“Nearly as peculiar as our ride over,” Zoe said.
“Yes, the drama of it all thrills me. Did you feel the tension? Any suggestions?”
Zoe chuckled. He was being dead serious. Before she could say anything, Lucy spoke.
“I was afraid,” she said.
“Excellent,” Tomac said, slapping his hands together. “And you must be Lucy.”
Lucy swallowed nervously and looked to Zoe for guidance in this strange situation, then back to Tomac with a nod.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Lucy. I hear you are in need of my help.”
“Yes,” Lucy said.
“Anything for a friend of Zoe.”
“There’s fresh lemonade if anyone wants some,” Mave called in her angelic voice from the kitchen.
Zoe gave Tomac a curious look, and he waved it off. “She is new to us,” he said. “Odd, yes, but I never turn anyone away. You know how I am. Everyone should have a safe place.”
“Still taking in strays?” Zoe said.
“We were strays once,” Tomac said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “And someone offered us a place to go. I’m just paying it forward.”
“As long as they’re useful, right?” Zoe mocked. She knew better than to fall for his self-righteous ploy. Tomac was a giver, but only when taking in equal measures. He’d learned that from Heath. He’d learned everything from Heath.
Zoe was suddenly struck by images from her past. She’d been just another body in the system of unwanted kids who cycled through foster homes, never really landing anywhere permanent. She’d been too old for adoption, too stained by the very public evil of her mother. An uncomfortable shiver crawled up her spine. Even the thought of her . . .
She turned her thoughts back to Heath. The boy who had offered her a place. He was another kid similar to her, abandoned, scared, and untrusting of the world. They’d found companionship in one another. Heath, being a couple of years older, had sheltered her and Tomac for a season, shown them how to survive. For a price. For their loyalty.
It had been only a season for Zoe, who was ready to move on the moment she could. But for Tomac it had become more, and as Heath shared his secrets of survival and brought Tomac into his kingdom, as he called it, Tomac found a place that was his.
And then he’d taken it all from Heath. The prince who’d overthrown the king.
Tomac flashed a devilish grin. “Everyone can be useful,” he said.
“You just have to find them the right task,” Zoe finished.
“So she was listening.” He stepped to her side and threw his arm around her shoulders. “You know, I could always find something for you. You and me, babe, we could rule the world.”
Zoe brushed off his never-ending flirtation. “That’s not what we’re here for.”
He rolled his eyes and looked at Lucy. “Always so serious, isn’t she?”
Lucy shrugged with an expression of uncertainty.
Tomac dropped his arm and turned his full attention to Lucy. “That’s right, you hardly know each other. Strange, Zoe doesn’t make friends very easily. So, what makes you so special, Lucy?”
Zoe recognized the predatory tone in Tomac’s voice and stepped between him and Lucy. She could see the hunger in his eyes. He was a collector of things—and people. He knew enough to be interested. She’d had to tell him about Lucy’s memory loss and the trouble she was in. Now she’d have to protect Lucy from the one person who could help them.
She placed her hand on his chest and gave a forceful little push so he knew she was serious. “I came here like you asked, and you said in return you would help me.”
His eyes lingered on Lucy for another moment, and then he dropped them back to Zoe. “Didn’t you want to see me too?”
“We could have done this over the phone, and that would have been fine with me.”
“But then I wouldn’t get to see your lovely face, which I really do miss.”
“Liar.”
“So feisty.”
“Coming here was a mistake,” Zoe said, turning to Lucy. “Let’s go.”
“Alright, fine, we’ll be all business then,” Tomac said. “A promise is a promise. You came all this way, after all. Who did you need to find?”
“A Summer Wallace,” Zoe said, turning back to face him. “All we know is that she lives in Corpus.”
“That’s not much.”
“More than you’ve had before, sire,” Zoe said, stroking his ego. “Can you help us?”
“Does a cat meow? A dog, does it bark?” he replied.
Zoe exhaled. “Couldn’t you just say yes?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He winked, and the familiar feeling of fear and adoration filled her chest. There really wasn’t anyone else like him.
“And the fee,” Tomac continued. “Of course you’ll get the friends and family discount.”
Zoe unzipped her bag, drew out most of the cash she had, and handed it over. Tomac eyed it for a moment. Zoe knew it wasn’t enough, but she was hoping their history might give her some credit she could use to make up the rest.
“A very deep discount then,” Tomac said. “I’ll put my best guy on it, but it may take a couple of hours. By then it’ll be dark. You can stay here tonight, of course.”
Zoe’s stomach turned. She’d hoped to be in and out. Staying in one place, especially this place, felt dangerous. But Tomac kept his operation hidden well, so she couldn’t imagine the FBI finding them here. She nodded.
“Excellent. Mave, sweets,” he called, and the strange woman walked back from the kitchen. “We’ll have guests for the evening. Make sure they are comfortable, will you?”
She smiled too brightly and nodded. Two preteen boys descended the stairs behind Tomac, caught up in hushed conversations. One crossed the distance to them and whispered something in Tomac’s ear, yanked a thick white envelope from the back of his pants, handed it to Tomac, and then rejoined his friend. The boys bounded back up the stairs and Zoe watched them, more memories slamming around inside her brain.
“You ever miss it?” Tomac asked.
Zoe snapped her eyes back to Tomac’s face. “Never.”
“Miss what?” Lucy asked.
“Nothing,” Zoe quickly answered.
“Let’s just say Zoe here was one of the best runners of our time,” Tomac said.
“Runner?” Lucy questioned. “I like to run.”
“And I bet you’d be great at it,” Tomac said.
“It’s not what you think,” Zoe said to Lucy.
“What is it?” the girl asked.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past.” Zoe looked back to Tomac. “We’ve been traveling all day.”
Tomac let the tension stand a moment longer than was comfortable and then said, “I’ll have Mave show you where you two can crash.” He took Zoe’s hand in his. “If you need anything, you find me.”
“Thank you,” Zoe said, and she was grateful. But she also knew she’d be completely tense until they were out of there.
Another long, awkward moment lingered, courtesy of Tomac, before he left them.