“Jeremy wants you to stay close to yourphone so you can alert us if there’s any trouble. But, you know,don’t get in any trouble, okay? It’s just you and me tonight, whichmeans you’re basically on your own.” His forehead knit slightly,and I was surprised to feel a rush of warmth at his worry. Why wasit that Ace worrying about me was charming, and Jeremy worryingabout me was irritating as heck?
“It’s going to be fine, Ace. I’ve got thisunder control,” I said, patting him on his tattooed arm.
He nodded and said, “I’ve got Jericho’shouse plans upstairs if you want to take a look.” I followed himup.
“I don’t have a lot of time, but I’ll lookreally quick.”
“It’ll be good for you to have a generalfeel for the layout. Of course, we don’t know which bedroom isJericho’s, but you’ll be able to see where all the bedrooms are.And get this, there are twenty-five, not including the guest andservant houses. He lives in a real mansion. It’s totally sick.”
I glanced through the mansion plans,immediately having them in my memory. I’d sift through them on thedrive out there. I thanked Ace and rushed to my room to findsomething to wear.
The phone in my pocket vibrated. It was atext from Viktor. You almost ready?
I responded. Getting there. My dad isdriving me nuts about tonight. He’s ticked you didn’t come meethim. I got the feeling it would be useful if Viktor knew Amberhad someone big and strong waiting for her to come home safe andsound.
Parents really can suck. I hope you’re upfor a really great night. Jericho puts on the best parties.
I’m excited.
When are you heading for the subway?
I’ll leave in about half an hour. I’ve gotto get ready. See you soon.
Can’t wait.
I dressed in layers so that I could easilypeel off what I wouldn’t need. I definitely didn’t want to get achill during the night. I didn’t want any excuses for Viktor tofeel the need to pull me in close. I did, however, need to look hotto get Jericho’s attention. If I knew anything about him, it wasclear that he liked hot girls. The layers were also a convenientbonus when trying to hide a bunch of surveillance equipment. Thecameras were the bulkiest of all, but still only the width of apencil. I put the most precious bug, the phone bug, into my pocket,taping it to the lining. If the opportunity arose to place it, Ineeded easy access to it.
As I was heading out the door to catch thesubway, my phone vibrated. It was Viktor.
Be ready in ten and don’t go to the subway.I’m picking you up at your house.
What? I texted back.
I’m almost there. Be ready.
Chapter 11
I cursed silently. This couldn’t behappening. I’d texted Viktor about my dad wanting to meet him—itwould seem strange now if there was no dad at all. I didn’t wantanything to blow my cover, and even something as small as thiscould cast suspicion on me later. I needed a dad, and I needed onequick.
I shoved my phone into my pocket and ran upthe stairs after Ace. I burst into his room, and he looked up fromhis computer in alarm.
“Ace—I need you.”
“Wha—what’s going on?” Ace sputtered as Iraced past him to his closet. I flung it open, then let out a groanof dismay when I found the hangers bare and all the clothes on thefloor. I dropped to my knees and pushed through the pile, findinghalf a dozen pairs of ratty jeans, about ten snarky T-shirts, andthree or four knit beanies.
“Dangit, Ace, don’t you have any adultclothes?” I growled, leaping to my feet and heading out of hisroom, toward Jeremy’s.
“Christy, what are you doing?” Ace laughed,shocked by my strange behavior. “What’s wrong with my clothes? Willyou please tell me what’s going on?”
I pulled open Jeremy’s closet and felt asurge of relief. Of course, Jeremy would have suitable attire. Ipulled out a long-sleeve plaid oxford shirt and a pair of khakislacks then thrust them toward Ace, who’d followed me into Jeremy’sroom, a look of baffled amusement on his face.
“Put these on,” I said. “I need you to be mydad.”
The half-smile disappeared, and his skinturned white. “Christy, please tell me you’re joking—”
“Viktor is going to be here in,” I consultedmy phone. “Six minutes. He’s expecting to meet Amber’s dad.”
“But Christy, I can’t—”
“You said it yourself—it’s just you and metonight. There’s no one else. I need you, Ace.” I held out Jeremy’sclothes. “Please?”
He swallowed visibly, then held out a shakyhand for the clothes.
I gave them to him and then gripped hisarms. “Thank you, Ace. I know you can do this. I’ll do my best toget Viktor in and out, super quick I promise. You don’t even haveto say anything. All you have to do is stand there and lookscary.”
I ran downstairs and heard muttered cursesbehind me as Ace changed into Jeremy’s clothes. This had to work. Icringed, remembering Ace’s pale face and wide eyes. If he couldn’tpull this off, I’d have a lot of explaining to do. I paced thefloor. The minutes waiting for Viktor to show up dragged on likehours.
Finally, the doorbell rang, and at the sametime Ace appeared at the top of the stairs. I was momentarilyfrozen, staring up at him, the change was so shocking. The plaidshirt covered his tattoos completely, and he’d cinched the slacksup at his waist just enough to indicate maturity without lookingridiculous. He’d also added a blue sweater vest to the ensemble,and it was the perfect touch. His scruffy facial hair was gone, andhis hair was slicked down in a nerdy, greasy way that emphasizedthe slight gray streaks at his temples. He looked ten years older,like he could actually be my dad.
To top it all off, he carried a rifle in hisright hand. The change was so over the top, I had to put my hand upto my mouth to stop the laughter bubbling up inside me. He noddedat me, no trace of his earlier fear anywhere on his face. I took adeep breath to
