Drop Dead Gorgeous
The Journals of Octavia Hollows
Book 4
Written by
Stacey Rourke
Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Published by Anchor Group Publishing. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.
Special Thanks To:
Hell Yes Designs
Cheree Castellanos
Bam Shepherd
&
Stacy Sanford
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Chapter One
“Hand over the pig, Octavia.”
“Or,” I countered, cradling my favorite porker under my arm, “and go with me on this, you can kiss every square inch of my ass. Personally, I’m leaning towards that option.”
Arms folded across her chest, Arroyo—the Sea-bitch—dragged her pointed pink tongue over her top teeth. With a lift of her chin she signaled to her thugs that hovered at my elbows.
At her wordless command, the guy to my right slammed the sole of his shoe into the back of my knee. It buckled beneath me, sending me crashing to the ground. I caught myself on one hand before I squashed Bacon beneath me, and bloodied my palm on the gravel in the process.
Nostrils flaring, I glanced up at Kicky Magee and forced a sugar sweet smile that came nowhere near taming the daggers in my glare. “You and I are going to have a special relationship. I can feel it. A real love/hate thing. Me, constantly plotting your doom, and you touching yourself whenever you think about me.”
“Silence!” Arroyo barked. Lacing her fingers behind her back, she stalked a slow circle around me. Her black gown shimmered like sunlight glimmering off the heart of the ocean, and clung to her ample curves in an intimate caress. “We will rid you of that sharp tongue soon enough.”
Pulling myself up onto my knees, I shifted Bacon’s weight to get a better hold on him and quickly scanned my surroundings. “I can hear the highway in the distance, I’d guess it to be no more than three miles away. And while this looks like a random field in the middle of nowhere, it has the same kind of gravel parking lot you’d find at a state fair or renaissance festival. As much as I would love to think a turkey drumstick and beer were in my future, the caravan of top of the line motorhomes parked over there,” I nodded my forehead in their direction, “most definitely don’t belong to any true reni. Add to that the work crew assembling what looks like a large circus tent—who don’t seem even remotely concerned about a young woman being manhandled over here—and this whole scene doesn’t bode well for me. So, what are we talking here? Sacrificing me up to some demonic entity? Tell me now if I’m going to be its dinner or wife. I need to know if I need to brace myself for death or hellacious honeymoon.”
“Such a clever girl,” Arroyo clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, her full lips twisting into a sinister smirk. “Yet you weren’t smart enough to save your tentacled-face friend, were you?”
Straightening my spine, I met her glare head on. “I called him Squid-face, and he was my friend. Don’t misconstrue the fact that you’re in a gown and I’m in the dirt for a victory. One way or another, you will pay for his death.”
Laughter bubbling from her chest, Arroyo gathered the fabric of her skirt enough to crouch down beside me. Head tilting, she considered me as if seeing me for the first time. “You do have the fiery spirit of a siren. There’s no denying that. Once taught our ways and customs, you may reach your full potential yet.” Her hand shot out in a blink. Fingers weaving into the hair at the base of my scalp, she wrenched my head back with a force that knocked a yelp from my throat. With her mouth against my ear, she breathed her threat into me. “Make no mistake, what little potential I speak of is that of a lowly halfling. One that will tend to the needs of the pod in exchange for care and a place amongst us. The more obedient you are, the more … comfortable you will be. The more you struggle, the more I will take great pleasure in making every element of your life more difficult. I can make every breath that passes your lungs anguish, child. Do not test me.”
Releasing her hold, she shoved me backwards in a motion that ground the stone beneath further into my knees. I could see my swords in the back window of the Lincoln, and had no doubt she’d left them there on purpose. She was taunting me with how powerless I was compared to her.
Rising to her feet, Arroyo swished her hips into a cocky stance. “That said, I ask my earlier question again with a bit more of a disclaimer. Either you hand your pig over to me, thereby holding on to the chance of getting your beast back if you can learn to behave yourself. Or, I’ll slaughter him right here and we’ll fry him up for dinner. What shall it be? Choose quickly. I’m feeling peckish.”
