Snake Eyes (The Masks Series Book 3) (19 page)

Eric

I packed up the car and hit the road late afternoon. My plan was to make it to Gramps’ by sunset. My day had been total shit.

Watching Caity run away from me hurt like hell, her words still open bullet wounds in my chest.

I felt like such an idiot.

I drove home in a mindless stupor, which eventually bubbled into my standard rage. By the time I got back to my house, I was fuming. If Caity had been there to read me, she would have given me that sympathetic smile and told me it wasn’t my fault. People didn’t reject me because of who I was. They all walked away for different reasons.

But no matter how anyone put it, the truth remained the same.

People left me and there was nothing I could do about it.

I walked to my room, fighting despair and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. It didn’t help that draped over the chair in the corner was Caity’s sweater. The shards of ice running through my veins became chunks of wood that sliced and tore, leaving behind painful splinters.

I’d squeezed my hands into fists and punched the wall. It fucking hurt.

I glanced at my swollen, red knuckles and grimaced.

I needed to get to Gramps. He’d be the only thing to calm me down, help me think straight. I had no idea where Nicole and Dale were when I pulled out of the driveway, but I was determined to leave before they got back.

I didn’t bother with a note. Dale would probably guess where I’d taken off to anyway.

I gripped the steering wheel and kept my eyes fixed on the road, trying not to think about the last nightmare week.

The phone on the dashboard buzzed. I collected it and saw the caller ID.

Dale Finnigan.

“Not in the mood to talk, man.” I threw the phone back down and let it ring.

After three more, it went quiet and then a minute later I got a voice mail notification.

I shook my head. I was driving. I couldn’t check it now and I didn’t think I had the will to check it later, either. Whatever he needed could wait.

About ten minutes later, the phone started up again.

Snatching it up, I saw Dale was trying once more.

“Forget it,” I muttered, pressing down on the top button and switching my phone off.

With an angry huff, I flung it onto my backseat, not even caring if it broke.

If Caity wanted space, I’d damn well give it to her. It was probably a good thing we were apart for the long weekend. It’d give
me
time to think about what I really wanted out of life, too.

This morning, I’d been convinced it was Caity.

“Now, I’m not sure!” I spat out the words and thumped the wheel...not believing one word of my lie.

Caitlyn

A limo picked us up from UCLA at four p.m. sharp. I handed my bags to the hesitant driver and slipped in behind Quella. As soon as he’d closed the trunk and gotten behind the wheel, he swiveled in his seat and asked Quella a question in Spanish.

“
Quien es ella? Tu padre no le gusta tener invitados de sorpresa
.”

Her nose lifted into the air and her mask slipped away. Nervous guilt maybe? Had she not told her father I was coming?

Oh, shit. This was so not cool.

“
Bueno, el va tener que lidiar con esto. Ella es mi amiga y yo la puedo traer conmigo si yo quiero
.”

What had she just said?

The driver chewed the inside of his cheek before making a clicking sound with his tongue. I tried not to squirm beneath his scrutinizing gaze. A smile quivered over my lips and he humphed, turning in his seat and driving slowly out of campus.

I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure what they were arguing about, and it didn’t help that when I gave Quella a questioning look, she just waved her hand in the air telling me not to worry about it.

My guess that I was not supposed to be in the limo with her was yet again confirmed when the exact same thing happened at LAX. The limo pulled up next to a private jet. I slid my shades off as I got out of the car, my lips parting. I’d never been on a private jet before.

Quella once again argued with the crew, her lips drawing into a stubborn line, her eyebrow arching defiantly.

She threaded her arm through mine. “Fine then. Take me back to the dorm. I am not spending Thanksgiving without my friend, Caity.”

With a resigned sigh, the security guard huffed. “
Usted pequeño niño obstinado. Luche contra tus propias batallas entonces.
”

He flicked his hand at me, indicating that I should
spread ‘em.
I did so, shooting Quella a nervous look, grateful I wasn't actually bugged. She rolled her eyes and gave me an apologetic smile as he waved a bug sensor over me. When it came away clear, the guard reluctantly ushered us onto the plane.

“Are you sure it’s all right that I’m coming? I feel like this is kind of a surprise for everyone.”

“It is.” Quella winked and then giggled at my shocked expression. “Do not worry about it. My father is very strict on security. He never lets me bring friends home, so I figure if I am going to get what I want, then I have to surprise him.”

“But what if he doesn’t let me stay?”

