The first thing I notice is all the family photos hanging on the walls. Jackie’s sister looks a lot like her, but her mom looks noticeably more ethnic than the two of them. Chinese, I think? And there’s no fatherfigure anywhere?—
“Quit looking at our pictures, you fucking creep, and go sit on the couch.”
“Alright, alright. Don’t shoot. I’m walking.” It’s a good thing my back is turned to her. I’m sure my grin would royally offend the feisty little thing.
It doesn’t take me long to find the living room, considering it’s a straight walk from the front door. It looks like Jackie’s alone, thankfully, but I still send out a minuscule extracorporeal pulse to verify.
All clear.
I plop down onto the couch, immediately taken with how comfortable it is. It’s one of those squishy, older ones that swallow you up.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” the viper snaps.
She eases into an opposing recliner, crossing her legs. Her spine is ramrod straight, and her eyes promise death. If I were human, I might even be afraid of her. Intimidated, certainly.
“May I?” I nod towards the letter, earning an even deeper scowl from Jackie. I can tell she doesn’t want to give it up, and I fail to stifle my sigh. “I can’t help you if I don’t know what she said last.”
“Who says I need your help?”
I raise my eyebrows, unimpressed. She’s worried sick about Kae. She even said as much already. Come on, now. “You did, actually, when you told me you needed answers. Letter, please?”
“Fine.” She hands it over, and I pretend to need longer than two seconds to read it.
My chuckle is genuine, though.
“I’m a stalker now, huh?” I look up from the letter, meeting the girl’s dark brown eyes. “You’re right, this isn’t from Kae. She’d be much more creative if she wanted to insult me.”
“I told you already, this isn’t fucking funny. Start. Talking.”
Yeah, I can definitely tell they’re best friends. Kae did say once that she gets her swearing from this one.
“How about we call a temporary truce? You stop acting ready to killme, and I’ll tell you… what I can… about Kae’s situation.”
“She’s mentioned both of you before this, you know.”
“Oh?” My face twitches, refusing the urge to frown. Kae is marrying Abaddon. Not me. It means nothing that she told her best friend about me. “Did she say who the better kisser was, at least?”
It’s too easy to get under this girl’s skin. She looks ready to bite my head off.
“I swear to God, I’m going to actually hurt you if you do not shut up with the snide comments and say something useful.”
“I mean, if that’s what you’re into…” I trail off as her face turns into a dramatic look of disgust. Ah,shit.I’m not even trying to flirt with her. It just comes out naturally!
“You really are an asshole, you know?”
“So I’ve been told.” I shrug it off, changing the subject. “I don’t see what’s so worrisome about this letter.”
“You mean other than the fact that Kae didn’t write it?”
“Well, it’s obvious who did.” I roll my eyes. “This reeks of her newly betrothed and his rampant jealousy.”
Jackie jumps out of her seat, screeching, “Her fucking what?”
“Ah, shit,” I wince. “I thought you already knew.”
She clasps her hands behind her neck, looking like she’s about to lose her shit. “No, no, no. There’s no way. I know Kae, and something is seriously fucking wrong here. How do you not see it? Are you… You’re fucking covering for him, aren’t you?”
Her eyes jerk to me, looking fully prepared to kill me. I don’t think she’s faking it, either. I’ve seen plenty of murderous people before, and this girl genuinely has the look of bloodlust as she takes a step closer.
