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CHAPTER NINETEEN

Jigsaw

A few hours later, I jump out of Rooster’s truck, boots landing in the grass with a thud.

“Thanks for the ride.” I shut the door with a solid thud.

Rooster and I left our bikes upstate, so I hitched a ride back with him and Shelby.

From here, I’ll grab my truck before heading out to meet Cain.

Figured it made more sense to have something with cargo space in case he needs stuff for the apartment.

If he even wants to stick around.

After being cooped up in a cage for so long, I need to stretch my legs and breathe in some fresh air. I walk to the edge of the woods, studying the heavy growth, searching for a trail through the trees.

The crunch of leaves behind me can only be Rooster.

“You ever think of cutting some trails through here? Like they have upstate?” I ask.

“You want to buy some four-wheelers and go tearing through the woods like we used to at Boone’s?”

No, I want to chase my girlfriend and mount her like a bear, but I don’t think you want to have that conversation.

“Yeah, sure.” I glance over at him. “You still have that app that shows the aerial view and property lines?”

“Yup. Why?”

Because I don’t want to wander onto someone else’s land when I’m stalking my girlfriend and ripping off her clothes. What’s with all the questions, brother?

Rooster has a decent amount of acreage here but it’s nowhere near the amount Upstate has. “I don’t want to end up dropping trees on someone else’s land.”

He pulls out his phone, slides his finger over the screen until he pulls up the right map, then passes it to me. I study the boundaries and markings, then lift my head, staring at the terrain around us. “Can you send me a few screenshots?”

“The property’s marked.” He lifts a slow, sarcastic finger and points at the bright orange POSTED: Private Property sign nailed to a tree about fifty yards away. “You helped me put up the signs.”

“Yeah, but still.”

“All right” he mutters, sliding his fingers over the screen. “Why do I get the feeling you’re up to something more…nefarious?”

Rooster and I share a lot of things, but I’m not about to explain my newly discovered outdoor sex kink to him.

My phone dings several times. I check the photos. “Thanks.”

“You planning to hunt the property?” he asks. “I’ve caught a few big bucks on the trail camera.”

Trail cameras. Fuck. I’ll have to make sure we avoid those. “Yeah, maybe.” I glance at his phone. “Where do you access the trail camera pics? Your phone?”

He frowns at me. “Yeah, why?”

“Just wondering.”

“Are you planning to run naked through my woods or something?”

Or something. I struggle to keep my expression blank.

“Maybe. It’s supposed to help you connect with nature and Vitamin D synthesis,” I manage to say with a completely straight face.

His jaw drops and his scowl deepens. “What the fuck ever. Deer ticks are everywhere down here. Don’t come crying to me when you need one pulled out of your wrinkly ball sack. I ain’t doing it.”

I double over laughing and rub my crotch. “Jesus Christ. Why’d you have to say that . Now I’m gonna have nightmares.”

“That’s what you get for puttin’ the image of you runnin’ around with your cock out in my head.”

Still shaking with laughter, I can’t come up with a response. Finally, I wipe tears from my eyes and tuck my phone away. “Thanks for that.”

He glances at his watch. “Are you done stalling? Aren’t you supposed to meet your brother? You’re going to be late.”

That’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Distracting myself. Delaying this meeting. Rooster knows me too well. “Yeah, I need to change and get going.”

“If you need me, call.” He pats my back, turns and heads toward the house. “Good luck.”

I wait until the door shuts behind him before heading around to the side entrance that leads to my apartment.

The second I step inside, the silence hits me.

All my shit’s exactly how I left it—not that Rooster would ever invade my privacy.

But something feels...off. Still. Too quiet.

Like it doesn’t belong to me anymore. Just four walls and a mattress to crash on when I’m passing through.

I strip off my clothes, take the fastest shower known to man, throw on something clean, and hit the road.

I can’t avoid this any longer.

Time to meet my brother.

The kid I forgot about for too long.

The one who reminds me of everything I’d rather leave buried.