Page 88 of Bitter Truths

“Inside,” he barks, and I frown but stomp back up the steps and lean against the wall inside the door.

“What’s going on?” Griffin demands.

“Nothing you need to worry about, white bread. Go on back inside before you get into more trouble than it’s worth.”

“Is that right? Or maybe you can get the fuck off my property,” Griffin says roughly.

“Boy, you don’t know who you’re messing with,” Patch says.

Simultaneously, I hear Max plead, “Griffin . . .”

“You need to fucking leave now. And by the way, my home is monitored by cameras 24-7, so I’ve got all your fucking faces in living color. You come near me or mine, and you’ll regret it.”

There’s an extended pause before Patch says, “See you around, Max.”

“What’s going on?” Aaron says behind me, and I jump, turning and burying my face in his chest.

“What’s wrong?” he asks as Griffin steps through the door and barks, “My room, now.”

Pulling away, I follow Max down the hall, enter Griffin’s room, and stop by the bed. No one says anything to Aaron, who’s standing beside me, and he doesn’t look particularly interested in leaving as Griffin closes the door.

Griffin looks at me with a ferocious scowl before pinning his burning gaze on Max. “What the fuck is going on?”

Flinching, I gaze at him warily because he’s so furious, and I don’t blame him, but poor Max looks sick to his stomach. I’m not sure it was his intention for Patch to come looking for him.

“I’m sorry. I thought it was over,” Max says, his face unnaturally pale in the low light.

“But?” Griffin says.

“I was wrong. They’re telling me I still owe them.”

“Why?” I whisper.

“Because they can do whatever the fuck they want,” Max says, rubbing his forehead wearily.

“Dad paid them, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then how can you still owe them?” I ask, huffing out a breath.

Max was doing so well, and it can’t be good for him to be pulled back into this mess now.

“Because they’re fucking criminals,” Griffin says harshly.

“Griff—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“No.” He slashes his hand through the air. “Did you see the way that fucker looked at you?”

Shivering, I step into Aaron’s chest, and he wraps his arms around me. Griffin’s gaze drops to Aaron’s embrace, and his eyes darken before he turns away with a grunt.

“What do we do?” I ask.

“Nothing,” Max says heavily. “This is my fault, and I’ll figure it out.”

“No! No way. Those guys are bad news. You could get hurt.”

“Hals,” Max says softly, “you can’t help me with this, and Griffin is right. Patch has always been interested in you.”

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