Page 51 of Scatter the Bones

Get it together.

I step into the hallway and slip into the viewing room through the back entrance, the one farthest from the casket.

Wrath’s standing against the back wall, arms crossed over his chest, expression unreadable. I take up the empty space next to him and he turns to nod at me.

I turn my attention to the front of the room where Ulfric’s speaking.

“Whisper was formed by the grit of the gutter and the dust of the highway.” Ulfric glances at the coffin. “Despite his intimidating appearance, he spoke quietly, in a way that commanded your attention and respect. That’s how he got his road name…”

News to me.Since many bikers have a twisted since of humor and hand out road names as jokes, I always assumed it was because Whisper was a loudmouth when he was younger.

“He was a stealthy fucker too,” Wrath whispers to me. “I think that’sactuallyhow he got his road name. Could break into buildings without anyone hearing a thing.”

“Probably not the best thing to mention at his funeral,” I say out of the corner of my mouth.

He snorts. “Give it five minutes. Someone’ll bring it up. Probably Merlin.”

At the podium, Ulfric steps aside to make room for Whisper’s daughter. She sidesteps him, avoiding the embrace he clearly planned to give.

I lean closer to Wrath. “Margot was right about the friction between them.”

“Yeah, he didn’t talk about his family much. I figured there was some tension there.” His gaze scans the room. “That’s the difference between us and a lot of other clubs. They make the club their family and ignore their actual family.”

“Whereas we suck our loved ones into our vortex until there’s no escape?” I question with two innocently raised eyebrows.

Wrath rolls his eyes. “Sure.”

One by one, Wolf Knight brothers step up to say a few words about their ex-president. Then neighbors, friends, and other people who knew him.

While a middle-aged, teary woman’s recounting all the ways Whisper helped her reach her fitness goals, one of the brothers slips through the door and stops beside me.

I glance over long enough to clock a vaguely trusted face—Hudson. Around my age. Patched member of the Wolf Knights. Not someone I’d go out of my way to share a beer with.

“You mind if we talk for a sec?” Hudson asks under his breath. “In private.”

IknowHudson but notwell enough for private chats. His urgent tone sets my radar humming. I glance at Wrath but his attention’s locked on the woman still speaking.

“Uh, yeah, sure.”

We weave in between different guests clustered in the hallway. My gaze ping-pongs, searching for a quieter, less crowded location. I find a spot near the staircase—by the hallway that leads to the prep room. It’s far enough from the main roomsto talk without drawing attention, but still visible to anyone walking by. No shadows. No doors. Just enough privacy.

I turn to face him. “What’s on your mind?”

“You seem to know the place well.” He gestures toward the parlor. “Ulfric mentioned the funeral director’s daughter is your ol’ lady.”

I cross my arms over my chest and stare him down. “Do we know each other well enough for you to be prying into my love life?”

He blinks, then his face settles into granite. “Didn’t realize it was a secret.”

After the world’s shortest staring contest he blows out an annoyed breath. “I wanted to ask if your club’s recruiting.”

We very much need to grow our numbers but I’m not about to share that with someone wearing another club’s patch. “Why? You know someone who wants to prospect?”

“Yeah,me.”

I let that sit for a beat, then drop my slow, sarcastic gaze to the flash stitched on the patch on his chest—Road Captain. I drag my eyes back up to his face. “You alreadyhavea club.”

“I got my president’s blessing to ask, so don’t think I’m a traitor to my club. Truth is, Wolf Knights are probably disbanding my charter soon. I don’t want to move to another state. Again.” He sighs, jaw ticking. “Honestly, I’d really like to move back home. I grew up in Slater and even though the winters fucking suck, my mom, my sister and her kids are all here. I’m tired of missing birthdays and holidays with them.”

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