Page 29 of Fixed Asset

“It’s fine to glue,” Fallon told Jack. “Sorry, Kitty, but the glue’s gonna burn like a bitch. You might want the belt back.”

Oh, I wanted the belt back. I wanted to keep it so when I found Tom, I could beat him with it.

“Just do it.”

“Cat—”

“Do it, Jack.”

There was a string of expletives, followed by a few grunts, but finally Jack got to work gluing.

Burn didn’t cover the blistering pain.

“Goddamn motherfucking liar. My skin is melting,” I groaned and closed my eyes. “Holy God. Fucking hell. Someone blow on it.”

Jack leaned away from me.

“If you blow on that, you’ll need to start over,” Fallon warned.

“Oh my God, just blow, would you? I don’t care about germs.”

“Kinky,” Mason muttered.

I blew out a breath trying to quell the pain.

“Breathe through it.”

“I am breathing, Fallon,” I spat. “I’m breathing fire.”

“Baby,” Jack cooed next to my face. “It’s done. Just take a few deep breaths. It’ll stop in a few seconds.”

I did as Jack instructed. Slowly—so very slowly—the burn faded.

“The glue was worse than the cut,” I said on an exhale.

“Sorry, baby.” Jack pressed a kiss to my temple and pulled away from me. “Everyone out so she can get dressed.”

“You’ve got a scary foul mouth when you’re in pain, woman,” Mason jibed.

“Fuck off.”

“Yeah, you’re gonna fit right in, Kitty Cat Keys.”

“I’m gonna fit your balls in your throat if you ever call me that again.”

“Spicy and kinky, you lucky son of a bitch.”

I assumed Mason’s parting shot was for Jack.

And for some reason, that made me smile.

Chapter Eight

We were running seriously late.

But still Pete delayed our departure.

“How’s the hip?” he asked Cat.