Accidentally Demonic (20 page)

“Decorum,” Casey filled in Lola’s blank spot on a shaky breath. Her head dropped back to its proper place—hung in mortified shame.

“Uh-huh, that. Wait until Daddy finds out. He’s going to be so pissed when he finds out what you’ve been up to.”

Clay made a move to usher the girls off, his face tight and angry, but Casey stopped him. She knew how to deal with the girls without any help.

Lita nodded her agreement with a bob of her vacant head. “Yeah. Like, wait until he sees the pictures the ’razzi were taking of you. Holy shit, are you screwed. Where’d you learn to do that, anyway, Case? You were, like, a conformist, all twisting around that thing.”

“You know.” Nina stepped between the girls, slapping an arm around each pair of shoulders, trying to steer them out of the tight confines of the hallway. “Aren’t you two scheduled for belly shots at the bar or something? Isn’t there a rapper out there with your names on him?”

Casey’s head popped up when Nina attempted to derail the twins. Anger was always the best defense when you were knee deep in humiliation. It showed spunk and balls. “No, Nina. I’ve got this. Oh, and it’s
contortionist
, Lita. And I can’t imagine what I did was any worse than what the two of you did. Remember the thing that landed me in jail.
Jail,
you spoiled, self-absorbed children! Wouldn’t
Daddy
just love to hear about the bullshit I’ve gone through to hunt down bottom- feeding photographers and all of your dad’s lovely money that I’ve spent paying them off to shut them up. What I did tonight doesn’t even come close to the kind of crap I’ve put up with from the two of you. So if your father’s angry because of what I did tonight, maybe he’d like to see some of the messes I’ve gotten the two of you out of—messes he never had a clue about. Messes that are documented in living color!”

Lola gasped, her doe eyes astonished. “That’s—that’s—absorption!”

Casey’s eyes glazed over, only this time it had nothing to do with a demonic state. This was all Casey, eyeball deep in fed-up. She rounded on them both, pushing her way between them. “No, Lola, it’s
extortion
, and yeah, you can bet your size-zero ass I’d be happy to tell Daddy I went to jail because you two oversexed, brainless, boozing fuckwits haven’t a shred of moral fortitude! And again, so you don’t confuse yourselves, I said
fortitude
. Look it up in that crazy thing they call the dictionary and while you’re at it, look up the word
resignation
because when I’m done telling your father the kind of crap I’ve put up with for more years than I’m willing to cop to—it’s what I’ll be handing him tomorrow in the morning!”

Shooting past Wanda, whose mouth formed a perfect O, and Nina, who appeared to give her a begrudging thumbs-up, Casey flew down the narrow hall. Her feet in these ridiculously high heels, so confident merely an hour ago, caved at the ankles, making her exit less than swift.

Clay’s footsteps thundered behind her, while the outraged babble of the twins mingled with Nina’s sharp tongue.

She heard Clay call her name and insist that she wait for him, but she wanted no part of ever having to look him square in the eye again.

In fact, should death befall her at this very instant, she’d go willingly. She’d even offer to throw herself under the bus if it meant she didn’t have to face Clay or her sister again.

Zigzagging her way through the crowd, she swatted at pairs of drunken hands grabbing at her as though they had the right just because she’d all but screamed out loud she was up for a good time. Remarks about her chastity, or lack thereof, were made when she shoved her way toward the exit sign.

The need to hide under her covers for the next century kept her feet moving, pushing her to get to the door located at the farthest corner of the whole damned club.

Not to mention the tingle in her fingertips kept her focused on her goal. After everything she’d done tonight—she didn’t need arson as her nightcap.

Her heart crashed when she slammed into a much larger woman than herself.

Tall and striking, the woman pulled Casey toward her, sheltering her from men who slung lewd remarks as they shot through the crowd. Yanking Casey by the arm, this large, imposing woman shoved her way to the exit, cracking the door open with just a push of one pink-tipped finger.

Incredulous might have been her first emotion, but grateful to be hurled into the cold night air won out.

Taking deep, shuddering breaths, Casey stumbled out along the uneven pavement, bobbing and weaving in heels that no longer represented sexy, but instead resembled a ball and chain. Placing her hands on her thighs, she bent at the waist and fought the dizzy rush drinking always left in its wake.

