Page 117 of Scatter the Bones

Butcher steps up and slaps Dex’s shoulder. “So, your brother here was just telling us how he met his ol’ lady because he was stalking her.”

“What?” I laugh.

“That’snotwhat I said.” Dex throws a punch at Butcher’s boulder-sized bicep.

Ravage leers in Margot’s direction.

“Margot, you’ve never told us exactly how you and Jigsaw hooked up.” He ambles over to us, grinning like a kid in a candy story with a credit card and no adult supervision. “Did he ask you out?” Rav wiggles his fingers in my face, and I slap his hand away. “And you looked at his junkyard dog face and thought to yourself, ‘yeah, this seems like a smart life choice?’”

A sharp flare of anger flashes in her eyes. Brief, but I catch it. Margot’s as protective of me as I am of her.

“Well, actually.” A heavy edge of sarcasm wraps around her words. “My last relationship was so desperately unsatisfying. When I met Jigsaw, I found him so physically appealing, I asked if he’d be so kind as to tutor me in the fine art of sex.” She tilts her head and stares up at me from under her lashes. “He’s anexcellentteacher. I couldn’t help falling in love with him.”

Cold shock seizes my body. Did she just basically lay out our origin story in front of my brothers?

Somehow, I follow Margot’s lead and keep a straight face.

She spoke the truth in such an absurd way, no will know it’s the truth, right?

Ravage blinks, his mouth hanging open for a beat before he throws his head back and laughs like a drunk donkey. “See, now Iknowthat’s false.”

Laughter spreads through the group like a slow burn. I exhale, the knot in my gut loosening—everyone assumes she’s joking.

Except Dex, standing off to my left, his heavy gaze zeroed in on me.

At first, I can’t decipher the weird expression on his face. Then it hits me. The dumb, awkward convo I initiated when I was worried about “tutoring” Margot.

Dex has too much tact to ever say anything that would embarrass Margot, so I’m not worried he’ll ask me about it in front of everyone.

The double doors sweep open. Suds holds one side and Grip the other, the two of them standing at attention like two gruff doormen for royalty.

“Thank you,” a soft, familiar voice says.

“Ladies.” Suds dips his chin as Trinity, Hope, and Emily step outside.

I don’t normally pay attention to what the ol’ ladies are wearing, but I shouldn’t have been worried. Margot fits in well tonight.

Trinity strides out first, in a knee-length, body-hugging royal blue dress with black beading around the plunging neckline. Don’t-fuck-with-me attitude radiating from her rigid posture and calculating eyes.

Emily follows, more reserved in a light purple dress with lines of silver sparkling things down the front that emphasize her generous rack while still hiding all the goods.

Hope emerges last, and for a second, I think she’s wearing nothing but some strategically placed flowers. Up close, I catch the illusion—bright red roses embroidered into sheer nude mesh. Riskier than what I’m used to seeing her wear, but somehow, she makes it look elegant instead of suggestive.

No one will mistake any of them for muffler bunnies and not just because they’re all wearing property patches.

“Looking lovely tonight, ladies,” I say with my most charming smile.

Hope leans in, brushing a quick kiss on my cheek. “Good to see you, Jigsaw.”

Then she wraps Margot in a more informal and enthusiastic hug that plucks any reservation I had about tonight out of my chest. “I’m so happy you were able to join us tonight, Margot.” She pulls back, holding Margot at arm’s length and giving her a warm smile. “It’s your first time visiting Downstate, right?”

Margot nods quickly, her lips curving in a shy smile. “I’ve been looking forward to it ever since Jigsaw invited me.”

Rock and Wrath step out, Wrath stopping to give Suds shit.

“Jigsaw.” Rock nods at me, then shifts his attention to Margot. “Good to see you again, Margot.”

“Thank you,” she says softly.

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