She's sitting there, casually reading the news with a cup of coffee in her hand, as if she didn't just kill someone.

"Are you going to stand there all day, Vega?" she asks without turning to look at me.

My pulse thrums in my ears. I clutch the poker a little tighter, clinging to my only defense against a lackadaisical murderer.

She raises her palm toward me and flicks her wrist. The poker shoots forward, yanking me along with it before it flies out of my hand and into hers. My stomach drops and I stare at her, eyes wide.

The man shoots Messy Hair a reproachful look. I struggle to regain my composure and move carefully, backing up a few steps into the hallway.

"It's Val, actually," I say, and it comes out shakier than I mean it to.

The man turns to me. He's too cheerful. "Pancakes?"

Vega includes violence, abuse, and death and is recommended for mature readers.