Page 106 of Coerced

I sighed. I would have cuffed the back of Spin’s head or slung an arm around Chance’s shoulders, but I knew if I tried either with Kerry, I’d get hurt. And I hurt enough as it was.

“We’ll get her back, buddy. We’ll get all of them back.”

He turned cold eyes to me.

“Or die trying.” He held out his fist, and I raised my eyebrows, wary, but the unscarred side of his mouth curled up. “It’s okay. I’ve done this a few times with John and Travis.”

“Not Jax?”

“Jax tries to hug me. You know, that one-armed guy hug. I haven’t killed him yet, but let’s not risk it.”

Grinning, I bumped my knuckles against his.

28. Puzzle Pieces

Gemma

“I wish I had a camera,” I whispered.

“Yeah, me, too.” Chance grinned. “This would be brutal blackmail material.”

Maddy and Tara covered their mouths to quiet their giggles.

We looked down at Spin and his little monkey, spooned together on the cot and fast asleep. He had his arm wrapped around her waist and his face pressed into the curve of her neck.

“So adorable!” I murmured. “They fit together like puzzle pieces.”

“Speaking of fitting together, Gemma,” Tara said while wiggling her eyebrows, “Gigi said you and Kerry finally did the deed.”

“Oh, come on!” Chance groaned. “TMI, ladies!”

“What?!” Jax howled. “That dirty rat didn’t tell me any—”

“No, we haven’t!” Horrified and red-faced, I hurried to correct them before the misunderstanding went too far.

“Kiss, I mean.” Tara’s evil giggle let me know she was trying to get a rise out of me. “You finally kissed after, what? Three months of dating?”

“And Jax interrupted.” Maddy glared at the culprit. “Gigi wanted to kill you, you know.”

“I feel I’ve explained myself enough on that one.” Jax stuck his nose in the air.

“Was it your first kiss?” Tara gave me a knowing smile. “Like your first kissever?”

Mortified, I buried my face in my hands.

“Why are you all torturing Gemma?” Spin asked in a groggy voice.

I raised my head to see him untangling himself from Monkey and sitting up with a yawn.

“You’re right.” Chance had a glint in his eyes. “We should turn our attention to you. How did you sleep?”

“Huh? Fine. Why?”

“You certainly looked real comfortable this morning. All snuggled up to Monkey.”

Spin’s cheeks turned blood-red. He sputtered as he jumped to his feet and put some distance between himself and the cot where Monkey still lay curled in the blankets.

We all laughed.

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