But Ziggy’s back to not talking because he throws a U-turn and heads back toward the trees. In the dark, it’s impossible to keep track of where we’re going. We make it along trails that his truck really shouldn’t be able to fit down, and other than the halo of light cast by his headlights, everything else is pitch-black in the trees.
“Maybe I should have stayed home after all,” Hart mutters, but almost as soon as he says the words, pinpricks of light appear up ahead.
“Is that where we’re going?” I ask.
Ziggy nods, and a few minutes later, we leave the trees behind and pull up beside an enormous building. It’s all timber, highly polished, and looks like someone goes to a lot of effort to take care of it. Ziggy climbs out first, and Hart and I exchange a look.
“Where have you dragged me?” Hart’s trying and failing not to sound interested.
“Hell if I know.” I’m still not giving in to my urge to let my attitude slide, but there really is only so long I can go on being mad. I’m not built for negative emotions, even toward the people who bring them out in me.
“Well, wewereborn together. Might as well die together too.”
“No one’s dying,” I snap, nudging him to get out of the car.
A small group of people walk by toward the left of the building, where a slash of light is thrown out over the grass.
Hart finally climbs out, and I follow him. This isn’t at all what I was expecting, and I’m still not even sure what it is. When I reach Ziggy, I’m hesitant as my hand slips into his, testing to see where we’re at with our relationship. I’d rather we had thatconversation without others overhearing it, but it didn’t even occur to me before we left.
His hand tightens around mine, and I have my answer. He’s not embarrassed by me.
We let Ziggy lead the way to the lit-up section and find a man stationed at the entrance. He has a childlike innocence about him, probably from his bright eyes and chubby cheeks, but there’s something in the way he smiles our way that I don’t like.
“Look at this,” he says as we draw closer. “The little mountain dweller and two harbingers of destruction.”
Hart goes to respond, but I set the back of my hand against his chest in warning.
Ziggy taps the clipboard the man is holding.
“Oh no, I don’t need to check this for your names.” He steps closer to me. “I wrote the list, you see. The paperwork is all for a dramatic flair. I only pretend to check for names on it. If I really don’t like the person, I’ll even pretend not to see them for a moment.” He laughs at something in Ziggy’s expression. “Oh, yes. I leave Foley waiting the most.” The man’s eyes sharpen as they find my face, then slowly move on to Hart’s. “Twins, Ziggy? Who would have thought you had it in you.”
He scowls, and I’m about to reject the gross assumption when Hart gets there first.
“Incest,” he says dryly. “Such a cute thing to joke about.”
“Ah, you’re the angry one. Good. I have a feeling we’re going to be close, you and I.”
“Whoareyou?” I cut in.
“Where are my manners? I’m Dr. Booker. You come and see me anytime you need putting back together.” He grips Hart’s shoulder and runs his hand slowly down his arm. “Any little scrape, bruise … you could never be an imposition.”
Ziggy sighs loudly, catching Booker’s attention, and points at the door.
Booker laughs. “Of course I can’t let them in. They’re not on the list.”
Ziggy swings his thumb between us.
“They might be with you, but you’re not on the list either. There are only so many times you can reject my invitation before it starts to feel personal.”
I have no idea what’s going on, but as easy as it looks to step around Booker and walk in, I get the feeling that’s an illusion. If he’s really as protective of his list as he says, he’s not risking any walk-ins.
“What’s going on here that’s so special?” Hart grunts.
“Peril.”
“As in, it’s dangerous?”
“It’s Peril. Of course it is.”
