Read Online Indirect Lines: Halle Shifters, Book 5 by Dana Marie Bell - Free Book Online
Authors: Dana Marie Bell
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right. The hat did look good, highlighting Chloe’s cheekbones and the fall of her bangs. “Nice pick, Polly.”
Apollonia scowled. “I told you not to call me that.”
“I don’t understand why not.” Heather headed for the registers. “Apollonia is way too long.”
Chloe nodded. “And we can’t call you Appy. You’re not an iPad.”
“Loni could work.” Heather handed her purchases to the woman at the register. “Sounds sexy as hell.”
Apollonia examined her nails. Like a lot of the feline shifters, she could produce claws at will. While they were in public she kept them hidden, but the gesture spoke more than words could. “Punting you into the parking lot could work too.”
“I like Apollonia. It twerks.” Chloe grimaced. “You know what I mean.”
Heather bit her lip to keep from laughing. Chloe’s aphasia was nothing to laugh about, but sometimes the wrong words she spoke were absolutely priceless. She could just picture Apollonia shaking her booty in the clothing store.
“I do. Don’t worry about it.” Apollonia followed them to the registers, keeping watch over them while they bickered amiably about who had the better purse.
It was a good day. No, a fantastic one. Chloe smiling, laughing, acting like nothing had ever happened to her made this the best day Heather had spent in the longest time.
They made their purchases and headed into the parking lot. They were going to Noah’s for lunch, something Heather had been looking forward to all day. This lunch was on Apollonia, who’d decided she was tired of Frank’s and wanted a change. They’d offered to go to one of the other places, like Heather’s favorite taco place or Chloe’s sushi place, but Apollonia had refused. She’d decided Chloe needed a treat, so she was going to get one.
Heather wasn’t going to complain. Noah’s was one of the best restaurants in town, a popular date spot for those who could afford it. As an apprentice tattoo artist, Heather only ate there when someone else took her, usually her parents. Having Apollonia treat them was just the icing on the cake.
“Thanks for taking us to Noah’s.” Heather tucked her bag in the trunk of Apollonia’s car alongside Chloe’s. She hadn’t been able to afford much, but she’d enjoyed the day nonetheless. “I can’t wait.”
Apollonia smiled. “See? Don’t listen to anything Barney says. I’m really a good person.”
Heather’s brows rose. “As good as homemade gnocchi?”
Apollonia wrinkled her nose. “Nah. No one’s that good.”
Just as Heather started to laugh Chloe screamed. Heather whipped around to find a strange man standing there, his arm around Chloe’s throat and a gun pointed at Heather and Apollonia. He began to slowly back away from them, Chloe helpless in his hold. “I just want the white Fox. You two stay still and nothing bad will happen.”
“You know I can’t let you take her.” Apollonia’s claws were out. She took a stance that looked remarkably like something from a martial arts fight. “She’s my responsibility.”
“You want the reward?” The man tilted his head and eyed Apollonia appreciatively. “I guess we could split it.”
“I don’t think so.” Apollonia’s eyes had turned greenish gold. “It’s just not my style to share.”
The man backed up, still holding Chloe. Chloe was pale, her eyes wide in terror. “Tiger, huh? Haven’t seen one of you in a while.”
“You know us cats, we like to be fashionably late.” Apollonia began to circle toward the man. “Heather, get in the car, please.”
Heather stood there, shaking like a leaf. One wrong move and Chloe was gone. “I…”
“Go.” One of Apollonia’s clawed hands pointed toward the car. “Now, Heather. I don’t need you getting hurt too.”
Heather’s eyes went wide. Too? So Apollonia was expecting that someone would bleed before this was over.
God. No. No no no. Not again.
The man waved his gun toward her, making her cry out.
Apollonia scowled. “I told you not to call me that.”
“I don’t understand why not.” Heather headed for the registers. “Apollonia is way too long.”
Chloe nodded. “And we can’t call you Appy. You’re not an iPad.”
“Loni could work.” Heather handed her purchases to the woman at the register. “Sounds sexy as hell.”
Apollonia examined her nails. Like a lot of the feline shifters, she could produce claws at will. While they were in public she kept them hidden, but the gesture spoke more than words could. “Punting you into the parking lot could work too.”
“I like Apollonia. It twerks.” Chloe grimaced. “You know what I mean.”
Heather bit her lip to keep from laughing. Chloe’s aphasia was nothing to laugh about, but sometimes the wrong words she spoke were absolutely priceless. She could just picture Apollonia shaking her booty in the clothing store.
“I do. Don’t worry about it.” Apollonia followed them to the registers, keeping watch over them while they bickered amiably about who had the better purse.
It was a good day. No, a fantastic one. Chloe smiling, laughing, acting like nothing had ever happened to her made this the best day Heather had spent in the longest time.
They made their purchases and headed into the parking lot. They were going to Noah’s for lunch, something Heather had been looking forward to all day. This lunch was on Apollonia, who’d decided she was tired of Frank’s and wanted a change. They’d offered to go to one of the other places, like Heather’s favorite taco place or Chloe’s sushi place, but Apollonia had refused. She’d decided Chloe needed a treat, so she was going to get one.
Heather wasn’t going to complain. Noah’s was one of the best restaurants in town, a popular date spot for those who could afford it. As an apprentice tattoo artist, Heather only ate there when someone else took her, usually her parents. Having Apollonia treat them was just the icing on the cake.
“Thanks for taking us to Noah’s.” Heather tucked her bag in the trunk of Apollonia’s car alongside Chloe’s. She hadn’t been able to afford much, but she’d enjoyed the day nonetheless. “I can’t wait.”
Apollonia smiled. “See? Don’t listen to anything Barney says. I’m really a good person.”
Heather’s brows rose. “As good as homemade gnocchi?”
Apollonia wrinkled her nose. “Nah. No one’s that good.”
Just as Heather started to laugh Chloe screamed. Heather whipped around to find a strange man standing there, his arm around Chloe’s throat and a gun pointed at Heather and Apollonia. He began to slowly back away from them, Chloe helpless in his hold. “I just want the white Fox. You two stay still and nothing bad will happen.”
“You know I can’t let you take her.” Apollonia’s claws were out. She took a stance that looked remarkably like something from a martial arts fight. “She’s my responsibility.”
“You want the reward?” The man tilted his head and eyed Apollonia appreciatively. “I guess we could split it.”
“I don’t think so.” Apollonia’s eyes had turned greenish gold. “It’s just not my style to share.”
The man backed up, still holding Chloe. Chloe was pale, her eyes wide in terror. “Tiger, huh? Haven’t seen one of you in a while.”
“You know us cats, we like to be fashionably late.” Apollonia began to circle toward the man. “Heather, get in the car, please.”
Heather stood there, shaking like a leaf. One wrong move and Chloe was gone. “I…”
“Go.” One of Apollonia’s clawed hands pointed toward the car. “Now, Heather. I don’t need you getting hurt too.”
Heather’s eyes went wide. Too? So Apollonia was expecting that someone would bleed before this was over.
God. No. No no no. Not again.
The man waved his gun toward her, making her cry out.
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