Discovering Alexis: Truths & Lies (Bad Boy Rebels 7)

What?

Before I can even process what he said, a throat clears, ruining the moment.

West lets out a frustrated grunt that seriously is sexy as hell. Then he moves back and glares at Ellis, who’s standing at the end of the hallway, seeming uneasy.

“We have a problem,” he tells West.

“Tell me something I don’t already know.” West’s jaw is set tight as he shakes his head. “What is it this time?”

Ellis’s gaze wanders toward me and then he gulps. “Maybe we should talk in private.”

“I thought we already discussed this.” I push West back so I can sit up. Then I cross my arms and stare him down. “If you’re talking about me, I want to hear.”

Ellis looks at West and West sighs.

“Just say it, man,” he tells Ellis.

Ellis releases a deafening breath. “We got the guy to talk some more and he told us that a hits been put out on Alexis. That Hacker Hearts Anonymous put one out on her. That’s why he’s here.” He points up the hallway. “That’s why he tried to kill her.”

If I thought my heart was pounding before, I was wrong. Now it’s pounding a million miles a minute, as if it’s trying to escape my chest. I don’t blame the damn thing. I’ve got deadly drugs in my system and some hacker group trying to kill me.”

West doesn’t seem as shocked as I thought he would be. “So that means even after we get the antidote, they’re still going to come after her.” He lets out a string of curses while getting to his feet and raking his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, this is bad.”

“I think that might be an understatement,” Ellis says, pressing his fingertips to the brim of his nose.

“Did he say why they put a hit on her?” West asks. “And is her sister safe?”

I straighten, my gaze snapping to West. “My sister… You mean Zhara?” I shake my head. “No, there’s no way anyone would go after her. That girl’s a fucking saint.”

Worry and a drop of guilt fill West’s eyes. “Being a saint has nothing to do with this.”

“What’re you not telling me?” I stand up and face him. “Is something going on with Zhara?”

He gives an uneven nod. “She kind of has a thing going with another group in the organization.”

I’m taken aback. No, more than that. I feel like I just stepped into the Twilight Zone. “What do you mean a thing? Wait, how long have you been keeping this from me?”

“I just found out earlier today.” West reaches out to take my hand, but I step out of his reach.

I don’t even know why. It’s not like I’m afraid of him or anything. I’m just freaking out and need some breathing space. Unfortunately, Ellis has moved up behind me so I only end up bumping into him.

“Relax.” Ellis begins massaging my shoulders. “No one’s going to hurt you. Zhara is okay. We’re going to get the antidote. And then we’re going to figure out why a hit has been put on you.”

I glance over my shoulder at him. “That seems like a lot of work to do for a girl you barely know.”

He shrugs, a soft smile gracing his lips. “What can I say. I have a soft spot for feisty girls.”

“I’m not feisty,” I protest. “I’m a strong, confident woman.”

West snorts a laugh. “A strong, confident, feisty woman perhaps.”

I glower at him, but I’m veering toward smiling. “Whatever, weird, alpha male, control freak.”

He presses his hand to his heart, feigning being hurt. “Hey, I’m not controlling.”

Ellis chokes on a laugh, causing a smile to break across my face.

“No, the old West wasn’t controlling,” I quip. “This new West definitely seems like a bit of a control freak.”

His expression softens as he takes my hand. “Alexis, I’m still the same guy as I always was. The only difference is now you know about my job.”

I shake my head. “You’re not the same. You’re bossy and you keep…” Kissing me. I clear my throat. “And you called me baby! What the hell was that about?”

He watches me intently. “Yeah, that sort of accidentally slipped out.”

“Well, don’t do it again,” I say. “It’s weird.”

“Are you sure?” he questions, seeming a bit nervous.

I open my mouth to say…. Well, I’m not really sure, but then Steel strolls into the room. He takes one look at Ellis massaging my shoulders and West holding my hand and then he cocks a brow.

“Why do you guys look like you’re preparing to have a threesome?” he asks. “I mean, I’m cool with it and everything, but Ellis and West have never really been threesome sort of guys.” He grins. “Me on the other hand…”

West heaves a tired sigh. “So, is he out?”

Steel nods once. “For now.”

I glance back and forth between the two of them. “What does that mean?”

“It’s better if you don’t know, sweetheart,” Steel says with a dark look in his eyes.

I don’t know why, but I swear he’s said this to me before.

I want to demand that he not call me sweetheart, but the challenging way he’s staring at me, as if daring me to utter those exact words, has me feeling all squirrely.

