29° (Twenty-Nine Degrees) (Twenty Nine Book 3)

by Nancy Pennick

  I took the box, seeing it was a make-up sample from a high-end department store. “Thanks.” I took Will’s hand. “For everything.”

  As I shut the bathroom door, he added, “And Carol mentioned how you appeared out of thin air like a magic trick. I’d like to know how you did it.”

  I winced as the door clicked into place and immediately connected to Lucas.

  “Allie! Thank God!”

  “I’m with Carol … and Will. They’ll say I was here all day. I’m fine.” I stripped my clothes off and threw the dress over my head. “But I need you to come here and get the formula. I’m changing out of my clothes into a dress. I can’t wear a pack around my waist.”

  “Oh, so now it’s all about fashion.” Lucas teased. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. I got a message from the front desk to call Nate, then I’ll head out.”

  “Okay. See you soon.” I dabbed on some lipstick, applied the blush to my cheeks and liner and mascara to my eyes.

  “I think I look presentable,” I said to myself. I always liked to say I had aqua eyes like my mom’s. Dad’s were a bright blue like Dean’s. Mom would say she didn’t know where Doug got the gray tint to his blue, but I did. Evil lurked within. I had to smile at the reflection in the mirror. I was making my brother out to be a monster, but after what I’d been through, I couldn’t help it.

  Thankfully, Carol had bought ballerina flats to complete the look. She knew I ran through the museum many times a day so she took that into consideration when choosing shoes. I slipped my feet into them and opened the door.

  “Wow!” Will leaned against the desk. “You clean up well.”

  “Will?” I ignored the comment. “Are you sure you can lie for me?”

  His face changed to a serious look. “What did I tell you before? There are a lot of us who don’t agree with being herded into big cities for our safety.” He made air quotes when he said safety. “Those of us who already lived here don’t mind the people, but our way of life has changed.” He shook his head. “Carol said some of those bombings were staged.” He lifted his brows, waiting for confirmation.

  I stared at him, hoping he saw the truth in my eyes. “We want to stop the bombings, but don’t know where he’ll strike next. All of our communication and tracking capabilities are gone.” I unconsciously touched the top of my wrist. “Doug also has plans for the city.”

  Will’s eyes widened. “You think he’ll bomb the city after telling people we’re protected?”

  “No,” I said. “He plans to implode old buildings to make way for new. My dad’s helping him. He was in real estate.” I lowered my head, ashamed that my family was causing so much chaos. “Doug wants to slowly transform the United States into a new country. His country. New America.”

  “How did he get this much power?” Will ran his hand through his dark blonde hair. He stood posed like a model without intending to. That was what I loved about him. He had no idea how handsome he was.

  “Long story.” Which includes Niners, the STF and a psychopath.

  “I’ve got time.”

  “Well, I don’t. Lucas is on his way. I’ve got to meet him downstairs.”

  “Another time?” Will walked me to the door.

  “Sure,” I lied.

  “You know I’ll do anything to help.” Will kissed the side of my head as he opened the door.

  “Lucas!” I sounded guiltier than I should have. He stood in the hall, ready to knock, then his face tightened when he saw us.

  “Allie.” He glanced at me then Will. “Will.” He nodded as a muscle twitched in his jaw.

  Will stuck out his hand and I noticed Lucas hesitated before he took it. “Good to see you again, Lucas. Allie was quite the mess when she got here, but look at her now.” He placed his hand on my back and nudged me forward.

  “Wait!” I put up my hand, needing to clear the air. “I don’t want things between the three of us to be awkward. Lucas,” I said, facing him. “Will’s a friend. I will hug him and greet him as such.” I turned to Will. “Lucas is my husband, but you already know that.” I smiled.

  Lucas let out a breath or maybe a sigh of relief. “Agreed. Allie, I slipped past Doug. I didn’t want him to see me. Is there a backdoor?”

  “Yeah,” Will said. “Follow me. I’ll get you out of here. Allie definitely needs to stay here so Doug can see her.”

  Before Lucas left, he took me by the arm. “I couldn’t get a hold of Nate. When I do, I’ll let you know.”

