I whip my head up and stare at him incredulously. Did Bone really outreach this tool? Why? I thought he was Team Sinners.
“What?” I ask and Skull chuckles, raising a brow. “You want answers, you gotta give me something in exchange.”
I’m not inspired by his husky tone, and I shake my head but he interjects before I can refuse. “Maybe you need a little taste before you decide.”
For a minute, I think he’s going to assault me, and I sag when he leans against the wall next to my head and says, “There’s lots of shit going down, right. But one thing that has everyone running scared is some dude who goes by the name, Kenny.”
I’m pretty sure the blood drains from my face and I sway on my feet. How does Skull know about Kenny?
Chuckling, Skull taps my chin and I flinch away, my skin crawling. If he’s approaching me about Kenny, then maybe this isn’t about my dad but some other creep with the same name?
Pressing against the wall, to hold my trembling legs up, I fight the brutal burn of hope and whisper, “Okay.”
I want with a desperation that is foolish at best to prove my dad didn’t kill my friend. If Skull can do it, so be it.
A slow smile curls Skull’s lips and I say, appropriately wary, “But that’s not telling much. What else?”
Glancing around, he adjusts his jacket before leaning in until our mouths are a breath apart. “You want Kenny, all you gotta do is ask.”
“Want…you know who he is?” A rush of tingles dances down my spine and I grab his shirt. Is this it? Can I finally solve the fucking mystery and free my family?
“You do something for me, first,” he grunts and slowly I nod. I guess I am willing to sell my soul to the devil for answers, but my lungs burn from the smoke of my betrayal.
This isn’t some jerk off the street. This guy is our, well Diem and the Sinners’ enemy, something I can’t lose sight of.
“I want to know what you know,” he says, and I turn my head at his fetid breath.
Shit. Involving Diem or my brother and Ramsay does not sit well. Diem may be an asshole, but I can’t do something that might leave him hurt.
“About what?” I ask and he smirks.
“You’ll be my little spy…”
Shaking my head, I lift my lips in a sour smile and Skull says, “Well?”
Of course, the hope sizzling in my chest fades. Now what? Diem? Dad? The Sinners and Ollie or the guy I hero worshiped for the majority of my life? How do I choose?
With a sigh, I snap back to his expectant gaze and say, “Well what? Diem doesn’t tell me shit.”
His eyes flash but I’m saved by the bell when his phone rings and he steps away. Once he’s gone, Patrick sidles closer and says, “You’re making a mistake.”
Tilting my head, I eye him sideways and say, “That’s rich coming from you.”
His brows fall and he mumbles, “No thanks to you.”
“Me? What the hell does that mean?” I say, pushing away from the wall.
Patrick flushes and I wave my hand. Reluctantly he says, “Diem warned me off.”
“Off…from me?”
Was that confrontation from so long ago aboutme? No way.
“Whatever,” he says. “If you want to save your ass, you’ll tell Diem. You do not want Skull in your business, Maeve.”
He’s not telling me anything I don’t know but hearing him say it curdles my stomach. How stupid am I for even considering this? Except…I was so close.
“Now, what were we talking about?” Skull says and I turn to him with dread.