Supermodel long legs in a wide stance shuffled in front of her. “Well, you certainly know how to cause a scene, don’t you?” Gravelly and deep, throaty and rich, the voice that asked the question followed up with a chuckle that was like ribbons of dark chocolate, all hot and melty.

Casey might have laughed, too, if her words weren’t the blatant truth of the matter. She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Yeah. I seem to have a way.”

“You know what else you have a way with, darling?”

Well, in light of recent events, she hoped it involved a knack for panhandling. Straightening, she cocked her head, gazing up at the blondest woman she’d ever met with the longest pair of false eyelashes on the market. “No. What?”

Her blue eyes sparkled the kind of sparkle that matched the coppery gold glitter dress she wore that showed off her broad yet lean shoulders and highlighted her long, thick braid. “Getting into the kind of trouble you don’t stand a chance of getting out of.”

If that wasn’t the fucking truth.

In just four days she’d managed to land in the pokey, turn into a demon, find out her sister was super-paranormal, sprout horns, reinvent 101 Ways to Use a Stripper’s Pole, and lose her job. How uncanny that this Nordic goddess towering over her had picked up on that vibe.

She snorted, letting her head fall back on her shoulders. “Tell me about it. You have no idea the kind of week I’ve had. You’d never believe it.” Casey began to walk, shivering when a gust of wind shook the surrounding trees. The tall woman followed behind her, finally falling into step beside her, and matching Casey’s much shorter strides.

“I understand exactly what you mean, darling.” Her voice was sympathetic.

Now that was just plain silly. How could the average human being know exactly what she meant? Especially one who looked like she did? Casey shook her head. “Oh, I disagree, and if I had enough breath left in me, I’d tell you why I disagree. But I’m too tired.” She paused for a moment, looking up and down the street in the hopes she’d find a cab.

“No. I really do understand what you’re going through. I’ve had a bad week, too,” she insisted.

Pu-lease. But the woman
had
rescued her. The least she could do was acknowledge that she wasn’t the only person in the world facing a crisis. “Did I thank you for getting me out of there? You were incredible. I don’t know how you opened that door with just one finger, but I’m awed. It was the stuff amazing’s made of.”

She waved a long-fingered hand dismissively, the thick diamond bracelet on her wrist glittering under the twinkle lights that lit the trees lining the sidewalk. “Oh, it was no trouble. No trouble at all.”

Yeah. That thing she’d done with her finger didn’t seem like it was much trouble. It had seemed eerily easy. “Well, thank you. I was in deep back there.” And because she didn’t want to seem ungrateful, Casey asked, “So you had a bad week, too?”

She pouted, pushing her red, shiny lower lip out. “Dreadful.” Casey let out a sigh that made her shoulders lift and release. “That sucks. What happened?”

“I found out my ma—er, husband was cheating on me.”

Bumma. Maybe that did trump being turned into a demon. Casey cast another long look at her. She was gorgeous. Every long-limbed, graceful, perfect, platinum blond, at least six- foot inch of her. Who, in their right mind, would cheat on this specimen of beautaciousness? Men could be such bottom-feeders sometimes. “That’s awful. I’m really sorry. But if it’s any consolation, you’re a beautiful woman with a good heart who was nice enough to save this woman who was in distress. You won’t be single long. I mean, that is if you don’t plan to reconcile. I watched a show about infidelity not long ago, and the therapist said that some marriages actually do recover with time and counseling. Maybe you can work things out?”

“Or I could just
kill
the other woman.”

Casey giggled, patting the woman’s slender arm. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh. I know you’re just turning a phrase because you’re hurt and angry.”

“Oh, I’m very hurt and very, very angry.”

“You should be. What is the matter with men, anyway? I know every marriage has troubles, but jeez. Why do some men think cheating is going to solve the problem better than just telling your wife you’re unhappy? I just don’t get it.” Casey slapped her hand against her thigh to emphasize her point. “I mean, really, isn’t it just easier to be honest and leave the marriage before you go sticking your private parts in someone else? Doesn’t that just seem so backward to you?”

“Decidedly backward.”

