She propped her heels on her desk’s corner and settled in for a long story. Boy, did I give her an earful.
* * *
That afternoon Derek caught me before I made it to the bus. There was no dim corner. He shoved the backpack off my shoulder and tangled his arms around me, kissing me with a passion that made my eyes widen before I remembered who was kissing me and slammed them shut to forget.
It wasn’t that he was a bad kisser … far from it. And yet … my mouth stopped moving in time to his.
I didn’t want Derek.
As fast as the thought was formed it whisked away, my mind flooding with images of Pietr. Holding Sarah. Kissing Sarah, his eyes fil ed by just Sarah.
And I kissed Derek back. Not Pietr. Derek. With his blond hair and boy-next-door looks and his scent like sun warming a field of wheat. He pul ed away a moment, blue eyes gone dark as his pupils widened, nearly eclipsing their color.
My knees shook when he landed one final, long kiss on my lips, scooped up my backpack, and settled it on my shoulder.
“Better get on the bus,” he said with a grin.
I nodded and stumbled away, pouring myself into my regular seat without a care for staying on one side or the other. Pietr wasn’t on the bus home, anyhow.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Shoe shopping?” My father’s surprise echoed my disbelief.
“It’s a way for Jessica and me to spend some time doing girl stuff,” Wanda assured him. “We won’t buy anything outrageous.”
“Only sensible shoes, Dad.”
“What about Annabel e Lee?”
Nuts. That’s what I’d forgotten.
Wanda and I exchanged a look. I got the feeling I was about to be thrown under a bus.
“The thing is”—Wanda’s volume dropped as she confided—“Jessica says she wants to talk. I think she needs to talk to a woman. In private.”
“Oh.”
I did not dare imagine what Dad thought we’d discuss. A preemptive blush scorched my face.
“Wel , hel , Wanda. You know I trust you.” He patted her hand, and my stomach squeezed in rebel ion.
I wished I could tel him al the reasons he shouldn’t trust her. Or even one. One might be enough.
He dug out his wal et and pul ed a few twenties free. “Take your time and treat yourselves.”
We got in the car before Dad could second-guess. Driving in silence we were two people absolutely at odds with each other. I tucked the money away; it might be useful later.
Cat greeted us at the Rusakovas’ door. She gave me a quick hug. Wanda looked like she considered hugging me, too, but decided a hug wouldn’t help her case.
Thank God.
“Come in, Jessie. And you.” Cat glared at Wanda.
As soon as the door closed behind us, Cat was al business. “Since we agreed to one sidearm, I’d like you to careful y produce it. Then Max wil pat you down.”
“Not him,” Wanda said, slowly drawing her gun from her ankle holster. “He’s handsy.”
Max barked out a laugh. “My reputation precedes me.”
“Pietr,” Cat instructed.
From behind Max he came. Not even sparing me a glance, he took Wanda’s gun. “Ten shots. Three for him, three for me, two for Cat. Two left. Alexi and Jess,” he presumed. “Good thinking. You might get out alive.” He ran his hands over her arms and legs, skimming down her front and back. “She’s clean.” He handed the gun back to Wanda.
He didn’t miss her look of surprise.
“You can’t take away our teeth or claws—we shouldn’t take away your weapon, either.”
“Now do Jessie,” Cat commanded.
His upper lip curling, Pietr glowered at his sister.
“You’re the one who suggested limiting her involvement. Your attitude toward her has changed. So search her.”
Pietr looked to Max for support.
“I’d search her for you, little brother, but I’d enjoy the job.” He grinned, regarding Pietr smugly. “And I’l bet I could make Jessie enjoy it, too,” he rumbled, the chal enge clear.
Pietr stayed perfectly stil a moment, eyes closed, waiting like someone praying for a stay of execution.
“Do it,” I snapped.
Pietr’s face a study in control, he bent to the task. His nostrils flared and I knew he caught the scent of Derek’s most recent kiss on my face, Derek’s body on my hands and covering my clothes. Wel , good for him. I hoped it stung his sensitive nose.
He ran his hands along my arms and slowly down my ribs, his touch so light it tickled. He brushed over my hips and my breath caught treacherously as his fingertips stroked down my legs and traced along my ankles. Then he stood, his gleaming eyes hooded, expression masked. “She’s clean.”
Peering past him to me as if to say, See? Cat darted a glance at Pietr’s hands, noting how they trembled.
I looked away, unsure how she could mistake loathing for something like interest. “Let’s get this over with,” I urged.
We took up positions in the sitting room, facing each other in wel -stuffed seats like some bizarre war council.
“I’l start since I’m mediating. I expect your people”—I addressed Wanda—“to let them see their mother as soon as possible.”
I turned my attention to Cat. “I expect your family’s cooperation giving Wanda the samples she needs.
Blood, hair, and tissue, right?”
“For now,” Wanda said with a nod.
“And what later?” Cat snarled. “Marrow? Sperm? Eggs? Gray matter?” She clicked her teeth together.
“I want al the terms clearly defined. Here and now.”
I just wanted to go. To no longer be the one spot in the room Pietr’s eyes never went to. But they’d asked for my help. And I knew too wel that sometimes the greatest help was the thing that hurt the most.
“Wanda. Tel the Rusakovas exactly what you expect and what they get by agreeing.”
She began to open her mouth.
“Without threats.”
Her mouth shut and she rethought her words. “Blood, skin, hair, fur, marrow. A baby tooth, if available.
You get to see your mother—alive and in good health—in a contained and safe facility under unobtrusive observation. You wil be al owed into her environment—”
“Her environment? ” Cat’s nose wrinkled. “How is she being held?”