“He will. You are my first friend outside of my family and you make me happy. He cannot deny me.” She grinned, pretending to wrap an invisible thread around her little finger. “Besides, it would be rude for him not to welcome one of my guests. Above all things, he is a gentleman.”

I grinned at her, desperately trying to hide my disquiet. She actually believed that. She had no idea what her father was really up to. Poor thing. When he got arrested for his crimes, it would really hurt her.

I closed my eyes and drew in a breath, forcing myself to think of the kidnapped girls.

“How are you feeling today?” Quella’s question was quiet and filled with concern.

I opened my eyes and looked across at her, giving her a glum smile, which was in no way forced. I knew she was referring to Eric, and just the very thought of him was like a wound to my soul. The look on his face as I ran away...

My eyes glassed with tears. “Heartbroken is probably the best way to describe it.”

I sniffed and turned away from her, not wanting to give away my small smile. He’d have read the note by now. I clutched the bag on my lap, wishing my phone was in it, but Kaplan made me leave it behind. I hoped he didn’t try to call me. I silently begged him to hold out for the long weekend. I’d be back soon to make everything right. If only I could speak to him telepathically. That would solve all my problems.

“You will be okay.” Quella nodded and gave the security guard a pointed look as he boarded the plane.

He humphed and shuffled past us, plonking his large frame into the seat across from me. I shrunk away from his intense glare.

I leaned towards what felt like the only safe thing on the plane and whispered, “So, where are we going?”

Quella shrugged. “I am not sure. I find out when the plane lands. My father likes surprises.”

Nibbling the edge of my lip, I sat back in my seat and tried to relax. Knowing Diego Mendez’s paranoia for security, Kaplan had made me de-bug before getting into the limo. She’d of course waited until I was nearly out of the dorm before barking the order into my ear. I’d had to veer off to the bathroom where Rhodes was waiting for me. I’d had to take my shirt off in front of him, which wasn’t humiliating or anything! I forced myself not to read his face while his fingers lightly brushed my skin, removing all technology from my body.

“And your phone.” He held out his hand.

“Why?”

His face crested with empathy. “This is a business trip. You have to put your life on hold for the next few days; no distractions.”

With a dark glare, I plonked it into his hand. He turned it off and shoved it in his back pocket.

“I promise I won’t peek at any of your stuff.” He winked.

I huffed a short breath out of my nose and crossed my arms.

“You’ve got the black phone Kaplan gave you, right?”

I nodded.

“There’s an app installed on there so we can track you the whole way. Make sure you have it on you at all times so we know exactly where you are.”

I swallowed, the grave look on his face making my insides explode with nerves.

“We’ll be nearby the whole time. I’ve got your back, I promise.”

I gripped the soft leather of my bag as the plane took off, hearing Rhodes’s soft voice in my head and reading the truth behind his mask. He was worried for me, scared that something would happen to me...but he was also determined to keep me safe. That part felt good and I was more than relieved that he was on this assignment, too.

*****

It was dark when we landed. I followed Quella down the plane stairs and was met by another surprised driver. He eyed me up and down, and then barked something at the security guard who barked right back at him.

Quella rolled her eyes and grabbed my arm, pulling me into the limo. The ninety-minute drive passed quickly with Quella rabbiting on about all the things she was going to tell her father and all the things I had to promise not to say.

“He will not approve of the drinking...and probably not the dancing. And do not mention Carlos to anyone.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that her father probably knew exactly what she’d been up to thanks to Carlos.

The long limo slowed. I peered out the window, but the combination of tinted glass and a moonless night made it impossible to see anything. My butterfly nerves were turning traitorous, and cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck. I rubbed at it, squeezing my neck and holding my breath as the limo pulled to a stop at the end of a very long driveway.

I went to open the door.

“Not yet.” Quella touched my arm with a smile. “I know where we are now and the parking is underground.” She winked and chuckled.

I paused and heard a soft whir in front of us and a few moments later the car descended. The lower we got, the lighter it became and we were soon pulling into a large courtyard. The limo pulled around the bubbling fountain and came to rest outside a Spanish-style villa.

My door popped open and I hopped out, taking in the ornate tiles below my feet and the plush, rich garden around us. The fountain created a soothing soundtrack for the idyllic space. I couldn’t believe it was all underground. No wonder Kaplan couldn’t find it.

I gazed up at the high ceiling and captured a few stars. There was a massive hole at the top of this mountain. It was like being inside a volcano, minus all the lava of course. I’d never seen anything like it.

“
Bienvenida, mi princesa preciosa. Te he hechado mas
.”

