Page 82 of Property of Rattler

Put on the spot, I struggle to answer. “Well, I don’t want an annulment.”

“Annulment?” They both ask together. Pippa who’d been there when my brother was spouting his shit, asks, “Wasn’t that something Malachi made up? You mean divorce, don’t you?” Pulling Jade away from her breast and tidying herself up, she bumps her hip against mine. “After all the time you two spent together, I doubt there are grounds to annul the marriage.”

I enlighten Trixie who’s looking confused. “My brother drew up papers for Rat to sign on the grounds we’d entered the marriage without real intent.” To be honest, it was true at the time.

Trixie sits back and gives a relieved sigh. “I thought for a moment you were going to say the marriage hadn’t been consummated.”

My deepening blush must have given me away, and both women suck in air at the same time.

“You didn’t …?”

Caught off guard, I admit, “Our relationship, if that’s what you call it, was slow burn. We were just about to… well, when my brother came calling.”

“But you do fancy him?” Pippa asks, while Trixie frowns.

My cheeks burn an even deeper shade of red. “Well, yeah. Of course.” Who wouldn’t?

“Hey, where are all the brothers?” A voice behind us startles me.

“Hi, Star,” Trixie replies. “They’re doing some business.” I notice she’s deliberately vague.

“Oh.” The newcomer sounds disappointed. “Can I?” she asks, pointing to the jug of my new favourite drink.

“Only if you make up more,” Pippa replies, her tone flat. I notice while only Trixie and I are drinking it, the level of liquid in that jug has certainly gone down.

“Sure.” Star first pours herself a glass and then starts getting the tequila and some sort of mix out. “Did I overhear you wanted to try Rattler out?” Her tone is conversational. She grimaces, then without waiting for an answer, continues, “I wouldn’t advise it. Would you, Trix? And I know Heaven and Sweetie would back me up.”

What the hell? She can’t be saying what I think she is, can she?

“Shut the fuck up,” Trix snarls.

“Think you’re better off going to wait for the brothers with the other club girls,” Pippa tells her, through gritted teeth.

Looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights, Star freezes. I take the opportunity to ask, “What are you talking about?”

Catching Pippa’s warning glance, she starts to move away, heading toward the kitchen. I slide off my stool, determined to get answers. Quickening my pace, I go around her, forcing her to stop. “Tell me. What did you mean?”

“Um.”

“Star!” She’s not much older than me, and seems more intimidated by me, than I am by her. “Just spit it out, whatever it is.”

She bites her lip, as Trixie also approaches, saying, “Don’t you dare.”

With a disdainful look toward Freak’s woman, Star seems to grow a backbone. “Look, you’re no whore, but if you’re looking for a happily ever after, you’re going to be disappointed.”Then to Trixie, she says, “She deserves to know.” Turning her attention back to me, she warns, “Rat’s no catch. He’s got no fucking idea what a woman wants in bed, and doesn’t even bother to try to find out. All you’ll get is wham, bam, thank you ma’am, and he’ll leave you unsatisfied.”

“That’s enough, Star,” Trixie growls.

Stubbornly, the girl carries on. “She needs to know what she’s letting herself in for. And you can’t tell me I’m wrong, Trix. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Star places her hands on her hips. “That man’s bad news.”

“She’s not wrong.” Two other women dressed in barely there clothes join her. The speaker continues. “I’ve always had to finish myself off after a night.” She snorts, then corrects, “A quick roll with him.”

“Me too,” her companion says, rolling her eyes. “Forget about the G-spot. That asshole doesn’t even know what a clit is.”

My heart thumps so loud I’m sure they can hear it, and my voice drops to a whisper. “You’ve all been with him?” I look from Star to the other women.

Almost as one, they shrug as if telling me that they’ve all fucked my man and it’s nothing.

“More times than I care for.”