Page 51 of Cruel Possession

Maybe I’ll go for a swim later.

Morgana makes a noise in the back of her throat. “I don’t think there’s anything you could find that’s going to make the boss willing to let all of you live. Let’s just say things have been more than a little tense since you were taken.”

“Well, the best laid plans can still be ruined sometimes. It’s not my fault. I didn’t beg to get kidnapped.”

“I know.” Morgana sighs as a very muffled shouting starts. “It sounds like people are fighting. I’m going to have to go deal with that, but when you want the extraction to happen, let me know. I can’t promise that any of the others are going to be willing to help you.”

“As expected. I was sure I would lose most of my contacts.”

“Yeah, you’re not doing a good job at holding onto your friends. Logan is becoming a problem, too. He keeps pushing for more and more now that you’re gone. I’m going to kill him one of these days just so I don’t have to deal with him anymore.”

“Hold off on that for now until the drugs are running smoothly. You know if there’s one more hiccup with that, things will go up to shitstorm status.”

The wind gets colder, and snowflakes start to fall, melting when they hit the heated patio that surrounds the pool.

I hold out my hand and catch a couple of flakes, watching as they melt.

Morgana sighs. “Fine. He can live for now, but if I catch him looking at my tits one more time, I’m cutting his damn eyes out and then sending them to his wife in a box so she knows what a piece of shit her husband is.”

“I’m fine with that. Just chill out for now and everything will be fine.”

“Is that what you keep telling yourself to get through the shitshowyou’re embroiled in?”

“If it works, it works.”

She laughs. “Well, I’m going to go deal with the fight before someone dies. Call me when you’re ready.”

“I will. Good luck.”

Just as I’m hanging up the phone and standing up to step back into my shoes, Skyla walks out with her hands stuffed deep into the pockets of her coat. She eyes me, drawing closer.

I don’t like the way she’s watching me. Though, I’ve never been fond of her, even if there is a sort of begrudging respect there.

Skyla stops a few feet from me. “What are you doing out here?”

“Didn’t you hear?” I smirk at her, slipping my phone into my back pocket. “I’ve been given a few privileges for good behavior.”

She keeps eyeing me like she’s trying to figure me out. Or perhaps she sees straight through me. It wouldn’t surprise me if she did. She’s always seemed more observant than the others.

Even Aiden is blind to what I’ve been doing.

Now if Skyla was my warden, things would definitely be different. For the worse.

The power of pussy strikes again.

Skyla stuffs her hands deeper in her pocket, drawing up her shoulders as the wind starts blowing harder. “It’s interesting that he would let you roam around like that when you’re known for being an underhanded bitch.”

I press a hand to my heart. “Flattery is going to get you everywhere in life. Honestly, I would offer you some tips on how to be a heartless cunt, but it seems like you already wrote the book on that one.”

The corner of her mouth twitches. “Cute. Really cute. Want to tell me what the fuck you were doing sitting with your phone out at the pool in the middle of winter?”

“Is it really so wrong to want a little bit of privacy when speaking with Morgana?”

Skyla hums. “Knowing you, it’s likely. I still don’t understand it, though. Snakes are cold-blooded. They like to be warm.”

My eyes narrow as I try to figure out what she’s attempting to goad me into.

I’ve dealt with her enough times to know that the interactions I have with her are far more than they’ve ever appeared. She’s always analyzing and looking for something. It’s one of the things I do like about her, as much as it pains me to admit it. At least in that regard, I can see parts of myself.