Page 35 of Scatter the Bones

I shrug.

“Where is he now?”

“At a hotel in Empire.” At the judgmental expression that crosses his face, I raise my hands in surrender. “He was staying there before he found me.”

“Shit.” He shakes his head. “I’m surprised Z didn’t mention it. I’m supposed to be his VP.”

I glare at him. “It’snotclub business. I asked him to keep it quiet until I figure shit out.” I’m actually kind of surprised Zdidn’timmediately tell Rooster, though. “Cain wants to see Jezzie.”

“I can understand that,” he says gently. “They grew up together until…”

“Yeah, I know.”

“So, what’s holding you up? You think he’s here for retribution or something?”

He’s got Killgore blood running through his veins.“Maybe.”

“Why didn’t you tell Margot?” He pauses. “Does she know about your dad?”

I throw my thumb over my shoulder, gesturing toward the scars crisscrossing my back. “Just the highlights. And that I scattered his bones from coast to coast.”

A grim smile curls his mouth. “Not a dealbreaker, huh?”

“Nope.” Normally, I’d crack a joke, but I don’t have it in me today.

“Damn, she’s so perfect for you. Don’t fuck this up. Talk to her.”

“Why, you worried you’re gonna be saddled with me forever if I don’t have an ol’ lady?”

“No, dickface.” His face screws into something smirky and annoying. “We’re already brothers for life. I just want you to be happy.” He shrugs. “And I like Margot. I think you’re good for her too.”

“You barely know her.”

“Well, I like that she seems pretty protective of you and that she’s not judgmental about the club. That shit with the bunnies at the clubhouse could’ve been a dealbreaker forher,but she took it in stride.”

“She took out aknife.” I grin like an idiot.

He dips his chin in a show of respect. “And she held her own with Rav. Pranking him was genius. But she was still somehow…respectful about it?” He shrugs. “I don’t know. I just like her.”

“I like her too. A lot.” I glance down at my coffee cup and swirl the last bits of it around. “I love her.”

“Thentalkto her. She’s smart. And it’s pretty fucking obvious she loves you too. She’ll understand.”

What’s to understand? I kicked a young mom and her son out of their home, gave them some money, and basically told them to fuck off into the unknown. I don’t know how Margot’s gonnahear that and think, “yeah, that’s someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

I don’t bother saying any of that to Rooster, though. He’ll justify my actions because he’s my best friend.

My phone vibrates on the counter and I stand, taking my coffee cup with me.

Wrath: Get your ass here for church at 2:00 p.m.

A standard order from Upstate’s enforcer.

I leave my cup by the sink, then show my phone to Rooster. “Wrath wants us at the clubhouse.”

He chuckles and turns his phone over, checking the screen. “Got the same one.”

“Thank fuck.” I drop into my chair again. “I’m not special.”

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