Page 86 of Scatter the Bones

Too soon?

Cheeks still pink, Emily pulls her shoulders back. “Yes, yes, poor choices were made.” She leans up against Dex’s side. “Thankfully, Dex was there to pound some sense into me.”

Dex chokes on his coffee.

A slow, sadistic smile spreads over my face. I’d be remiss in my brotherly duty if I let that one slide. “So,that’swhat all the noise was, huh? I knew it.”

Emily blinks, clearly replaying her words. “Oh shit.” Her hand flies to her mouth. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Jiggy,” Dex warns.

“What?” I widen my eyes. “Nothing wrong with giving your girl some enthusiastic…clarityagainst the filing cabinet.”

The red on Emily’s cheeks deepens and creeps to her forehead and down her neck. Damn, she’s kinda fun to tease.

Screeching from the kitchen punches through the walls again, sucking all the fun out of our conversation. That raw, chaotic noise that seems so cheerful to everyone else sends chills crawling over my skin.

I sip my coffee and shudder.

Screaming like that when I was a kid meant severe punishment. My body freezes and I force myself to breathe in and out. No one here would lay a hand on those kids. If anything, Murphy’s probably in there egging them on. They’re safe.

Dex’s expression switches from murderous to concerned. “You okay, Jiggy?”

I force my face into a smirk and tap the side of my head. “Yeah. Just addingindustrial strength condomsto my mental ‘to buy’ list.”

He snorts. “You sound like Wrath.”

Emily shakes with laughter. “I’m kinda with Jigsaw on this one.” She lifts her chin, scenting the air. “Although, whatever they’re making smells really good.”

“Banana pancakes,” I say. “They were delicious.”

“Hmmm.” Her gaze darts to the closed kitchen door. “I’m going to risk it. And I want to say hi to Heidi.”

She presses a quick kiss to Dex’s cheek and hurries away.

He watches her for a few seconds, then settles his concerned stare on me. “You sure you’re all right?” He waves a hand in the air. “And don’t give me the condom story again.”

I blow out a breath and set my coffee on the table. “Just…feeling some sort of way. Where I grew up, making noise like that got you punished. Starved. Whipped. Locked in a room for days. Depending on how creative my father was feeling and which Bible verse he was using to justify the abuse.”

Dex’s jaw drops. “I’m sorry, brother.”

I shrug, uncomfortable with revealing so much. But I trust Dex. “It’s fine. I survived.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Obviously.”

My gaze shifts to the kitchen. “And Iknowno one here would ever hurt those kids just for…being kids, ya know? Still chilled me for a second.”

He stares at me like we’re meeting for the first time.

“Yeah,” he says quietly. “We never get a warning before our past bites down and rips opens scars we thought we’d healed.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Jigsaw

After a lotof chatter and greetings we’re finally all seated at the war room table. Minus Rav and Butcher.

Rock smacks his gavel down, silencing the room.

“Let’s make this short today,” Rock says.

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