Page 71 of Scatter the Bones

He laughs softly, his chest rumbling under me. “You know I can’t tell you club stuff. But yeah, probably that.” He’s quiet for a few minutes and I rest my head on him again.

I’m half-asleep when his chest dips, and he says, “One of the Wolf Knights I talked to today wants to patch over to our club. We’re definitely discussingthat.”

I blink and sit up, fully awake now. “You just said you can’t tell me club stuff…then told me club stuff?”

He reaches for me, tugging on the ends of my damp hair. “I trust you. Besides, you already know a hell of a lot more than most ol’ ladies.”

Why does my skin tingle when he calls me that? I should be insulted. But I’m not. “Will you get in trouble for telling me that?”

He cocks his head, still watching me with that unreadable expression. “No.” He hesitates. “But don’t tell anyone club business that I share with you. Not even the other women. Every brother decides for himself how much he shares with his ol’ lady.”

“Okay.” I turn that over for a few seconds. “Do the other ol’ ladies knowmyrole…what I’ve done to help the club?”

A few beats of silence pass. “Hope probably does.”

“Ahhh, that makes sense. I felt like she was trying to see inside my skull at Teller’s wedding.”

Instead of laughing, he nods at my weak attempt at a joke. “She’s a lawyer, so she probably gives Rock advice.”

“A biker taking advice from awoman?” I tease.

His lips curl but he doesn’t even try to deny the sexist reputation MCs have. “The best leaders seek advice from the smartest advisers.” He’s quiet for a few beats. “Charlotte probably knows a lot too. She’s a lawyer but she also grew up in an MC. Grinder’s kind of old school, so I don’t think he’d involve Serena in club business.” He clears his throat and glances away.“Unless he had to. Dex hasn’t asked to patch Emily yet, so he probably doesn’t share with her.” He shrugs. “I don’t know.Itrustyou.”

“Thank you.” I yawn and he rubs the top of my head again. “Let’s get some sleep. You have another busy day.”

“Oh, are you going to talk to Cain tomorrow? After church?”

His body stiffens, the air shifting around us as if all the lovey, romantic vibes have been sucked out of the room. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

Danger. I can sense how much he doesn’t want to talk about this, but it’s too important to retreat now. “I think you should. And I can go with you, if you want. I should be done?—”

“No. Not yet.” He shifts, slipping his arm out from underneath me and turns on his side. Away from me. “Good night, Margot.”

The room falls quiet, except for the random creaks of the old house and the steady rhythm of his breathing.

All right.He’s shared so much with me today. Opened up and allowed me into some deep, dark places in his past that he’s kept locked away for years.

I’ll give him space. This moment of silence.

But I love him too much to let him run from this much longer.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Jigsaw

The cold morningwind cuts through my flannel and cut as I ride through the quiet streets of Pine Hollow.

Margot was still asleep when I left—one arm flung across the bed, golden light spilling over her shoulder. Part of me wanted to stay. But my asshole side won, and I snuck out of the apartment and out the back door like a burglar.

She knew I had church today so it’s not weird that I left. Never mind I’ll be four fucking hours early. At least I didn’t leave a shitty goodbye on a Post-it Note this time. I’ve got that going for me.

I slept like shit. Serves me right for shutting down when she asked a simple question about Cain.

Why am I still being such a coward about this?

When she prodded me to go visit my sister, everything turned out fine. Jezzie and I actually had a good day together. Talked to each other like adults.

Margot’s never met Cain.

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