although I’m disappointed in everyone involved in this bullshit, I have promised my sisters that I will no longer threaten those who merely suggest they may want Max’s or Stevie’s help. So, Shen . . . I have forgiven you.”
Shen gave a courtly bow. “Thank you, my lady.”
“Suck up!” Dutch complained from behind the bar.
Charlie ran over to the bar and leaned over so she could yell at Dutch, “You, I am never forgiving! I will not kill you now. And as long as Max likes you, I won’t. But let me tell you . . . when she gets tired of your ass, I am so wasting you!”
“Understood!” Dutch called out from his safe position.
Charlie stepped down and began to walk away, stopping when Dutch called out, “One thing . . .”
“What?”
“I’d like to do my thing on karaoke night. And I can’t do it without you three,” he finished in a singsong voice.
Shen didn’t know what Dutch’s “thing” was, but he was disturbed by the look Charlie had when she turned around.
“I am not singing backup for you.”
“But you already know the routine, and you’re really good at it. The wild dogs will love it.”
“I don’t care what the wild dogs will love.”
“Come on, Charlie,” Max pushed, grinning. “It’s gotta be all three of us.”
“And,” Stevie added, “it’s a lovely way to make amends.”
“‘And it’s a lovely way to make amends,’” Charlie mimicked in a brutal mockery of a little girl’s voice.
Dutch, now leaning on the bar, smiled. “Is that a yes, Charlie of my heart?”
* * *
“What is happening?” Britta asked, standing between her brothers while Shen positioned himself near Berg. Coop and his siblings were right in front of them.
“I have no idea,” Berg replied. “But it’s . . . unique.”
“It’s an old eighties song,” Coop explained. “From Kid Creole and the Coconuts.”
“How do you know that?” Britta asked. “I’ve never heard of them.”
“Encyclopedic knowledge of music. Stevie has it too.”
“It’s less the music, more the dance moves that I’m concerned about.”
“They’re just basically mirroring the video . . . which was taken from a movie. It’s a whole thing.”
“The wild dogs seem to love it.”
“I could be wrong,” Oriana noted, “but I’m pretty sure we can keep our rental house forever.”
Coop laughed. “As long as we stay friends with the MacKilligan sisters.”
The siblings suddenly fell silent and they all looked at their younger brother. Kyle gazed back, until he barked, “If Stevie hasn’t gotten tired of me yet, I don’t think you bitches have anything to worry about!”
* * *
Irene didn’t realize how late it was until she heard the text arrive on her phone. That’s when she noticed the time. She cringed just a little, knowing her husband would complain about her hours again.
But as she made her way down the hall of their New York home, he met her near the stairs, wearing nothing but sweatpants that exposed his perfect body . . . despite his age.
She held up her phone. “I heard from the brat. Her sister knows, but she says all is fine.”
“Really?” her husband asked, holding up his phone. “Because I heard from the psychotic and according to her the next time she sees me, she’s going to rip my face off.”
“Well . . . at least we’ve gotten past the skinning.”
chapter TWENTY-FIVE
They returned to the Queens house at three in the morning and everyone sort of went off and did their own thing.
Kyle walked into the living room, threw up his hands, and suddenly announced, “I must create!” Then left the house and went to the unattached garage out back.
Max shifted to a badger and trotted out of the house. Shen assumed she was going to raid some beehives. Until he heard a hiss and saw a cat run by the window, followed by Max.
“Leave that cat alone!” Stevie yelled, running through the house until Shen heard the back screen door slam open and closed.
When the screaming started in the backyard, Britta and Dag immediately walked out, heading back to their house, but Berg waited for Charlie.
“Tomorrow,” she said to Shen, pointing her finger, “we have a meeting. All of us. Get all the details and information out on the table.”
“Sounds good.”
“Still disappointed in you.”
“I know.”
She stalked out, Berg silently following. Probably going to the triplets’ house so she could complain about her sisters without worrying they’d hear her.
Shen scratched his head and sat on the couch. He unholstered his weapon, dropped the clip, cleared the chamber. It needed