Page 146 of Scatter the Bones

“Had to welcome young Griff home from his…battle.” He rolls his shoulders in a lazy shrug.

“Battle,” I scoff. “You mean that clown show on TV?”

“You watched it?” he asks.

“Hell no. Sounded embarrassing as fuck.”

“He handled it with class, though.” Another lazy wave of his hand. “Well, as much class as one can under those circumstances.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Didn’t take you for a fan of reality television.”

“I’m not. But my mother is.” He drops his gaze like it’s a private joke. Or maybe he doesn’t want me to know too much about his family. “She was rooting for Griff the whole season.”

Given how sideways the show went, that’d probably make Griff wanna crawl into a hole. “You tell him that?”

“Nah.” His gaze skims the room, detached. “He seemed preoccupied with his girl. Didn’t want to interrupt.”

“He’s always preoccupied with Molly.” I wave it off. “Nothing new there.”

“Young love.” He sighs, all fake wistfulness.

Demons give me strength to deal with this smug asshole.

His gaze drifts toward the entrance. Lingers.

“Ah, nowthat’sgrown man’s work,” he says, a slow, appreciative smile spreading over his arrogant face. “What’s that boy doing?”

Is Quill having a stroke?“The fuck you talking about?”

“Don’t judge. I like my ladies a little more on the ample side.” He licks his lower lip like a vulture. “That orange-haired kid isn’t equipped to handle all that.”

“No one gives a fuck about your preferences,” I mutter.

Talking to Quill has my back to the door. I shift slowly, following his line of sight?—

And three realizations hit me at once.

Margot’s arrived.

Torch is talking to her.

Quill’s admiring her ass.

My blood shoots to boiling.

“You better avert your eyes and watch your tongue, motherfucker.” I lean in close to Quill’s ear. “Or I’ll slice them from your skull. That’smywoman you’re talking about.”

He blinks.

Surprise, then amusement flickers over his lips.

“Whoa.” Rooster’s hand clamps down on my shoulder, dragging me back a step. “What’s going on?”

Quill holds up both hands in surrender, eyes still lit with smug delight.

“Nothing.” I shrug Rooster off and shove away from both of them, their low, tense voices fading behind me.

Margot turns away from Torch, her anxious gaze searching the crowded bar. The second her eyes find me, her whole face lights up.

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