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Gaga?”
    “Yeah, that’s the one. I’ve never heard of that family name, but then, I don’t exactly run with titled Europeans.”
    “I’m going to pass out,” Gertie said and slumped over in a chair, dropping her head between her knees. I could see her shoulders shaking.
    I didn’t think it possible, but Pansy’s face flushed a deeper shade of red. “You…you philistine! I will not work with someone as stupid as you.”
    I froze, hoping the forced immobility would prevent me from taking her out right where she stood. That one simple word— stupid —thrust me right back to my childhood. I could still hear my father’s voice echoing through my head.
      If you were a boy, you wouldn’t be so stupid.  
    That was it for me. I’d already taken more than my share of crap over this and it stopped right here.  
    I leaned over and looked her straight in the eyes. “Call me stupid one more time and you’ll be talking with no teeth from here on.”
    Something in my expression must have gotten to her because she took a step back from me as her mother, Celia, ran up to stand beside her.  
    “Are you threatening me?” Pansy asked.
    “I don’t make threats. I make plans.”
    Apparently, having Celia next to her propped up Pansy’s backbone because she lifted her hand and attempted to slap me. Her attempt ended when I grabbed her wrist only centimeters from my face, then twisted it backward until she screamed and doubled over. Celia grabbed my arm, trying to wrestle it off her daughter, but she was no match for my death grip.
    “If you ever even think of touching me again,” I said, “I’ll kill you. In fact, maybe I’ll just do it now and save the world the hassle of dealing with you.”
    I felt something cold, hard, and round press into the small of my back, and Ida Belle leaned over to whisper, “Don’t do it.”
    I was ninety-nine percent sure she was holding me up with a curling iron, but with Ida Belle, there would always be that one percent doubt. I could easily disarm her, but that would draw even more unwanted attention as well as highlight skills I didn’t want the rest of Sinful to know I possessed.  
    I released Pansy and spun around in time to see Ida Belle tossing the curling iron back on the table. She gave me an apologetic look and grabbed her purse.  
    “I take it we’re done here?” Ida Belle asked.
    “Oh, you’re done here,” Celia said, smugly. “You’re all done permanently. When Herbert hears about this, he’ll remove the SLS from the festival permanently. I’ll make sure of it.”
    “Promise?”
    “Thank God!”
    Ida Belle and Gertie sounded off at once and I had to grin. “Let’s go find something worthwhile to do,” I said.
    Ida Belle gave Celia and Pansy a big grin. “Already a step ahead of you,” she said as she strolled off. Gertie and I hurried after her, none of us saying a word until we climbed into Gertie’s ancient Cadillac. Then Gertie and Ida Belle burst into laughter so hard they were crying.
    “Is someone going to let me in on the joke?” I asked, two seconds away from walking home.
    Ida Belle let out a gasp and formed some semblance of control. “You really thought Lady Gaga was royalty?”
    “I’m guessing she’s not?”
    Gertie started on round forty-six of laughter as Ida Belle wiped her eyes with her hands and shook her head. “She’s a pop star—a huge pop star—with a reputation for outlandish looks. Has a good voice, too.”
    Gertie nodded. “‘Bad Romance’ is my jam,” she managed to gasp out.
    “I have no idea what that means,” I said. “So let me get this straight—this Gaga took it upon herself to take on a title even though she’s not royalty. And I suppose her look wouldn’t be on Pansy’s approved list of people to mimic?”
    “Probably last on her list ever.”
    I threw my hands up. “Well, how the hell was I supposed to know people were assigning themselves titles? I was in the Middle East. I don’t know what