“There a reason you’re not at the door, pet?”

“Just wanted to see what’s going on,” I reply vaguely, eyeing the Jello pit with obvious distrust.

Fangy barks out a short laugh and the sound crawls up my spine. So not good. He only laughs like that when I’m a serious trouble. Must be showing on my face, though, because he’s smirking at me. I suddenly notice that the other bots are smirking at me too. Um, exit stage left even. I know when I’m being set up. I start making for the door, when he catches my arm.

“You promised!” I say firmly, wiggling my arm out of his grasp.

“I promised that time, not for the party. I own you for this event, anyways, remember?”

Well, fuckle. He’s got me there. Actually, he has me pretty much anytime he wants, but…especially for this freakin party gig. “But you’ll ruin the dress,” I plead, hoping to at least appeal to his fashion sense.

“Already ruined,” he replies, his eyes raking up and down my form. “Nicely ruined, thanks to One, but not exactly salvageable. Besides, there’s a special outfit for the Jello event.”

All the color drains from my face, and he lets out that ominous laugh again. One of these days, I’m going to learn my lesson about betting with clones. I swear to Goddess I am. Just not today apparently, because I’m compelled to open my big yap and say, “Exactly who’s gonna be man enough to try and make me?”

And with that, I realize I’ve just dared every bot and clone within hearing range, which is pretty much all of them due to their blasted enhanced senses. Son of a bitch. There aren’t enough hot rocks in Hell to hide behind now. I’m in it waist deep and sinking.

He just shakes his head, throwing a look at the amused bots tending to the mango mess and say, “Gents, I believe that was a dare. Think everyone heard?”

Charley grins wickedly. “Oh yeah. Question is, who’ll catch her first?”

My eyes widen. I am so screwed. And not even in the good way….