Page 65 of Darlin'

I tilt my head. "You gonna shoot at me again?"

"No ma'am," Carlos says, glancing up at Jo, who gives him an encouraging smile.

"Then yes, I forgive you," I say, my heart still aching from the memory. "Do you forgiveme?"

Carlos frowns. "For what?"

"Aiming a gun at you," I say in a solemn tone. "That wasn't a very nice thing to do, was it?"

"Well, we were trying to—" He swallows, cringing. "But yeah, um...I forgive you too."

"Good.” I smile down at Carlos then nod at Jo, needing an explanation. "Jo? A word?"

"You boys keep working," Jo says, placing her hand on my back as she leads me away from Zack and Carlos. "Now, I understand if this is upsetting for you, Savannah, but we wouldn't just send those boys back to Nevada.”

I blink. "Upset? I'm not upset; I'm just...confused. Who are they? Are they with the Vipers?"

"Yeah." Jo sighs, watching Jesse and Ryder bring the young boys a couple of water bottles. "Jimmy and Tiny caught up with them last night. Wasn't hard. Those boys are only fifteen years old; isn't that fucked?" She glances at me. "Vipers found 'em sleeping under a bridge a few months ago. Both of 'em ran away from their foster homes. Apparently, a cold bridge was a better home than the one they were living in. Can you imagine that?"

"That's so sad," I mutter with a heavy heart. "What're you gonna do with them? Send them back eventually?”

"Nah," Jo says. "When we bring strays in, we tend to keep 'em." She gives a little smile. "Like your brother."

"Right," I hum. "Well, where are they gonna live? With you?"

"Me? No, I don't have the patience to raise another teenager, let alone two." Jo snorts. "They're gonna stay with Andy. We'll be helping her out, but she'll be in charge of them."

"Andy? Seriously?" I ask, frowning. "She doesn't really give off motherly vibes."

"No, but she knows what they're going through," Jo explains. "That girl's had a rough life. She'll be able to relate to them. I think it'll be good for her too. Keep her out of trouble." Jo clicks her tongue as Jesse rounds the corner. "Okay, well, I'll be fixing some lunch in the kitchen if you need me." She pats Jesse’s chest as he stops in front of us. "Everything's good with Miguel?"

"Yup," Jesse mutters. "All good."

"Good," Jo says before walking away.

"You doing okay?" Jesse asks, placing a subtle hand on the small of my back as we watch the two boys fight over a screwdriver. "I had a feeling Jo would keep 'em."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say, relaxing into his touch. "But willtheybe fine? This ain't normal life for a kid."

"Those boys were fucked from the get-go," Jesse says. "Might not be normal, but at least they'll be safe. Plus"—he gives me a weak grin—"I turned out alright, didn't I?" I roll my eyes and Jesse expels a soft laugh. "Ouch, princess. You wound me."

"You'll survive," I say as Beau and Marlow wave me over to an electrical panel. "I'll see you later."

"Don't shock yourself," Jesse whispers, arching into me as he pinches my ass. "Daddy needs you alive and well."

My jaw drops. "Jesse!"

He blows me a kiss, then draws a heart in the air. My cheeks burn.Ballsy little beast, ain’t he?I flip him the bird, grinning like a fool.

What an idiot.

I hope nobody saw that.

CHAPTER 20

Pralines and Cream

"What'reyou getting all dolled up for?" Jesse asks, arms crossed as he leans against the door frame. He lifts a brow, meeting my reflection in the bathroom mirror as I apply a layer of mascara. "I thought you said you're going to Pippa's for, and I quote, 'A Girls Night.'"

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