Page 66 of Mayhem and Minnie

I browse the costumes until I find a more conservative one. The black dress is knee-high, with white lace detail around the hem, sleeves, and collar. There’s a white apron included.

I check the back label and note that it’s made out of one hundred percent cotton.

Good. This should be gentle on her skin.

I grab one of them and head back to the line.

I’m a few steps away when I note another woman talking to Minnie. I can’t hear what she’s saying yet, but Minnie’s body language tells me this is not a welcome interaction. The woman grabs her hand and whispers something in her ear.

By the time I get to her side, I can only hear one sentence.

“They will come for you. You need to leave?—”

My lip twitches.

“Any problem?” I ask as I slap the woman’s hand aside. Immediately, I pull Minnie to my side, holding her tightly against my body.

The woman in question glares at us. Her hair is a deep shade of red, and her dark eyes flash red too.

I blink. What the fuck?

“He doesn’t know who you are, does he?” The woman’s lips curve into a smile.

One glance at Minnie, and I see the way her shoulders stiffen. Her lips tremble, and I swear I note some moisture clinging to her lashes.

“You need to leave. Now,” I grit out.

The woman’s laughter echoes in her wake as she steps away from us. But at no point does she take her eyes off Minnie, nor is her gaze any less threatening.

“What was that about?”

Minnie shrugs.

“I don’t know. She scared me,” she murmurs as she huddles closer to my side.

I wrap an arm around her shoulders.

“What did she mean by that? Who will come for you?”

Another shrug, though this one has less conviction.

“Some people are just weird, no?” She attempts a laugh.

I narrow my eyes at her.

She was scared. Of that I have no doubt. But there’s more to this interaction than meets the eye, and for some reason, Minnie refuses to tell me the truth.

Hmm.

I don’t press her on it. I should have plenty of information on her and her entire life once I do a deep dive into her.

We reach the counter and I unload our cart.

The cashier starts scanning the items, and the total ends up somewhere in the five figures. I give her my black card, and she completes the payment.

Minnie’s eyes widen and her hold on my arm tightens.

“That’s a lot, isn’t it?”

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