Swallowing hard, I forced down the acidic taste of my own failure. Sea-bitch had me over a barrel, and we both knew it.
Reading my silence as acceptance, she tossed her hair and snapped her fingers. Kicky jumped at her command, and sprinted to the Lincoln to retrieve a dog crate from the passenger’s side of the front seat. Meanwhile, the guy I decided to dub Slightly Longer Life Expectancy, stood statue still beside me.
Jogging back, Kicky unlocked the crate and set on the ground in front of me.
As if sensing my unease, Bacon squirmed in my arms, wanting distance from this as much as I did.
Clenching my jaw in attempt to steady my quivering chin, I kept my tone calm and steady for my boy. “You’re alright, buddy. You’re going to be okay,” I assured my confused and kicking piglet as I forced him into the crate for what I prayed would be his own good.
Kicky cut off my chance at a proper goodbye by slamming the gate shut and swinging the carrier to his side by its handle. Before he could take a step away I caught his wrist, my fingernails digging half moons in his flesh. “Whatever happens to the pig, happens to you. You get me?”
Arroyo either didn’t hear me, or completely disregarded my warning to her boytoy. With a glance over her shoulder to see who was looking, she gripped the bust of her gown and wriggled it further up to moderately tame her exploding cleavage. “There’s a good girl. Now, best behavior, kids. Let’s go impress the stiffs.”
With her minions seizing my upper arms and dragging me to my feet, I couldn’t help but wish she meant that in the pushing up daisies sense of the term. At least then things would finally start to shift in my favor.
Chapter Two
The toes of my motorcycle boots scuffed over the grass as Arroyo’s goons dragged me along. “Really, fellas? Not even one question about your boss abducting a young woman?” My stare lobbed from one of her walking, talking Ken doll’s to the other. “Why is that? What’s in this for you?”
“Did you get a look at our boss?” Kicky muttered out of the corner of his mouth, punctuating the statement with a whistle of appreciation.
“Dude, shut the hell up.” Slightly-Longer-Life-Expectancy forced the words through clenched teeth, the tendons of his neck bulging with annoyance.
But it was too late, their dirty secret was revealed. Not that it was much of a shock. “Sex? Really?” Nose crinkling, I shook my head in disgust. “All the despicable, soul-staining shit she has you guys do, and it comes down to smashing?”
“Quiet!” Arroyo snapped without bothering to break stride, or glance back in our direction.
Face blooming beet red, S
LLE’s cast his stare to ground.
Kicky cleared his throat, his chin falling to his chest in shame. “Technically, no one has been allowed to smash anything, as you put it. But, she does let us watch her shower… sometimes.”
Arms and legs going limp, I became dead weight as I blinked my astonishment in his direction. “Did you hear how sad that sounded as you were saying it out loud?”
Wearing matching hangdog expressions, they both nodded.
“You’re both a disgrace to your gender. I hope you realize that.”
Further conversation was halted by the side-flap of the giant, canvas tent before us being flung open. The scent of rose petals wafted out, as a regal looking woman with her raven hair braided into a faux hawk ducked under the fabric. She wore a stark white men’s suit that had been tailored to hug her every curve. A black lace bodice poked out from beneath, adding a hint of softness to her striking fashion statement.
The minute her gaze fell on Arroyo, the stranger bristled. Letting the tent flap fall closed behind her, she squared her shoulders and adjusted the hem of her suit coat. “Look what low tide dragged in.” One haughty brow lifted in a condemning glare. “Let me guess, you came to lounge about, eat our food, then flitter back to your lackadaisical existence. As per your usual pattern.”
“She doesn’t seem to like you,” I very helpfully pointed out. “I can’t imagine why. I mean, I’ve only known you a day, but murder, abduction, and pig stealing aside, you seem like a real treat. Oh, I’m sorry. I pronounced that wrong. I meant twat.”
