Page 100 of Property of Bones

“I didn’t betray them,” he sighs, dropping into a chair like the weight of it all finally hit him. “Okay. Yes, I gave Muerte buyer intel. That was my trade for the cash my mom owed him. When she died, her debts became mine. I had to pay them off somehow and I didn’t have that kind of cash. But I never gave him anything that would hurt the club directly.”

“Why didn’t you just tell them that?” I ask.

“Because I didn’t want them pulled into this shit,” he says, voice low. “But it looks like they’re neck-deep now anyway.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, glancing around the room. “And if you’re undercover, maybe talking about thatinsidehis house isn’t the brightest idea. He could have cameras.”

“He doesn’t,” Max says flatly. “This isn’t his house. This is the place he brings people to torture. Cameras would be a liability if the footage ever got out.”

“Charming,” I mutter. “So… what do we do?”

Max looks at me. Really looks at me. His expression softens, something rare and unsettling on his usually stone-cold face.

“I can see why Bones is drawn to you,” he says. “Every time I saw you, you were happy, carefree. But you’ve got this... inner steel. That’s good. Bones is a tough bastard to get close to.”

I blink. “Wait…every timeyou saw me?”

He shifts, suddenly sheepish. “Just… checking up on my brothers from time to time. I kept an eye on things when I could. You’re not hard to spot, Sunny, with your bright-colored dresses. You’re good for him.”

I clear my throat, caught off guard. “Well then… uh. Thank you?”

“I’m going to have to move the timetable,” Max mutters, standing and pacing. “I’ll have to kill him before I find out who his partner is.”

“Do you have a phone?” I ask. “We could call Jack and ask for help.”

He stops pacing, eyes downcast. “I don’t think they’d help me, Sunny,” he says, a sad smile tugging at his mouth. “I’m afraid I’ve lost that privilege. But, they might help me get you out of here.”

“I don’t think so,” I say, returning his smile with a small one of my own. “I mean, they would probably help you save me, but when it comes to your guilt…there are doubts. They don’t understand why you helped Riley that time if you really didn’t care.”

“Maybe,” he says with a thoughtful hum. Then he reaches into his pocket. “You should call him anyway. Let him know you’re alive.”

“Thanks,” I say softly, accepting the phone.

“It’s already pulled up. Just hit call.”

I glance at the screen and can’t help but laugh. Jack’s contact photo is him mid-glare, looking like he’s ready to murder the person behind the camera. But it’s the name that really gets me:Arrogant Bastard with a Peeling Obsession.

My shoulders shake with silent laughter. “Really?”

Max smirks. “What? It’s accurate.”

Shaking my head, I hit call… only to be greeted by a growl so deep and low it barely forms words.

“You’re… fucking… dead.”

“Hey, Jack,” I say softly.

“Sunny.” His voice breaks on my name. One word…half rage, half relief.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “I’m okay. Well… mostly. Sort of.”

“Where are you?” he snaps. “Put Max on the fucking phone.”

I glance at Max, who’s already holding out his hand, grim-faced.

Hitting speaker, he looks at me with so much sadness that my heart breaks.

“Brother,” he answers.

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