Hunting season

Chapter Eleven

Neecy landed in the backyard and found Didi waiting for her. “You okay, kid?”

Retracting her wings, Neecy took the sweatshirt Didi offered her. “Yeah. I’m fine. Where’s Arri?”

“Janelle took her to her room.”

“Okay.” Neecy pushed open the sliding back door and walked into the house. It was warm and she’d never felt so grateful. “I’m gonna go check on her, then I’ll be down to talk to you.”

Didi followed behind her until they reached the stairs. “Okay.”

“They were Shifters, Didi.”

Sighing, Didi shook her head. “Okay. Don’t worry about it.”

Neecy took care of the girls, but Didi had to deal with the political fallout of any fights with certain factions. The Shifters spent most of their time fighting their own, but they were fiercely protective of each other against the outside world.

And they considered the Crows as outside as you could get.

Neecy jogged up the stairs, greeting other sisters as she passed. She went to the third floor and stalked down the hall. Katie and Connie sat outside Arri’s room, probably waiting for Janelle.

They’d put on warm clothes and Katie had an icepack over her face. Good thing they kept a healthy supply of those in the basement freezer.

Nodding toward the bedroom door, “Well?”

“Janelle’s putting her to bed.” Connie didn’t whisper but she did keep her voice low.

“You two okay?”

Connie nodded as Connie’s girlfriend, Fran, brushed past Neecy. She handed both Katie and Connie hot coffee and sat on the floor next to Connie, putting her head on her girlfriend’s shoulder.

“My face hurts and my boys are working late shifts.” Katie had the nerve to pout.

“I’m sorry your slaves are busy being cops and helping others when they could be running your bath, rubbing your tiny feet, and following your orders under fear of not being allowed to come.”

Connie and Fran burst out laughing as Katie glared at her. “Jealous bitch.”

Neecy winked and moved to the door. Gently pushing it open, she stepped inside. Janelle was just pulling the covers over Arri.

“How is she,” Neecy whispered.

“Don’t bother whispering. She’s out cold.”

“Good. She needs the sleep.”

Janelle came around the bed. “Well, now we know why Skuld wanted her out there.”

“What the fuck happened anyway? I didn’t see any bodies.”

“You wanna know what happened?” Janelle gave a short laugh that had absolutely no humor in it. “Our little Arri ripped open a doorway, pushed all the Crows and Ravens out of the way, and threw all of those bikers in there. Then she sealed up the hole and shut the doorway to hell. And she pretty much did all that at the same goddamn time.”

Neecy looked at Arri, so small under those covers, and back at Janelle. “What?”

“You heard me. I’ve never seen anything like it, Neece. Never.”

After a moment of pure shock, Neecy grinned. She couldn’t help herself. “Still worried about her coming out with us now?”

Janelle snorted as she headed toward the door. “What? Are you high? I say we make sure she goes out with us until we all retire.”

Walking around the bed, Neecy stared down at Arri. Tears still clung to her long black lashes, but she was definitely asleep. Neecy felt an overwhelming tenderness for her friend. She’d been through so much and the other Crows had never really accepted her. Maybe now they would. Or at least fear her enough to give her more respect.

Leaning down, Neecy kissed the top of the girl’s head.

And if they didn’t give Arri more respect, Neecy would start kicking the shit out of people.

Neecy fell face-‐first onto her bed. She really wanted to go back to her apartment, but she wanted to be here when Arri woke up. She definitely didn’t want Didi getting to her first.

Who knew what she’d say to her? What Neecy learned quickly was that Didi had no patience. None. A lovely woman, with delightful Southern values, but you better be able to keep the fuck up or she would leave your ass behind in a New York minute.

And since they had much work to do before Arri would be a truly effective part of the team, she didn’t want Didi scaring her with one of her “speeches.”

Already naked, Neecy lay there debating whether it was worth reaching over to turn out her light when her cell phone rang.

She rolled her eyes. She had no doubt who the hell was on the other end of that phone. The question was did she answer?

Growling, she reached down and yanked the phone from her jeans.

She flipped it open. “Yeah?”

“Just wanted to make sure you got home okay.”

Christ, that voice!

“Yes, Yager. I got home just fine.”

He chuckled low. “Man, you’re testy tonight.”

“I don’t get testy. I do, however, get annoyed.”

“Why?”

“Look, I don’t know what you think we’re doing, but it’s not what you think it is.”

There was a pause, and she could easily imagine him with that confused frown he sometimes got when stuff didn’t make sense to him. That adorable, but misleading frown that originally had her believing Yager was another big, dumb Viking.

Dumb her ass.

“Please feel free to repeat that, Professor. Cause you lost me.”

“What I’m saying is, I don’t need you checking up on me to make sure I got home okay. That’s what boyfriends and husbands do and you ain’t either.”

