Page 133 of Silas

Inez…I’m not sure how to put it. She just suddenly exudes ice, a pulse of pure cold. “That is between Naomi and myself.”

Naomi glances around at the curious faces, and then back at Inez. “They want to know you, Inez. I think they just don’t know how to ask.”

Inez shuffles her weight from foot to foot, an uncharacteristic display of uncertainty. Her gaze goes to Naomi. “I am their boss, not their friend.”

“You can be both, can’t you?” Naomi holds Inez’s gaze.

I don’t think anyone can believe the situation unfolding—Inez has always been untouchable, unapproachable, an Ice Queen of the highest order, frozen behind a wall of spikes.

Inez eyes the group, meeting each pair of shocked, curious eyes in turn—mine last. Finally, she whirls away. “I have matters to attend to. Welcome to the Broken Arrows, Naomi.”

And with that, she’s gone.

Silence reigns for a full minute.

“What…thefuck…was that?” Kane asks.

“I think Inez just showed emotion,” Chance breathes. His tone reflects what we’re all feeling: speechless shock.

I look at Naomi. “Yougottaelaborate, baby.”

Naomi shrugs. “Not long after you left the B and B, my fa—that man’smen showed up. I had to fight them. I used the flashbang to stun them, shot them, and ran. I took their truck and called Inez. While I was talking to her, trying to get away, we…we talked a little bit. She told me a few things about herself.”

“She talked to you…aboutherself?” I demand. “What did she say?”

Naomi frowns. “I don’t know if what she told me was in confidence or not, so I’d rather not say. If she hasn’t shared with anyone else, I’m sure she has her reasons.”

“Smart,” Chance says. “Stay on her good side.”

“Can we go back to the part where you used a flashbang and then had a shootout?” Myka says. “Because that sounds like a hell of a story.”

Naomi ducks her head, grinning. “I didn’t really have much choice.”

“Well no shit,” Annika says. “You wouldn’t be here with the likes of us if you weren’t in deep doo-doo.”

“You simply must tell us everything,” Anjalee says, in her soft, lilting voice. She hooks her arm around Naomi’s, giving me an apologetic smile. “Come. We will do the mani-pedis and you will tell us this so very intriguing story.”

Myka goes to her other side, whispering not-so-conspiratorially, “Including what ol’ green eyes over there is like in bed. You know we’re all dying to know.”

I laugh. “Tell ‘em the truth babe—that I’m a god.”

Naomi resists for a moment, looking back at me. I just grin at her. “The women have you in their clutches now, honey. Nothing I can do. You just have to go with it.”

Annika fakes a diabolical cackle. “We’ve got you now, my pretty, and your little dog too.”

“What dog?” Naomi asks, confused.

“Ohmigod,” Annika drawls. “Wizard of Oz? Hello.”

Naomi lets them pull her away. “Well excuse me, but I was raised in total isolation on an extremist militia compound in the middle of West Virginia. We didn’t own a TV.”

“So you mean you haven’t seenSixteen Candles?” Myka moans.

“OrGirls Just Wanna Have Fun?” Annika adds.

“OrPrincess Bride?” Myka returns.

“OrLegends of the Fall?” Annika says.