Page 44 of Reaper Flame

“It’s the least we could do while we were waiting until Rocky was strong enough for the plan to work,” Mieko explained, jumping onto the sofa and patting the seat next to her for me to sit down. “Vixen wanted everything to be perfect. She planned it all.”

I didn’t want to imagine how neurotic Vixen had been about interior design between renovating a boat and Briarly manor at the same time. So far, it’s the only solace I could think of for me being stuck in Blackthorne Towers.

“Shame she didn’t pack me something more comfortable to wear.” I collapsed down next to Mieko. After our meal, I changed out of the gorgeous dress into a skimpy crop top and skirt. “All I’ve got is a bag of lingerie! If we’re planning on killing Hiram, I’ll need more than a lifetime supply of crotchless panties.”

“You know, it was getting real quiet around here without you bitching all the time!” Vixen said with a grin. She opened the vodka and took a swig from the bottle. “We need ice.”

She disappeared down the corridor, presumably to wherever the kitchen was, to leave the two of us alone.

“She may not act like it, but she has really missed her roommate,” Mieko said, then smiled shyly. “And I’ve really missed my friend.”

“I’ve missed you, too.”

Mieko chewed her lip and played with her hair as her expression darkened. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you and what was happening. I wanted to do more. I—”

Under the artificial lighting, the dark circles around her eyes were more pronounced. Mieko had always been slim, but she’d lost a lot of weight, making her seem smaller and more fragile. I’d been so wrapped up in myself, I hadn’t taken time to appreciate how I wasn’t the only one who’d suffered over the last two months. When you were living in survival mode, there was no time to think about others. But looking at Mieko made me want to pull her into a hug and tell her everything would be okay.

“Hey!” I cut her off before she could fall into a downward spiral. None of this was her fault. “There’s nothing more you could have done. You got this place ready and distracted Hiram so I could get away… which was a stupid fucking idea, by the way.”

Mieko shivered and pulled her cardigan tighter around her shoulders. “He’s a monster.”

“You didn’t have to do that for me.”

“I wanted to,” she said fiercely. Her delicate appearance hid her strong spirit. “It was my idea.”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat. She’d put herself on the line for me. Loyalty was hard to find in a world filled with superficial trends and people ready to stab you in the back. No matter what happened with the Sevens, I had a true friend in Mieko.

“Thanks,” I murmured.

“You’d have done the same for me,” she said softly.

I smiled, sniffing away the tears threatening to fall.

Vixen returned with ice-filled glasses and looked at us in confusion. “What did I miss?”

I took a deep breath to regain my composure and held out my hand for a glass. “We just decided to have a night where we don’t talk about anything that’s happened in the last month — right, Mieko?”

She nodded.

I couldn’t keep blaming her and Vixen for what Zander did. They’d been as clueless about his planning as me. Neither of them had forced him to become a scheming snake. It’s who he was. My anger needed to stay focused on those who deserved it. I couldn’t let my fury at Zander poison my other relationships, especially when they were also victims who risked their lives to help me.

Vixen poured out a generous measure for each of us, then held her glass up. “To kicking ass!”

Optimism was for fools, but I drained the shot anyway.

Mieko noticed my dubious expression. “Everything will be okay, Candy.”

I couldn’t tell whether she was saying it for her benefit or mine. Either way, I shot her a tight-lipped grin that didn’t meet my eyes.

“Why don’t we watch a movie?” Vixen suggested, picking up the television remote. After scrolling through, it appeared she’d already downloaded enough films to last an average person a lifetime. The pointer landed onJaws. “How about this? Seems fitting, don’t you think?”

I did, but not for the same reasons. Whatever was swimming in the depths below our feet didn’t scare me as much as the creatures walking on land. Hiram wasn’t a small town punk. His teeth were razor fucking sharp, and it’d take more than clinking glasses to take him down.

“I’ll get the ice cream and snacks,” Mieko said, jumping up. “Popcorn or chocolate?”

“Bring them both,” Vixen replied, sliding into the spot she’d vacated and slapping her playfully on the ass.

I made a retching noice as Mieko giggled and hurried away.

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