Page 62 of Property of Bones

Okay. Istillcan’t do that.

But Ididbrush my own hair today.

Point for me.

“No,” Jack says flatly.

“What do you meanno?” I glare at him. Something I’ve been doing a lot of this past week. “You can’t just tell me what to do, Jack. You’re not my father.”

Okay, so I sound like a petulant child. But the man just told me Icouldn’t do something. I have rights.

“Trust me, baby,” he says with a low, dangerous smile. “What I feel for you is in no way fatherly.”

“Whatever. Either way, youcan’tkeep me here against my will. That’s illegal. And just freaking mean.”

“You’re not ready to go back to work, Sunny. It’s only been a week since I broke your fucking ribs.”

“I told you I wouldn’t stock anything,” I argue. “I’ll just walk around and supervise. Maybe wear a tiara and point at things with my wand that I want done.”

“No.”

“Well, I’m not asking,” I huff. “I’m calling Marv and telling him I’m ready to return.”

“No need to call, Sunny-girl,” a warm, familiar voice says from the front door. “I’m already here.”

I light up. “Marv!Oh goodness, hi. I’ve missed you.”

“Careful,” Jack warns as Marv wraps me in a gentle hug.

“Don’t worry, son,” Marv laughs. “Not my first case of broken ribs. If I remember correctly, and we both know I do, there was a certain young lad who came home with several of his own after picking a fight with a kid twice his size.”

“Twice my size,” Jack grunts, “but very stupid.”

Huh?

“Maybe so,” Marv chuckles, then looks at me. “How are you feeling, Sunny-girl?”

“Right now? Confused,” I admit. “Do you and Jack… know each other?”

“You could say that,” Marv says, smiling like this is totally normal. “He’s my son. Raised the boy since he was fifteen.”

“I’m sorry…what?You’re related to my boss? Oh, no. No, no, no. This can’t happen. People are gonna think I slept with you to get a raise or something. We have to break up. Immediately.”

Marv laughs. Jack just shakes his head like he’s used to my dramatics.

“You had your job long before you met Jack,” Marv says kindly.

“And if anyone so much aslooksat you sideways,” Jack growls, “I’ll skin them alive.”

I blink. “He means that Sunny-girl,” Marv confirms.

Wait. What?

“You skin people?” I ask, equal parts horrified and…okay…slightlyintrigued.

“Only the ones who fuck with what’s mine,” he says without blinking. “Now, back to the topic at hand. You’renotgoing back to work.”

I sigh, crossing my arms only to immediately regret it. Pain shoots through my chest, and I wince before I can stop it.

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