Wicked Ugly Bad (A Kinda Fairytale) (24 page)

She
wasn’t exactly sure what to do about that, so she’d jerked away from him and
busied herself with getting ready to press on towards her grandmother’s house.

Marrok
had just smiled like he knew some secret she wasn’t in on, yet.

He
quickly followed Letty up the cobblestone path towards cottage.  “I don’t like
this.  There has to be another…”

“Sweetie-pie!” 
Scarlett’s grandmother threw open the door and beamed at her.  “Well, it’s
about time you showed up!”  Jana Wocknee
looked
like a grandma, with
silver hair in a tidy bun and a white apron tied around her ample waist.  She
gave Scarlett a cheery hug.  “I thought maybe I’d have to come and get you
myself.”

Scarlett
rolled her eyes, but she still wrapped her arms around her grandmother and
hugged her back.  As much as her Jana drove her crazy, she still loved the
woman.  “I broke out of the worst prison in the Four Kingdoms in less than six
weeks, Grandma.  A lot of people would say that was pretty impressive.”

“Well,
they just don’t understand your potential the way I do, silly goose.”  She
patted Scarlett’s head and looked over at Marrok.  “Unless
he’s
why you
were in there so long.  Because --my oh my-- he’s even better looking in
person.  No
wonder
you wanted to stay locked up if The Big Bad Wolf was
your cellmate.”

“Don’t
sexually harass him.”  Scarlett didn’t want Marrok to feel uncomfortable,
although it was pretty much a given, knowing her grandmother.  “He shouldn’t
have to put up with that on top of everything else you’re about to put him
through.”

“It’s
a
compliment,
Scarlett.  Don’t be so touchy.”  Jana arched a brow at
him.  “The mug shot of you they’re showing on TV is the
real
crime.  You
must have really pissed
someone
off, dear.  All the photos they have to
choose from and they pick one that doesn’t do you justice.”

“Yes,
ma’am.  They wouldn’t let me retake it, either.”

Scarlett
arched a brow at him.  “You asked them to take a
better
mug shot?”

“Well,
your grandmother’s right.  It was a bad picture.”

“There’s
no way you took a bad picture.”  Letty scoffed.  It just wasn’t possible.  She
turned back to Jana.  “Obviously, his reputation precedes him, but this is
Marrok, Grandma.  And yeah, he
was
briefly my cellmate.  In a dungeon. 
We’re both fine, though.  Thanks for asking.”

Jana
beamed at him, ignoring Scarlett’s pointed remarks.  “So nice to meet you,
dear.  Come in, come in!”  She ushered them into the doily covered living
room.  “Can I get you some tea?”

“No,
thank you.  I’m fine.”  His eyes cut around the snug cottage, wincing at the
cutesy furnishings.  He quickly rallied, but Scarlett could see that he was
growing concerned that she’d tricked him and that her grandmother was really
just some sweet little old lady.  “You have a very lovely home, ma’am.”

“This
shithole’s just a façade to keep those asshole Goody-Goods away.”  Jana shut
the door and reached for her cigarettes, her entire demeanor changing.  “Stupid
bastards never look beyond the surface.  A couple flowerpots are better than a
whole pack of pit bulls when it comes to maintaining some privacy in my
business.”  She sat down on a rocking chair and eyed Marrok knowingly.  “So…
are you fucking my granddaughter?”

Scarlett
sighed.

Marrok
visibly relaxed as the atmosphere went from welcoming to confrontational.  “Oh,
thank God.”  He cleared his throat.  “I mean… no, ma’am.  I haven’t slept with
Letty.”

Jana’s
eyes narrowed.  “Why not?”

“She
won’t let me.  Believe me, I’ve tried.”

Jana’s
gaze flicked over to Scarlett.  “Are you out of your mind?  You turned down the
hottest man in the Four Kingdoms?  Have you seen this boy’s ass?”  She craned
her neck to admire it.  “Maybe your time in the nuthouse scrambled your brains,
Scarlett.”

“I
wouldn’t sleep with a guy just because he’s good looking, grandma.”

Marrok
glanced over at her and then quickly away.

