Page 68 of The Echo of Violence

“Is he for real?”

“Unfortunately, yes. He and Scooter should get along fine. Here, he’s all yours now, Jakey. Have fun.”

“Oh no. You need to fill out paperwork, and shit, you shot him.”

“He shot himself. Guilt, I think, after shooting me. Right, Scooter?”

Scooter looks at me before his eyes drift to Jinx. “Yeah. It was me. I shot myself.”

Jake looks at him incredulously before shaking his head. “Let’s just get out of here. This place is a shithole.”

“Careful, Jake. You won’t always have me around to hold him back.”

Jake takes in Jinx’s grip on my arm before swallowing. “Whatever.” He yanks Scooter away and shoves him into the back seat of the truck.

The guy in the passenger seat climbs out and moves to climb in beside him. He glances over the roof of the truck and looks between us both. “You good, Jinx?”

“Yeah, just peachy.”

He nods, climbs in beside Scooter, and closes the door as the asshole with the attitude gets back in the driver’s seat and slams the door. He tears away with a squeal of tires, and I look at Jinx with a cocked brow.

“That’s your backup?”

“My guys are on another job. Thankfully, I rarely have to deal with Jake and all his douchery.”

There is an awkward moment of silence between us as I take a step back and look her up and down. She bites her lip and stands taller, like she’s waiting for me to say something dickish.

“Come on. Scope will be waiting. After you’re done with him, we need to talk.”

“We, who?”

“You, me, Eightball, and Knight.”

“Oh, yay. Maybe afterward, I can get a root canal.”

“Sounds kinky.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Jinx

All that’s missing from my walk to the room they use for church is the death march music. Toto pads along beside me, waiting for his next command. I had to leave my weapons in the car, but they let me bring Toto in—their mistake. Toto is deadlier than anyone gives him credit for.

Splinter knocks when we get there. When the voice yells for us to come in, he opens the door and reveals a large oval desk where Scope sits, with Wizz and Kaz on either side of him.

“You can go,” Scope dismisses Eightball, who doesn’t look happy, but he knows better than to argue with his president. His hand squeezes my shoulder as he leaves and closes the door behind him.

“Take a seat.”

I walk over and sit in the chair closest to me. Toto lies down on the ground beside me.

“What kind of dog is he?” Scope leads with—surprising me.

“Cane Corso. I’ve had him since he was a puppy.”

“You train him yourself?”

I nod.

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