  “You still have the chip?” I whispered. Lucas nodded and I grabbed his hand placing the pack in it. “We can trust everyone. We should have never doubted them. Sean and Kim are doing intel.”

  “I know,” Lucas whispered. “But we had to be sure.”

  He gave me a quick kiss as we parted ways. I headed to the elevator and pushed the button for the first floor. Doug and Kim sat on one of the white sleek benches along the wall deep in discussion, never taking notice of my entrance.

  “Well, you two seem cozy.” I had to play the part of a betrayed friend and sneered at Kim. I saw the hurt in her eyes and wished I could tell her the truth. “Doug,” I said as I looked into his steely gray blue eyes. “I didn’t know you were so fond of the arts.”

  “I am.” Doug met my gaze with a sly smile. “But as President I have to accomplish a lot in one day. Kim happened to be here so I thought I’d discuss my next speech after my meeting with Carol.”

  “Another speech?” I rolled my eyes, hoping he’d still see me as his bratty teenage sister. “Are you trying to bore us to death? Hypnotize us into submission?” I slapped my forehead. “I’ve got work to do.” I spun on my heels and took off in the opposite direction.

  “Allie! Wait up!” Kim followed after me. I made sure I was a safe distance from Doug before stopping.

  “What?” I said loudly.

  “I’m sorry,” Kim whispered. “It’s not what it looks like.”

  “I know,” I said as kindly as I could but kept a mean look on my face in case Doug approached.

  “You do?” Kim wrapped her arms around her waist and looked as if she could cry.

  “I saw Sean today,” I whispered.

  “At Headquarters?”

  I nodded. “How often do you see him?”

  “A few times a week. Doug keeps him at Headquarters for most of the workweek.”

  “Sorry. Doug’s a jerk.” I caught my bottom lip between my teeth to keep from laughing.

  “But a smart one.” Kim glanced toward the bench. “He feels like he’s in complete control. That’s why you’re allowed to do what you want. But if anything changes …?” Kim shrugged. “It’s the reason I try to keep him pacified.”

  “We have a plan, Kim. Sean knows a little and can tell you next time he sees you, which I hope is soon.” Doug cleared his throat and stared in our direction. “We better stop talking. Tell Doug you couldn’t get through to me but will keep trying. Say I agreed to talk to you again.”

  “Here? At the museum? That would be wonderful,” Kim said. “And without the watchdog, I hope. Thanks, Allie, for believing Sean and trusting me.” She reached out her hand to pat my arm, but I backed away.

  “Sorry,” I said between my teeth as I went up the circular pathway.

  My legs felt like gelatin as I made my way to the second level. As soon as I came to a bench I fell onto the seat. What a day! Exhaustion overtook me, and I leaned my head against the wall. I could sleep right here, but I need to get home. Home? Don’t ever think of it like that! Don’t ever call it that again!

  * * * *

  “I don’t like the idea of you meeting Doug one-on-one,” I said to Lucas as we went through the dinner line. “After all, he did try to kill you a few months ago.”

  “You don’t have to remind me.” Lucas reached for a salad and applied his favorite raspberry balsamic over the top. He’d gotten his hair styled, looking more like he did when we lived in California. The dark locks were longer on top but the sides were much
shorter.

  I took hold of his arm, feeling the strength. He ran five miles a day and did what he could to stay in shape. I tugged on his elbow and looked into his chocolate brown eyes. “I love you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “It won’t.” Lucas let out a breath. “I don't think Doug really has plans to meet with me anyway.”

  “Then why did he say he would?” I felt like strangling Doug, squeezing his throat until his face turned bright red.

  “To keep me happy, I guess.” Lucas shrugged and picked up both our trays. “Now that we have the serum, we have leverage. Julian, Oliver and I are going to request a meeting and make it sound too good to resist.”

  I slipped into a seat at the table. Julian and Serena were already eating their dinner. “Hi,” I said to them.

  Serena’s eyes widened. “How are you? I can’t believe—”

  Julian touched Serena’s arm. “Remember we’re the only ones who know, babe.”

  “Right,” she whispered. “But I’m in awe of you right now, Allie. Way to go.”

