Page 122 of The Echo of Violence

“Now, now, boys. Play nice. I’ll be pissed if you make me have to shoot you. It’s a nightmare to get blood off these floors.”

“So violent,” I tease, tugging her to me.

“Head out back. Knight, you can help me carry shit out. You all want beers?”

We all grunt out yes except for Jinx, who shouts out for a Dr. Pepper. Toto follows along happily as we make our way outside.

“Wow, your yard is amazing. Great for parties.”

“If only she didn’t hate people so much,” Nico says.

“I don’t hate people. I just find most of them annoying. Well, except for peppy people. Those I hate. I just want to knock all the sunshine and rainbows out of them by taking a chair to their faces.”

“Ah, you are such a ray of psychotic sunshine.”

I sit on one of the outdoor sofas and pull Jinx down with me. Splinter sits on the other side of her as Rex and Knight walk out carrying bowls of salad and bottles of beer.

“So, a prospect, huh?” Rex takes a seat after handing Jinx her Dr. Pepper.

“Yeah. I’ll admit it surprised me too, but I don’t hate it.”

“Such a ringing endorsement. You forget I was a prospect. I remember how much fun that shit is.” Rex laughs.

“Guess I’m just made of tougher stuff than you.”

“You always were, buttercup.” He grins, leaning back.

“You serious about this?” Nico asks from his spot near the grill.

“Yeah. I wasn’t sure at first. I took it because I like Mercy, and I thought me and her could be really good friends. But after today, I know I was supposed to do this for however long it lasts.”

“Your first instinct was to call the club.” Nico takes a sip of his beer.

Jinx winces but nods.

“Good. That’s how it’s supposed to be. I have no doubt you’ll put all the other prospects to shame. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“Careful is my middle name.”

“I thought it was Lucifer,” Rex says, ducking when Jinx throws a cushion at him.

“I take it you guys are done trying to talk her out of it now?”

“Seems our girl is a wee bit stubborn. We’re just going to ride it out. We can always spank her ass red if she’s too reckless.”

“I approve of this idea.”

“Hey, I’m right here, assholes.”

I lean in and nuzzle her neck, making her shiver. “We know. Now, if you promise to be our good girl, you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Her face flushes, and her nipples pebble against her shirt. My dick goes from soft to hard in a nanosecond before a cough makes us both look up to see Nico glaring at us.

Rex’s smile is wide. “You are all fucked. She will drive you to drink, and they’ll drive you to homicide. This is going to be fun to watch. I need popcorn.”

“Nico, Rex is picking on me.”

Nico sighs as he looks at me. “She’s a pain in the ass, but you’re gonna love every second of it.”

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