Page 8 of Fortune's Favor

But if my future lies with a giant python, I think I’d rather be dead.

Chapter Six

ALEX

As soon as I push Gypsy out of the room, I lean against the wall and run my fingers through my hair. Taking a deep breath, I sag lower, my heart still racing. She scared the holy hell out of me. I thought somebody got into my house and was trying to kill her.

I have a fantastic security system. Top of the line so I’m not sure how the hell that would happen without me knowing. But I guess anything is possible.

The next question would have to be about Gypsy herself. The way she was babbling, it almost sounded like she was on drugs. Did she say there was a giant python trying to kill her? That sounds like she’s either insane or on drugs!

Or it’s a metaphor but I have no idea what that might be a metaphor for.

I bend down and start picking up the bedcovers. They’re lying helter-skelter all over the hardwood floor and I sigh. She made a mess out of this room but I guess if you’re having nightmares about a giant snake trying to devour you whole you might be excused for losing your mind and tearing shit up.

The sheets are pulled off the bed and tangled and I quickly start working my hands around and remaking the damn thing. My OCD would make me lose my mind if I let this shit liearound. So after smoothing the fitted sheet, I add the top sheet and start tucking it in carefully, even going so far as to crawl under the bed and tug at the corners to fit it tight.

An old army trick. I like my bed like I like my hair usually. High and tight.

Huffing, I tug and stretch until you could bounce a quarter off that bitch. Then I start to slide out but as I do, something gleams in the dark and catches my eye. I reach out and touch it, sure that it’s probably just some bit of fluff or something. Just not sure why it’s almost glowing in the dark.

But after sliding out from under the bed, I hold the thing up and chills creep over my skin, a strange buzzing in my ears.

Because what I’m looking at looks a helluva lot like a snake scale but it’s huge. Easily the size of my fist. And it’s glowing with green energy, practically throbbing. I can feel something evil slithering inside me and I drop it like it’s burning hot.

Immediately it bursts into flames before it hits the floor but sparks settle onto the floor, burning merrily until I stomp them out with my bare foot, hissing with pain.

What the fuck was that?It looked like a huge, and I meanhuge,snake scale. Like one that a gigantic python would have. But that’s not possible. There are no snakes that big. Not on this planet.

And what the hell would it be doing in my house? Or any house?

Blowing out a breath and staring at the floor, I can’t seem to wrap my head around what’s happening right now. Because if I do, I have to admit that there’s something strange going on here and that Gypsy might not be as big a con as I think she is.

Shaking my head, I pick up the rest of the blankets and toss them on the bed, not even bothering to look any further. If there’s something else in here, I’m not sure I want to know about it.

But I do search the closet and all around the room in the dark corners. There’s nothing else hiding in there so I can thankfully tell Gypsy that with a clear conscience.

But I don’t know if I can tell her about that…..thing on the ground under the bed.

Because if I do, she might run and I am starting to get the idea that there’s nowhere she can hide and she needs me a helluva lot more than even the captain thought she did.

I don’t believe in supernatural or psychics. Maybe that will help or hinder me.

But I’m starting to think I might be wrong and if I am, Gypsy is in a lot of trouble.

I don’t know anything about giant snakes so that’s my next investigation. But in the meantime, I need some sleep. And it seems like she needs to be with me so I’m going to have to deal with this strange…attraction that I feel for her sooner rather than later.

I don’t want a woman. Certainly not this woman.

But she can’t be alone. Not while….nope! Not going there. I’ll leave that for morning.

Where I can hopefully find some kind of explanation for what I just saw that isn’t a giant, dream-invading python that sheds his scales in a girl’s bedroom even though he’s not there.

Or is he? Fuck, I’ve got a headache that won’t quit and I think it’s from trying to think this through.

Because none of it makes sense. Supernatural stuff doesn’t exist. I just have to keep telling myself that. Or I think I’ll go as mad as she sounded.

Chapter Seven

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