Page 100 of Jagger's Remorse
"Don't push it."
"I would never." She fixes her hair in the window's reflection, transforming from freshly fucked to professional in moments. "What do you think? Property cut tonight?"
"You earned it."
"I earned it the night I chose you over Diego. Tonight's just making it official." She turns, studies me with those amber eyes. "You okay with that? Me wearing your property patch?"
Something warm blooms in my chest. Pride, maybe. Or just love so fierce it feels like pride.
"More than okay. Want everyone to know you're mine."
"Such a caveman." But she's smiling. "Come on, let's go see what Squirrel wants before Raven comes back with a spray bottle."
The security briefing is standard—entry points, patrol rotations, emergency protocols.
But I'm distracted by the three prospects hovering near the back of the room.
They've been jumpy all week, whispering in corners, going quiet when brothers approach.
Squirrel's voice cuts through my thoughts. "You listening, Jagger?"
"Yeah. Double patrols on the perimeter."
"Triple," he corrects. "After the warehouse hit, we're not taking chances."
"The Three Devils are scattered," Poncho argues. His eye patch makes him look more dangerous than before. "Leaderless."
"Leaderless dogs bite harder," Squirrel counters. "They've got nothing left to lose."
"What about Sombra?" Scarlett asks. "Any movement from them?"
"Nothing concrete. But our contacts say they're shopping for local allies."
"Three Devils would be perfect for them," she muses. "Desperate, angry, familiar with our operations."
"Which is why we're tripling security," Squirrel concludes. "Questions?"
The prospects shift nervously.
One of them—Rocket, I think—raises his hand tentatively. "Where do you want us during the party?"
"Watching the back entrance," Digger assigns. "All three of you. Nobody gets in without going through the front."
They exchange glances. Something passes between them.
"Problem with that?" I ask.
"No, sir," Rocket says quickly. Too quickly. "Just want to do right by the club."
After the meeting, I pull Squirrel aside. "Those prospects are jumpy."
"Noticed that too." He lights a cigarette, takes a long drag. "But they came with good references. Prospected for the Denver chapter before transferring here."
"When?"
"About a month ago."
Right after we took out Butcher. The timing itches at me.
