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CHAPTER EIGHT

Jigsaw

Rooster and I roll through the gate into Upstate’s clubhouse yard just before two. The lot’s already full—bikes lined up along the fence, a few trucks and SUVs parked near the garage, and Dex pacing in front of the garage like a junkyard dog looking for an ass to chomp.

After we shut off our bikes, Ravage pops out of the garage. That must explain Dex’s pinched expression.

“Look who finally dragged their asses here,” Ravage yells when he sees us. “Was starting to think you two joined the circus.”

“Not when my favorite clown’s right here,” I shoot back, flipping off my helmet.

Dex walks over and gives each of us a quick embrace. “Thank fuck you’re here. He’s encroaching on my territory.” He waves one hand toward the garage.

Aw, shit. I should’ve stopped by Downstate’s clubhouse to see if anyone needed anything. At least pretend I’m doing my actual road captain duties.

“I was helping ,” Rav says, joining our circle.

“Welcome back,” Rooster says to Dex. “How was your trip?”

“Good. We had fun.” His lips quirk. “Libby didn’t burn down the house while we were gone.”

“Can’t ask for more than that.” Rooster lifts his chin at the clubhouse. “Everyone inside?”

“Fuck no.” Dex laughs. “Rock, Wrath, Z, and Murphy aren’t even here yet.”

I glance past Dex and run my gaze over the line of SUVs. “Grinder here?”

“Yeah. He’s in the dining room with Serena.”

Murphy and Teller pop off the path from the woods. Murphy lifts a hand and waves.

“You didn’t run your ATV up here?” Rooster shouts to Teller.

Teller shakes his head and jerks his thumb at Murphy. “No, Charlotte and the twins are at his place with Heidi. I drove them up.” He nods to a ridiculously oversized blue SUV.

“You went with the Escalade?” Rooster asks him.

Teller nods. “The smaller one. Not the ESV.”

“Small?” I snort. “It’s the size of a school bus.”

Teller cocks his head and inhales a slow, patient breath. Kinda similar to the way Rock does when he’s thinking of choking one of us. “Two kids and all their shit take up a lot of space.”

“Jiggy doesn’t need to worry about that.” Rav holds out a fist toward me. “We have a no procreating pact. Right, brother?”

I hold out my own fist and tap his knuckles lightly. “I don’t remember agreeing to that, but whatever.”

Everyone stops and stares at me.

“Awww, you and Margot would have cute little babies,” Murphy jokes with a doofy grin on his ginger-bearded face.

My jaw locks shut. No snarky comeback slips onto my tongue. Margot’s so patient and calm. She’d be such a good mom.

“Shut your mouth.” Rav points a finger in Murphy’s face. “Just because you’re trying to spawn an entire football team, doesn’t mean Jiggy has to abandon his commitments.”

Murphy rolls his eyes and slaps Rav’s hand away. “Whatever.” His gaze lands on me and he frowns. “You all right, Jiggy? You look like you’re gonna hurl.”

I swallow hard. “I’m fine.”

“Oh, shit.” Rav’s eyes widen. “You didn’t knock Margot up already, did you?”

“It’s getting really disturbing how obsessed you are with everyone’s procreation plans,” Dex says.

“I’m not obsessed .” Ravage tugs on his cut and lifts his chin. “I’m concerned .”

“It’s weird ,” Murphy says.

I clear my throat and gesture toward Teller’s new ride. “Does Charlotte like it? Did you make her get rid of that sweet Raptor?”

“Make her?” Teller scoffs. “No. She loves that truck. I wouldn’t ask her to trade it in.” His shoulders shake with laughter. “She said she wanted something bigger, but she hasn’t wanted to drive this yet. It’s ‘too big’.”

“Why?” Murphy glances at me. “You finally want to upgrade that busted-up 4Runner of yours?”

“Don’t talk shit about my truck,” I snap. “That ol’ girl’s got more miles on her than you do.”

“Doubt that,” Ravage snarks. “What’s wrong, Jiggy? Why so touchy today? Margot dump you already?”

“Shut up ,” Rooster growls.

“Wait, hold up.” Ravage’s gaze swings between Rooster and me. “Did she? I got twenty bucks ridin’ on this with Stash.”

“For fuck’s sake, seriously?” Teller groans.

“Dude.” Murphy grimaces. “You’re betting on his sex life? That’s weirder than you commenting on our family planning.”

“No,” Rav says defensively. “I’m betting on whether or not he comes to his senses.”

“Do you ever stop running your mouth?” Rooster gives Rav a quick shove.

Christ, brother. Could you be more obvious? I shoot Rooster a knock it off look.

“Margot’s actually a cool chick.” Rav touches his fingertips to his chest. “I just don’t get what she sees in Jigsaw .”

That actually pulls a laugh out of me. “You and me both, brother.”

At least that finally seems to help everyone move on from my love life.

And to further distance everyone from asking about Margot, I nod to Teller’s Escalade again. “So if you needed more room for the kiddos, what made you pick that monstrosity instead of a minivan?”

