Page 14 of Spies Like Us

I guess it’s as good as any excuse, so I nod.

She grins and quickly agrees. “Sure, anything that will get him out of Jessica’s clutches. Though watch out, because here comes Sophie and Stella with their parents, and both of them are glaring at you.” She nods behind me, and I whirl around to find both girls on the Turner brothers’ arms. I see Lathan, Anders, and Dayton trailing a little bit behind them. Stella looks smug as fuck as she snuggles closely into Max’s body. Ry and Sophie look a little less cozy. In fact, she just looks annoyed, and she’s glaring at Miller, not me. Jessica quickly extracts her hand from his arm and moves away from him. Well, that’s one way to get him on his own. I guess she doesn’t want to get caught in the crossfire of Sophie’s wrath. She’s a smart girl. I won’t need Cassie after all. She glances around at all the tension and scurries off with Sally and Stephanie.

I start to wonder if Max spent the night with Stella, but I stop the minute I start to feel a little hurt. I need to focus on getting the job done, and not stupid feelings that are messing with my head. I can look more closely at them when I don’t have a case to solve.

Martha greets their parents with enthusiasm, giving them both kisses and hugs. Their mother is just as enthusiastic, with the two men shaking hands and exchanging quiet whispers.

“Oh, Martha, your generosity knows no bounds,” the woman gushes, catching sight of me. “You got a new face since last week.”

“Mackenzie, come and meet June and Ted. Ted and James are brothers. Mackenzie had a rather nasty last home, so we’re hoping that being with us will bring some clarity and purpose to her life she didn’t have previously,” Martha tells June, who purses her lips. I don’t doubt she knows my fake backstory, and I can see her judging me already, but I expected that. June, like her daughters, is slim and blonde, with the same cold and calculating look in her eyes. It looks like the apple didn’t fall far from the tree with those two. June’s eyes scan me from head to toe, like she’s cataloging all my flaws. Her lips purse when her gaze pauses at my cleavage before she nods like she’s decided something in her head.

“I’m sure she will flourish under this town’s guidance,” she says to Martha, who titters her agreement.

Ted is also watching me, but his gaze is predatory. He also heard my fake backstory, and instead of being judgmental, he’s intrigued. I feel the need to shiver in disgust but control it.

“It’s lovely to meet you.” I drop my eyes demurely and smile gently at the other two Standishes.

“You’re so lucky to be taken in by Martha and James. They’ll see you on the straight and narrow soon enough.” June nods. “And confessing your sins to God will wipe your soul clean as well,” she encourages me, and Martha claps her hands in agreement.

“What a marvelous idea. I will ask Father Sweeny to take your confession after the service. I’m sure you will sleep better at night once you are given penance.”

Penance? I have no idea what they are talking about. Do they mean words of forgiveness from some dude who’s probably getting off on hearing the sins of his parishioners? I’m pretty sure that’s not going to make me sleep better, but I guess I can pretend.

“If you think it would help.” I gnaw on my lip with my teeth, and both James’s and Ted’s eyes lock onto it—not that June or Martha are paying any attention. They are congratulating each other on such a wonderful idea. Max has been pulled into a conversation with Ted and James, and Stella is still hanging off him like a rash.

The younger kids have moved farther ahead, and it’s just Jessica, Sophie, Ryland, Miller, and me remaining in a small circle off to the side of our guardians.

“I’m not sure there’s enough forgiveness in the world for you, you whore,” Sophie sneers quietly and tries to hang on tighter to Ryland, but he extracts his arm.

“Sophie, that’s not okay,” he scolds, and her face falls. “I’m going to sit with Miller, okay?” he tells her, and her nose wrinkles in disgust and her eyes turn cold.

“I think maybe you need to confess your sins to the pastor too, Ryland. What would your father say if he knew you had impure thoughts about another man?”

Ryland shakes his head and looks disappointed. “My father is a lot of things, but homophobic isn’t one of them. It seems I may have misjudged you, Sophie. You talk about tolerance and acceptance in your little morality club, but you don’t actually mean it.”

“Having sexual relations with a man is a sin,” she hisses, and I see red. I hate this small-minded bigotry.

“Does it only count as half a sin if he’s just fucking men half the time and women for the rest?” I ask, putting a finger against my cheek and cocking my head.

“You’re disgusting. You should keep your cheap whore mouth shut. God will strike you down with an STI for your sins. What did you do, take them at the same time? Or did they take turns?”

“Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. Oh, and don’t forget Lathan too. After all, I have three holes for them to fill.” Sophie’s face turns red with anger while Jessica looks between me, Ryland, and Miller. I think she’s wondering if I’m telling the truth or not. Seems like the girl may be a little smarter than her friend.

Before she can spew any more hatred toward me, the crowd starts to head into the church. Sophie spins and flounces off, with Jessica hurrying after her. I see them meet Michelle and Lucy on the stairs, and the four of them follow the older Standishes, Max, and Stella into the church.

Lathan, Anders, and Dayton join us as we mount the steps. “Good morning, princess. How are you feeling?” Anders asks quietly. He and the other two have takeaway coffee mugs in their hands.

“Please, please, please tell me you will grab me one of those next week as well,” I plead, groaning. “I’m so freaking tired, and I’ve had to listen to Martha complain all morning about my clothes. Not even my own mother made such a big deal about what I was wearing at seventeen.”

Lathan passes me his with a smile, and I take it. I don’t care if it’s black as sin, I need the caffeine, but to my surprise, it’s as milky and sweet as I like it. I take a sip and hand it back. “Thank you.” He just winks.

“I’m guessing she had more important things to worry about, considering what you do for a living,” Dayton points out dryly, and he’s not wrong.

“Touché.” I have to give him that.

“Come on, let’s sit at the back, and we can tell you who everyone is.” Ry takes my hand and drags me inside. I can feel the rest of them follow behind me. When Ry slides into the pew at the back, Miller puts his hand out and stops him from dragging me next to him.

“We have to sit up front with Martha,” Miller grits out from between clenched teeth. Ryland blinks, and I can see how shocked he is that Miller stopped him. He frowns, but Miller ignores him and drags me farther down the front before pulling me into an empty space two rows behind Martha and James.

---