Pretending she hadn’t heard me, Arroyo fixed on a winning smile and radiated pure sunshine at the woman that quite obviously outranked her. “Bahari, it is always a pleasure to see you. You look as radiant as ever.”
Craning her neck, the woman I now knew as Bahari glanced over our heads at a member of her work crew bustling past. “Excuse me! Yes, you. The sweaty one with the ill-fitting pants, the chairs need to be set in thirty even rows with an aisle in the middle. The middle being with fifteen on each side. I didn’t think I needed to explain that, but judging by their current set up, it seems basic math eluded you.” Task handled, she begrudgingly returned her attentions to Arroyo. “I have a lot to do to prepare for tonight. Did you want to remove your lips from my ass now, or shall I lotion up to avoid chafing?”
“I don’t know who you are. But I have the biggest lady boner over you.” I admitted with genuine sincerity.
If Arroyo was bothered by Bahari’s dismissive nature, she didn’t dare let on. Her expression remained the kind of syrupy sweet that causes cavities. “This time is not like the others, Impresario. As you can see, I brought a gift.” She rolled her wrists my way with the grand flourish of a spokesmodel revealing the latest model of Lexus.
“You brought me a pink-haired girl?”
“I brought you a pink-haired halfling,” Arroyo corrected.
Lips pursed with annoyance, Bahari plunged her hands in the pockets of her slacks and closed the distance between us. Leaning closer, she sniffed the air between us and recoiled. (Always an offensive gesture, by the way.) “Why does it smell like magic?”
“It? Am I it?” I asked Kicky, who gave a brief nod of confirmation.
“It might know a card trick or two, but what does that matter?” Arroyo glided up beside Bahari, whispering in her ear like the malicious little she-devil she was. “You can smell the siren blood in her veins, same as me. Plus, I tested her myself.”
Eyebrows darting into my hairline, I let loose a humorous bark of laughter. “Test? Is that what you’re calling nearly drowning me? Can’t imagine what the grading curve is on that one.”
Expertly manicured hand planted in Arroyo’s face, Bahari pushed her out of her personal space. “I need you not to stand that close to me… ever.” She fell silent until Arroyo took a step back, then two more. Only then did she glance my way with something that resembled concern. “Release her at once.” She command of Sea-bitch’s minions.
Wise enough not to argue, they let my feet sink to the ground and dropped my arms that had already begun to bruise from their rough holds.
“Thank you,” I murmured, rubbing my purpling flesh.
Bahari’s chin lifted in my direction. “You’ve been in her care? For how long?”
She may have held obvious disdain for Arroyo, but that in no way put her on my side. Painfully aware that it could bite me in the ass, I opted for the blatant truth. “Playing it fast and loose on the word care, but she grabbed me last night.”
Lungs expanding with a deep inhale, she nodded. “I see. And were you treated with kindness?”
“She didn’t know what she was! It took persuasion to get her to come. Even so, it’s the law—”
Bahari’s hand shot to the side, slicing the air. That slight motion drew the water from the heavy clouds overhead. A rope-like cyclone lashed straight for us, encircling Arroyo’s throat and lynching tight. Forced up on tip-toe, her eyes bulged.
“I was speaking to the halfling,” Bahari spoke softly, yet the threat in her tone was sharp as a razor’s edge. “You’re time to talk has past.”
“Yes … Impresario,” she managed in between gasps.
A roll of Bahari’s fingers and the water dissipated into a fine mist that fell to the grass in a spray of sprinkles.
Hands on her knees, Arroyo fought to catch her breath. “You’ve gotten stronger.”
Bahari’s head tilted as if considering that very thing. “I am feeling a bit of a surge today. Further motivation for you not to cross me.” Once more she shifted the deep pools of her sapphire stare my way. “My apologies for the interruption. Again I inquire as to your treatment.”
Flicking my bangs from my eyes, I stabbed a hateful glower in Arroyo’s direction. “She killed my friend, and threatened my pig. I don’t like to use the C word—because I feel its reflects a negative stereotype against women. But, yeah, she’s a thundercunt.”
