Bite Me
Page 32
Wait
Ill take care of Livy, Vic promised, knowing that was what was bothering her.
You cant just take care of Livy. You have to get her and her cousins out. Trust me when I say, you cant leave Kowalski cousins in lockup. They dont like being trapped together. Theyll tear each other apart and end up in actual prison.
Dont worry. Ive got this all covered.
And, she went on, youll need to keep Livy away from Melly once you get them out. Shes really cranky when shes been in jail for a while, and Melly knows every button to push to make Livy snap.
Ill deal with it. Now go before you miss your plane.
Vic
Go.
Shes erratic when shes upset, Toni warned as Ricky Lee walked off with her. And being asked to be some heifers wedding photographer is bound to make her upset!
Blayne stamped her foot. Youre still being unreasonable!
This is what you wanted, isnt it? Melly accused, her eyes locked on Livy across the cell they were sharing with their cousins and several other full-human women Livy didnt know. To see me back here. Where you think I belong.
Where I think you belong is in rehab or a maximum-security mental hospital.
You are such an evil bitch, Livy!
Im evil? You trashed my apartment.
I had a little party with family and a few friends. Why are you so uptight?
A little party does not involve cobras and puff adders.
And black mambas, Livys cousin Jocelyn muttered.
Livy closed her eyes in horror at the thought of one of the deadliest snakes in the world skittering through her defenseless neighbors plumbing. You have to be, she growled at Melly, the dumbest twat this side of the universe.
I was hungry! Melly screamed back.
Livy held up her hands. I cant with you, right now. Ive got a lot on my mind and
Boo-hoo, Melly singsonged, her voice a nasty sneer. My father died so everybody must pity me.
Jocelyns eyes grew wide. Wow. She went there, she said to the other cousins. I mean . . . she actually went there.
Shut up, Melly snapped at Jocelyn.
But who the fuck says that to someone who just lost their father? Joce demanded. Who?
Livys always been a bitch. Uncle Damon dying doesnt change shit about that.
Livy didnt say anything. She didnt move. She didnt growl, snarl, orhiss. But a true honey badger never actually needed those warning signs to know when a fellow HB was about to go off like a bomb. Quickly, Jocelyn knelt in front of Livy, placing her hands on Livys knees. Dont.
Dont what?
Livy. Jocelyn cocked her head to the side. I cant let you.
Studying her cousin, Livy asked, Because you care if Melly continues breathing? Or because of her talents?
Dont be silly, Liv. Jocelyn, the oldest and most mature of the Kowalski cousins, reached up and gently petted Livys cheek. If she didnt have talents, I would have killed her myself before she graduated kindergarten. But this goes beyond our instinctual need to destroy the weakest of our kind. So I cant let you. Understand?
Livy let out a breath, nodded. Besides. If she was going to kill her own cousin, she should do it without surveillance cameras and so many witnesses.
Jocelyn, satisfied by Livys nonverbal response, smiled and stood. When she turned, Melly was standing there.
You would have killed me in kindergarten? When Jocelyn didnt reply, Melly began to sob.
Jocelyn, disgusted, glanced back at Livy, eyes crossed.
I cant believe we share blood, Jocelyn whispered at Melly before she walked off.
Livy heard someone sniffing, and she looked at the bars she was trapped behind. She recognized the face of the polar bear standing there, sniffing the air. Slowly, dark brown eyes focused on her.
Olivia.
Crushek.
He gestured to a uniformed cop. The door was opened and Livy stood. Ive gotta bring them, she said, motioning to her cousins.
Then bring them.
The bear turned and walked off. With a shrug, Livy and her cousins followed. They were near the elevators when another plainclothes cop ran up to them.
Hey! Crushek! You cant just
Crushek faced the man, stared down at him.
I cant what? Crushek asked.
The full-human swallowed. These . . . women . . .
Crushek blinked. What about them?
They put two of our officers in the hospital.
Crushek looked down at Livy. What did you do?
They got between me and my cousin, but it wasnt that big a deal. Couple of busted noses, a few broken fingers, and some bruised egos . . . but everybodys alive.
Dont do that anymore, he told her, pointing one, big, blunt finger. Understand?
Yes.
Crushek looked back at the other cop. They wont do that anymore.
