Page 37 of Hell Hath No Fury

Agatha relaxes beside me and smiles. “Oh, I do have stories. So many stories.”

Carolina giggles beside me again, and then Kaian says, “Let’s not give any of the other ladies any ideas. Okay, Agatha?”

“I make no promises.”

Everyone quickly settles back in, and friendly chatter and a generally relaxed atmosphere take hold. Then Agatha nudges me, immediately reaching across and poking Carolina as she says, “You wanna help me get this set up?”

“Absolutely, yes.”

I attempt to put my hands up, but the two women are leaning too closely for me to do so easily. I lean all the way back in my chair, scooting a bit to make room so I’m not eating their hair as they whisper conspiratorially right under my nose. Without warning, they jump to their feet, and Agatha leans down and whispers, “You be all dolled up and ready to woo at seven PM. I will text you the location. Do not be fucking late.”

I open my mouth, and it’s like she knows I’m going to try to argue because she puts her hand up and shakes her head firmly, effectively stopping my potential refusal. Carolina grips my arm and says, “You leave it to us, Antonio. It’s going to be perfect.”

Without further comment, the two women take off, quickly exiting the room, and I look up to see Tony suspiciously eyeing me. “Am I in trouble?”

I laugh and shake my head tiredly. “Nope. You’re good.”

He raises his brows at me, then a smile slowly forms on his mouth, and he laughs. “Oh, you poor bastard.”

I don’t bother saying anything in response; I just nod, sagging in my chair a bit.

Because poor bastard indeed.

18

A Little Off the Ends

Lilith

Thesemotherfuckersareupto something.

I didn’t think too much of it when Carolina and Agatha disappeared from brunch like two giggling schoolgirls. I just figured they’d made a joke at Antonio’s expense, given the disgruntled look on his face at their departure. But then, things started to get weird.

First, I kept catching them scurrying around here like rats. And every time they see me coming, they turn tail in the other direction.

Not obvious at all.

Second, Antonio has also been avoiding me. He’s more the type to stay underfoot to wear you down, so his absence is a huge red flag.

And if all of that isn’t enough, I find myself standing in my bedroom staring at a pile of clothes on the bed.

“I’m not wearing this.”

Carolina gives me a stern look, which, from her, comes off as amusing. Then she points to the clothes and says, “Put them on.”

“But why?”

“Because we said so,” Agatha retorts from behind me. She rushes across the room, breezing by me and tossing another pile of clothes on the bed. Or should I say, underclothes. I pick up a pair of panties, if you can even call that scrap of material underwear. I hold it up between my two hands and then give Agatha what I hope is an obnoxious look as I ask, “Are these crotchless?”

Carolina snickers and then yanks them from my grasp as she takes a closer look. “Sure looks like it.”

“Absolutely not.”

Agatha rolls her eyes, hunching over and rummaging around in the pile of clothes before handing something to me. “Here you go. It’s still fancier than what you’re used to, but at least it’s beige.”

I snatch it from her hands, holding it against my chest. “Don’t knock beige.”

“What’s wrong with beige?” Carolina asks. “I quite like neutral tones.”

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