“What if I wanna be?”

“Then I’d say you need to get out there and find yourself a nice girl. I’ve heard online dating is popular.”

“Neecy, you’ve been in serious relationships before.”

“Sure was. How do ya think I got shot?”

Yager sighed in frustration. “Don’t pull that shit on me. You’ve had other relationships since then that didn’t end in gun play.”

“Yeah. So?”

“So what’s the difference? Why do I get the special Lawrence rejection?”

This was where things got all complicated. How could she tell him he was the one man who could actually get to her? Make her vulnerable. Sure, she’d had good, steady boyfriends who always remembered anniversaries and birthdays, and knew exactly how to make her come without too much effort.

And she’d never loved one of them.

When those relationships inevitably ended, she shrugged and moved on.

Nothing ugly or complicated. Boyfriend of the Moment would go off and find himself a nice girl who actually loved him. Neecy went off and found another good, steady Boyfriend of the Moment. Perfect.

But as Neecy didn’t lie to people, she refused to lie to herself. Yager would be messy and complicated. There’d be fights and discussions on money and whether they wanted to see the Joneses on Saturday night.

She’d fall in love with Wilhelm Yager, which meant she’d be vulnerable. And when that asshole pulled the trigger, she’d swore she would never be that way again.

When Neecy didn’t answer his question, Yager growled. “What do you want, Neecy?”

Frowning, Neecy turned over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. “I want what you’d never be able to give me.”

“Which is?”

“A completely sexual relationship void of drama and emotions and the usual bullshit. Just two people getting together on occasion to fuck.”

The pause that followed her declaration went on for so long, Neecy thought he’d hung up or the connection lost. She looked at her phone several times to see if she still had him.

Finally, “Are you naked?”

Neecy squeezed her eyes shut. She spoke and it was like the man didn’t hear a word she said. “Did you even hear what I said?”

“Yeah. I heard you. Are you naked?”

She sighed. “Yes, Yager. I’m naked. I just got out of the shower.”

“Mhhmm. I love how you smell when you’re just showered.”

Neecy locked her knees together. “Look, Yager, I’ve gotta…”

“Put your hand between your legs.”

Suddenly she wasn’t as dead tired as she thought. “No, Yager.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not in my apartment. I’m in a house full of women, a few of them under eighteen, and I’m not doing this here.”

“Damn.” He sounded so despondent. “Well, are you going home tonight?”

Neecy forced herself to frown to keep from laughing. “No. I’ve gotta be here for Arri.”

“How she doin’?”

“Sleeping. But fine.”

“Good. So we really can’t have phone sex?”

“No.”

“Damn.”

She took a deep breath and again forced herself not to laugh. “Look, Yager, I’m not the girl for you. You’re looking for someone more…”

“Like you?”

“No.”

“Yes.” He said it so simply. Like she was his slow-‐witted cousin or something.

“What is your obsession with me?” If she could find out maybe she could convince him otherwise.

“You mean other than the fact that I think you’re hot and sexy and downright amazing?”

She rubbed her eyes with her free hand. “Yes,” she sighed. “Other than that.”

“You bring me joy.”

It was like someone kicked her in the groin. All the air left her lungs and she lay there staring up at the ceiling.

She, Denise Lawrence, bringer of death brought someone joy? How was that possible? The only joy she’d ever brought anyone was back in her first-‐life when she handed over the nickel bag of pot.

“I…how do I…”

“Every time you take down some scumbag. Every time you try to make Arri feel welcome and stop Janelle and Mike from fighting. Or when you go out of your way not to show Tye when he’s completely freaked you out. And every time you smile. Every time, Neecy Lawrence, you bring me joy.”

Neecy blinked. Several times. “Yager…”

“I want to see you tomorrow.”

“No. No dating. No relationship.”

“Fine. Then just sex.”

“Forget it, Yager. You could never do that and we both know it.”

“You’re not even going to give me a chance?”

“No. I’m not.” Because she couldn’t afford to.

“You’re breakin’ my heart.”

Neecy rolled her eyes. “I am not.”

“Neecy…”

“Goodbye, Yager.”

She ended the connection and shut off her phone.

Delia slapped Janelle’s leg. “Ow!”

“Oh, stop whining, ya big baby. We go through this every time. You insist I braid your hair and then you freakin’ whine and complain the entire time.”

“Cause you make ‘em too damn tight. That hair is actually attached to my scalp, ya know!”

“If I don’t make ‘em tight, they won’t even last two days, much less a week.”

Janelle went back to braiding Delia’s dark brown hair while Katie, curled up in one of Janelle’s favorite chairs, quietly read a book on knots. Janelle wasn’t going to even ask.

Her cell phone rang and both Katie and Delia smiled.