Ill take care of Livy, Vic promised, knowing that was what was bothering her.
You cant just take care of Livy. You have to get her and her cousins out. Trust me when I say, you cant leave Kowalski cousins in lockup. They dont like being trapped together. Theyll tear each other apart and end up in actual prison.
Dont worry. Ive got this all covered.
And, she went on, youll need to keep Livy away from Melly once you get them out. Shes really cranky when shes been in jail for a while, and Melly knows every button to push to make Livy snap.
Ill deal with it. Now go before you miss your plane.
Vic
Go.
Shes erratic when shes upset, Toni warned as Ricky Lee walked off with her. And being asked to be some heifers wedding photographer is bound to make her upset!
Blayne stamped her foot. Youre still being unreasonable!
This is what you wanted, isnt it? Melly accused, her eyes locked on Livy across the cell they were sharing with their cousins and several other full-human women Livy didnt know. To see me back here. Where you think I belong.
Where I think you belong is in rehab or a maximum-security mental hospital.
You are such an evil bitch, Livy!
Im evil? You trashed my apartment.
I had a little party with family and a few friends. Why are you so uptight?
A little party does not involve cobras and puff adders.
And black mambas, Livys cousin Jocelyn muttered.
Livy closed her eyes in horror at the thought of one of the deadliest snakes in the world skittering through her defenseless neighbors plumbing. You have to be, she growled at Melly, the dumbest twat this side of the universe.
I was hungry! Melly screamed back.
Livy held up her hands. I cant with you, right now. Ive got a lot on my mind and
Boo-hoo, Melly singsonged, her voice a nasty sneer. My father died so everybody must pity me.
Jocelyns eyes grew wide. Wow. She went there, she said to the other cousins. I mean . . . she actually went there.
Shut up, Melly snapped at Jocelyn.
But who the fuck says that to someone who just lost their father? Joce demanded. Who?
Livys always been a bitch. Uncle Damon dying doesnt change shit about that.
Livy didnt say anything. She didnt move. She didnt growl, snarl, orhiss. But a true honey badger never actually needed those warning signs to know when a fellow HB was about to go off like a bomb. Quickly, Jocelyn knelt in front of Livy, placing her hands on Livys knees. Dont.
Dont what?
Livy. Jocelyn cocked her head to the side. I cant let you.
Studying her cousin, Livy asked, Because you care if Melly continues breathing? Or because of her talents?
Dont be silly, Liv. Jocelyn, the oldest and most mature of the Kowalski cousins, reached up and gently petted Livys cheek. If she didnt have talents, I would have killed her myself before she graduated kindergarten. But this goes beyond our instinctual need to destroy the weakest of our kind. So I cant let you. Understand?
Livy let out a breath, nodded. Besides. If she was going to kill her own cousin, she should do it without surveillance cameras and so many witnesses.
Jocelyn, satisfied by Livys nonverbal response, smiled and stood. When she turned, Melly was standing there.
You would have killed me in kindergarten? When Jocelyn didnt reply, Melly began to sob.
Jocelyn, disgusted, glanced back at Livy, eyes crossed.
I cant believe we share blood, Jocelyn whispered at Melly before she walked off.
Livy heard someone sniffing, and she looked at the bars she was trapped behind. She recognized the face of the polar bear standing there, sniffing the air. Slowly, dark brown eyes focused on her.
Olivia.
Crushek.
He gestured to a uniformed cop. The door was opened and Livy stood. Ive gotta bring them, she said, motioning to her cousins.
Then bring them.
The bear turned and walked off. With a shrug, Livy and her cousins followed. They were near the elevators when another plainclothes cop ran up to them.
Hey! Crushek! You cant just
Crushek faced the man, stared down at him.
I cant what? Crushek asked.
The full-human swallowed. These . . . women . . .
Crushek blinked. What about them?
They put two of our officers in the hospital.
Crushek looked down at Livy. What did you do?
They got between me and my cousin, but it wasnt that big a deal. Couple of busted noses, a few broken fingers, and some bruised egos . . . but everybodys alive.
Dont do that anymore, he told her, pointing one, big, blunt finger. Understand?
Yes.
Crushek looked back at the other cop. They wont do that anymore.
