AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I frown. “I’m not bad company.”
“Skye told me what you did in the Bahamas.”
“Fine. I’m not the best. But I do know I’m a good distraction, and it seems Skye is in need of a distraction.” I bat my eyes at her while saying, “Please.”
“If you bring her a sick animal to take care of, she will let you in.”
I grin. “That was exactly what I was thinking.”
“Hold on,” she says, disappearing into the back room and then reappearing with a cardboard box with small holes cut out on the top.
I take the box from her and open the lid. I jump back, dropping the box.
She does a full-belly laugh, grabbing her stomach as she walks over and picks up the box that I just dropped.
“Is this a joke? Did you and Skye plan this to get back at me?” I ask, my voice much higher than usual.
Alicia continues to laugh as she walks the box back over to me. “No, it’s not a joke. The snake needs medical attention.”
I frown. “I’m not a big fan of snakes.”
“I would have never guessed that,” she snarks.
“Why can’t I bring a puppy or kitten or something that needs her help?”
“One, because most of our puppies and kittens need more medical help than what she can provide at her house. And, two, because I’m still not a huge fan of yours, and I want to make you suffer as much as possible. Consider it my own personal test to see if you are worthy of hanging out with my friend.” She holds the box out to me. “Now, do you want to see Skye tonight or not?”
I slowly take the box. I’ll just keep the lid on the whole time. I’m not sure if a sick snake is enough to get Skye to let me into her house, but I’ll give it a try. If not, I’ll come back and find the cutest puppy to take back and try again.
“So, you want to tell me about Gabe?” I ask.
She smirks. “Nope, I’m not touching that conversation. If Skye wants to tell you, she will.”
“Thanks,” I say, holding up the box a little as I walk toward the door.
“But, if I were you, I wouldn’t mention Gabe tonight. She’s been through enough tonight, so don’t add to her depression.”
I nod. Too late, I think.
But I’ll table the Gabe questions until later. It seems that no one wants to tell me exactly who Gabe is, but I have enough resources that I’m sure I can figure it out if I put some of my guys on it.
I put the box with the snake in the passenger seat next to me, and then I climb in the driver’s seat and drive back to Skye’s place, keeping my eye on the box the whole time, making sure the snake doesn’t slither out. I park the car on the gravel driveway in front of her house, behind an old pickup truck that doesn’t look like it has run in ten years at least.
I climb out of the car and walk around to the passenger side. I take the box out, carrying it with both hands as I walk up the gravel driveway to the front of the white farmhouse. It’s not very large and much older than any house I’ve ever been in besides my grandparents’. There are daisies planted outside the red front door. The house is not that big, which surprises me after how much money she spent on vacation. I figured she would have a mansion somewhere. She owns what seems like quite a bit of land, but that still wouldn’t cost as much as a nice house would.
I knock on the red door that needs a new coat of paint and wait to see if Skye will open the door or at least respond. I knock again after a few seconds pass. I hear stomping footsteps inside, and finally, she creaks the door open just enough to see me.
“What do you want, Brody?”
I hold up the box. “I have a sick snake that needs your veterinarian skills.”
She glares at me as she slowly opens the door. “Well, let’s see it,” she says, exhaling deeply.
I grin and lift the lid just enough so that she can see inside.
Her gaze darts from inside the box to me. “There isn’t a snake in that box.”
“Will you just take a look at the snake? I’m not sure if it is sick or not, but I’m concerned.”