Quella’s father held her at arm’s length, drinking her in. I could instantly see how much he adored his daughter. His warm, unmasked smile showed me how protective he felt of his little girl. Sending her away to college had been hard for him, and he hated the mischief she’d gotten up to. I pulled another layer free and saw the faint whistle of guilt resting beneath the surface. He’d rather die than have her find out what he was really up to.

He pulled her into a tight embrace and then his gaze hit me. It was like being shot by a bullet. Unmasked, his intense stare cut straight through me. He was taking me in, assessing what kind of threat I might be, checking me out, finding me slightly attractive, but also a total nuisance. He didn’t like me; that much was clear. I was the girl who was leading his precious princess astray.

I tried to stand tall against his scrutiny, smiling bravely and hoping he couldn’t smell fear.

“I see you brought a friend.”

Quella giggled. “Sorry to surprise you, Papá, but Caity is my roommate and she has looked after me.”

“Has she?”

I didn’t miss his dry tone. He was holding me responsible for all the party antics. Carlos had obviously given him very thorough reports.

Quella threaded her arm behind her father’s back. “Please.” She rested her head on his shoulder and batted her eyelids at him. “She is my guest and we must make her feel welcome.”

Mendez smirked, kissing his daughter’s forehead and smiling across at her. “Of course, my angel.”

He looked to the driver and clicked his fingers, pointing at the bags. “We’ll put her in the guest room next to Quella’s.”

“Ooo, they are adjoining.” Quella gave me an excited smile before turning with her father and entering the house.

I shuffled behind them, smiling at the house staff and pulling off masks like my life depended on it, which it actually kind of did.

“Rosa!” Quella squealed, letting go of her father and running into the chubby arms of a short Mexican woman. She grabbed the slight girl to her and squeezed and kissed her cheeks until she wiggled out of her grasp.

“
Mi querubín. Estás en casa, estás en casa! Esta casa esta tan sola sin ti. No lo puedo creer que estés aquí viéndote mas hermosa que nunca. ¿Cómo voy a dejarte ir otra vez
?”

“Ah, yes, Rosa, our little angel is home and has grown even more beautiful while she was away.” Mendez smiled as the woman pulled Quella in for another embrace, and then he turned to me.

I met his gaze confidently in spite of the fact it made me want to melt into the floor. If I wanted him to buy into who I was pretending to be, I had to act like it.

His masked face was quite pleasant, his smile soft and welcoming. I snatched his mask away and saw it again, drinking in that dark malice. It took every ounce of courage I possessed to smile sweetly at him. I was about to open my mouth and thank him for having me in his home when another man appeared behind him.

He was tall and handsome with jet-blue eyes and a perfectly manicured goatee. His nose was sharp, his dark eyebrows dipping inward as he caught sight of me.

Mendez leaned back and whispered something to him. The man looked me over one more time and nodded.

Terror sputtered through me as I ripped off his mask. He had a smug smile on his face like somehow the idea of catching me out would make his day. Who the hell was this guy? I scrambled for information I’d read in the Mendez file. He did look familiar. I could picture an image, slightly blurry. He was wearing shades and a business suit, walking behind Mendez, but who...

“Miguel.” Quella was now free of the short woman’s arms and gazing at the man with a soft smile. Her mask slipped free as she stepped towards him and I saw it all. Her gushy smile, the enamored glint in her eye. This must have been the love she was talking about.

“
Señorita
.” He took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles, making her swoon.

No one else saw this, of course. Mendez was smart enough to realize Quella liked Miguel, but he had no idea to the extent.

I whipped the tall man’s mask off, expecting to see a secret. These two were probably planning on sneaking off together tonight for a little tryst somewhere above ground.

But I didn’t see that at all.

It was an effort to keep my mouth straight as Miguel’s flirtatious expression became one of disgust. He had no interest in Quella Mendez. He was putting on a show, purely for her benefit...and maybe that of his boss?

Wait. Miguel...head of security. He was Mendez’s right-hand man. That’s why he was always in the photos.

What’s the bet Mendez whispered at him to look into my background, check me out? Man, I hoped Kaplan had done her job and kept my past clean. The last thing I wanted them digging up was my involvement with the Pali High cheating ring and the UCLA underground gambling/drug fiasco.

The back of my neck prickled as Quella dragged Miguel towards me.

“Meet my friend, Caitlyn.”

I smiled, thrusting out my hand and wanting to get this over with. He grasped my fingers. His hand was strong and I was sure he could snap my bones if he wanted to. I forced myself not to swallow as I greeted him.