At first Penny had been worried that the big blue alien would tell on V’rex to some of the NeverBreeder guards or supervisors. But later in the morning, she heard him telling his boss, Head Butcher Loone, that he had accidentally severed his pinky finger himself.
She wasn’t sure if the big alien was lying to save face or for fear of retribution from the big Hybrid if he told the truth. But either way, she was glad V’rex wouldn’t get in trouble for defending her as he had.
All day, though, the swift silver swish of the blade through the air and the thunk of the cleaver as it buried itself in the wooden chopping block wouldn’t leave her mind. She kept seeing the way the friendly smile had fallen away from V’rex’s features, showing the true face below—the bloody flames dancing in his pale gold eyes and the deep, frightening growl of his voice…
No, stop it! she told herself. He wouldn’t hurt me that way. He was protecting me—warning Skrug off in the only way that big asshole would understand. That doesn’t make him a violent criminal…does it?
Considering that she hadn’t even known V’rex a week, Penny realized uncomfortably that she couldn’t actually answer that question. What if the big Hybrid was some kind of sociopath who was showing her one face while in fact he was cold and dead inside, ready to kill anyone who displeased him? Or what if he was just crazy-jealous and possessive?
She knew plenty of women who might like the idea of their man standing up for them or fighting for them but honestly, it was an awkward situation for her—and one she had little experience with. Her last serious relationship had been based on convenience—not any kind of burning passion or devotion. Penny was certain that her ex, Garret, wouldn’t have gone across the street to buy her a candy bar, let alone gone to her work and started chopping digits off a guy who insulted her.
By the time she had finished her day and was walking home with a loaf of purple bread and a pat of green butter carefully wrapped in paper (the daily allowance of everyone who worked in the bakery) she was almost as afraid to go home as she had been to go to work the day before.
Penny let herself into the house, not sure at all what she might find or how V’rex would act towards her. She also didn’t know how she ought to act around him. What if she did something to set him off? What if he was a ticking time bomb of rage inside and a vat of boiling hate was lurking under his handsome, roguish exterior? What if—?
“Hi, sweetheart. How was your day?”
V’rex was suddenly there in front of her, wearing a white apron which strained over his broad chest and a genial smile on his face.
“Oh, uh…” Penny wasn’t sure what to say. “Fine, I guess,” she said, smiling weakly.
“You don’t look fine.” V’rex’s face was suddenly serious. “Did that big asshole bother you anymore? Because if he did—”
“No—no!” Penny exclaimed hurriedly. ”Nobody bothered me at all—honestly they didn’t!”
The last thing she wanted was for V’rex to come back to her work and start chopping off any more fingers.
“Hey, take it easy, little girl.” He smiled at her again. “Just checking on you. Wanna make sure you’re okay, that’s all.”
“I’m okay—really I am,” Penny assured him, in a rather strained voice. “Uh, what are you cooking?” she added, gesturing to the apron he was wearing.
V’rex made a face.
“Vegetable stew, but I’m afraid it’s fucking bland. Sorry, baby—I’m not much of a cook when it comes to the green stuff. I’m great at anything to do with meat but I know after what you heard from your friend…”
“No meat, no thank you,” Penny said quickly. “I brought some bread and butter,” she added, holding up the loaf and the paper with the softened green butter in it. “So that should go well with the stew.”
“Can’t hurt.” V’rex motioned for her to come into the kitchen with him.
Penny followed him in, musing on the apron he was wearing—the strings of which were tied in a big, loopy bow at the small of his back. This domestic look was completely incongruous to the cold-blooded killer she’d been picturing all day. Could it be she had misjudged V’rex yet again?
She honestly didn’t know.
Fifty-Seven
V could feel her confusion and worry and yes—Goddess damn it—her fear of him the minute she walked in the door.
I went too far at her work today. Shouldn’t have chopped off that fucker’s finger, he thought ruefully. I went overboard and now Skrug isn’t the only one who’s terrified of me—Penelope is too.
He hadn’t meant to scare her like that—he’d only wanted to make it crystal clear to Skrug that he’d better keep his hands off. But the Rage had gotten the better of him. In fact, for a moment he’d had a hard time not cutting the other male’s head off—let alone his finger.
And now Penelope is frightened of me all over again. I’ve lost all the trust I earned in the past two days, he thought in frustration.
As he stirred the pot of bland, minced-up vegetables he was calling “stew,” V considered what to do—how to mend the situation. He supposed he could come right out and tell her that he wouldn’t hurt her and he didn’t mean her any harm… But he sensed words weren’t going to be enough to assuage her new fear of him. What was it that Tarn, the captain of the first ship he’d served on used to say?
Speak with your actions, not your mouth. The tongue can lie but
