Page 87 of Overcast

Because I can not do another single bad thing to that blonde upstairs.

"Why?"

"What is this, question hour?" I signal to the kitchen with my hand. "Why don't you go grab me another beer since you're making yourself at home."

"I'm a guest."

Why do I fuck with these guys?

"I'll get Hollis to talk," Mills fills in, eyes trained on the floor. "Make sure we execute the right move this time."

I don't miss his cheap shot even though there is no malicious tone behind it. Also does nothing to calm the ideas of his fondness for my captive now turned temporary roommate.

"Don't touch the father," I order. "Bishop, since you have so many pending questions, when Mills gets that fat fucker to talk, find out if there is another blonde in that house. I know what I saw."

"Why don't you ask the one upstairs?"

"I will when she's feeling better."

"Wouldn't she have mentioned it already?"

I shrug. "I would've thought so, but..." I let my eyes hit the side of Mill's head. "We were busy."

Petty always runs deep between us for some fucked up reason, and I could never figure it out.

Maybe it's because Mills was a monster with more humanity than I ever had. Or the fact that he was easily loveable and the only things that loved me are the tools in my bag, Mama, and Reagan.

Mills recognizes my shit remark with a huff and kneads his shoulder. If he doesn't have anything to hit me with verbally that isn't going to make a mark, he'll wait. He's patient like that.

"So, you're going to keep the girl safe here while we figure this all out?" Bishop props his ankle over his other knee. "That should prove to be interesting."

"I'd sell tickets," I remark. "But I have a feeling it's going to be a very one-sided conversation between us." Mills's lips curl slightly, happy with that fact.

Yeah, he has a crush on my little victim.

"Why are you here?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Captain said you called Lucien, so we figured we'd come check it out," Bishop fills in. "Besides, I love seeing how irritated you are when she doesn't answer any of your repeated questions."

"You're sweet," I coo sarcastically. "And if you think you're crashing here, just know it'll be outside."

"Only staying for another beer and the verdict from the Devil Doctor to make sure everything is up to par." He picks at my shirt with his thumb and index finger. "And it looks like you need to change, shower, and get looked at yourself. She got you good."

Bishop rises from the couch, striding towards the kitchen to grab his beverage and leaving me with the more bothersome of the two.

"Damn," Mills muses under his breath. "Sounds like she has some gumption after all."

Who the fuck says gumption?

My mouth twitches. "I can offer you up as target practice if you'd like, brother."

"Only if she's into that sort of thing." He rises, not bothering to scowl or smugly smirk at me.

He found his verbal attack.

And he hit the mark.

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