you want?”
Ah, Zero … never one for small talk.
Nikki used the lighter to bring the grill to life. Flames flashed orange in Zero’s mirrorlike eyes. “Who says I want anything?” The lighter dangled on her finger.
He snatched it from her. “Seriously?”
While Zero was a fount of information, the one drawback was he could always read right through her. He’d done it on the boat when she wanted information about her parents. He’d even done it when they first met at his underground bunker, where he’d examined her face so closely she could tell what kind of mint he’d just eaten. Peppermint Tic Tacs.
“Did you always know I was a Halfling, Zero?” No point beating around the bush.
“I suspected.”
“How?”
He used a metal spatula to motion inside the house, where Vegan and Winter sat laughing. “You look like them.” He sneered the final word.
Nikki looked over her shoulder to the girls inside. “Like the females? Is that why you grabbed the light and examined my eyes while we were underground?”
He turned back to the grill, his only answer a slight shrug.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone? Me, for instance.”
“I always know stuff no one else knows. No big deal.” He started placing the steaks.
“Not for you, maybe, but it’s kind of a big deal to me.”
He spun and held the spatula in her face. “If you’re done scolding me, Mom, I’m kinda busy.”
She huffed. He was right. What good did it do to relive the past?
“Nice necklace,” he mocked.
Her hand went to it. But as he turned, she saw the flash of cord along his neckline too. Had Vegan given him one as well? Nikki bit back a smile.
As Zero poked and prodded the meat, she realized it was the perfect time to go in for the kill and ask Zero what he knew about her. What else he knew. Mace and the others had avoided the question whenever she approached it. “Zero,” she began. Here goes, whether I’m ready or not.
“What?” he spat.
“I need to ask you about … me. And Vessler, and my parents.”
The sliding door opened and Will emerged with a plate of vegetables. “Is there room for these on the gr —” His eyes narrowed. He first studied Nikki, then Zero. “I’m sorry. Did I interrupt something?”
“No,” she said a little too quickly after Will offered a belittling smile. Breathe. Recover. Nikki smiled back. “I was just going to tell Zero I like mine medium rare.”
“Like I care.” Zero poked one of the sizzling steaks with the end of the spatula. “This isn’t a restaurant, ya know.”
Nikki rolled her eyes and went back into the house.
She could get the information from Zero. She just needed to catch him at the right time. And here at the house, with Will constantly hovering, that right time might never come again.
But for the rest of the evening she watched Zero. Oh, he had answers.
The Halflings’ network manager was a lousy liar but great at cooking steaks, even if he didn’t know how to work a butane lighter. She’d eaten so much her stomach hurt. Fuel for the task, she told herself.
At least the good food meant the night wasn’t a total loss, as thanks to Will’s little interruption, she’d had to back off the inquisition. Will also seemed to be keeping an especially close watch on her now. Great. If he only understood she simply needed to know the truth. She couldn’t stand not knowing.
And Zero seemed to be suffering as well. His gaze fired around the room every time Vessler’s name came up in the conversation. He purposely avoided direct contact with Nikki. Guilty.
He did, however seem to welcome Vegan’s attention, seemingly using her as a distraction from the guilt, as she’d sidled closer when he sat down. She’d brushed some lint from his shoulder, and at one point Nikki was sure the two were making googly eyes at each other. Until Zero realized; then he shot Vegan a dirty look and sulked off to brood in the corner.
While Nikki kept her focus on Zero, she noticed Mace was keeping a close eye on her too. He watched her while she interacted with the other Halflings, but kept his distance. Nikki tried to convince herself he was sharing her with them, letting her bond with her full brothers and sisters. Every time she looked over, he’d smile and nod. Weird, but kind of sweet. He was trying to help her fit in. Which, seriously, was finally possible now that she could