  I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “It was nothing.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “It was something.” Serena picked at her food, pushing it around the plate with her fork. “Kids are doing well. Your mom’s a sweetheart. I’m so glad I got to know her better.” She looked at Allie. “She’s a smart woman. I can see where you got it from.”

  “Thanks.” Mom had always been Mom to me. I saw her scurrying about in her kitchen, setting the table, waiting on Dad and never thought of her as a separate person. I guess all kids look at their parents that way, at least until they're grown and perhaps have children of their own. “She’s been talking to you about … things? Niners, Doug, the STF?”

  Serena smiled. “Yeah, she has an interesting outlook on all of it. But what I love about her most? She gets it.”

  “It?”

  “The Niners code, the loyalty.”

  Tears filled my eyes, and I glanced at Lucas. “I’m glad we told her.”

  He took his napkin and dabbed a tear trailing down my cheek. “I love her, too,” he said. “So Julian? What do you think about trying to set up a meeting with Doug?”

  “Let me handle it, Lucas. I’m going to talk to Randolph since he stops by the Sanders apartment almost every day.”

  Mom had told me Randolph brought Colt over to play with Zak now that Doug had too much to do as president. He’d stay, sitting at the dinette table, and watch the boys. He never talked which drove Mom crazy. She said Tobias was always present, and if Zak did anything out of the ordinary for a child his age, he’d signal him to stop. Zak always obeyed.

  “Now that Doug’s President,” Lucas said. “He can’t rely on Randolph. He has the Secret Service trailing him everywhere.”

  “Were they trailing us today?” I swallowed hard, never giving that a thought.

  “Yes, they were. But I didn’t want to add to your stress.” Lucas put his arm across the back of my chair. “Even when Doug drives around the city, they follow.”

  “Oh.” I reached for my bottle of water. “I’m surprised he hasn’t replaced them with his own men.”

  “He will, trust me.” Lucas laughed. “Give him time.”

  Julian stood and stretched his arms. “I feel restless tonight. Allie, do you mind if I steal your husband for a few hours? I found a gym on one of my walks and want to see if we can use it. It did say open twenty-four hours.”

  “Sure. Lucas and I are still connected until tomorrow. When we visit my mom, Zak will get his wristband back.”

  “Thank goodness you have it, Allie,” Serena said. “Not being connected to the girls is hard, but at least I know you are. In fact,” she said as she shifted in her seat. “This is really getting old. No phones, except those ancient relics in our rooms. There’s no way to get information to people quickly.”

  “Oh, come on! You don’t like Doug TV?” I laughed. For a moment, I flashed back to the old motel room where he'd held me hostage in high school.

  “My favorite.” Serena smiled and rolled her eyes. “So what do you want to do since it’s boys’ night out?”

  “Let’s have girls’ night in,” I said. “Popcorn and a movie.”

  * * * *

  The next morning, we arrived earlier than usual at my parents’ penthouse. Julian was determined to intercept Randolph on the way in and set a meeting for today. He planted himself in the lobby while the rest of us went up to the apartment.

  “Mommy!” Three voices in unison rang out.

  I took Zak in my arms, gave Mom a kiss on the cheek and let Dad hug and kiss me. Tobias sat at the kitchen table, teapot in front of him, with scones piled high on a plate. My mouth watered just looking at them.

  “I’m going to join Tobias,” I told Zak as I set him down. He immediately went to Lucas and took him by the hand, pulling him to the bedroom.

  “Hmm, that’s strange,” I said as I slid into a chair next to Tobias.

  “He knows about the meeting and wants Lucas to keep the band until it’s over.” Tobias held his steaming cup of tea to his mouth.

  My jaw dropped. “How does he know?”

  Tobias gave me a look as if I should know. “He hears everything, Allison. His mental processes are improving daily. But don’t tell anyone I said that.” He patted my arm.

  “I’ve missed you and our talks.” I sighed. “We should be working on the museum, not dealing with this crap.” I covered my mouth. “Sorry.”

  “Nothing to be sorry for.” Tobias winked. “We will find a way out of here. It may take more time than we first thought.”