“Charlotte said no to a minivan.” Teller rubs a hand over his jaw, eyes glinting with amusement. “Ground clearance isn’t high enough.”

“Because you do so much off-roading?” Rav deadpans.

We all ignore him.

“It’s probably overkill.” Teller shrugs, smug as hell. “Six hundred eighty-two horses, tows like eight thousand pounds, electronic limited-slip diff. Not exactly a normal grocery-getter.”

“No.” Dex shakes his head. “It’s a souped up dad-wagon.”

“When are you even going to use half that shit?” Rooster asks.

“I didn’t even do any mods to it yet,” Teller continues, ignoring both of them. “It’ll haul a trailer, a double stroller, all the baby gear, and,” he tips his chin at me, “still outrun your 4Runner.”

“I should hope so.” It probably cost twenty times what my 4Runner’s worth.

“Anyway,” Teller says. “It even has a little fridge in the center console. That’s Charlotte’s favorite thing about it so far. She’ll get used to driving it eventually.”

“What’s the fridge for? To store breast milk?” Ravage asks with a straight face.

Teller whips a glare at him.

“Someone wants to die today,” Dex sings under his breath. “Painfully.”

“Can you let the grownups talk?” Teller says to Ravage.

Murphy clamps his lips together tight, trying to hold in his laughter. It’s useless. His shoulders start shaking.

Teller scowls at him. “What’s so funny?”

I glance at Rooster and Dex—both grinning like assholes.

Finally, Murphy can’t hold it in any longer. “Wrath’s right. You do sound exactly like Rock’s mini-me.”

“ Can you let the grownups talk ?” Dex mimics in a deep voice. “Is classic Rock. Just sayin’.”

“ What were you saying?” Rock calls out as he steps out of the woods with Wrath and Z behind him.

Dex flashes an unapologetic smile at his president. “Your son’s stepping into the Papa Bear role real nice.”

“That right?” Rock hooks his arm around Teller’s neck and hugs him to his side. “What were you saying, knucklehead?”

Hell help me. I love when Rock puts Teller in his place.

Rav’s slowly tiptoeing away from our group toward the clubhouse.

Wrath catches up to him and slings his arm over his shoulders, spinning him around and back to our group. “Yeah, what was being said, Rav?”

“Uh…” Rav flicks his gaze around the circle, seeking support. Any other day, I might throw him a bone, but the breast milk comment was one too far, even for me, so today I keep my mouth shut.

“Nothing.” Rav points to Teller’s SUV. “Teller was sharing some details about his new ride. Jiggy wants to buy one.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Nah, if I spend that much on a vehicle, it better jack me off and tuck me in at night.”

Murphy snorts.

“It’s time to upgrade that 4Runner,” Wrath says, releasing Rav and sending him stumbling forward.

“Why is everyone picking on my vehicle today?” My eyes widen with outrage, and I hold my arms out wide. “Are we a motorcycle club or a truck club?”

“No one’s picking on your vehicle, Jiggy. We live in an area with brutal winters. You need something reliable,” Dex says. “I think that’s what Wrath meant.”

“No, I meant it’s a rust bucket.” Wrath shakes his head.

“Well, we can’t all be like you guys,” I wag a finger at Murphy and Teller, “collecting vehicles like you’re gettin’ ready to film your own The Fast and the Furious spin-off.”

Murphy chuckles. “No joke. My car insurance bill’s starting to look like another mortgage.”

“Well, I’m ready to buy Heidi’s little SUV from you whenever you want to sell it,” Dex offers.

Murphy nods. “I’ll bring it out to the track for her to test drive. Just let me know. It’ll be a good car for Libby while she’s going to college.”

“Wait?” Rav’s eyes bug and he frantically slaps Dex’s arm. “You’re buying a car for your ol’ lady’s little sister ?”

Dex presses one finger to his lips. “Shhh. Grown-ups are talking.”

“All right.” Wrath claps his hands together. “If you’re done strokin’ each other’s tailpipes, let’s make our way to the table. We have things to discuss.”

“Finally,” Rock mutters, following Wrath inside, their boots thudding over the wooden steps.

Z stops me at the bottom of the stairs with a hand on my chest. “Everything all right with you?”

“Yeah, why?”

“With your brother?” he asks in a low enough voice not to be overheard.

I could strangle Cain for going to Crystal Ball looking for me. “I think so.”

“Where’s he staying?”

“At a hotel right now. He hasn’t really said if he’s planning to stick around or not.”

Z studies me for a moment, then flicks his gaze over my shoulder—probably clocking Rooster standing guard at my back.

“Look, I don’t know your whole family history.

” His mouth curls like he just bit into something rotten.

“I’m sure it’s as wholesome as the rest of ours.

And I only met him for a few minutes, but he seemed like a good kid. Little lost. But eager to see you.”

He got all that from five seconds with Cain?

“Yeah, I just don’t know why . We…didn’t grow up together. I met him once when he was like seven or eight.” I clear my throat and glance away. “That’s it.”