Free Ctrl Z by Danika Stone Page B

things.
About us…”
    He pushed the flowers toward her, but she didn’t take them.
Instead she forced the most innocent smile she had; it started with a wavering
of her lips, but moved outward to dimpled cheeks, spreading up until it
crinkled her eyes. This was the face she’d used when she’d once sat in the back
of a police car, the face she’d used when her probation officer read off a list
of infractions. It was purity and innocence, and Indigo knew how to use every
facet of it.
    “Oh Cal, that’s so nice of you,” she said with a shake of
her head. “But, I’m sorry, I can’t.” The flowers dropped down a notch. “You
see,” Indigo continued brightly. “I’m meeting Jude for breakfast. And I’m
already late.”
    “Jude.” He snarled the word like a cuss.
    “Yes, Jude. My boyfriend .” Indigo said, malice
hardening the title. “I’m sorry I couldn’t introduce you last night, but your
arrival was a little…” she rolled her eyes, “… dramatic . Didn’t want Jude
getting the wrong impression or anything.”
    Cal’s mouth opened and closed again like a fish. Behind him
Shireese hooted.
    “So, I guess I’ll talk to you later,” Indigo said, heading
out the open door into the hallway and walking away.
    : : :
: : : : : : :
    Elliot’s tiny Matrix hatchback whined in the cold air while
they waited at the stoplight but Jude didn’t notice. His eyes were on the
street ahead.
    “That’s it up there,” Jude said, pointing. “The building
next to the parking garage. Marq said to wait for him in front.”
    The light changed and the car moved forward. Unhappy with
the weather, the engine dropped to a loose-sounding growl, almost stalling,
then bunny-hopped twice before catching its stride. At the end of the block was
an entrance protected by a black-suited man with mirrored glasses. Marq stood
beside him, bouncing back and forth on the balls of his feet.
    “Shit,” Jude muttered.
    “What the hell is this place?” Elliot breathed.
    “I um, I dunno.”
    On the street, Marq raised a hand, hailing them.
    “This doesn’t feel good,” Elliot grumbled, as he headed
toward the building. “You want to change your mind?”
    “I can’t,” Jude said tightly. “Marq’s already seen us. Just
pull over and park somewhere, okay?”
    Elliot passed the entrance, locating a spot half a block
down. He pulled over to the edge of the road.
    “This guy you’re meeting,” he said. “It’s about the program
you guys have been working on, isn’t it?” His lips were a slash of indignation.
    “Yeah.”
    “This is no good, Jude,” he growled. “No good at all.”
    Jude sighed, irritation prickling at his chest. He was so
tired he felt sick, and wasn’t in the mood for one of Elliot’s holier-than-thou
speeches. They’d been best friends forever, but there were times when they were too different . A memory of years earlier intruded. Jude had been caught
for hacking in high school because someone had called him in. Elliot had sworn it hadn’t been him, but at moments like this, Jude wondered.
    “It’s fine, ” he snapped, reaching for the handle. “I
can handle it.”
    “You need to get out of this before it’s too late.”
    “Well, I can’t, Elliot!” He pushed the door open. “Not this
time. We’ve done the work. I’m just bringing it in.”
    “You always have a choice,” Elliot repeated. “Your dad used
to tell you how—”
    Jude slammed the door, cutting off the rest of what he
wanted to say.
    “Not always….”
    Ahead, at the door, the man in the suit lifted his phone to
his ear, speaking into it. Jude forced himself to walk forward, Elliot’s
warning dragging him back into memory. A decade earlier, Jude had stormed away
from home on a bright Tuesday morning, heading to Elliot’s house without saying
goodbye. Jude couldn’t remember what he and his father had argued about that
day: too much gaming likely, or maybe his waning grades. Whatever it had been,
it had been their