Page 75 of The Echo of Violence

“Why do I need to talk to the guys?” Mercy narrows her eyes, but Jinx laughs at her.

“Don’t get pissy at me. You’re the one with three alpha bikers. You can’t be surprised when they dick-slap you with all their testosterone.”

Mercy dissolves into fits of giggles before standing up. “Fine, I might as well get it over with then. That gives me plenty of time to manipulate them with the good stuff if I have to.”

“There’s the spirit.”

“You gonna be okay here?” Mercy looks around, her eyes falling on our table.

“We’ll keep her company, Mercy. No worries.”

Mercy points as she walks toward me and stabs her finger into my chest. “Be nice, or I’ll make a pair of earrings out of your balls.”

“You’re mean.” I pout as she struts away.

I walk over to the table Jinx is sitting at, sensing the guys following behind me. I pull out the chair beside her, pausing only long enough for her dog to sniff and dismiss me before sitting down. “So, what’s the verdict?”

She frowns at me. “Verdict?”

“Scope let you walk out of there in one piece, so he must want something from you.”

“Makes a habit of hitting women, does he?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“That’s what you meant. Nice opinion you have of your president.”

I open my mouth to argue with her, but Splinter shoves me.

“Not sure what it is, but you bring out the worst in him.”

Ryder places three bottles of beer on the table before walking away without even acknowledging Jinx. I’m not sure if I should congratulate him or punch him.

I take a sip of my beer as Jinx turns to Splinter.

“He’s probably thinking about all the hate sex we could have.”

I spray my beer across the table before glaring at her. “You did that on purpose.”

She laughs. “Maybe. You’re just too damn easy.”

“I can be, for the right person.”

She shakes her head before stealing my beer from my hand and taking a mouthful. She hands it back as she swallows with a grimace.

“Not a beer fan? I doubt we have wine or shit here.”

“I don’t really drink, so don’t worry about it.”

“You don’t drink?” Eightball’s eyes widen like she just told him she likes to shop naked.

“You ever get drunk, Eightball?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“And how’s your balance?”

He looks at her for a moment before realization kicks in. “Shit. I never thought of that.”

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