Unleashed by Nancy Holder Page B

nothing near the majesty of this place.
    Cordelia continued past the front of the house, driving the length of the curving structure, then pulled around to the back and parked next to a couple of other cars—a Mercedes and a Volvo SUV. As she turned the engine off, she heaved a sigh. Her hands dropped to her lap, and Katelyn froze in the middle of opening her door.
    “What’s wrong?” Katelyn asked.
    “It looks like my sisters are visiting.” Cordelia’s voice was low, hushed as she studied the two cars.
    “Is that a problem?”
    “Yeah. I’d give anything to be an only child.”
    “I guess the grass is always greener,” Katelyn said, suppressing a nervous laugh. “I always wanted a sister.”
    “You can have both of mine,” Cordelia said with a weak smile. She climbed out of the cab and headed for the back door, which was solid wood.
    Katelyn jumped down and shut the truck door, then hastily followed her friend into the house. Inside, she found herself in a sort of courtyard with a trickling fountain and a skylight overhead. She looked around admiringly as Cordelia nervously scanned left and right. There were more of the pretty purple flowers in pots.
    Katelyn heard trilling laughter and the sound of high heels clicking on the floor.
    “Oh, crap,” Cordelia muttered.
    Two older girls approached, one blond and the other brunette, and their resemblance to Cordelia was startling.
    The blonde was wearing tight bronze leather pants and a sleeveless black blouse that showed off her curves. On her feet were super-high metallic heels with leather straps that wrapped up around her ankles, and chains laden with chunks of amber hung around her neck. Her makeup was perfectly applied, all smoky eyes and shimmering lips.
    The brunette had on a black pencil mini, which looked like it was made of raw silk, and a sleeveless red mock turtleneck knit top. But unlike her sister, she was as hip-free and flat as a model. Her makeup was heavy and elaborate, her lips deep scarlet.
    Cordelia crossed her arms in a defensive posture as the two approached. Something about how they walked over made Katelyn wonder if it had been a mistake not asking her grandfather if Cordelia could come to their house instead. The two were eyeing her in a way that made Katelyn even more uncomfortable than the staring animal heads at home did. What her grandfather had said the night before about predators and prey came back to her. These women definitely made her feel like prey.
    They walked up and, instead of introducing themselves, continued moving around, taking in Katelyn from head to toe.
    “Well, well, look what our little sister dragged home,” the brunette drawled.
    “It looks like a stranger,” the blonde said.
    It ?
    They moved gracefully. Katelyn fought down an instinctive reaction to turn in a circle, too, tracking them the way they seemed to be tracking her.
    “Smells like a stranger,” the brunette confirmed.
    “Kat, these are my sisters, Arial and Regan.” Cordelia sounded unhappy, which Katelyn understood, because she was feeling the same way.
    “Um, o-kay,” Katelyn said.
    “Hear that voice, Regan? It sounds like a stranger, too,” the blonde—Arial—said.
    What kind of freaks are they? Katelyn thought as they continued to circle her. Is this some result of banjo inbreeding?
    Before Katelyn could say anything, Arial and Regan burst into laughter.
    “Now, dear, don’t scare the children,” a tall, thin guy with tired gray eyes said as he walked into the room. He looked to be midtwenties, but maybe older. It was hard to say.
    “Albert, what are you doing here?” Cordelia asked with a short relieved laugh. She clearly liked him more than her sisters.
    “I’ve come to collect my wife,” he said.
    Arial sauntered over to him. “Killjoy,” she said, pouting.
    He gave her a weak smile. “You should be happy if I kill anything, pet.” He turned to Katelyn and stuck out a hand. “I’m Al Fontaine. You must be a friend