Page 65 of Property of Fang
Jezabel’s shoulders drop with a sigh, her frustration shared between the three of us as Goblin returns to slicing equal squares with a sharp blade. The guy is fucking hard to look at thanks to a nasty childhood burn scar that puckers up half his face, patches of hair missing near his left ear. Still, he’s sharp as a tack and doesn’t question anything he’s asked to do. He’s a good kid, and I get the feeling his trial as a prospect won’t last too much longer if he keeps up the great work.
After what happened, leaving him looking the way he is, the guy deserves a break. Deserves a fucking family that’ll care for him and have his back, not alienate him when he needs them most.
“How long have we got your girl, Fang?” Jezabel plops rolls on the tray as she speaks.
“Until when Reno wants to come get her. Tuesday, at this stage.” I know that’s what she said, but I also know she can’t be relied on to keep her word.
“What is the old girl doing?”
I smirk at the subtle dig. Reno’s only four years older than Jezabel, but you’d think it more when they stand side-by-side. Jezabel has a non-negotiable skincare routine that blocks us from accessing her for an hour each morning and night. Reno has sass and a big ass. The girls aren’t the same.
“Escorting out of state,” I answer, rolling what’s left of my snack beneath my hand. “Won’t say who for, but I got a suspicion.”
“Escorting.” Jezabel shakes her head, bending at the waist to slide the first tray in the oven. “She’s got more brains than that, but she’d never admit it.”
I catch Goblin’s sneaky eye as he checks out the rise of Jezebel’s tiny satin shorts.Hungry fucker.
“Didn’t pick you as one to judge other women’s choices,” I tease.
She shrugs one shoulder. “Just sayin’, if I had half the smarts she does, I’d put them to better use than staying a slave to other people’s whims.”
“You not want to be here, Jez?”
She lifts her gaze to mine briefly. “Not what I said, Fang. I appreciate my place here, but I worry sometimes what I’ll do when I’m older and a little thicker in the girth. How will I support myself?”
“What did you want to do when you were a kid?”
Goblin also looks to her for the answer.
She pauses prepping the second tray and stares off at nothing. “Always thought I’d be a singer, maybe. Entertaining somehow.”
“Isn’t that what you’re doing now?” Goblin asks. “Entertaining?”
I lunge forward and slap the back of his head. “Have some respect.”
“Sorry.” He returns to cutting the final pieces of dough.
“I’ve never seen you sing,” I say to Jezabel. “Didn’t know you could.”
She snorts. “That’s the problem. I can’t.”
Goblin shakes his head, gaze fixed on his work.
“I’ll figure it out,” she says. “Don’t worry about me. Just make sure Reno treats your girl right.”
My easy smile disappears, brow pinching a little. “What makes you say that?”
“She’s six years old, Fang.”
“And?”
“She’s mighty independent for her age. I couldn’t cook anything or use technology like she can.”
“Kids these days are different,” I argue despite the uneasiness in my stomach.
“She told me to use club soda to clean my shirt when I got soup on it.”
“She might have overheard Reno say the same.”