West clears his throat, clearing the tension building between Steel and I. “We need to get the antidote and then start digging into Hacker Hearts Anonymous and see if we can figure out why they put out a hit on Alexis.”

Steel stares at me. “Maybe we should ask her first? Maybe she knows why they’re after her.”

I remember…

I remember…

I remember…

Remember what?

Don’t. Utter. A word.

The voice inside my head is getting annoying and is making absolutely no sense. Chocking it up to a side effect of the drugs, I do my best to ignore it.

“I have no idea.” I shrug. “I didn’t even know any of this stuff existed until just barely.”

Steel appears unconvinced, but lets the subject drop. “Where’s the best place to get the antidote?”

West shifts his weight uncomfortably. “I actually know another team who has some on hand.”

“Really?” Ellis asks, his hands still resting on my shoulders. “Which one?”

For some reason, West glances at me. “That friend of mine I grew up with.”

“Wait…” Realization quickly clicks. “Please tell me it’s not Blaine.”

West gives me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”

I press my hand to my forehead as shock whips through me. “So, not only are you in this weird organization, but my twin sister is involved with it too? And so is my best friend… My ex-best friend?”

West nods. “I’m sorry, Alexis. I don’t know what else to say.”

“It’s okay.” I lower my hand from my head, too in shock to fully process everything. “It’s not your fault.”

“I know, but I’m still sorry.” He places a hand on my cheek. “Is there anything I can do to make this easier on you.”

“I don’t know… Just get the antidote, I guess.” I pause, chewing on my bottom lip. “Is there any way I can see my sister?”

He nods. “Of course. She’s actually been asking to see you.”

“So she knows what happened?” I ask, even more shocked.

He nods. “Benton—the guy in charge of the group she’s working with—got a warning about Hacker Hearts Anonymous coming after you. He tried to warn you and me before it happened, but didn’t get a hold of us in time.”

I remember how Zhara was texting me a few minutes before I was tranquilized. She said she needed to talk ASAP, but I ignored her, like I always do.

Maybe I deserve what’s happening to me.

A slow breath eases from my lips. “So, I can go see her?”

West shakes his head. “Until we know more about what’s going on, you can’t leave this place, baby.” His lips quirk as I narrow my eyes at him. “But I can have Benton bring her over here.”

/>

“Okay, thanks.” I want to hug him. I want to cry. I want to scream.

But instead I just stand there in shock, noting the unnatural warmth in my body, and wondering how much longer I have until the drugs kill me.

But most of all I wonder why I have a feeling that I’ve been in this position before.

Not the most ideal situation

West

After I call Benton to tell him to bring Zhara over, I leave Alexis in the living room and head to my bedroom to make my next call, mostly because I know how she feels about the person I’m calling.

Once I get into my room and shut the door, I dial Blaine’s number.

“What’s up?” he answers after three rings.

“Not much.” I pause. “I’m calling because I need a favor.

“Okay.” He sounds a bit confused and who can blame him. I rarely ask him for favors.

“I need an antidote to the kiss of evil,” I say, sinking down onto the bed.

He lets out a slow whistle. “Shit, really? Who’s the unlucky bastard who got that put into their system.”

I consider lying to him, but he’ll probably find out anyway. “Alexis.”

Silence momentarily stretches between us.

“That’s not fucking funny, man,” he finally says.

“I’m not trying to be funny,” I snap. “She’s messed up in some really bad stuff—Hacker Hearts Anonymous stuff. And they’ve put a hit out on her.”

“I didn’t… I don’t…” He struggles to find words. “God fucking dammit, this fucking sucks.”

“Yeah, it does.”

He continues to curse, wasting time, and finally I cut him off.

“Look, can I come over and get the antidote?” I ask. “This is kind of time pressing.”

“I’ll bring it over,” he offers.

“No,” I answer almost immediately.

“I’m bringing it over,” he insists. “She’s my friend too and I want to make sure she’s okay.”

“I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to see you and I really don’t want to upset her.”

“I don’t care what you think. I need to see her. I’ll be over in a minute.” He hangs up.

Fuck. This is the last thing Alexis needs. And while it might make me sound completely selfish, I don’t want him messing up what I’m trying to start with Alexis.

That kiss… God, I want to do so much more to her... Touch her, kiss her, reenact the things we did in the car…

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I sigh. “Come in.”

The door opens and Steel enters.

I immediately tense. “Is everything okay?”