Scarlett
realized she’d just hurt his feelings, again.  He seemed determined to take
everything she said and misconstrue it.  For the handsomest man in the world, he
could be amazingly insecure.

Actually,
no.

It
was
because
Marrok was so handsome that he felt unsure.  He was used to
no one caring about him as a person.  She’d seen the way most people treated
him.  They only paid attention to his stunning face, so he wouldn’t expect Scarlett
to want him for anything more than that, either.

“I
also wouldn’t
kiss
a man just because he’s good looking.”  Scarlett
continued pointedly.  “Or let him touch me.”  She shot Marrok a sideways glare,
a little annoyed that he needed to be told that she wasn’t randomly making out
with attractive men just for the hell of it.  “
Obviously
, there would have
to be more to him than just his beauty. 
Obviously
, if I was even
thinking
about sleeping with him, he’d have to have won me over… despite the fact he’s a
jackass.”

His
mouth kicked up at one corner, the tension easing from his shoulders.  “Obviously.” 
Golden eyes met hers, something warm lighting them.

Her
spark of irritation faded and she gave him a smile.

Jana
snorted.  “He won me over just by standing there and looking pretty.”

“If
it makes you feel any better, ma’am, Letty’s my True Love, so I’ll be sleeping
with her
very
soon.”

Scarlett
made a face at how quickly he rallied back to annoying form.  “Oh good… Your
arrogance has returned.”

“I
like to think of it as optimism.”

“True
Love, huh?”  Jana leaned back on the floral print cushions of the rocking
chair.  “Well, he’s certainly a step up from Charming.”

Marrok’s
jaw clenched.

Scarlett
winced.  “We’re here to get the shoe, Grandma.  Do you still have it?”

“No,
I sold it at my last villainous yard sale.”  Jana scoffed.  “Of
course
,
I still have it.  What the hell do you think?”

“Knowing
you, I’m never sure
what
to think.”  Her grandmother was perfectly
capable of breaking the glass slipper just to make Letty’s day more
challenging.  She loved to setup tests.  “If the price was right, I’m sure you
would’ve ransomed the shoe back to Cindy behind my back.”

“Oh
Scarlett…”  Jana drew out words on a feigned sigh.  “That was the
younger
me.  I told you before, I’m retiring soon.  All the plotting and craziness is
behind me.  I plan to travel…”

“To
that land where you can steal the genie lamp.  I saw the maps.”

“…to
spend time with my dear friends…”

“Your
knee breaking thugs, you mean.”

“…and
to mentor my darling granddaughter as she takes over the family business.” 
Jana finished easily.  “It really is time that you assume control of the
day-to-day running of things, Scarlett.  I’m too old to have so much pressure
on me.”  She gave a weak cough.

“I
thought I was too
Good
to be in charge, yet.”  Scarlett arched a brow. 
“Remember?  We had a whole conversation about how important it was that I prove
myself to the men and do some
real
villainy before…”

“And
you have!”  Jana beamed.  “Do you have any idea how many Baddies are now
running free because you took out the WUB Club?  Everyone is impressed with
your callous disregard for the safety of Good civilians.  You’ve made me so
proud… even if it did take you
weeks
to pull the jailbreak off.”

“That’s
not what I intended…”

Jana
cut her off.  “Besides, now you have
him
.”  She nodded towards Marrok. 
“And he’s
orgasmically
Bad.  I watched a whole documentary about his
crimes on one of those Sunday night sports programs.  Made me horny.”  She
winked at him.

Marrok
gave a snort of amusement that he quickly tried to cover when Scarlett frowned
at him.  “Those shows are all lies.”  He offered, but he was trying not to
smile.

“Oh
for God’s sake.”  Scarlett crossed her arms over her chest.  “Marrok isn’t
going to get sucked into your schemes, Grandma.  Leave him alone.”

Jana
turned wounded blue eyes on Marrok.  “This business is my granddaughter’s
heritage.  Aren’t you going to help her keep it alive for the next generation? 
Do you have some
better
job lined-up?  ‘Cause I don’t think those limp-dicked
Wolfball coaches are going to let you back on the field anytime soon.”

