Dirty Toe Drag (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 6)

She nods eagerly. “Yes, I’ll do a pumpkin juice. Maybe a Sorting Hat!”

“Ooh, we should plan for a Harry Potter theme day!”

“Yes, girl! Yes! I love those days. The kids will enjoy that, and of course, we’ll have to get some for Aiden.”

I lick my lips nervously. “You will.”

She side-eyes me. “Stella, why don’t you—”

“You know why,” I interject very quickly, not having this conversation.

She grabs my arm, though, stopping me from cleaning up. “My love, they’ll be supportive. I know them. And if they’re not, I’ll kill them for you.”

I can’t help but laugh. “You can’t kill your sister, and we both know orange is not your color. Also, can we trust Tate with Penny’s hair?”

My cousin has the craziest curls that came with puberty. Only Audrey can tame that mane. With a knowing look, she holds out her hands. “These are all huge truths, but another truth is, they’d be supportive.”

I disagree with a shake of my head before going back to cleaning. “Let’s seriously plan that Harry Potter theme. I’ll think of something else for Thursday.”

She knows I won’t argue with her, that I’ll just shut down about the whole thing. I know it frustrates her, but I can’t tell my parents what I do in the mornings.

I just can’t.

* * *

I sneak down the hall very quietly before slipping into my room.

I exhale once more, relieved I wasn’t caught since I hate lying to my family. I throw down my bag and kick off my sneakers before heading toward my bathroom to shower and get ready for my day. I have a long day of classes and then a shift at Brooks House tonight. I’m gonna be exhausted, but when I have night shifts, I don’t work the next mornings at Audrey Jane’s. I guess I can’t call it work since I don’t get paid. It’s more having fun, which is payment in itself.

I undress as I head toward the bathroom, but when I reach my open door, I notice that my younger sister Emery’s door is open and her light is on.

Fuck.

I reach for a towel, wrapping it around my naked body, and walk toward her room. I find her in bed with her favorite stuffed animals surrounding her, a huge blanket wrapped around her as her eyes are fixed on the TV. Like it always is, some true crime documentary is on, and she’s completely engrossed.

At six o’clock in the morning.

My sister is a psycho.

I scrunch up my face as I look over at her. “I thought we said we would save the docs for nighttime. No killing before going to school.”

With the most even look ever, she says, “You said that. I feel this gets my rage out so I won’t commit these acts on the idiots at school.”

I scoff. “Or you’re making sure you learn not to get caught.”

She grins with all her teeth, her eyes hooded, and I swear her mug shot is going to be incredible. “Maybe.”

“Please don’t. I really don’t want a murderer for a sister.”

She waves me off. “Eh, don’t worry. I don’t have plans today.”

“Thank God,” I mutter, but then I remember why I came in here. “Why are you awake?”

“You woke me up with all the cussing you did when you dropped your necklace behind the sink. Also, why do you need jewelry for working out?”

“I always wear my necklace. Dad gave it to me.”

“Gag, you’re such a daddy’s girl.”

“So are you!”

“Whatever,” she says, knowing damn well I’m right. “Also, are you eating a lot during the day? Because you haven’t lost any weight in that head of yours.”

I let out a groan of annoyance as I head back into the bathroom.

“Doesn’t the kind of fashion you like hate bigger ladies?”

“Go fuck yourself, Em.”

“Stella!”

I stop, glancing back at her. With a wide grin, she says, “In this episode, the guy killed his kids with a spell. Not the Harry Potter kind either. Though, I cast a mean-ass Sectumsempra.”

God, having a sister is a blessing.

“I’m going to tell Mom you need therapy.”

“She already knows, and I already go, so ha!”

“I’m gonna tell her you need to be committed.”

She claps her hands. “Yay! I can make friends.”

I mutter a curse as I slam the door and head into the shower. I really don’t know how Aiden, Asher, and I turned out so great. Maybe Mom dropped Emery on her head more than us? I’m not sure, but if I didn’t know her, I wouldn’t trust her. She’s crazy, but she wouldn’t hurt anyone. Seriously.

I mean, she has pulled my hair, cut my hair, and thrown things at me, but she always feels bad and tries to suck up to me after. I’ve watched enough of those true crime shows with her to know a real killer has no remorse. Emery does. She just wants to seem scary.