Carter nods as he wipes down the back of the tray and I know the conversation is over.
He helps me break in Snow when she’s disobedient by treating her like more of an animal than I do. We’ve been modifying her slightly too and I think she secretly likes it.
Nothing too drastic, but just enough to make her look like my dream girl and we always numb her first.
Pain isn’t part of the lessons unless I delve them out to her, and last night, we both learned that pain only comes with pleasure.
Snow deserves to be loved and I do it in my own way.
“Hey, New Zealand!” I call out as I walk out of Carter’s room, “What’s on the menu for today?”
Sariah lets out a high-pitched giggle and I can hear the top desk drawer being opened, then closed. A few moments later, the sounds of her flipflops slapping against the shop door greets my ears.
And when she enters my room, she stays silent—something that Sariah has never done before.
“What’s up?” I ask, as I sit in my chair and lean down. I reach for the large case beneath my station and place it on the recliner in front of me. Once I’ve unclicked the case and pushed the lid open, I look up and give her my full attention.
She’s giving me an icy stare and I’m wondering if maybe she eavesdropped on my little catch up with Carter.
Don’t be disobedient,I will her silently while I plaster a huge, faux smile on my face.Disobedient little pups always require training.
“I don’t want her here,” she says in an even tone, turning the book toward me and pointing at a name.
I squint at the book, but because she’s still by the door, I can’t make heads or tails of who the fuck she’s pointing at.
“Okay,” I reply with a shrug as I go back to setting my machine up. “Who and how come?”
I begin to fiddle with the gun as I snap pieces into place. Sariah stays silent until I glance up at her again, this time with genuine curiosity.
“Hazel Miller. I don’t want her in this fucking shop.”
I blink rapidly a few times.
I don’t recall her paying the rent for this building or writing the paychecks to tell me who is and who isn’t allowed inside, however, there’s not much that usually bothers her so …
“Okay, so that’s the who, now I need to know the how come,” I say as I set the machine down and push my hair behind my ears.
“This bitch is the reason my brother got sent to Irongate,” she replies through grit teeth before she spins on her heel and walks out of my room.
Chapter Eight
My appointments came and went without so much as another peep from Sariah. I called Hazel and canceled, telling her that I had double booked her and to come back in about a week and a half.
Considering Sariah’s brother gets out of prison in a week, I think that would be the perfect time for her to take a few days off and get reacquainted with him.
I’ll sneak Hazel in and out, and she’ll never know. Plus, I’ll make damn sure that the butterfly is finished this time before I permanently ban her from the shop.
I haven’t decided what excuse I’ll give, but more than likely it’ll be about her running out on me the first time.
It seems reasonable enough in my opinion, anyway.
“Let me give you a ride home, New Zealand.”
She glances up at me as she finishes fixing up the front desk for the evening and nods once to let me know that she accepts my chivalrous offer.
It’s so rare to see Sariah in such a bad mood, that I scratch the back of my head nervously. I feel awkward standing there waiting for her to collect her belongings, since I’m used to her sarcastic attitude and witty one-liners.
But Hazel Miller has turned Sariah Taylor into an angry girl—and it’s a new experience for me.