Page 48 of Karma

“Thought you were gonna bring us in on whatever you’re doing,” Grim says. He’s stopped caressing my legs and is now completely focused on Scorpio, even though he’s looking out into the trees. It’s this trick he has. Like a predator pretending not to see the prey even though his whole being is focused on it.

“I haven’t gotten the chance yet,” Scorpio says. “But this job isn’t something you want to be a part of.”

Grim glances at me and we lock eyes. He speaks for the both of us when he says, “We’ve already made our decision. We want in.”

Scorpio looks at both of us, the edge of his lips curling into a grin. “Have you? For me? Because I won’t blame you for sitting this one out.”

“Yeah, for you,” I say and press my body tighter against him. “We’re going to that inn with you.”

“You sure?” he asks. “That place is a dump. It’s much nicer here. I’ll come visit when I can.”

“When you’re not getting killed on Joker’s orders you mean?” Grim asks.

Scorpio was just about to kiss me, but Grim’s angry tone put a stop to that. And made him tense up like he’s expecting a fight. He’s gonna get it if I don’t diffuse this. I know that tone in Grim’s voice.

“I don’t know what you think this is, but it’s clearly not what you think,” Scorpio says, sitting up taller, the kiss forgotten.

He’s glaring at Grim, who’s glaring right back.

“I think you don’t want any part of what Joker’s cooking,” Grim says. “You’ve said as much a few times.”

“Have I?” Scorpio says in his light tone, but it’s hiding sharp steel today, I can feel that too. “Maybe you shouldn’t pay so much attention to me when I’m drunk or high on sex. Because I’m fully behind Joker in this and all things, make no mistake about that.”

There, the steel came out. I don’t know if I’m glad that we’re finally talking about serious things again, or I’d rather go back to pretending.

“Could’ve fooled me,” Grim says, sounding like he’s chewing on the inside of his cheek.

Scorpio lifts me off his lap and stands up. And now I know I’m definitely not glad.

“What do you think you know about me?” he says. “And what do I know about you? We’re just here to have some funbefore things get bad. So let’s just keep it that way and stop complicating it.”

“It’s more than just a little fun to me,” I say, my voice soft, but somehow as loud as a scream in the tense silence that followed Scorpio’s words.

They’re both glaring at me and I have no hope of reading what either of them is actually thinking. Grim is probably mad at me wanting to replace Reaper so soon. Scorpio looks like he’d rather pretend he didn’t hear me.

“Come on, now, Karma,” Scorpio says. He’s trying to grin, but it doesn’t want to happen. “Don’t start going soft on me now.”

I don’t know what to say to that so I say nothing. I just look very deeply into his eyes, hoping he’ll stop this charade and admit he feels the same way. Hoping he’ll stop twisting my heart with his lies. He looks away first, glances at Grim as though seeking his support in setting me straight. I hate it when guys do that. I know my mind and I speak my mind. I just did it. Now Grim will probably agree with him and I’ll be left nursing yet another heart wound.

“You heard her,” Grim says, shocking us both.

Until this moment, a large part of me still believed he was only in this to do me a favor, letting me get Scorpio out of my system as penance for dumping me and driving me into his arms.

Scorpio exhales sharply, not meeting our eyes as he picks up his cut off the porch railing where he set it before sitting down with us on the swing.

“I knew we should’ve just gone straight to fucking when I got here instead of sitting out here to chat first,” he says, putting on his cut in a way that seems like he’s using it as armor against us. And it’s working. He’s a different person with it on. Even his usually very bright eyes are dull now.

“Guess I’m gonna take off now after all,” he says. “This isn’t fun anymore.”

“When are you coming back?” I ask, even though I know full well I should stay quiet. But if the answer isnever, I need to hear it. Otherwise, I’ll never accept it.

“No idea,” he says and jogs down the step, hurrying to his bike.

The sound of him starting the engine fills the forest and echoes over the trees long after he disappears among them. At least he didn’t saynever. But I’m not entirely sure that’s a good thing.

I only very slowly become aware that Grim is staring at me while I stare off into the dark trees. I look at him and that prey-catching stare is very bright in his eyes.

“We’re going to the inn too, right?” he asks, but it’s more of a statement. Almost an order.

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