Purrfect Roast: A Dragon Cozy Mystery by Verena DeLuca (my reading book .txt) 📕

her alone about the transgressions of a tribe mate. Especially after she let me in on my own tribe issues. Would she see it as revenge? Me not believing her and wanting to shame one of her members? I hoped not, but I had to try. We deserved answers.

"It will be fine," Azure transmitted.

"If you say so," I transmitted back as we left the table.

Halfway to the door, Azure transmitted an apology for his behavior. I bent down and picked him up with a simple thank you. While I could have sassed him, I figured I was not the only one feeling the pressures of the day and let him slide.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Sunday, May 17th, 7:15 PM

We entered the lobby, and for a moment I felt like a true crime stopper. Woof. My girls flanked me as I walked with a purpose, my head held high, to hunt down Victoria. But my confidence deflated the moment I laid eyes on her, sprawled out at a table in the recessed area surrounded by her tribe.

How can I get her away from them? Think Hailey, think.

The lobby held fewer people than before dinner. With so many off looking for the final trophy, only a handful were eating dinner. It left the audience for our altercation sparse, at least.

We paused mid-stride before descending the two steps into the area. I turned to Aubrey and Skylar, gave them a wide-eyed look, and slightly tilted my head in Veronica's direction. They cringed at the sight of her surrounded by her tribe. They were just as apprehensive about confronting her, and it stressed my already anxious mind.

"Don't look," Aubrey whispered. "She's walking over here."

Oh tea, but why? I am not ready!

"You're welcome," Azure transmitted.

I let out a small yelp. In the heat of the moment, I forgot I was holding him, much less that we could communicate mentally.

"Not nice," I transmitted.

"Are you saying you didn't want to speak with her alone?" he transmitted.

"You? But how—"

Before he answered, Veronica joined our circle with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Azure leapt out of my hands, leaving me nothing to do with them. I leaned back against the rail and used my right hand to hold my left elbow.

A real power stance, Hailey. So intimidating.

"With your glances in my direction," she said in a slight whisper. "You might as well have yelled my name and waved a flag."

Whoops.

I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. She was just another tribe leader, not a bully.

"We did not want to cause a scene," I said. "We weren't sure how to signal that we needed to speak with you privately."

"Well, I got your message," she said. "Loud and clear, so out with it."

I put my hands on the railing behind me as I tried to figure out how to word the accusations, but Aubrey beat me to it.

"It has come to our attention," Aubrey interjected, "that Naomi knew the trophy was on the table, we'd like to know if she is the one that placed them there."

"That's cute," Veronica said. "Y'all want to be that blonde drew girl or something?"

"What's cute?" I stepped closer to her, crossing my arms to prevent myself from poking her chest with my index finger. "How you come here and pretend to be a leader in this community, when really you're stabbing each person in the back with your lies? If you don't want to tell us, that's fine, but don't think for a second that our next stop won't be Linda. It's already seven o'clock. Enough is enough. The prank is played out."

To my dismay, she took a long look at me, and for a second I regretted the word vomit. But facts were facts. If she knew what Naomi did, there was no reason to play nice anymore. Either she was a tribe leader, or she was not.

"I didn't think you had it in you," she laughed. "New girls got spunk. Fine, you win. Just not in the way you think. Naomi may have been running her mouth, but she would never be involved in something so petty. You and Azure may feel like your superior, but it won't soon be forgotten that you both stuck your nose where it wasn't requested."

Regardless of what that meant, I would take the win. I adjusted my stance to appear less hostile. It did not go beyond my notice that Skylar had withdrawn into her silent self. But more voices would not help the situation, so I tried not to look at her or draw attention to her silence.

Veronica looked at Aubrey and asked, "Be a doll and go get Linda, would you?"

Aubrey looked as if she was going to tell her off, but glanced at me instead. I nodded for her to go ahead. She left after giving Veronica one last death glare.

"I know this is your first show," Veronica said. "So you have no idea of the bigger picture here. But I'm just going to say. My girls didn't mean any harm by what they did."

"No harm?" I said louder than intended. "Are you serious right now? Some of these ladies have to drive over five hours to get home. Had plans for after the show. Have lives! She meant no harm in keeping us here? That's malarkey. She was only thinking about herself, and doesn't need you to cover for her anymore."

Two other girls walked up behind Veronica, interrupting her chance to respond.

"It's okay Roni," the girl I presumed to be Naomi said. "She's not wrong. This went too far."

"Annabelle," Veronica said without looking behind her. "Go sit back down."

Wait, what? Boob job, Annabelle? I glanced back at Skylar and we exchanged wide eyes. We stayed quiet though, not sure what to say.

"No." Annabelle put her hands on her hips, as if she was ready to fight about it. "This isn't your battle. You can't cover for us anymore."

I had to admire Annabelle's