Read Online Out of the Box 7 - Sea Change by Robert J. Crane - Free Book Online Page B

and watched it hit her like a punch to the jaw. Not one of mine, of course, because that would have required all the plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills to fix, but close. She actually took a step back, looking a little unsteady, and I realized that in my natural, admittedly sadistic, desire to lash out at this person who had caused me so much pain, I had just stumbled on something that I hadn’t even realized.
    Kat didn’t have an actual friend left in the world.
    I worked that all out in a few seconds and watched her try and blink her way to a response, failing utterly.
    “Never mind,” I said hastily, suddenly embarrassed for her. I shouldn’t have been, because obviously she’d been plenty shitty to me, even trying to come back to the well after knowing how crappy things had gone for me after her first phone call, but … I actually did feel sorry for her.
    Because if there was anything I knew after the last few months, it was what it was like to feel like you didn’t have a friend left in the world.
    “Wait, that’s it?” she asked, like she was having trouble coming to terms with the fact that I’d started to walk away from our little argument after less than a round. Of course, I felt like I’d landed my knockout punch and was ready to leave, but maybe she didn’t know that.
    “That’s it,” I said. “I mean, probably. I might let slip a little passive-aggressive comment every now and again, some sarcasm, which is the way of my people—”
    “Your people?” she asked. “The … Norwegians?”
    “Come on, Kat,” I said, ignoring her. “Let’s get you inside. It’s not safe here.”
    “Okay,” she said, watching me warily as she headed for the door, “I have to get ready for the party anyway.” She made her way inside past me, leaving the door open, walking like she’d had plenty of the starch taken out of her step, and I didn’t think she was acting this time.
    “Yeah,” I nodded sagely, “you should—”
    Wait, what?

11.
    What kind of idiot goes to a Hollywood party when they’ve nearly been murdered that very afternoon?
    World, I introduce to you Klementina Gavrikov, a.k.a. Katrina Forrest. If fate protects fools and babies, then this girl was clearly being watched over by Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. They were probably metas, as all those ancient Greeks with power tended to be. I hoped for Kat’s sake they had power beyond my own, because based on her level of stupidity, whoever was protecting her would have to work overtime to keep her safe.
    I followed Kat’s car to the party by flying overhead about a hundred feet, drifting along at what felt like snail speed after my supersonic flight across the country to get here. Before you ask, I did consider arguing with her about going to a party at this exact moment, but my Halibut steak had been burned off during my flight and I was hungry again.
    Also, I was kinda hoping Jennifer Lawrence would be there because I had a feeling she would be a fun person to get loaded at a party with.
    I set down in front of Kat’s SUV just as the valet was stepping out to get the keys from the driver, a guy named Dan who looked like he was not happy to be on the job today. I nearly scared the valet as I appeared, causing him to draw a sharp breath and take a few steps back, almost stumbling on the pristine white brick driveway. “Dude, settle down,” I said to him as I walked to the back of the SUV, “you’ve probably opened a door for Miley Cyrus, don’t get all skittish over little ol’ me.” I grinned like an ass because, let’s face it, I was kinda being one.
    The door popped open (I didn’t open it because, well, I’m not Kat’s damned valet) and Karyn stepped out first. I’d learned she was Kat’s assistant from Scott just before we left. My reply when he’d told me that: “Are we sure she’s not actually Taggert’s slave?” He guffawed.
    Karyn held the door open as Kat unfolded her skinny, long-legged carcass and stepped down