Where There's Fire (Panopolis Book 2) by Cari Z. Read Free Book Online Page B

demanded in a low voice.
    “I’ll tell you if you can get us away from here,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’m tapped out.”
    Fine, but she would be telling me. I unscrewed the rubber cylinder at the bottom of my cane, pressed the ignition button and tossed it in front of us. “Hold your breath!” Three seconds later a plume of utterly foul smoke began to spew from it, and people began to retch. I pulled her to the right, toward a less-crowded side street, and on and on until we were simply two more busy people, wondering what the hell was happening. I pulled my jacket inside out to hide the scorch marks, then turned to her. “Where’s Raul?”
    “Oh, c’mon.” The woman’s voice was teasing. “Whatever happened to basic introductions? I did save your life, after all.”
    “I don’t care who you are, I want to know about Raul. Where is he?”
    “Shouldn’t you be worrying more about yourself?” she countered.
    I resisted the urge to scream at her. “No, I shouldn’t, because at least I know where I am. When I last spoke with Raul he was coming to get me out of the bank. Then you showed up instead. He would have told me if he was working with you, so that means something happened to him. And you’re going to tell me what.”
    “Am I? I’m not so sure about that. I mean, you can’t even bother to be civil—”
    I grabbed her thankfully bare wrist. “I don’t have time for civil.” Inside Me was a roiling ball of rage and fear, and I let it bleed through. Lavender-hair’s eyes widened, but instead of quailing, she started to shake, vibrating so fast that my fingers went numb. I dropped her hand, and we stared at each other.
    “Touché,” she allowed. “So you’re a fear monger?”
    “Not really,” I said. “Fine, introductions, then. Who are you?”
    “I’m Vibro.”
    “Vibro . . .” I considered what had happened at the bank. “Some sort of . . . resonant frequency thing?”
    “No, but nice try!” she said brightly. “I project energy through my hands. Let’s me break stuff apart. It’s great for walls but not so good on people.” She smiled. “They always make such a mess.”
    “And did you make a mess of Raul?” If she had, I was going to . . . I don’t know what I was going to do, but it would be bad. Probably for me, although my chest was wound so tight with worried tension that I didn’t care.
    “Your honey’s safe as houses, Edward Dinges. Well,” she corrected herself, “not your house, but other people’s houses.”
    I locked my knees against a sudden dizzy spell. “What’s wrong with my house?”
    “Why don’t you go take a peek at it? And when you’re done there, come to this location, and you’ll get answers about the Mad Bombardier.” She handed me a small, tidy piece of stationary. “I suggest you come prepared to impress.” Vibro winked, and for a second I saw something moving through the wave of her hair, parting the strands like an invisible finger. “See you later, Edward.” And with that, she ran off before I could think to grab her again.
    Our home . . . Raul . . . I was burnt and blistered, smelled like smoke and probably looked like hell. Finding Raul was my biggest priority, but I had to take care of myself first or I wouldn’t be able to take two steps without attracting unwanted attention. I fumbled in the cane handle for my backup pill and popped it dry to try to stave off the headache that was careening toward me, took a steadying breath, and then headed back for the street. I needed to find someone who’d be willing to trade clothes.
    The difference between pitiful and pitiable was a fine line, but I struck it with a young guy in a dark hoodie and carpenter jeans who glanced my way and did a double take, plucking his headphones off as he walked over. I pushed my fear down into Inside Me, snagged his hand before he could speak, and said, “I’m sorry, but I need your clothes.”
    “Oh man, fuckin’ check you out!”