Page 105 of Scatter the Bones

“No, it’s not. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I talked to my dad briefly the other day. There’s no way he knew. He seemed surprised when I told him Daniel wasn’t very nice to me.”

“You told him that?”

“I did.” Her brow creases. “He didn’t say much. Just seemed surprised. Sad, maybe? He said he didn’t want to pry into why I ended the engagement.”

Engagement.Just the word in connection to that piece of shit stokes rage in me. I clench my jaw. How could her dad not fucking know? “If you had told your father how badly Daniel treated you, what would he have done?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want him to blame me if this affects the business for some reason, though.”

“That’s bullshit.” I tighten my arms around her, unwilling to let her mind travel down that path. “You’re not responsible for whatever Daniel did.”

She nods against my chest but doesn’t respond otherwise.

“Your family’s run a respected business in Pine Hollow for generations. Someone tries to link Daniel’s crimes to your family’s business, it will get shut down fast.” Probably by my club.

She nods slowly. “You’re right. My father knows a lot of people. Has a good reputation.”

“What we need to worry about, is if he gets off,” I say, hoping she follows my line of thinking. “Does he take a plea that lets him out in five years, or does he get life behind bars where he belongs?”

A tired but warm smile curves her lips. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re hinting at.”

“I’m nothintingat anything. I’m outright saying it. He better pray he gets a long prison sentence.”

She lets out an exasperated sigh. “You know what? I’m not even going to argue with you.”

“Good.” I smooth my hand over her back but the fury simmering in my chest doesn’t ease. “The system fucks up all the time. If Daniel gets out?—”

“He’s a walking dead man,” she finishes.

I love the way she gets me.

What a twisted kind of relief—knowing I don’t have to hide who I am when we’re together. I’m free to be my murderous self with her.

How can one woman be so perfect for me?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Margot

Awareness of heatfrom the big body nestled behind me keeps me under the soft haze of sleep. A soft exhale against my neck. Something hard against my lower back. One big, rough hand cupping the weight of my breast that escaped the confines of my tank top during the night.

Outside the blankets feels unnaturally cold.

I burrow deeper under the covers, closer to Jigsaw’s body. His thumb twitches over my nipple and I stifle a gasp.

Still shivering, I blink and stare at my bedroom window. Dull gray light seeps around the edges of the blinds. It’s too early for my alarm but something doesn’t look right.

I push the covers aside, slide out of Jigsaw’s embrace, and sit up, fixing my top as I go.

“Where you going?” Jigsaw murmurs. Behind me, he hooks a finger in the waistband of my sleep shorts and tugs.

“I’m cold.”

“I’ll warm you up.”

I shimmy out of his loose grip and flick the curtain out of my way. White glare sears my vision and I squeeze my eyes shut for a second. “Damn, it looks like it snowed. Not a lot but?—”

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