Page 93 of The Echo of Violence

Jinx turns around and addresses the room. “Since I haven’t gotten my cut yet, I’m still technically a civilian, which means I can still speak my mind—”

“Fuck you, cunt.”

I lunge for Boomer, but Jinx blocks me with her arm. “Oh, what’s the matter? You have some mommy issues, Boomer? Didn’t she love you enough? Or maybe she loved you a little too much, huh?”

Now Boomer lunges for Jinx, but Knight gets to him first and holds him back.

“I can’t believe you’re all this intimated by a pair of tits,” Jinx huffs.

I try to reason with her. “Being a prospect is dangerous.”

“So is being a bounty hunter. Hell, some of you were here when I got shot. It happens. Just because I have a pussy doesn’t make me a pussy. I have to admit, I’m feeling pretty underwhelmed by the whole thing right now. I expected more from you all. But I guess that’s on me, not you. Don’t worry. I’ll stay out of your way as long as you stay out of mine. All I care about is keeping Mercy safe.”

“We don’t need you to keep her safe. We have—”

“Shut up, Marlin,” Kaz snaps.

“How many of you have been on Mercy’s detail when she’s been shopping?” Jinx asks softly. Nobody answers, but I know many of us have, including the prospects. “Now, how many of you go into the changing room with her? Or the restrooms, for that matter?”

There is some uncomfortable shifting, but again, nobody says anything.

“You have a blind spot in your security. A blind spot that could cost your president and his brothers their old lady. Yet instead of being relieved that we found a solution, you’re stuck on the fact that I don’t have the Y chromosome?” She says it with such disgust that I look at Scope to see his reaction.

“I’m here for Mercy and Mercy only. You don’t have to like it. Hell, you don’t even have to like me, but you will respect your president’s decision.”

She turns around, giving the room her back.

“She raised a really good point, but instead of admitting she’s right, you’ll just hold your ground out of pride. Pathetic. Jinx, congrats on becoming our newest prospect.” Scope winks at her.

Wizz walks out from the back with a vest and prospect patch in his hand. He cuts through the crowd. His eyes are angry, but he keeps quiet until he reaches Jinx. He holds the vest out for her to slip on before tapping her shoulder. “Congrats, Jinx. Welcome to the family.”

“Thanks, Wizz,” she replies before accepting a hug from Mercy and a wink from Kaz. Scope looks her up and down before offering her his hand.

I can feel every eye in the room looking this way, but she doesn’t let it faze her. She stands tall with her shoulders back before offering him her hand in return.

He grins before letting go and tugging Mercy into his arms. “Now, your first job as a prospect is to grab me a beer.”

After what she just said about only being here for Mercy, I expect her to snap at that. But she nods, turns, and sashays to the bar, cutting a path through the brothers, ignoring them all. She grabs three beers and a bottle of fruity cider that Mercy likes, opening all the bottles quickly before carrying them back over, two bottles in each hand.

“Not good at following instructions, huh? He only asked for a beer, sweetheart,” Boomer sneers, but Jinx just walks right on past him.

She hands one to Scope. “As requested.” Then she passes the other two beers to Kaz and Wizz. “For giving me a chance.” They both take them with a nod of respect as she turns and hands Mercy the cider. “Because you look like you need a drink even more than I do.”

Mercy cracks up laughing before grabbing the bottle and taking a big swig. “Swoon. You already know my favorite drink. Do you want to go steady?”

Scope pinches her ass, making her squeal.

“I pay attention, that’s all. Besides, I think you have your hands full already.”

“Yo, prospect, get me a beer,” Boomer’s voice shouts out.

My hands tighten into fists as I glare at him, but Jinx simply heads back to the bar and grabs another beer before popping it open and walking over to Boomer. She offers it to him, but he swings his arm up and knocks it forward, spilling beer all over the front of her white tank top.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Knight grabs him, but Boomer just smirks.

“Accidents happen. My bad.” He stares at Jinx, daring her to say something else.

But she just places the bottle on the table before sliding her new cut down her arms. She hangs it on the back of the closest chair, making Boomer laugh.

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