Page 61 of Where We Promise

Wes grunted while he rolled out the fresh sod.

“Well, there is a chance that one day they’ll want to dig up Loretta St. Clair but seeing as she was a God-fearing woman who paid her taxes and was loved by all her friends and family, I strongly doubt anyone will be digging up her grave to see if a two-hundred-pound Chaos King had been dumped on top of her casket. Same with Julius Garner. He was a recluse, no way anyone goes snooping in his grave any time soon.”

Brick winced, staring down at the grave. “You just cover it with grass, and no one ever knows.”

Bingo.

“We needed a way to bury Kline and Bones, this was the quickest way that didn’t involve dismemberment or acid.”

“Concrete is also very effective, but a graveyard is a safer bet since no one will just come in here and start digging shit up,” Killian added.

Giles laughed. “Well, technically we—” Wes slapped the back of his head, giving him a deadly glare. He was obviously about to share something he wasn’t supposed to, so I didn’t make a move to correct him for laying hands on my cousin.

“All done, let’s pack up,” Killian muttered quietly, glancing around.

We carried our shovels back to the truck and all climbed inside. We were out of the cemetery gates and down a side road when a single headlight began driving straight at us. Killian groaned but pulled off to a side road where the motorcycle followed.

I lifted a curious brow at Wes, who was riding in the seat behind his president.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Killian opened his door, and I followed him out. It was just Wes, Kil and me standing in a circle when Silas walked up to greet us.

“I have news,” Silas started, not wasting any time. “A few rumors are starting to circulate about Fable stepping into Chaos King business?—”

His eyes landed on me, but I obviously knew he was referencing the portion of members who’d defected and stayed with Luke.

“This means they’re focusing all their strength at the moment in building up that club and trying to rip it effectively from you, King.”

My fucking chest hurt. Luke’s betrayal was a dagger digging deeper every single day.

“Our best bet is to lure Luke out, he’s gotta be uncomfortable being the prop in this play. Jefferson and Fable will surely take all the members and make them loyal to whatever new brand of bullshit they’re cooking up.”

I shook my head. “If that’s true then what difference would it make if Luke defected and gave us intel?”

“Knowing where they plan to meet and might have their guard down would be all the difference in claiming your club back and killing the two of them.”

I didn’t miss the way Wes and Killian both cut glances my way before Killian asked, “We sparing Luke then?”

I knew he was asking as a whole to the group so we could come to an agreement. My gaze remained on the inky mass surrounding us, cloaking us in secrecy. Brick and Giles remained in the truck, and I wondered if Killian was sowing his own seeds of future rebellion by not including his second in this conversation.

Silas nodded his chin at me. “Your call…your ol lady…it’s complicated, right?”

On this, I might be an asshole…and maybe one day Penelope would hate me for it. Maybe her kid would come back for revenge and want to kill me, but with every ounce of conviction I had in me, I replied, “Not complicated at all. We use him, and then we kill him.”

SEVENTEEN

PENELOPE

AGE TWENTY-ONE

The black duffel hanging from my shoulder had seen better days.

Years of moving had the strap frayed, nearly torn and the black fabric was flimsy from use in several places. Which didn’t help because currently it was packed full of all my belongings.

“Penny?” Mom called from the kitchen as I awkwardly ambled into the house, “is that you?”

I let the bag drop to the floor with a loud thud as my mother finally cleared the foyer. She was wiping her hands on a dish towel, her blue eyes narrowed in confusion…or more likely, concern.

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