Jericho blew out a deep breath. “You have changed, Smiley. It’s just that I know why. It’s the female.”

“She’s in trouble. I told Beth I’d look for Vanni. Are you going to help me or not?”

“We need to go talk to Justice.”

“Let’s do that.”

* * * * *

Vanni clenched her fists and glared at Mable. The older woman returned the hostile look. The acting coach was a woman who should have been a drill sergeant instead. She issued orders with the same ruthless tone she’d seen in movies.

“Shoulders slouched, Travanni. You want to look beaten down and depressed. You were raped.”

“I wasn’t.” She turned her anger on Gilda. “How many times do I have to say it? This isn’t a production of some play. This is bullshit. Did you see the guard you passed at the door? I’m being held against my will. Do you want to do something useful? Help me escape.”

Gilda frowned. “I don’t think we used enough shadowing under her eyes.”

Vanni wanted to scream.

“I’ll get my makeup bag.” Mable marched into the half bath in the corner of the room.

“Don’t you have any morals at all?”

Gilda shook her head. “This is a war.”

“I’ve heard that before. With who?”

“We’re fighting for our future. Those things are going to take over the world and make us their pets.”

“Did you take your meds today?” Vanni doubted it.

“I don’t take meds.”

“Then go see a doctor. You need them. You’re delusional and paranoid!”

“Shut up,” Mable snapped, returning from the bathroom. “I never liked you.”

“It’s mutual.” Vanni jerked away when the older woman attempted to dot more makeup under her eyes. “Stop that.”

“Do we need to call Bruce in here?” Mable had made that threat a few times. “He said he would hold you down if you gave us any trouble.”

“He’s insane too.”

“Did you ever think the one with mental issues might be you?” Mable tried again to put the makeup on Vanni.

She backed away. “Me? You’re the one who joined a cult.”

“Shame on you,” Mable hissed. “Pastor Woods is a prophet. He knows what the future will bring. Those creatures are going to figure out how to multiply and create more of them. They’ll lure idiots like you into birthing their spawn. Mark Pastor Woods’ words, that day is coming. There will be more of them than us. Let history be a lesson. Look at what the white man did to the Indians. They’ll spread out and we’ll be the ones living on reservations.”

“Wow.” Vanni hadn’t heard that one before. “Just wow.”

Gilda nodded. “We’re saving our race from extinction.”

“Are they going to make us pets or kill us? I’m kind of confused,” Vanni muttered sarcastically. “Which is it?”

“It’s what will happen.” Gilda nodded vigorously. “First we’ll be turned into livestock to breed their evil spawn and then they’ll slaughter us after they’ve built up an army of them.”

“I hate to point this out but um, wouldn’t that make their children more human than New Species? I mean, try to be rational. They look mostly human already.”

“Pastor Woods said otherwise.” Mable glared at Vanni again. “He’s the smartest man I’ve ever met. Mark his words, they are going to be the destruction of mankind if we don’t send them back where they came from.”

“Mercile Industries doesn’t exist anymore. The company was shut down.” Vanni wasn’t sure why she was trying to talk logically with two idiots but it beat crying again.

“Then a new lab can contain them,” Gilda snapped. “Or they could be put down if zoos don’t want them.”

“They aren’t creatures. They are people.”

Mable huffed, shooting a disgusted look at Gilda. “Stop wasting your breath on this one. She’s not listening. I told Carl she wasn’t good enough for him. Miss Slut here had to go and chase after one of those creatures.”

Gilda shuddered. “That’s so sad. I pity her. Don’t you? It must have been horrible.”

Vanni ground her teeth but her anger wouldn’t be contained. “Feel pity for yourselves. You’re the ones with loose morals and you’re stupid. I don’t even want to count the laws you’re breaking by helping Gregory keep me prisoner. I’d stop worrying about what the New Species plan to do and instead start figuring out how much jail time you’re facing.”

Gilda frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re not getting away with this,” Vanni promised.

“Ignore her. Pastor Woods said he’s taken care of it. She won’t dare do anything but exactly what he wants.” Her gaze locked with Vanni’s. “I’m calling Bruce. Do you need a reminder?”

“Fuck you, Mable.”

“Bruce!” the bitch yelled.

The door opened and the guard stepped out of the way. Bruce entered the room. He wore a dark suit and a pissed-off look. “Is she giving you trouble?”

“She’s making threats of jail.”

He opened his jacket and showed off his gun. “It would be the last thing she does.”