Page 119 of Property of Fang
“I’m most definitely not.”Darla.
“I really don’t think it’s necessary.”Kathy.
The women spill into the living area, Anna tucked behind Darla’s legs. The trio of trauma-sisters comes to a grinding halt when they spot me, Kathy averting her gaze to the floor, and Darla’s mouth hardening.
“What’s the issue?” Vanessa asks, genuinely confused as she squeezes in behind them. “Why’d the mood change?”
“It’s fine.” Darla moves Anna to a spot on the small sofa, and settles beside her.
Kathy slowly sits on the chair adjacent to mine, offering me a weak smile before looking away again.
“No, for real,” Vanessa says, pulling mugs out of the cupboard. “Somebody tell me what this is all about; otherwise, it’ll ruin my plan.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Darla mutters before shifting her glare to me. “How about you explain it, Jenna, since I’ve been told by your guard dog that I don’t let you speak.”
My guard dog.Is she referring to Fang? Why would he say that to her if he doesn’t give a shit about me?
“I don’t have an issue with either of you,” I say softly. “I don’t think I’m the one who needs to work this out.”
Darla snorts. “Not your issue, huh? So we’re just supposed to take what you tell us and brush it aside like it’s nothing?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“Then what are you saying?” Darla raises her voice, prompting Vanessa to dash through from the kitchen area.
“Hey,” she placates, hands out before her. “Let’s just keep things civil, huh?”
“Now isn’t the time, anyway,” I say to Darla, pointedly flicking my gaze to the back of Anna’s head.
She cedes the point, nostrils flaring.
“Are we going to be good?” Vanessa tests.
“We’ll make it work.”
Chaos’s lady glances over us all with a sigh, then returns to making hot drinks.
“She wants to have a makeover afternoon,” Kathy whispers, revealing Vanessa’s plan. “She thinks it might give us a mood boost.”
I can’t think of anything worse. I’ve never been a girly-girl. Don’t let me be misunderstood; I appreciate the power of a little makeup and good hair. But the thought of playing dress-ups with other women, giggling and bonding?
Other women who view me as a cold-blooded killer?
Anxiety builds beneath my skin, hot and insisting I leave. Now.
“It’s not that bad,” Vanessa says, catching sight of my face as she brings a pitcher of coffee over on a tray with sugar and creamer. “I won’t put you in a dress unless you want me to, or preen your hair like a beauty queen. I want you all to see what goddesses you are, beautiful and strong, like I do.”
“Nothing changes unless we do, right?” Darla stares directly at me.
I draw a deep breath and break away from her gaze. “If you swear.”
Ness puts a palm to her chest. “Solemnly.”
“Fine,” I relent, shoulders relaxing a little. “Make us over, then, queen.”
FORTY
FANG