“The law is to turn in all halflings.” Arroyo interjected, hesitant gaze flicking upward in anticipation of another storm cloud bitch-slap. “Which I did the very instant I learned of her.”
Stepping closer, Bahari took my hand in both of hers. “You have my apologizes. Her ways are not ours. Arroyo, you see, acts only in her own best interest. I have no doubt that even her bringing you here was done with some ulterior motive.”
Throwing her arms out wide, Arroyo dipped into a formal curtsey. “I seek only the comfort of being amongst the pod while I’m here. Surely a woman of prestigious station, such as yourself, can accommodate such a request?”
“I look forward to the day when you aren’t a monumental pain in my ass.” Turning her cheek to her shoulder, a rogue lock of ebony hair fell forward to tangle in Bahari’s forest of lashes. “When will that be?”
Folding her hands in front of her, Arroyo attempted a look of wide-eyed innocence that landed closer to stalking lioness. “You know me. I don’t ever like to stay in one spot too long. Maybe a few weeks? Until the new moon at the latest.”
“Oh, you thought that was an actual question?” Bahari chuckled and shot me a conspiratorial wink. “Spring Tide, no. That was completely rhetorical. I will grant you one night here. You may feed, rest, then get the hell out. We have too much to do to be bothered with anyone that doesn’t contribute.”
I saw Arroyo’s mouth swing open. Watched her cheeks redden with rage. Quick as the emotion came on, it vanished with a blink. Her mask of submission forced back into place. “One day is incredibly generous, Impresario. You have my deepest gratitude.” While her head dipped in a bow of respect, the tips of her fingers drifted up to stroke the jade pendant strung around her neck.
Distracted by the men carrying bushels of white roses to the front of the tent, Bahari snapped her fingers over her head to catch their attention, and pointed them in the opposite direction. “Arroyo, you may bunk in trailer three with the fire sign halflings. Tide knows those girls could use a little supervision before their bickering
escalates and they burn the entire camp to the ground.”
“Halflings?” Arroyo’s voice cracked as she choked on outrage she battled to keep in check. “Rooming with them is a blatant insult!”
All emotion left Bahari’s features, leaving behind nothing but dangerously still waters in the depths of her stare. “Only your narrow-minded bias would consider it so. You sleep in trailer three, or you leave. Those are you options.”
“Of course,” Arroyo’s fingers closed around her pendent in a tight fist. “Excuse my… insolence.”
“This is your pig?” With two fingers Bahari pointed to the Bacon-filled carrier tucked under Kicky’s arm.
“He is. And neither of us are real crazy about being apart. So, if you could hand him back—”
“The halfling didn’t not come willingly,” Arroyo interrupted with a vindictive smile. “I have no doubt she’ll try to run the first chance she gets. That said, she won’t leave her precious pet behind. If you want her to take the time to consider all the camp has to offer, you need the pig kept away from her as insurance. I have no problem caring for it until she’s acclimated. If that suits you, Impresario?”
Yep, total thundercunt.
To my great regret Bahari jerked her head in a brief nod of agreement. “Very well, the piglet will be kept in captivity until the new member of our pod is acclimated.” Before I could launch into the monumental hissy brewing, she tagged on a disclaimer. “That said, if any harm comes to her pet, the same fate will befall you at the halfling’s hand.”
“Hey!” Perking at the idea of unleashing holy hell on Arroyo, I swatted at Kicky with the back of my hand. “That’s the same threat I made to him! Tell her that’s the same threat I made to you.”
“That’s the same threat she made to me,” he obediently parroted.
“I’m glad we got that settled. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Skirting around us, Bahari broke into a jog to catch up with a heavy set man lugging a keg. She made it about three strides, before turning on her heel to call back, “Oh, and gentlemen? In trailer six you’ll find a woman by the name of Eldoris. Leave the newcomer in her care. Then, get the hell out of this camp. We have no use for the weak-minded here.”
Drop Dead Gorgeous (The Journals of Octavia Hollows #4) Page 1
