everyone else does. You’re brilliant. That’s not something I’ll dispute, but you’re not very lovable. I tried. There’s no way to get through to you. Once a person’s been hurt as much as you have, there’s no coming back from that. Your abandonment and trust issues will never go away, and you mask them with your germophobia.”

“Yeah, great. Just set this thing up for me. I need Riot happy and out of the way so he doesn’t get hurt.” I turn to leave. “And, Ty?”

“Yeah?” He gives me a curious look.

“You’re wrong. Vapor’s broken me every fucking time, and there’s no wall to speak of when he simply looks at me. It takes a man who understands a deep well of pain to get inside my walls, and you couldn’t ever be that for me. It’s not because I didn’t want to love you. It’s because you couldn’t honestly understand or love me back.” I dip my head and walk away.

There’s no way he’ll ever get it. But I do now. I need Vapor more than ever.

He lets me breathe.

Chapter 16

Vapor

“Holy shit! She’s done it!” I jump and snag at the remote.

She swallowed the chip.

Finally. Thank God!

I’ve been following her around on my bike, but now she can come back to me.

I’m sick of seeing her in sporadic spurts and from too many fucking feet away. I don’t care anymore that she bruised my ego with her harsh assessment of me and my shitty inventions.

I pace my room as I wait for the device to send the impulse to her brain.

The button’s been pushed, and I’m dying to have her at my door.

But fuck.

Jason’s here.

I don’t want him anywhere near her.

So I grab the remote, shove it in my pocket, then grab a bag and start packing.

I’ll hole up in a hotel somewhere.

I’ll want her all to myself. There’s gonna be a lot of loud fucking involved, and I don’t want him thinking she’s being slaughtered when she’ll really just be orgasming as many times as she can.

My hands shake and drop things as I try to hurry and ram my shit into a duffel bag.

When I’m all packed and ready to go, I simply wave at Jason and tell him, “Later, man.”

“Hey, your dad’s on his way.” He glances at my hand on the strap.

“Good for him,” I reply.

“He’s pissed. You better stick around.” He motions with his chin at my bag slung over my right shoulder.