Rage filled me, nearly blinding my vision. “Then make sure he doesn’t leave,” I yelled. “You fucking idiot!”
“Jesus, Maddy, chill the fuck out!” Andre snapped. “The landlord already threatened to kick you out for ranting and raving.”
“Screw that wrinkled, old hag!” I snarled. “She needs to learn to mind her own fucking business!”
“More like you need to take a Xanax,” Andre retorted, rubbing at his temples, “or a few Prozac or somethin’, so my ears can get a break from all your screeching. My head feels like it’s about to explode right now.”
The only thing stopping me from rushing forward and pounding Andre’s homely face in, was the fact I’d seen him break the legs of more than one muscle-bound thug. Besides, even though I didn’t act it sometimes, he was my friend. But I’ll manipulate and use my friends if it means I can get retribution on Razor.
“How can we delay him until we get there?” I said, my tone much softer.
Andre studied me for a moment as if weary of my sudden calm and then scratched at the fresh stubble shading his jaw. “Let me check . . .” He turned his attention back to his laptop and tapped away for several moments and then stopped, a frown creasing his face.
“What?” I asked.
“He’s gone.”
Anger threatened to overcome me once again, but this time, I was ready for it.
“How?” I asked coolly.
Andre seemed amazed by my self-control. “He may still be there, but I can’t know for sure. Someone must be helping him.”
I arched a delicate eyebrow inquisitively. “Who the hell would be helping him?”
“I’m not sure . . .” Andre squinted at his screen, typing in several more commands. “If I had to guess . . . Shadow,” he said.
“Shadow?” I asked, confused. “Why would that limp-dick nerd want to interfere with us?”
Andre shrugged. “I don’t know, but as far as I know, he’s one of the only Anonymous members that Razor would trust.”
I thought back to the many conversations we’d had. “You know what? I bet you’re right.”
Andre shook his head. “The founders definitely aren’t going to like that. I heard they’re out for Razor for that footage he recovered — you know, about that murdered prostitute?”
I’d heard about that, some local politician getting off on murdering vagabond whores. The story didn’t interest me much, and I didn’t understand what the fuss was all about.
As far as I was concerned, stuff like that always happened and there was no use getting worked up about it. The world was a cruel a place for a woman and sometimes the only way to survive was to use your wits, brain, and be just as cruel yourself.
I’d never be caught dead in a back alley with a man in the wee hours of morning, so the dead woman obviously was an idiot . . . and a weak one at that. She deserved no sympathy from me.
“Yeah,” I replied. “Why is Razor refusing to give it up anyway?”
“You know, him. He’s a rebel. He probably thinks he’s doing what’s right.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “How hypocritical.”
“Anyway, Shadow’s attempts to stop us from going after him is just a minor annoyance. He’ll be a pest, but it won’t stop me from tracking him down.”
“Are you sure?”
Andre nodded confidently. “Trust me. He has a lot of people looking for him. He’s going to get desperate, and he’ll make a mistake.”
“You better hope so,” I warned, walking over to the window to look out onto the street. It was mid-afternoon and the area was bustling with business. “Because if I don’t get to sink my claws into him before someone else gets a hold of him, you’ll be sorry.”
Chapter 9
Carly
“Remember, we’re just here to get in and get out,” Mason warned me as we walked onto the university’s campus, speaking furtively close to my ear. He’d donned a gray hoodie, claiming he didn’t want to be seen on camera, and had it pulled low over his face. It made him look ominous and incredibly sexy. Meanwhile, I wore a pink skirt and a white blouse, with white rhinestone sandals adorning my feet, my strawberry blonde hair pulled back into a girly ponytail. “Don’t speak to anyone.”
I shivered at his hot breath on my neck. He was so close to me that I almost felt like I was melting.
“Do you understand?” he asked me, looking around the campus, but keeping his head low before turning his gaze back on my face.
Slowly, I nodded, trying desperately to stay focused.
Mason studied me for a moment and then nodded. “Good.”
He grabbed my hand and began pulling me along toward the campus library.
It was weird. Though I graduated not long ago, it felt eerie to be back on a campus with Mason at my side. Seeing all the college students milling about and the scenery brought back memories of fraternities, sororities, and wild parties — though it was something that I rarely engaged in.