“You poor thing, let me help.” Jerrica brings me back from my thoughts when she pounces forward, a sunny smile on her face. Before she can get close, I scoop both bags toward me, clutching them to my side to get a better grip on the clip. “That’s okay, got it, see?” I match her grin as the clasp on Jack’s bag finally unfastens, and I pull out a water bottle. It’s warm and only has a few sips at best, but there’s no way she’s putting her deceitful hussy lips on Jack’s hydration pack straw.
Her chin juts out as she slides the bottle out of my hand and empties it into her mouth. For someone who claims to have been lost for the hours it took her to get here from the campsite, she sure looks to be faring well, aside from her dusty clothes and slightly frazzled hair.
We dance, each of us taking steps in a wide circle. “So, you never said why you’re here?”
“It was all those damn tourists.” I nod. “And the helicopters. Drove me nuts. Can’t feel the vibrations of the mountain with so many people.”
“Right.” She smiles, a sinister twist to her lips. “Give me the backpack.”
I pout, narrowing my eyes as I take a slow, stealthy step back. “You know, this sudden Lara Croftplot twist doesn’t seem like your thing. Neither does the smuggling plot. You must know it’s wrong.”
She pulls a gun from the back of her cinched cargo shorts, becauseof course, she has a freaking gun,and rolls her eyes. “I’m doing what I have to.”
Don’t stare at the gun, Willow, don’t stare at the gun.
“You’re a smart person.” I continue. “I’m sure you know that your next move is pivotal.” Jerrica stares like she’s two seconds from pulling that trigger, but this is my only tactic. At least she’s not pointing the gun at me.
Stall until Jack gets back.
“Because, trust me, I’ve given this a lot of thought, and at best you’ll get khaki or tan for a prison uniform. At first I thought it was a standard orange, you know, ‘cause of the show, but then I remembered the documentaries I’ve seen, and they’re not all orange,” I ramble, pausing as if I’m conducting a color analysis. “I actually think you could make orange work. Is that your natural hair color?”
She scratches her brow with the end of her gun. For her sake, I really hope the safety is on. “I should’ve knocked you out when I had the chance,” she mutters before stepping closer.
“Okay, wait! Hold up. Just…hear me out, okay?” I lift a hand and she growls, fed up with my stalling, although nobody can deny it’s working. Hell, I might even have another ten minutes of material in me.
Hurry up, Jack.
“You want what I have, right?”
“Obviously,” she deadpans.
“Okay, well you’ve already got a mess on your hands. And unless you wanna wrack up dead bodies, I think you need my help.”
Her brow furrows as she studies me more carefully. “What are you saying? Sweet, little Miss Instagram Content Creator wants to come to the dark side?”
Okay, well…the fact that Jerrica knows about my Instagram account is somewhat concerning.
I can feel the resentment in her slitted gaze. Jack had better show up soon, because her patience with me is wearing thin. This is right around the time my family members politely excuse themselves from conversation, or if you’re my cousin Emily, just walk away. But it’s all I’ve got right now.
“Does switching teams come with outfits?” I ask cheerfully.
“You’re full of it.” Jerrica lifts her chin, taking measured steps closer in her stylish hiking boots. Why couldn’t I havefound shoes likethat?“Tell me one thing that’ll convince me you’re desperate enough to make a deal with someone like me.”
“Now, see, you think too little of yourself.” I frown like I’m indignant on her behalf. “You’re a formidable force! I’m sure you got those lady guns and strong quads by actually climbing walls and jumping over trash cans. You don’t look like the type of person to half-ass anything. That’s an amazing quality. This…business…you’re involved in…that’s all it is—a thing youdo.It’s not who youare.”
I’m feeding her the same spiel I’d give to anyone sitting in my stylist’s chair, only with a touch less sincerity and a bit more dramatic flair, because I get the feeling she feeds off of it. I catch the glint in her eyes every time I say something that she didn’t expect.
Her head falls back with a wild cackle.
“You’re something else, you know that? I almost wish I could take the risk and taint that innocent little heart of yours, just to keep you around. You’d sure make life entertaining.”
“I’m so flattered.” I curtsy, a little offended that she’d only use me for comedic relief. I think I’d make a great corrupted vixen if I had to.
I fan my face, making an effort not to show the shock and relief on my face when I spot Jack doing that sexy-as-heck stealth approach behind her. He even lifts a finger, pressing it to his mouth.
How dare he draw attention to his lips at a time like this? Also, he better not think I’m so stupid that I need him to tell me to actuallybe quietright now. What kind of dimwit women is he used to being around?
Jerrica does that thing where she makes the gun click. Forgive my ignorance, seriously, I have no gun knowledge. All I know is Jack looks hot holding one, and Jerrica is a step closer to pointing one at my brain.
