Page 32 of They Call Me Wicked

I’m not afraid to admit I shift behind Alan just a tad.

“Hey now. I want Gizmo and Snitch here. They’re my babies. You, on the other hand, I didn’t ask for! And I’m not uprooting their lives because you insist on invading my space. Nope. No way in hell. Sleep on the floor if you don’t want to share a bed with the giant and the viper.”

“Am I the viper?” Kai fake whispers as he asks, bringing a smile to my face.

“Yes!” I fake whisper back.

“Sweet!” He pumps his fist in celebration.

“You put them in your nana’s room?” Amusement is plain as day on Alan as he struggles not to let it show.

“Mhmm.” I shrug my shoulders before giving in to the humor of the situation and laughing out loud, quickly joined by Alan. Nic’s furious aura flickers into disbelief and Gizmo and Snitch pick up on his change and join me by the door, their furry bodies pressing into my legs for snuggles.

“You lucky bastards. You’ve got such a good momma!” Kai coos in adorable baby speak as he bends low and pets my boys. I’m stunned when I hear their purring as they allow him to love on them. They don’t tend to let anyone touch them outside of me, Nana, and Alan. “Can I stay with one of you? I really don’t want to be stuck with grumpy pants over here.”

I’m almost forced to my ass when they squeak back excitedly. They just fucking said yes. Gizmo races further into the room and back over and over until Kai follows and sits on his bed.

“What is this?” Kai asks as Gizmo races back and forth from Kai to his side table. “Are these knives?”

“Oh, yeah. He’s showing you his collection,” I reply absently, more than a little shocked at the display. “Take it as a compliment. It means he likes you.”

“I like you too, you little badass you! Yes, I do!” Kai’s babytalk returns before continuing his examination of Gizmo’s prized knives as my little trash panda proudly shows them all to Kai.

“Hey, uh-” Nic clears his throat before trying to soften his tone. “Hey, Snitch. Buddy? Can I share with y-” He’s cut off as Snitch hisses ferociously at him before racing out of the room.

“That’s a no,” I add helpfully.

“I got that!” Nic snarls before stomping out of the room as well, his oppressive aura almost knocking the air from my lungs as he passes me.

It takes only a moment before the entire room dissolves into laughter at Nic’s expense.

Another aura enters behind me and heat licks up my spine once more. The legend has joined us.

“Is everything okay? Snitch just pulled me by my pant leg in here.” Ezra’s voice is almost monotone as he scans the room in his absurdly calm way. Snitch starts squeaking once more before letting out a little growl and Ezra continues walking in and straight up to where I know a door leads to Snitch’s room.

“He’s trying to show you his room. You can go in,” I supply before hesitantly following, stopping in the doorway of the bathroom leading to Snitch’s room, a flash of pride lighting me up at the thought that my babies are making new friends. “I think he wants you to stay with him like Kai is staying with Gizmo.”

Snitch’s squeaks gain volume as his excitement grows and I smile softly.

“I see,” Ezra replies thoughtfully as he joins Snitch on his bed. The rattling and jangling of necklaces and other jewelry reaches my ears as Snitch excitedly runs from one place to another, depositing piece after piece on Ezra’s lap.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Nic’s voice gravels from behind me in Gizmo’s room and I try to stifle the grin that immediately jumps to my face at his outrage.

“Hey, it’s not my fault that you’re an absolute dick to my babies. Maybe if you were a little nicer, they would have let you stay with them.” I raise my voice to reach through both rooms so he can hear me and, judging by the angry grumbling in response, he did. His stomps echo through the room when he leaves and a door slams shut as he sequesters himself away in the den of horrors, aka my nana’s room. “Well…I guess that’s that. Pizza’s here!”

There’s a knock at the door right as my voice tapers off, and I mentally clap myself on the back at the flair of bewilderment flashing through my audience.

“How does she do that?”

“There’s no point in asking. Just get used to it,” Alan gruffly responds to Kai before I lead the way back to the living room to enjoy our greasy goodness.

“I wonder if she can tell the winning lottery numbers with her super power.”

I smile widely as Kai whispers conspiratorially to Alan.

Maybe I can, maybe I can’t. That’s a secret I’ll never tell.

10