Chapter 14 #2
“Does new girl have a name?” she asks, smiling politely.
“Zilphia.” I return her smile. “Does sister have a name?”
“Tulip.”
There’s no resemblance between them. Meela is thick and pint-sized, probably standing a little over five feet, with light-golden skin.
Tulip, on the other hand, is tall and lithe with a pretty dark-brown complexion.
Silken black curls are pulled into a bushy ponytail at her nape, exposing graceful features.
It must be a riot at their house. Meela is wild and vivacious, while Tulip seems calm and demure. I wonder if they clash often.
The shopkeeper bell chimes, and in walks the finest red-headed man I’ve ever seen.
He’s tall and ripped, with a perfectly creamy complexion.
My fangirling fizzles the instant my eyes land on his familiar leather vest. The same one Snake wore, except this man has a vice president patch.
Uneasiness prickles my skin. Is this guy going to cause trouble?
He nods at us in greeting before going to the counter. Tulip blinks up at him, nibbling on her bottom lip.
“And the melodrama begins,” Meela grumbles, rolling her eyes.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my fear increasing tenfold.
“That’s Draco,” she whispers. “He has the hots for Tulip, but she won’t give him the time of day.”
“He’s wearing the same vest as the guy who was giving Leah a hard time at school.”
“That’s Snake,” she says, already knowing who I mean. “They’re brothers. And it’s called a cut, not a vest.”
Great, there are two of those assholes. And I’ve never heard anyone call a vest a cut.
“Oh.” My gaze slides back to the front of the store, surreptitiously studying the pair. “They’d make an odd couple.”
Oil and vinegar would mix better than these two. Not to mention he looks way younger than her—I’d say mid-twenties. Either way, she definitely doesn’t seem like the type to flock to bad boys.
“Nah, they’d be good together,” Meela states confidently. “Tulip’s head is shoved too far up her ass to see that. Anyway, see anything you want?”
“Yeah.” I grab a basket, and we start down the first aisle.
“What are you doing here?” Tulip asks, her tone tight with irritation.
Meela pins me with an “I told you so” look.
“I came to take a look at your freezer,” he answers gruffly. “Smokey said it was making thumping noises yesterday.”
“I don’t need your help,” she snaps. “Stop sending your goons to spy on me.”
“You better start showing me some fucking respect,” he growls, slamming his fist on the counter.
I jump, heart in my throat. “Should we call the cops?”
“Get out,” Tulip orders, her voice shaking as she backs away from him. “A lowlife doesn’t deserve respect.”
“No, their little melodrama will be over in a couple of minutes.”
I start loading my basket, sneaking glances at them every few seconds. Their argument continues in hushed tones. Suddenly, he catapults over the counter and crowds her against the wall, his muscular arms caging her in. I squeak, squeezing the metal handle of the basket in a death grip.
“Calm down, girl,” Meela says. “He’d never hurt her.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, literally shaking in my wedges.
“Yes.”
My shopping is done a few minutes later, and we make our way to the counter. Thank goodness the scary carrot top is gone. Tulip ducks her head at our approach, but not before I notice her trembling lips and glossy eyes.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” she mumbles despondently before disappearing through a side door.
Meela stomps behind the counter. “I wish they would fuck already.”
“Why doesn’t she like him?” Besides the fact that he’s a big, scary outlaw biker.
“Because our father was a God, and one day he got killed,” she replies, quickly scanning my meager provisions. “We weren’t told the specifics, but it had something to do with the club.”
“I’m so sorry.” My parents aren’t perfect, but I can’t imagine losing one of them.
Meela shrugs. “It was a long time ago. I’m just glad we had Zeus to look out for us.”
“Is he a relative?”
“No. He’s in charge of the Gods,” she says, gesturing around the store. “Tulip wouldn’t have any of this if it wasn’t for him. He gave us seventy-five grand apiece. I can’t touch mine until I’m eighteen, though.”
That was very noble for a criminal. “Where’s your mom?”
“She moved to boring-as-fuck Maine with her boyfriend about two and a half years ago. I only visit when she guilt-trips me.”
I laugh. “Yeah, Maine doesn’t seem like it’d be your speed.” I grab three Blow Pops out of the plastic bin on the counter and slide them over to her. “These too.” I pause, then finally ask the question I’ve been holding back. “What’s the deal with Snake and Leah?”
“It’s complicated,” Meela replies, leaving it at that. “Your total is twenty-eight dollars and seventy-seven cents.”
I don’t press for more details. Maybe in time, Leah will tell me herself. I pay and collect my bags, then go on my way.
It’s been an eventful day and that’s putting it mildly. I’m actually looking forward to the damn basement.