Page 45 of Scornful

"Yeah. Your dad wants us to bring him in. You, me, Magnus, and Rio."

"About fuckin’ time," Emil says, cracking his knuckles. "That piece of shit has been walking around too long thinking he can mess with our family."

Our family.

The words hit different now that I'm sneaking around with his sister.

Guilt gnaws at me, but I push it down. Later. I'll deal with that later.

"Meet at the garage in an hour," I tell him. "Full kit."

He nods, already heading off to spread the word.

I catch sight of Astrid near the bar, helping her mother with decorations.

Our eyes meet across the room, and I see the question there.

I give a subtle shake of my head—not now, not here.

Magnus appears at my shoulder. "Heard we're going hunting."

"News travels fast."

"Small clubhouse." He lowers his voice. "You good for this? Given... you know."

I turn to face him fully. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He holds my gaze for a long moment, then shrugs. "Right. My mistake." But the look he gives me says we both know it's not.

An hour later, the group of us are in the garage.

Rio checks his weapon, his face stone since Flora's death.

This is the first real action he's seen since the funeral, and I can see he needs this—needs something to hit, someone to hurt.

Magnus asks, loading extra mags. "What's the VP want?"

"Him alive," I say. "Fenrir wants to have a chat with him."

"Shame," Emil mutters. "I was hoping to put a bullet in him myself."

"You might still get your chance," I tell him. "After your dad’s done."

We mount up, four bikes roaring to life, and pull out of the garage.

Hakon opens the gate for us, and as soon as we can slip out we’re all flying down the road, ready to get this dumb fucker.

The ride to Route 90 takes twenty minutes, giving me too much time to think.

About Astrid, about the secrets we're keeping, about what happens when—notif—those secrets come to light.

The Pine Rest Motel is exactly what you'd expect: a run-down shithole that rents rooms by the hour and doesn't ask questions.

Perfect for someone trying to stay under the radar.

We park behind a burned-out diner next door, approaching on foot.

According to what Fenrir knows, Laken's in room 12, second floor, far end.

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