Page 38 of Property of Necro
“Semantics.” He chuckles with his entire body, holding his round belly like Santa Claus. “You saw Necro’s office walls, huh?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“I think he has some serious demons.” That’s the understatement of the century. It’s also none of my business.
A short boom of laughter erupts from Mama’s throat. “Oh. You have no idea. But you will. Ask him about it sometime.”
“He won’t talk to me. He doesn’t even try.”
“He will. Give him time.”
I’m not so sure about that.
“And Coffin?” I prompt, not wanting to discuss Necro anymore.
Mama crooks a finger for me to lean in closer, and he whispers in my ear, “One thing you should know about this place, sweet girl. There are ears and cameras everywhere.” Pulling back, he flicks his eyes to six spots in the chapel where the cameras must be hidden.
I dip my chin a fraction to let him know I understand. They’re watching. They’re listening. They heard this entire conversation. Part of me knows I should be upset by their intrusiveness… the other part is relieved I won’t have to relive this same story again now that they know. Not that they care. Why would they? I’m a hole. Not a person.
But at least now I can bake bread and am the proud owner of soft Croc slippers and a matching blanket.
Focusing on the positive, I sit in peace, mulling over anything and everything with Mama as my silent companion.
When Necro claims me sometime later, I follow him on the same path we always take to the basement and my bedroom. I don’t ask if I can keep my new gifts. He doesn’t acknowledge their existence as I use the restroom before sliding into my casket for the night, my feet pleasantly warm and my legs extra cozy. He drops something hard onmy stomach and shuts me inside before I get a chance to ask what the hell he threw at me.
Patting around in the pitch-black darkness, I find whatever landed on my belly, feel around the hard plastic, and push one of the five buttons.
The first one activates two strips of LED lights that outline the edges of the interior of my casket.
What in the world?
A silly laugh breaks free as I change the color to purple.
That looks awesome.
I push the other buttons, and they don’t do much other than change the lights or turn them off. The final button plays music. It’s low. Soothing. The sound of the outdoors. No. It’s the beach. The crashing of the waves. A seagull. Wind.
Closing my eyes, a small smile graces my lips until the calming sounds of the ocean drag me into a blissful dreamland.
Chapter
Fourteen
Sittingat my rusty desk in my basement office, with my chair tipped back too far for an adult, I rest my feet on the edge, laptop in my lap, and smile like a loon as I trim the conversation between Mama and Sola in the chapel into little sections, knowing Coffin doesn’t have the patience to listen to the entire discussion with all the pauses. When I’ve gotten it down to a manageable listen, I shrink the file so it won’t take up a lot of space on his phone, and I text it to him from my computer. Knowing Necro has already watched the exchange, I pretend he hasn’t and text him the same Cliff Notes version I sent Coffin.
I wonder if Necro will watch it with Sola in his office. She’s in there hours a day, and today’s not any different. I wish we had more for her to do around here. That we could trust her more, but that takes time, and this place isn’t safe. The brothers, given a chance, would touch her like the fuckin’ sex-deprived hound dogs they are, and those who dwell in the basement between shipments wouldn’t think twice about tearing into her sweet, sweet pussy.
Fuck.
What a delicious pussy.
My mouth waters just thinkin’ about it as an incoming text vibrates on my desk.
I pull my cell into my lap.
Coffin: Fuck Off.