“J, you actually have ‘Danny Boy’ as your phone ring?” Delia giggled.

“I like that song.” She released Delia’s hair and scooped up her cell phone. She frowned at her Caller ID and looked at Katie. “It’s Yager.”

“Ooh. Neecy problems.” She sat up straight in the chair, her book forgotten.

“Answer, answer, answer.”

Chuckling, Janelle flipped open her phone. “This is Janelle.”

“Hey, Janelle. This is Yager.”

Working hard not to laugh, she covered the mouthpiece. “Oh, my God. He sounds so depressed.”

“That bitch. You know she probably just dogged him.” Katie motioned to the phone. “Find out what’s going on.”

Clearing her throat, she went back to her phone. “Hey, Yager. What’s up?”

“Remember at the party, you said you’d help if I needed it?”

She did? Damn Alabama Crows. No more grain alcohol for her. “Um…sure.” She shrugged at Katie. “What d’ya need?”

“She’s breaking my heart, and she doesn’t care.”

“Of course, she cares. That’s why she’s breaking your heart.”

“She says she doesn’t want a relationship.”

Janelle frowned. “Then what does she want?”

“Sex, but no relationship.”

Janelle snorted. “She’s kidding right? I mean…Neece don’t do sex with no relationship.”

Although only hearing one side of the conversation, Delia and Katie still covered their mouths to keep their hysterical laughter quiet.

Janelle waved at them, since she could still hear Katie’s giggles through her hand.

“Well, she says that’s what she wants.”

Rolling her eyes, “Then just tell her that’s what you’ll do.”

“I tried. She saw right through me.”

“Christ, youse two are pathetic.”

Katie glared at her across the room and whispered, “Be nice! That shitty accent we’ve tried to beat out of you is making an appearance, which means you’re getting testy.”

Covering her phone again, Janelle snapped, “Oh, look who’s talking! She of the knots!”

“I know we are,” Yager continued, unaware of Janelle’s multiple conversations.

“But she won’t let me in. Got any ideas?”

With a sigh, “Hold on a sec.” She lowered the phone as she covered the mouthpiece. “She’s blockin’ him. And he’s out of ideas.”

Katie threw up her hands. “At this rate, she’s going to die a bitter old maid. Just like you.”

Janelle nodded, then her head snapped up. “Huh?”

Delia, sitting on Janelle’s bedroom floor, with Janelle’s legs on either side of her so she could do her hair, patted her on the ankle. “Ask him if he’s going to that Valkyrie party tomorrow.”

“Yager. You going to that Valkyrie party tomorrow?”

“I’d rather remove my eyelids. I’m sending Mike.”

Janelle laughed. “Okay.” Covering the phone. “He’d rather remove his eyelids.”

Katie grinned. “I’m liking him more and more.”

“Tell him to go.” Delia turned her head to look at Janelle over her shoulder.

“Are you sure? I’d hate for him to go for no reason.”

“Trust me. But you bitches have to go yourselves.”

“Are you high?” Katie snapped.

“I’d rather eat glass.”

“Hey!” Delia growled. “My team has had to go to those goddamn Valkyrie parties with Didi every year for the last four years because you cunts wouldn’t go. Well, now you’re fuckin’ going!”

“Hey, cunts is a little harsh, ya know.”

“There are speeches, honey. I’ve sat through Valkyrie speeches and Odin grabbed my tits last year. You’re just lucky I didn’t sneak in and cut your throats in your sleep!”

“Christ, such a drama queen.” Janelle went back to her phone. “Yager. Go to the party.”

“Really?”

“Trust me. We’ll be there and we’ll drag her ass with us, if we have to bring her in a garbage bag.”

There was a long pause, then, “She’ll still be alive, right, J? If you have to do that.”

“Of course, she will!” Janelle snapped. “Don’t make me crazy, Yager!”

“Okay. Okay.” He chuckled. “Thanks a lot, Janelle.”

She took a deep breath and smiled. “No problem. But I better be a goddamn bridesmaid at your wedding.”

“You got it. And if she fights me on it, you’ll move over to my side and hang with Tye and Mike. But no more putting Mike in headlocks.”

“We both know the little bastard always deserves them,” she joked, even as she felt a little shudder pass through her. Not about Mike. Like siblings, they’d been torturing each other for years. No, it was the mention of Tye that got her. She could still feel Tye’s body laying on top of hers and see that glossy black hair spilling over those bright blue eyes…

She shook her head. “Look. Gotta go. See ya tomorrow.”

She flipped the phone closed.

“So what’s the plan, Dee?”

“It’s vicious. And involves Didi.”

Katie giggled in a most unholy way as she grabbed her knot book off the floor and again got comfortable in Janelle’s chair. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”