I take Echo back, and she slithers around my wrist. Carly gets up from the bed too, and her smile is strained.
“Violence isn’t the answer, Pandora,” Carly says. “I appreciate that you care, but revenge really does leave everyone blind.”
Reaper’s lips thin into a line. He seems about to say something, but he glances at Carly, then stops himself.
Yeah, Reaper knows what’s up. His name is fuckingReaper. If that’s not a gang moniker or at least a really apt nickname, why would he use it?
“I’ve still got both eyes, Carly,” I point out with a grin. “But don’t worry, I promise not to gouge any out. Fingers are more traditional anyway.” At Carly’s horrified expression, I add, “I’mkidding.”
Actually, the eye thing sounds like a great idea, except it’s probably really messy. I think Papa once mentioned how gross eyes are. All goopy inside or something.
Better to avoid it entirely. I don’t want to lose my grip on my knife just because eye juice squirted everywhere.
Reaper is watching me steadily. “It’s going to be taken care of,” he repeats. “You don’t need to do anything, Pandora. Stay out of it.”
“Sure, sure.”
I obviously have no real intention of staying out of it, but I do need to wait until I’m healed up.
“I mean it,” Reaper says, and while his voice is quiet, there’s a not-so-subtle threat there too.
“I said I got it!” I snap. Reaper is getting less and less fun with every minute.
I get up to put Echo back in her enclosure. She slithers underneath one of the hides, and I lock everything up.
When I turn around, Reaper and Carly are both staring at me.
“What?” I say. “I’ve got class soon. Thanks for coming over to hang.”
Reaper shakes his head. “Let’s go, Carly,” he says, his voice much gentler when he’s addressing his sister.
Carly hesitates at the door. “I do appreciate that you want to help, Pandora,” she says before she follows Reaper out.
I roll my eyes.
Save me from people with qualms and morals or what the fuck ever.
I did it all for her! She should be thankful.Gleeful.
Blaze would agree with me. I mean, he did. He thanked me more than Carly.
I still remember the embrace, and the strangely intimate kiss.
Which was also weird, and I’m not dwelling on it. I rest my arms on the enclosure and look inside. Echo’s tail is poking out at one side.
“You’d eat Declan’s balls, right, girl?” I say. “They’re probably no bigger than a mouse anyway.”
That would be funny, except I wouldn’t want to poison Echo by giving her something as unnutritious as Declan’s shriveled up, filthy balls.
I sigh and go back to my desk.
No new texts from any of the guys. I frown at my phone, then start a group chat.
Pandora
If one of you doesn’t respond to me immediately, I’m going to take drastic measures.
The first one to respond is Blaze, a few seconds later.
