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Havana felt her nose wrinkle. “Yeah, I noticed.” The female in question was slowly heading their way, and her devil thought it an excellent idea to vent her frustrations on the sly little bitch. If only there weren’t so many kids around …
“The issue is that Bailey noticed her, too.” He tipped his chin at a nearby door marked “Staff” and added, “She disappeared in there. She hasn’t come back out yet.”
Aspen lifted her shoulders. “Maybe she’s staying out of the way so that she won’t be tempted to lunge and attack. It’s mature, really.”
“Our dear Bailey’s not anyone’s definition of mature,” he said. “And I say that with affection.”
Aspen gave him a look of disappointment. “You could try having a little more faith in her, you know.”
He glanced away. “Maybe.”
Havana and Aspen exchanged an amused look. He had every reason to be wary. Bailey never let shit go. Purely because she didn’t want to.
Havana pasted an impersonal smile on her face as Ginny and her little crowd approached them.
“Hey, guys,” said Ginny, her smile bright. “Oh, Havana, I heard about what happened the other night. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Although she looked the height of concern, Havana wasn’t buying it. Still, she said, “Thanks.”
Ginny let out a dramatic sigh. “It’s just so awful. Do you think they’ll come for more people who go to the center? Could they, like, have a problem with it or something?”
“I really don’t know. But it would be stupid of them to come back here when we’re all on the lookout for trouble.”
Ginny absently scratched her left palm. “I guess so.”
“Ooh, you’re going to lose money,” Makenna interjected.
Ginny blinked. “I’m, what?”
“An itchy left hand means you’re going to lose money,” Makenna patiently explained. “It’s pretty common knowledge, sweetie.”
Havana stifled a smile. The she-wolf was incredibly superstitious, bless her. Havana believed in signs, but that a simple act such as spilling salt could cause destruction? No.
Ginny shook her head and turned back to Havana. “Anyway, Corbin wasn’t all that clear on how you managed to stop the kidnappers from taking you.” It was more of a question than a comment.
“They were expecting an easy target,” said Havana. “It’s hard to take me off-guard.”
“Same here. I’m very alert. But still—” Ginny stumbled back with a little squeal as Havana’s arm shot out and she caught a mamba midair that had leapt from the top of a machine.
“It’s unlikely that anyone else will be sent to take me or another loner from the center, Ginny—it’s simply too risky,” said Havana. Without even looking at the snake wriggling in her grip, she walked over to the staff room as she added, “Nonetheless, I’d advise you to be careful. Loners always should be, considering the dangers out there.” Havana pulled open the door, tossed the hissing snake inside the room, and then shut the door. “And don’t forget to let Corbin know if you see anything or anyone suspicious.”
“I won’t.” Ginny straightened her tee and swallowed. “Um, yeah, we’re going to go now.” She quickly walked off, bumping into her friend whose drink consequently tipped up and spilled all over her. Then Ginny’s handbag slid off her arm and crashed to the floor, scattering its contents—and there was a lot of them—all over the thin, dark carpet. She and her friends quickly scrambled to pick everything up.
“Where’s my purse?” Ginny demanded. “Where is it? Where did it go?”
“I don’t know,” said the girl whose drink had spilled. “It might be under one of the machines or something.”
Makenna shrugged at Ginny. “Told you you’d lose money.”
Her lips thinning, Ginny continued to help her friends search for her purse.
Madisyn turned back to Havana. “Wow, you really are hard to take off-guard—I didn’t even sense that the mamba was close by, and my instincts are super sharp.”
Corbin sighed at Aspen. “And you said I should have more faith in Bailey. You knew she’d likely gone into that room to remove her clothes and shift, didn’t you? Her snake probably used the air vent to get out.”
“I’m guessing Bailey doesn’t like that girl,” said Makenna, her eyes on a whining Ginny, who was looking under the machines.
Aspen did a long, languid stretch. “Bailey’s ex cheated on her with Ginny.”
Madisyn winced. “Wronging a mamba seems … well, suicidal, really. Admittedly, my kind aren’t very tolerant creatures. Still, I’d say pallas cats are a little less dramatic in the way we seek vengeance.”
A nearby girly scream pierced the air.
“Why. Won’t. You. Die?” yelled Regan, slamming her sister’s head on a machine.
Yasmin swiped her claws at Regan. “I’m going to rip off your face!”
Makenna smiled at Madisyn. “A little less dramatic, Mads? Really?”
“That doesn’t count,” said Madisyn, her cheeks heating. “It’s only because they’re siblings who are close in age.” She rushed over to her daughters and separated them.
