Page 71 of Driftwood Daffodil

“Is she afraid of you?”

“Yes.”

Nova tried to act like she wasn’t, but I could see it on her face. The dread and worry about what I was going to do next. It was sitting just under her contempt. Plus Novalee Ford wasn’t stupid. She knew I wanted to kill her.

“Fear can be a powerful tool Little Brother.”

“What do you expect me to do, beat the information out of her?” Not that I would argue that method, but broken bones weren’t going to make her chatty. She was too proud for that. Nova would happily go to her grave, knowing I didn’t get shit.

“I was thinking more like break her, then beat her.”

The wordsmake merang through my head.

Ending someone’s life was easy, but breaking them… that was tricky. Mind you I was never one to back down from a challenge. Hell, I enjoyed that shit. The possible mind fuckery alone was enough to get my blood singing.

Work Nova was as calm and cool as school Nova. I sat there for hours tormenting her while enjoying the physical signs of annoyance she displayed. I rather enjoyed the frustration tugging at her brow. No matter what I did or said, there was fuck all she could do without risking her job. Which I assumed she needed.

Helplessness angered someone like her, but fed someone like me.

So could I break her?

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I can break her.”

How did one fuck with someone who lived their life seemingly unphased? Let’s face it. Everyone was phased by something. Including Novalee Ford. I just had to find that pressure point. Kato was a possibility, but seemed almost too easy. Plus, by the time I did break Nova, her sister could have already talked.

“Wouldn’t it be easier just to silence the sister?” There had to be a way to make sure she kept her mouth shut. Pay her off, or threaten her. “Everyone has a price.”

“If you figure out hers, let me know.” Romeo slapped his hand on the island and turned to walk away. “Either way the job will be considered done.”

So, I had to either get close to Nova and find out if her sister saw anything, or make sure she kept her mouth shut if she did. I suppose it was too much to ask for a simple task.

“I’ll need Atlee and Darry,” I said before Romeo left the kitchen.

He paused in the doorway to look back and give me a small nod.

It was time to really start fucking with Novalee, and I’d start by sending Atlee in. He’d broken more than one girl’s silence.

NOVALEE

When I woke up in the morning, I thought things were back to the way they were. Veda wasn’t dancing in the yard, and the baby was happily shoving fistfuls of cereal and fruit in his mouth. I even got my morning lecture from Maw Maw about not stealing Knox’s food.

Considering most of his breakfast was on the floor, I highly doubted he would care about one little piece of strawberry. Not that she thought that was a valid argument. In fact she made me clean up his mess just for mentioning it. All in all it was a very normal morning.

Then I got to school and shit went sideways.

“Hey,” Memphis swung his hand, giving my shoulder a playful slap. “Everyone’s left you alone today.”

That was suspicious all on its own. I was only halfway through the day and pretty sure I’d entered the Freaky Friday zone. Next thing I knew I’d be working with a capable cook and brand new cloths.

“Wait,” Chuck held up his palm, “you’re telling me that no one’s called her a name, or tripped her?”

Memphis shook his head, but his boyfriend didn’t seem to believe him.

“Really,” Chuck’s head tipped to the side.

“I know.” My gaze shifted to the one across the table, “shocking, right?”

Chuck returned my sentiment with an arched brow. Every time the light glinted off his light mint stare, I wanted to smack him. And that was before I thought about the gorgeous hue of his auburn hair that he refused to grow out. People paid good money to mimic those colors and he just woke up with them.

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