Page 129 of Scatter the Bones

As the tallest, Serena stands in the middle. We pose and smile for several pictures before she’s satisfied.

“Let’s all wave!” She holds her phone up high and takes a short video. Shelby hams it up, blowing a kiss, while I awkwardly squint at the camera. God, I hope Serena can edit me out of that.

Before we separate, I pull out my own phone and snap one last shot of us. It buzzes in my hand a second later.

Please don’t be a work emergency.

Jigsaw: Everything okay?

“Awww,” Shelby sighs, leaning over to peek at the screen. “Jiggy checking up on you already, huh?”

A flush creeps up my chest. “Yes.”

I send the selfie of the three of us as my response.

Outside the room, Serena checks that the door’s locked, then points to a room across the hall labeledRoad Captain, and the one next to it markedVice President. “We’re all neighbors.”

“And we’ve made a solemn pact tonevermention any noises we hear coming from each other’s rooms,” Shelby says in a sacred tone, lifting her hand toward the ceiling like she’s swearing an oath in church.

“No—” I gasp, laughing despite myself. Then the thought hits.

Wait.

Did they have that pact with Jigsaw, too?

Before me?

My gentle slide into their chaotic, affectionate world screeches to a halt.

Don’t do this.

You’re making a big deal out of nothing.

It doesn’t matter what he did—or who he did it with—before we were together.

Even if my brain knows that, my stomach continues flipping as we make the long trek back to the main room.

The three of us link arms, taking up the width of the hallway. Since I’m not wearing one of the property patches, they squeeze me in between them.

“Who’s your friend, Shelby?” A biker leers at us as we pass.

“This is Jigsaw’s ol’ lady, Vegas,” she warns without slowing her steps. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

“Noted.” He laughs.

Grinder, Rooster, and Jigsaw are waiting at the entrance to the main room. Grinder notices us first. The harsh lines of his face soften into a warm smile as his eyes land on Serena.

“You went with the blue one, buttercup.” He nods with approval and holds out his hands to her.

Rooster slips an arm around Shelby’s waist and Jigsaw practically knocks Grinder down to get to me.

“Easy, Jiggy.” Shelby laughs. “We were in Grinder and Serena’s room the whole time.”

“I know.” He comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He leans over and whispers in my ear, “I missed you.”

“Same.” I rest my hand over his arm and lean back against him.

“I like the blue stuff on your eyes,” he murmurs. “It’s pretty.”

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