Page 41 of Retribution

‘Why didn’t you come out when the fire alarm went off? What took you so long?’ Jacob growls.

I feign surprise. ‘Lady problems,’ I say innocently. ‘Sorry. I went as fast as I could.’

He turns away with a grumble, sitting back down in his seat and doesn’t ask any more about it, as hoped.

I go back to Lu’s table and plant myself in the chair.

‘Oh,’ Lu trills, the sound of it making me wince. ‘Zecomputer. Iteesfixed for you. I had my man look ateetfor you.’ She lowers her voice. ‘He told me to tell you he hid everything on your laptop and planted a bunch of English Lit stuff for your cover. Nasty Nurse won’t have a motherfucking clue.’

‘Thanks, Marcie,’ I gush. ‘Do I owe you anything?’

Lu waves a hand. ‘It was a simple thing. Come, we go to ze class now.’ She smiles oddly at Jacob. ‘Does your mountain come too?’

Jacob stands. ‘Yes, Ma’am.’

Lu giggles. ‘You do not look happy to learnzeShakespearevizus?’

‘I’m just here to make sure Ms. Novelle is safe,’ he says, pulling at his collar. ‘Shakespeare isn’t really my thing.’

Lu waves a hand. ‘Zatis because you read it.Zeplays must be acted. You must watch zem to understandzerpower.’

Jacob clears his throat. ‘If you say so, Ma’am.’

Lu gives me my bag, and I wonder if Nasty Nurse will go through it later. She probably will, I decide, resolving to have another bathroom trip to get rid of any contraband that might get me in trouble before I return to my stepfather's house.

We leave Grinder and walk across the Quad to the dilapidated English building. As we go inside, I recall that first day when Lu brought me here to get my schedule. It was only in September, but it feels like a lifetime ago.

‘Thanks for the fire alarm,’ I whisper to her.

‘If those flushed cheeks are anything to go by, it was worth it, huh?’

My eyes widen and flick to the babysitter who’s staring at a crack in the wall beside us with a blank face. She shakes her head.

‘He didn’t notice anything, I guarantee it.’

She squeezes my hand and I do it back.

We get to the right classroom and Lu lets out a loud sound of disappointment at a paper sign that’s been taped to the door.

‘Iteezcancelled!’

She says something quick in another language that sounds like it could be Russian but could easily be gibberish she’s making up.

I glance back at the bodyguard who’s trailing us closely. He doesn’t seem to notice anything amiss, so he must not know any Russian.

I give her a look to stop taking risks though. She just gives me a wink.

‘Zat eezbad luck, no?’

I nod, wondering if Jacob will insist that we go back to the Novelle house since there’s no class to go to. I don’t want my little field trip to becut short.

‘We could go to the library and finish that work for Thursday,’ I say quickly, not looking at Jacob.

Lu lights up. ‘Yes!Zatis a wonderful idea! Mountain, iszatall right?’

I’m afraid that Jacob is going to say no to this plan immediately, but he just looks at Lu’s pleading eyes and then at mine and lets out an almost imperceptible sigh.

‘Yes, Ma’am. I think that will be fine.’ He gives me a look. ‘So long as we leave on time.’