Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

O kay, confession: I've yet to kill one of my uncle's targets.

Mostly, I maim to please, and as of late, my uncle hasn't complained because at the end of the bullet-riddled day, he gets what's his. And by the looks of that bookshop brimming with female bodies, every woman in Honey Hollow has shown up to get what's theirs—or in the least, think really good thoughts about it.

The bookshop, Between the Lines, glows like a cozy beacon in the night, with twinkle lights winking around the windows and a hand-painted sign swinging gently above the door. Inside, it's a book lover's paradise, with shelves bursting with every genre imaginable, while plush armchairs sit tucked into corners and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafts through the air.

The crowd is already buzzing with anticipation. A banner in the front reads Harmony Honeycutt—Dream It, Believe It, Achieve It.

The place is packed tonight, with every seat taken by eager women hoping to catch a glimpse of the mystical Harmony Honeycutt. Or more to the point—looking to make their mystical dreams come true.

The crowd is a mix of what look to be book club regulars, yoga enthusiasts, and women who look as if they've just stepped out of a Pinterest board on manifesting success.

My other sister, Serafina, just so happens to work here, and I spot her near the front getting things ready for the guest of honor.

Serafina is a brunette with coffee brown eyes, just like Niki and me—and our brothers as well. It's safe to say our parents were a one-hit wonder in the genetics department. And even though we're nearly interchangeable, it goes without saying that Serafina is our mother's favorite—mostly because she's got a steady boyfriend with the promise of a proposal on the horizon.

In our mother's eyes, our worth is waged through other people—mostly men who might outfit her with a grandchild at some point in the future.

The excitement in the air is palpable, as if everyone is just a few affirmations away from sailing off into the sunset of their wildest dreams.

Harmony stands at the front of the room, and she's a picture of bohemian chic in a flowing gold dress with her matching golden curls cascading around her shoulders.

She's older, but polished and more put-together looking than women half her age—aka me. She looks like she's just floated down from some ethereal plane where everyone is perpetually enlightened—or perpetually motivated to scam a bunch of women out of their money. Come to think of it, the two most likely aren't mutually exclusive.

"Good evening, everyone," she begins with her soothing and confident voice. "I'm so thrilled to be here in Honey Hollow to share how you can dream it, believe it, and achieve it!"

A raucous applause breaks out as if she single-handedly achieved peace in the Middle East, or just deposited a grand into each of these women's bank accounts.

She starts in on her spiel and the crowd hangs on her every word, nodding and murmuring in agreement as she talks about the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction.

I glance at Niki, who looks like she's about to sprout wings and fly off on a cloud of good vibes. Maybe there's something to this manifesting stuff after all.

Or maybe my sister doesn't have the brain cells to realize this is a bunch of malarky wrapped up like a pipe dream.

Someone has to be the voice of negativity in this room. It may as well be me.

"Now take note"—Harmony continues, her voice wrapping around the audience like a big warm hug—"the key to manifesting is believing in yourself. Visualize your goals, feel them in your heart, and trust that the universe is working to bring them to you. It's not about wishing—it's about knowing . Knowing that you deserve all the wonderful things life has to offer. And you do!"

The room breaks out in whispers as women nod into the lunacy.

Do we really all deserve wonderful things? And even if we did, it doesn't mean we can whip it up with good vibrations.

My Nona Jo calls this hooey hopeium . And it's clear every woman in this room would give her right arm for just one hit of hope.

"Manifesting is about more than just wishing for things," Harmony continues. "It's about embodying the energy of what you want to attract. When you elevate your vibrations to match the frequency of your dreams, the universe responds in kind, opening doors and creating opportunities you never imagined possible."

She takes a step forward with a wild look in her eyes. "Think of the universe as a giant mirror, reflecting back to you the energy you put out. If you radiate positivity, gratitude, and love, you'll draw those same things into your life. It's a law as immutable as gravity."

She pauses for effect, her curls catching the light and exposing her brassy roots. "Close your eyes for a moment," she instructs. "Picture your dream. See it clearly. Now, breathe it in. That feeling you have right now? That's the frequency you need to maintain it. That's your future."

My frequency?

I lift an eyelid and scan the room to see if anyone else is raising a brow, but everyone else seems more than content to keep their eyes glued shut and their proverbial eyes on the manifesting prize.

I can only imagine all the pricey vacations, cruises, yachts, and white sandy beaches running through these women's minds. Not to mention the stacks of hundred-dollar bills lining their bank accounts and shiny new plus-ones with buns of steel and pearly white teeth.

I don't need to be a mind reader to know what's happening in their noggins. And I don't have to be a con artist to see the scam this Harmony woman is pulling. My bet is that there will be a money grab once she lulls the good senses right off of these women.

The crowd collectively sighs, clearly enchanted by the permission to dream so big that not even their imaginations can believe it.

I sneak a glance at Niki and she's practically levitating with excitement. Suze and Lily are nodding along, completely captivated by Harmony's smooth talk. And there's a brunette near the front, clad in orange, who looks as if she's been hit by the positivity bus.

Harmony continues, "Gratitude is another cornerstone of manifesting. Be thankful for what you have, and the universe will give you more to be thankful for. Start each day with a grateful heart, and watch as miracles unfold before you. Remember, you are the creator of your destiny. Dream it, believe it, achieve it. Don't forget to purchase my book and hop in line for me to sign it. And if you're really serious about your dreams and want to put them on the fast track, I'm offering fifty percent off my online course just for you people who showed up tonight. You can find it on my website. Use the code thankful at checkout. And thank you all for coming tonight!"

The room erupts in applause, and Harmony starts making her way through the crowd, greeting everyone with that radiant smile of hers as she lands behind a table laden with her new tome.

"Come on, Effie! We have to meet her!" Niki grabs a couple of copies of the woman's books and stuffs one in my hand, dragging me to the line as it begins to blossom behind us.

Soon enough, we're up at bat and Harmony greets us warmly.

"Hello, ladies." She smiles and her blue eyes beam under the twinkle lights. And if I'm not mistaken, there's something nefarious layered just beneath the surface of that smile.