Page 73 of Act of Brotherhood
For a half second, Nicolette considered hanging up on Clara and phoning her uncle to tell him she had a hinky vibe, one that left the hair on the back of her neck rising. He’d send in the cavalry. People she knew he paid to keep tabs on her. Eccentric men with too much money who pretty much did as they pleased. Men who were walking weapons, just like her uncle. She knew he did something with the government that was top secret. She also knew he was a total badass when called for.
“Seriously, he’s not hot. He’s my uncle. The guy who raised me.”
“And super-hot. Deny it all you want. I’ll state the truth for womankind. The man is sexy, sexy, sexy. And that accent. Wow. Panty melting.”
“Yuck. I am never inviting him over for dinner with us again now. I’ll know you’re getting off on his accent.”
Clara snorted. “Oh, hell yeah I do. If he wasn’t related to you, you’d think he was hot too. And I’m not sure why you invite him over and have me cook. He doesn’t actually eat anything I make. I’m pretty sure he hates my cooking.”
“He does not hate your cooking. He’s just a picky eater.”
“So picky he travels with his own wine,” supplied Clara. “He’s lucky he’s so hot or else I’d just think he was a rich douchebag. Gah. Is it me or is it extra sticky out today? I just caught sight of my hair in the rearview mirror and it’s looking frizzy. Are you still alive? If you get dead, I’m going to get mad.”
With a groan and a slight eye roll, Nicolette continued to look around. “If I’m dead, you won’t be the only one worked up.”
“Technically, I will be. You’ll be too dead to weigh in on the matter,” returned Clara with a snort. “Tell me you’re in the house now and not out back thinking you’re invincible.”
Nicolette bit her lower lip. “Erm, yes. I’m totally inside.”
“You’re a horrible liar,” remarked Clara. “Which side of the road do I need to park on? I don’t want problems again with the street sweeper and tickets. The last guy I ended up baking cookies for just to get out of being towed.”
It didn’t matter how long they’d lived in the neighborhood, Clara couldn’t seem to keep track of the parking schedule. She also accumulated parking tickets all around the city, making her a prime candidate for a boot or a tow. “Either side. They won’t clean the streets again here until Tuesday.”
“Oh, right,” said Clara flippantly. “Still alive? No one in a hockey mask has leaped out and chopped you up with a butcher knife, have they?”
“If your goal is to freak me out more, you’re doing a really great job,” stressed Nicolette.
“This is all because I had you watch that scary movie, isn’t it? I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“Yes. Because you put on a movie about vampires and werewolves, I now totally believe one is in our backyard,” said Nicolette drolly.
Her best friend had an obsession with the weird and macabre. You wouldn’t have guessed it looking at Clara. She seemed so put together, but the girl had a secret monster movie fetish. Not to mention, Clara was positive said monsters were real. Nicolette had learned to roll with it long ago.
“See. Told ya you were freaking out because of the scary movie I made you watch,” returned Clara in a cheeky manner.
A chortle broke free from Nicolette. “If only I had some big strong man close by to both hold me while I shield my eyes from the scariness and to swoop in and fight the demons away for me.”
“Okay, now you’re just being a brat and mocking my likes and dislikes.”
“It’s what best friends do,” reminded Nicolette.
“Oh, right. Carry on.” Clara cursed under her breath and then honked her horn, giving someone a piece of her mind in the process. What fell from the woman’s mouth was as foul as it was poetic. The girl had a gift. A true gift. Sadly, whatever was happening was more than likely a result of Clara’s poor driving techniques. When gifts were being handed out, the people in charge skipped over her in the driving department. She was an absolute nightmare on the roads.
Nicolette ran her hand over the back of her neck, trying to brush away the feeling of unease that had settled over her. It didn’t work. She felt a little better knowing there was a secondhand witness should she meet her demise, not that Clara was paying attention or anything. No. She was still yelling about another driver.
“Jerk, that was going to be my parking spot!”
Nicolette pulled the phone from her ear slightly, tipping her head and concentrating on the darkness. She held her breath and listened. There was nothing. No sound at all. That worried her. There should be something. The normal sounds of the night.
Nope.
Not a peep.
Worry trickled through her.
“I swear the weather is affecting people,” said Clara. “They’re crazier than normal. Some fool just stepped out in front of me. Like he has a death wish or something.”
“Tell me you didn’t hit a pedestrian again.”