  Julian burst through the front door. “Lucas?” From the look on his face he may have accomplished his mission of scheduling a meeting sooner than he's thought possible. He stopped when he saw us staring his way. “Oh, hello, everyone. Clair. Jim.” He nodded.

  “Lucas is in the baby’s room,” Mom said. “Oh, I shouldn’t call him that, should I? It’s just hard to see them grow up.” She shook her head as she gestured to Zak’s room then joined us at the table. “I am so spoiled each morning, Allie. I don’t know what I’ll do once Tobias and Zak leave. I love their company and these.” She helped herself to a scone, spooning lemon curd and clotted cream on the top.

  “Aren’t they awesome?” I couldn’t resist and took two. “Maybe you’ll have better luck getting the recipe than I ever did.”

  Mom lifted a brow. “Let me work on that,” she said with a laugh.

  It felt good to be in Mom’s kitchen sharing scones with her and Tobias, especially after yesterday. “I’ll put the coffee on, Mom,” I said as I pushed back my chair. “The guys are coffee drinkers.”

  Serena walked into the kitchen with Kristina and Sophie following behind her. “I finally get to try some of Tobias’ famous tea. Even the girls have had it.”

  “Halfway filled with cream,” Tobias whispered, placing his hand next to his mouth as if to tell a secret. We all laughed. “Serena,” he asked looking up at her, “how is work going at the hospital?”

  Serena had finally gotten privileges to work at any of the New York hospitals. She couldn’t sit at the hotel every day, doing nothing, and wanted to fill her days doing what she did best—helping people. “Very well. I have a shift today at Bellevue in an hour.” She checked her watch. “In fact, I need to be leaving soon.”

  “I love that you requested to work at Ashley’s hospital and grateful you got the position,” I said. “I’ll see you later then?”

  “Count on it.”

  The rest of the morning went by in an easy way, but I had a strange feeling it wouldn't last. Julian kept looking at me out of the corner of his eye, trying to get my attention. I could tell by the look on his face he wanted to talk.

  “Allie,” Julian said when he finally had a chance to pull me away. He tugged me into the bedroom hallway for extra privacy. Lucas came out of Zak’s room to join us.

  “Doug’s agreed to meet with us at one p.m. to
day. We have his curiosity piqued. I was vague about the reason we wanted to see him.”

  “I hate the fact he’ll have the serum. If anyone deserves it, it’s Carol.” I crossed my arms, making a guttural sound in my throat.

  Julian looked at me with widened eyes. “You haven’t—”

  “No, never. I was thinking aloud.” I looked at Lucas. “I’ll go to the hospital to see Ashley on my own after you leave.”

  “I hope you don’t mind,” he answered.

  “Mind? No!”

  “Would you please ask Nate why he was trying to contact me yesterday? I never got a hold of him and had to leave messages all over the place. Darn phones.” Lucas’ nostrils flared in frustration.

  I glanced at his arm and saw he still wore the band. “I heard Zak didn’t want that back, but you better hide it.”

  “Thanks. I forgot for a minute.” Lucas slid it from his wrist and placed the band in his back pocket. Then he took me in his arms and held me close. “Randolph will pick us up in fifteen minutes. We’ll stop by thirty-eighth to get Oliver and go from there to the meeting somewhere in the city.” He shrugged. “I have no idea where.”

  We called where we resided "thirty-eighth" now, at my request. I couldn't bear to call it home or even our apartment.

  “Okay,” I said. Oliver often dropped by thirty-eighth to meet with Niners who worked with him at the bio lab. “I feel good we’re connected through the chip. I can send you the message once I talk to Nate.” I kissed his lips, lingering for a while. “Stay safe. Don’t eat or drink anything. Watch out for patches of any kind.” I was half-teasing, but half not. Doug had tried to kill Lucas once before in Virginia, and I didn’t trust him.

  “I promise.” Lucas gave me one more kiss. “See you soon.”

  I held onto his hand for as long as possible as he walked to the front door. Julian had it opened, ready to leave, and lifted his hand. “We’ll be fine.”

  Zak tugged the hem of my shirt. “Mommy, play?”