Page 89

“Is it not good enough? It’s not good enough.” He replies and casts his eyes down to look at the offending hand. Although the words are Kimi, the flat tone definitely is not. What happened to him?

Not good enough? Is this his idea of agift?

Oh, crap. What will he do if it is, and he thinks this isn’t good enough? Old Kimi would have laughed it off, calling me spoiled and desperate for more.

New Kimi might just bring in a whole host of people to kill right in front of me. I’m convinced. No words are necessary.

“This is perfect,” I rush to say, holding both hands up in a stop motion before he can move, even though he looks like a frozen statue.

His eyes snap back to mine and somehow gain even more intensity. Enough that I cringe back a bit and slide closer to King. I have no idea why I think he can, or even would, save me from the terrifying new Kimi. My sanity packed up and left with a ‘good luck bitch’.

“You don’t sound like it’s perfect.” I could swear he’s accusing me, but with the monotone and lack of expression, I just can’t tell!

“I’m surprised.”Boy, am I surprised. “It’s such a thoughtful thing to do, and I wasn’t prepared for it. At all. Like, not at all, ever.”

His head tilts the barest amount, and for a second, it’s like watching a Mitri clone.

Oh shit. Please. Not another Mitri. One is enough.

Whatever he sees in my face pacifies him enough to look back down at the hand, and my eyes slowly drift down to do the same. I study it mindlessly and vaguely notice I’m reaching up to touch King’s face. Might as well fix that shit while I’m stupefied.

“Is she dead,” Ben’s voice is part snarling beast, part man.

“No,” Kimi looks up at him. “You catch and release trout. I’m enjoying fishing. It’s not as boring in real life as it is on TV.”

He doesn’t sound like he’s enjoying anything. Did he get lobotomized while no one was looking?

“What are you doing,” Mitri’s voice is just as dead as Kimi’s, and I glance up at him. Oh, he’s talking to me.

At that point, I become aware that King’s face is all healed, and I’m petting his cheek like he’s a good boy. Mal’s scowl has become a look wavering between surpriseand laughter but not settling on either one as he watches me over the top of King’s head. Man, he’s tall.

Everyone else turns to admire what Mitri noticed as I freeze up. Then I jolt away from King like he’s a hot pan, and I burned myself, holding the appendage out and shaking it as if it’s on fire. King turns to me, eyebrow still raised, seemingly delighted at the display.

“I’m sorry! Ben broke me of the whole personal space bubble thing months ago, and I haven’t gotten it back yet.” That explanation lacked something. I need to quit waving my hand around, too. It’s just gotten weird.

Speaking of hands…

Somewhere on Ben’s body, a shrill ringing sounds out. My mind flounders in awhat the fuck nowstate before I realize it’smyphone.

He must have started carrying it again. Otherwise, it would have been dust after the whole crushing thing. He acts like I can’t answer the phone without supervision and scowls whenever I do it.

He reaches into his back pocket, pulls out the obnoxious noise, and glances at the caller ID. With a quick inhalation, his darkness sucks back into his eyes faster than I’ve ever seen, and he turns his head towards me in creepy slow motion, eyes wide.

“It’s Mom.”

“Shit.”

“I’m going to be in so much trouble.”

“No, you won’t,” I snap angrily. “I’ve got this one, sunshine.”

I take the phone from him and walk a little bit away from the table of horrors. We could just take it out back and burn it, right?

When did Scilla change her contact name to Future-Mother-In-Law? It has an octopus on either side, with three laughing emojis following. I doubt I’ll ever get this female’s humor.

“Slaughterhouse, head supervisor speaking,” I answer, trying for a nonchalant tone. I cringe at the unintended reference to the severed hand on the table. I’m blaming insanity.

“Yes,” her voice purrs across the line soothingly. If a porn actress crooning in your aural canal could be called soothing. “I’d like to lodge a complaint. You’re the perfect person to speak with.”