In a Badger Way (Honey Badger Chronicles #2) - Shelly Laurenston Page 0,50
snapped, “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Those two bitches stole the MacKilligans’ money. A lot of it. But my uncles are criminals, so they had lots of money in different places, and they’ve been able to keep roofs over their heads and their businesses running.”
“And your point? They could still make a deal with the twins if it means getting their money back.”
Max had to smile. The cats and dogs . . . they never got it, did they? They went around snarling and snapping and hissing, but they never really got it.
“What? What are you smiling about?”
“The Guerras made my uncles look like idiots. They used some no-name hacker, I assume, to break in and take their money. The twins could come to them naked, on their knees, with twice the money in their hands, ready to give it all for absolutely nothing. And my uncles still wouldn’t let it go. They don’t forgive shit. They’re MacKilligans and honey badgers. That means they’re mean, vicious, cruel, and vengeful. Then again . . . so am I.”
“Which means what?”
“It means no one needs to do anything. The twins will be coming for me.”
“Why you?”
“Honestly? I couldn’t tell them apart, so I fucked up the face of one of them and—”
“Stop,” the cat ordered, holding up her hand. “Really?”
Max shrugged. “I like clarity.”
“What about plastic surgery?”
“Won’t help.” She held up her hand, released her ridiculously long claws. They glinted in the florescent light of the coffee shop. “I went down to the bone.”
Max retracted her claws. “So I wouldn’t worry if I were you. They’ll be coming for me. And then I’ll deal with them. Until then . . . don’t bother me anymore. Charlie finds out about my little arrangement with Hee-Haw and she’ll waste everybody.” She grinned. “My big sister is super protective.”
* * *
“Trust me,” Oriana said. “Team sports. That’s what you should do. And playing accomplishes several different things.”
Shen exchanged a glance with Stevie before they asked together, “Like what?”
“Exercise and friendship. From what I understand, people involved in team sports make friends.”
“Is being in a ballet corps considered a team sport?” Stevie asked.
“It’s a dog-fighting pit,” she coldly explained. “Only the strong survive. You wouldn’t last ten minutes.” She glanced over at Shen. “Neither would you. But,” she said, her demeanor abruptly changing back to casual friendliness, “we’re not talking about ballet. We’re talking about a team sport that would be perfect for you.”
Stevie glanced down at the tiny shorts, cropped top, fishnet stockings, and quad skates she currently held in her hands. “Yeahhhh . . . I don’t think this is it.”
“You haven’t even given it a try yet.”
“Because I am positive it’s not for me. I will never wear this shit. Ever.” She motioned to the locker room. “I’ll put it back.”
Shen watched Stevie as she headed away from the banked derby track. From the opposite direction he saw two women heading toward them. And one of those women was Blayne Thorpe. The current captain of the New York roller derby team and the woman Stevie had batted around just the day before.
Blayne was deep in the middle of regaling her Asian companion with a story so she didn’t see Stevie, and, thankfully, Stevie didn’t notice her.
But then Blayne caught sight of a possible newbie trying to escape her future as a derby girl—most likely the way Blayne thought of it—and she reached out and caught Stevie’s arm, sweetly asking, “Not leaving already, are—”
Startled, Stevie yanked her arm away and roared so loudly the chairs in the arena shook.
Blayne stumbled back until she hit the wall, eyes wide in panic. Her friend, a cutie tigon Shen sort of knew, immediately jumped in front of her, ready to protect Blayne.
But Stevie continued on, oblivious of the fear she was leaving in her wake.
“Hey! Look at that,” Kyle said, smiling. “Her meds are working.”
chapter TEN
Their first stop after roller derby was the minor league hockey team. Most of the players had dreams of moving up to the pro team, but Shen knew that there were a few who just played in the minor league for fun.
This hadn’t been his suggestion. It was Oriana’s and it seemed like a bad one since Stevie had just admitted she actually couldn’t skate.
“What do you mean, you can’t skate?” Oriana demanded.
“Why didn’t you tell us that when we were at the derby tryouts?”