“I’m
never going back.  But, the only think I’m qualified to do is hurt people, so
I’m not sure…”

“Well,
what the fuck do you think we do around here, boy?  Sell pancakes?”  Jana stubbed
out her cigarette and lit another one.  “Jesus, this is so simple!  Are you
going to be with Scarlett or not?”

“Yes,
I’m going to be with her.”

Scarlett’s
stomach flipped at his certain tone.  It wasn’t overconfidence or ego talking;
Just a deep and unshakable conviction.  Marrok really intended to stay with her
forever after.

“Well,
then you’re helping her with the business.”  Jana declared.  “Scarlett’s slow-poking
around has delayed my retirement long enough.”

Scarlett
looked up towards the ceiling and prayed for patience.

“Alright.” 
Marrok shrugged.  “Whatever Letty wants.”

“She
wants to
take over the business
.”  Jana insisted.  “Who else could I get
to do it?  That airhead Drusilla?”

“Dru
is not an airhead!”  Scarlett snapped.  “She’s been suffering so much and you
haven’t even
asked
about her.”

“Oh,
she’s fine.”  Jana waved a dismissive hand.  “You wouldn’t let anything happen
to that girl.”  She looked over at Marrok.  “Goodness runs in this family like
the worst sort of disease.  You might have noticed it’s infected Letty.  She
thinks she’s savior of the world.”

“She
saved me.”  Marrok said simply.  “I knew she would, right from the beginning.”

Jana
shrugged.  “Yeah, at least she’s got the guts to offset the moralizing.  But, Drusilla’s
the lamest Baddie since that stupid giant who couldn’t even step on the
beanstalk kid.  No way could Dru run things.”  She sighed like the saddest
woman in the world.  “It’s an unhappy day when a grandmother realizes that her
only hope for a legacy of Badness is her
Good
granddaughter, though”

“Good
and Bad are just labels.”  Scarlett muttered, but no one was listening.

“It’s
a family tragedy that I have so little wickedness to choose from.”  Jana
lamented.  “But, I’ve done my best to teach the Letty wrong from right, so she
could take over for me.”

“Then,
you should be proud.”  Marrok told her.  “Letty is the most amazing woman I’ve
ever met.”  He sounded like he really believed that.

“Aww. 
That’s sweet.”  Jana got to her feet.  “You know, it wasn’t
just
seeing the
primetime reenactments of your crime spree that’s making me take a chance on
you, boy.  I’ve heard how you beat the ever loving shit out of the man who did
that.”  She nodded towards the bruise on Letty’s cheek.

“How’d
you know…?”

“I
have spies everywhere.”

“I
knew
there were spies around that prison.”

“That’s
right.  And they tell me the other guy is gonna be the only toothless wolf in
intensive care.”

“Nobody
touches my wife.”  Marrok said without an ounce of pity.

“I
like a little bloodlust in a man.”  Jana stepped closer to him.  “I read over
your rap sheets, of course, and I approve of your résumé.  I really do.  So you
get a trial run with my granddaughter.”  She paused.  “But, I’m going to be
mighty upset if you disappoint me. 
Mighty upset
.”

Off
in the distance, a coyote howled.

How
did she always time that damn thing so perfectly?

Jana
smirked at Marrok’s “holy shit” expression.  “Do we understand each other, boy?”

“Yes,
ma’am.”

“Oh,
you can call me Jana, sweetie.  Or Mrs. Wocknee.”  She reached up to pinch his
cheek.  “Or even just Jabberwocky.”

Marrok
paled.  “Hang on,
you’re
…?”

“You
bet your cute ass I am.”  Her expression went hard.  “So, I’m warning you,
Wolf.  If you do anything underhanded to hurt my granddaughter, I will skin
your hide and sell your body for meat.  Believe that, because it’s true.”

“Grandmother,
leave him
alone
.”

Marrok’s
eyes stayed on Jana.  He looked fascinated to be coming face-to-face with the
infamous Jabberwocky.  She had singlehandedly built the biggest criminal
network in the Four Kingdoms through ruthless intimidation and a total
commitment to wickedness.  The entire Enchanted Forest was her territory and
she was constantly expanding her empire.  Most importantly, there wasn’t a
person in the world who didn’t whisper her name with genuine fear and respect.