Marlin makes a noncommittal noise while Vector goes back to playing on his phone.
“We’ve got our plan then. Marlin, I need you to deliver a message to your mother. She’s been unexpectedly called out of town for a business opportunity and will not be in Wolf Hollow for the foreseeable future.”
“Given the inaccessibility to the oceanfront, my mother’s house is one of the last ones on the list. A simple vacation will not sway our thief to abandon his entire plan.”
“Oh, I’m counting on it.”
With that, I hang up my phone and turn to the second part of my plan.
“Vector, my big strong boy.” A purr seeps into my voice, “Are you ready to start your initiation?”
He eyes me wearily before glancing out the windshield.
“Ken doll is going to be tougher than you think. I might not be able to break him.”
“When it comes to Christopher Deville, leave the breaking to me.” A malicious grin splits my lips, the edge of my blade teasingthe delicate skin of my wrist, “But for now, I think it’s time to introduce you to town. How do you feel about partying on a school night?”
A spark of interest hits Vector’s eyes for the first time.
“What happened to controlling the narrative?”
Leaning over the console, I scrape a claw against the blonde scruff along his jaw. My red fingernails dance across his spotted skin, triggering a bout of tension to ripple through his inflated muscles.
“The thing about women, Vector, is we’re able to focus onmultiplethings at once.” I brush my lips against his neck twice before the discomfort bleeds through his expression, “Unlike men who get distracted by the simplest of things.”
“You’re not my type.”
“I didn’t ask if I was.” Pressing my tongue flat against his skin, I lick a treasure trail up his neck, “But I bet we can find somebody whois.”
That gets his interest.
“Who?”
“Mm, you’ll have to wait and see.” Settling myself back down in my seat, I watch Vector wipe off my saliva with a smirk, “Think it’s time we took control of the narrative, don’t you?”
It must hurt, coming to the realization that you belong to the simpler, over-estimated species. Based on the scowl marking Vector’s face, I’d say it hurts a lot.
Poor boy is in for a rude awakening.
And he’s not the only one.
Chapter 7
CHRISTOPHER
After ten years, the only place I thought I’d be seeing my mother was hell.
Turns out, I wasn’t too far off.
“Honestly, Berry, you had onejob to do.” The furious slash of Cruella’s voice cuts through the bitter wind, “How hard is it to spell Hellman?! You missed half the fucking letters!”
It seems perfectly fitting to me, that after ten long years, I would be striding under a wrought-iron gate aptly namedHell Hall.
Truly, Berry is a poet who does not receive enough credit.
“I-I am so sorry.” Bumbling and blushing profusely, he takes a step away from the fuming woman, “I-It was a terrible mistake. I will see to it that the name gets changed immediately.”
“This was supposed to be my wedding present to Mr. Hellman!” Screeching at the top of her lungs, my mother flapsgloved hands around her head, “He’s going to think I’m animbecile.Is that what you want, Berry?!”
