Page 119 of Amber Gambler

“Oh, I didn’t mean that.” I backpedaled as fast as I could. “Maybe she asked to use the bathroom?”

“No one rang the bell.” She indicated an old-fashioned brass bell on the counter. “I was doing inventory, but I didn’t hear the door either.” She glanced at the cute chimes hung above it. “The bathroom is through there if you want to check.”

“Thanks.” I admired the vintage arrow flashingwashroomin pink lights. “Cute sign.”

“Thanks.” Her smile returned full force. “Since he retired, Daddy makes them to keep out from under Momma’s feet.”

“I’ll bear that in mind.” I snatched a card from the holder on the desk. “I might have a job for him.”

“Ask for Billy when you call,” she said to my retreating back, confident I would do just that.

Kierce beat me to the bathroom, but he waited for me to check the unisex stall for her.

“Empty,” I reported after stepping out. “Let’s check the exit.”

Hoping it didn’t trigger an alarm, we pushed out the door into an employee parking lot.

“Any luck?” Carter eyed me warily. “There’s been no movement out here.”

“She wasn’t inside.” I watched relief trickle through her expression. “You understood that?”

Now that I stopped to think about it, the piercer had heard me fine too.

“Yeah.” She squared off against Kierce. “Did you do that to her?”

“He doesn’t understand you—” I began then snapped my mouth shut when he said, “No.”

Harrow and Carter exchanged a weighted glance while I slid in front of Kierce.

“You’re speaking English again.” I fisted his shirt to hold him steady. “Your eyes are back to normal.”

“You comprehended the divine tongue.” He cradled my face between his palms. “Youspokeit.”

Warmth unspooled through my middle from the way he drank me in. “That’s what we were doing?”

“How is it possible?” He stroked my cheeks with his thumbs. “You amaze me.”

“I can’t take credit.” A flush rose up to meet his fingertips. “I didn’t know I was doing it.”

“Are you sure the kid wasn’t hiding under a counter?” Carter bulled her way between us. “She’s human. There are only so many plausible—what the actual…?” She gripped my shoulder. “Do you see that?”

From this angle, I had a view of Kierce, which was nice, but didn’t explain her shock.

Knocking his hands off me, she cranked my head around until my neck popped in her panic.

“Ouch.” I rubbed my nape. “I don’t see—” I stumbled back a step. “Oh. Oh no. That ain’t right.”

From the shadows, a pair of golden eyes glowed from Little’s cherubic face. That I could handle. The way she clung from the wall of the neighboring building, skittering on all fours like aspider with a doll’s head, that— Well, I’m not ashamed to admit it threatened to launch me into Carter’s arms.

What? Dolls are creepy. It is known.

“I thought she was human.” Harrow took a wary step forward. “That, whatever it is, isn’t human.”

Had she always been this way? No. She had been human. Once. Just…not anymore.

A creepy smile curving her kewpie lips, she scuttled up to the second floor where she smashed a window and climbed in. Screams poured out through the open windows as we charged around the piercing shop to the front of the house next door.

Harrow kicked the door in before I could lift my hand to knock.

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