Casey shook her finger in the air, nodding her head. She knew all about this. “You know why they don’t leave first? Because they’re chickenshits. They don’t want to risk losing everything, their houses, their cars, their money—their status—before they’re sure they’re doing the right thing. Which to me seems foolish. If you have doubts about the other woman being right for you, why would you do it in the first place?”

Her porcelain face, clear and smooth, lit up in total agreement. “That’s exactly what I’ve been asking myself since this all began.”

A small crowd of people wandered behind them, making Casey take notice that they’d walked until the view of the club was almost out of sight. It reminded her she needed to get home. Look through the want ads. Find out where the local homeless shelter was. “Well, either way, I sure hope things work out for you. Whatever you decide. I really have to get going now.” She turned to stop on the sidewalk, sticking out her hand. “Thanks again. You really were a lifesaver.”

Her laughter floated, tinkley and light. “It was nothing.”

A rustle of feet behind the woman startled Casey.

It was Wanda.

And Nina, too.

Wanda was holding a finger up to her mouth, signaling Casey should be quiet.

Casey rolled her eyes, ignoring her sister and taking the hand the woman had put in hers with a warm smile. “You know, I never got your name. I’m Casey.”

Wanda’s hands began to flap with wild, broad gestures.

Like they were playing charades and Casey was supposed to guess Wanda was Big Bird.

Nina was busy rolling up the sleeves of her long trench coat.

That was never a good sign. It meant she was preparing to lay the hurt on someone.

“And you are…” Casey prompted, furrowing her brow at a bouncy Wanda.

“Me?” She smiled. “Oh, I’m Hildegard. A pleasure. Truly.”

Wanda squeaked.

Nina narrowed her eyes.

Refusing to allow them to distract her, Casey said, “What an unusual name.”
Hildegard
. Very unique.

Yet so uncommon.

But rather familiar.

Oh.

Realization hit.

Wanda slapped her hand to her forehead in a “duh, you dumbass!” kinda way.

Nina stepped around from behind Hildegard.

To Casey’s dismay, it just wasn’t quick enough to stop Hildegard from yanking her up by the front of her shirt. Her feet dangled and her head was forced to rest at an odd angle. The force Hildegard used to gather her up took her breath away, but she managed to hold up her hand to keep Nina from pouncing. She’d had enough violence for one lifetime.

Think, think, think, Casey! There isn’t a problem you can’t solve when you use your reasonable tone and your words.
“So you’re upset, and definitely I can see why. But this is just all some big misunderstanding. Clayton and I—we’re not—I mean, we wouldn’t—I would
never
—”

Her smile was bright, glowing, just this side of lunaticky. “You stutter. How endearing.”

Hey. Hold on there. “No, it’s just that it’s a little uncomfortable way up here. Now, if you put me down, I just know we can work this out.” One of her shoes clopped to the ground as though it was an exclamation point at the end of her statement.

Hildegard gave her a good shake, making her eyeballs rattle and her teeth clack together. “I just don’t see that happening, darling.”

Nina, never one to wait anything out, reacted. “Put her the fuck down, you goddamn giant, or I’ll beat the blond right out of you.”

Hildegard’s face soured. Not good. She eyed Casey. “Is this your friend?”

She bit her lip. If she answered wrong, Nina could be hurt. While she’d once put her own brand of hurt on Nina, she hadn’t meant to. Nina wasn’t afraid of much, scratch that, she wasn’t afraid of
anything
, but what if in this paranormal mayhem, demon beat vampire? Oh, carefully. She had to tread carefully. “Well,
friend
is a relative term. If you mean friend like we shop together, have the occasional lunch or some late- night chatty time on the phone, no. But—if you mean friend like we know each other and see each other from time to time, then yes, she’s my friend.”

“Then you won’t mind if I kill her, too? Seeing as you’re not the late-night-chatty-on-the-phone kind of girlfriends.”

And thus, the volcano known as Mt. Saint Nina erupted.

She grabbed Hildegard’s silky braid, yanking her head back so hard, Casey thought her long neck would snap. “If you don’t let her go, bitch, I’ll jack you up so far you won’t remember where your ass starts and your elbows begin! Got that, She-Ra?”