Page 53 of Whips and Chains
Whip pinched the bridge of his nose. “A pet enchilada?”
I nodded. “Yeah, you know those furry gray things with the big ears? Kinda like cuter, cuddly rats? Wikipedia says they make great but unusual pets.”
Levi squinted at me. “Do you mean a chinchilla?”
I waved my hand around dismissively. “Chinchilla, enchilada, same-same.”
“Not even remotely the same, X,” Whip muttered.
I clapped my hands. “So, while Violet is working, we’re all going stabbing.” I kissed the top of her head. “Have a great shift, chinchilla mama. I’ll be back to pick you up when you’re finished.”
“Take me with you.”
Now all three of us stared at her.
And one syllable came out of all three of our mouths.
“No.”
Something flashed in Violet’s eyes. “What do you mean, no? My best friend was murdered last night. We all know the cops aren’t going to do anything about that. They don’t care about anyone who lives this side of the Saint View-Providence border. You think I can just work and go home and act like nothing happened?”
Whip brushed the back of his hand beneath her chin, tilting her head so she was looking up at him. “Hey. Nobody is asking you to act like nothing happened. But, Violet, you cannot come with us. We’re hunting targets from the list, and one of those people murdered Toby and could have just as easily killed you too.”
“All the more reason for me to come with you. I’m the one who was personally singled out by this guy. I need to be involved.”
Levi wore regret all over his face. “Vi, it’s dangerous.”
“So is having sex with X, but the two of you were happy to sit around and watch that happen.”
I choked on a laugh that only doubled when Whip and Levi both appeared suitably chagrined. Levi shot me a look that clearly said: “Do you want to help us out here?”
He was right. Violet most definitely could not come hunting with us. “You have a shift. I know you don’t just want to leave Bliss and the others shorthanded. We’ll take you out to play another day.” Then I mouthed, “No, we won’t,” to the other guys.
Violet glared at me. “You know I can see you doing that, right?”
I cringed. “Oops. I was trying to be subtle.”
“You’re about as subtle as a steamroller,” Whip said.
“Or a bull in a china shop,” Levi added.
“Or a stripper at a church picnic.” Violet’s fingers had clenched into fists by her sides.
My mouth dropped open. “Hey! You’re supposed to be on my side!”
“Take me out with you tonight and I will be. Put a knife in my hand and point me at whoever took my best friend from me.”
All the jokes died.
Because all three of us knew it wasn’t that simple. Taking a life, even one you felt you were owed, came with a lifetime of baggage. Fear. Regrets.
Ones you couldn’t outrun. Couldn’t get away from. Ones you saw at night when you closed your eyes.
I couldn’t stop the urge to kill any more than Levi or Whip could.
But that didn’t mean I didn’t regret my actions. That they didn’t keep me up at night.
I didn’t want that for Violet. No matter how much she wanted it right now.
