Page 43

Everyone—even Grinder—bursts into laughter.

Butcher steps up and slaps Dex’s shoulder. “So, your brother here was just telling us how he met his ol’ lady because he was stalking her.”

“What?” I laugh.

“That’s not what I said.” Dex throws a punch at Butcher’s boulder-sized bicep.

Ravage leers in Margot’s direction.

“Margot, you’ve never told us exactly how you and Jigsaw hooked up.

” He ambles over to us, grinning like a kid in a candy story with a credit card and no adult supervision.

“Did he ask you out?” Rav wiggles his fingers in my face, and I slap his hand away.

“And you looked at his junkyard dog face and thought to yourself, ‘yeah, this seems like a smart life choice?’”

A sharp flare of anger flashes in her eyes. Brief, but I catch it. Margot’s as protective of me as I am of her.

“Well, actually.” A heavy edge of sarcasm wraps around her words.

“My last relationship was so desperately unsatisfying. When I met Jigsaw, I found him so physically appealing, I asked if he’d be so kind as to tutor me in the fine art of sex.

” She tilts her head and stares up at me from under her lashes.

“He’s an excellent teacher. I couldn’t help falling in love with him. ”

Cold shock seizes my body. Did she just basically lay out our origin story in front of my brothers?

Somehow, I follow Margot’s lead and keep a straight face.

She spoke the truth in such an absurd way, no will know it’s the truth, right?

Ravage blinks, his mouth hanging open for a beat before he throws his head back and laughs like a drunk donkey. “See, now I know that’s false.”

Laughter spreads through the group like a slow burn. I exhale, the knot in my gut loosening—everyone assumes she’s joking.

Except Dex, standing off to my left, his heavy gaze zeroed in on me.

At first, I can’t decipher the weird expression on his face. Then it hits me. The dumb, awkward convo I initiated when I was worried about “tutoring” Margot.

Dex has too much tact to ever say anything that would embarrass Margot, so I’m not worried he’ll ask me about it in front of everyone.

The double doors sweep open. Suds holds one side and Grip the other, the two of them standing at attention like two gruff doormen for royalty.

“Thank you,” a soft, familiar voice says.

“Ladies.” Suds dips his chin as Trinity, Hope, and Emily step outside.

I don’t normally pay attention to what the ol’ ladies are wearing, but I shouldn’t have been worried. Margot fits in well tonight.

Trinity strides out first, in a knee-length, body-hugging royal blue dress with black beading around the plunging neckline. Don’t-fuck-with-me attitude radiating from her rigid posture and calculating eyes.

Emily follows, more reserved in a light purple dress with lines of silver sparkling things down the front that emphasize her generous rack while still hiding all the goods.

Hope emerges last, and for a second, I think she’s wearing nothing but some strategically placed flowers. Up close, I catch the illusion—bright red roses embroidered into sheer nude mesh. Riskier than what I’m used to seeing her wear, but somehow, she makes it look elegant instead of suggestive.

No one will mistake any of them for muffler bunnies and not just because they’re all wearing property patches.

“Looking lovely tonight, ladies,” I say with my most charming smile.

Hope leans in, brushing a quick kiss on my cheek. “Good to see you, Jigsaw.”

Then she wraps Margot in a more informal and enthusiastic hug that plucks any reservation I had about tonight out of my chest. “I’m so happy you were able to join us tonight, Margot.

” She pulls back, holding Margot at arm’s length and giving her a warm smile.

“It’s your first time visiting Downstate, right? ”

Margot nods quickly, her lips curving in a shy smile. “I’ve been looking forward to it ever since Jigsaw invited me.”

Rock and Wrath step out, Wrath stopping to give Suds shit.

“Jigsaw.” Rock nods at me, then shifts his attention to Margot. “Good to see you again, Margot.”

“Thank you,” she says softly.

Hope curls her arm around Margot’s shoulders. “Can I borrow you for a moment?”

“Uh, sure.” Margot’s gaze pings between Hope and me but Hope gently guides her over to Trinity and Emily.

With Lilly absent tonight, Hope seems to be stepping in as the unofficial queen of Downstate’s castle. Normally, Lilly would be the one out here greeting guests. Seeing Hope take her place, calm and composed but clearly on duty, drives home just how messy this whole situation is.

For the first time ever, all the complications caused by where we stick our dicks prickles at my conscience.

Why the hell didn’t we host Stella’s celebration somewhere else tonight? Rent a ballroom, a hotel suite, hell, an abandoned factory with decent lighting and enough parking. We throw enough money around, someone would’ve looked the other way while we did our dirty deeds.

But I’ve been in the MC world too long to kid myself. That’s not how it works.

Besides, it’s not like Z left Lilly home alone.

He ain’t here either. He’s doing the presidential thing by lettin’ Stella have her moment, while sending her a clear message— congrats, enjoy your moment, I’d rather be home with my wife .

A silent—but effective—fuck off. Some of the brothers will probably hassle Z about it later.

But I respect him more for putting his wife above club protocol bullshit.

“Hey, Rock. Shelby still in there?” Rooster asks, lifting his chin toward the clubhouse.

“She’s filming a thing with Serena for her channel.” He holds up his hand, mimicking someone recording with a phone.

Grinder joins us. “Serena had a whole ‘glam look’ in mind for Shelby.”

Rooster snickers into his hand. “I love that Grinder’s saying ‘glam’ now.”

Laughing, Grinder elbows Rooster’s side.

Rock’s lips twist with amusement as he casts an affectionate glance at his wife. “Hope said she wanted no part of the filming, although I think Serena tried to talk her into it.”

Still chuckling, Grinder nods at me. “Pretty sure she might try to talk your girl into a video.”

I glance over at Margot. She’s slipped into her professional pose—head up, hands clasped in front of her, attention focused on whoever’s speaking. The same way she carried herself at Whisper’s funeral. Maybe she’s not as at ease here as I thought she’d be.

Tearing my gaze away from Margot, I focus on Grinder. “I know she was looking forward to picking Serena’s brain about makeup-y stuff.”

Wrath stalks up behind Grinder and attempts to hook his arm around his neck. Grinder’s hand shoots out like a rattlesnake, grabbing Wrath’s wrist mid-air. “Nice try, fucker,” Grinder says.

Wrath grins, then points at me. “See? Situational awareness.”

“One of these days, I’m gonna sneak up on you and choke you unconscious, big guy. Just wait,” I warn.

“Never gonna happen.” Wrath grins. “But I look forward to your weak-ass attempts.”

Rock, Grinder, Wrath, and Rooster start talking about our last trip to Deadbranch. I’m listening but not really adding to the conversation, when someone taps my shoulder.

I turn to find Dex who jerks his head to the side. I follow him a few feet away from the group.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“I feel like I’m gonna regret it if I don’t ask,” Dex says. “And probably regret asking if I do.”

“You got a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation brewing, Dex?” I ask, already anticipating what’s about to come out of his mouth.

“You could say that. Is Margot…the woman you wanted to help ‘gain confidence’ and ‘teach some skills’ to?” He frowns. “Why’d you say she was a virgin?”

“That’s not quite what I said.” I raise my hands in a helpless shrug. “Besides, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He nods slowly, like he’s proud of me for keeping the details to myself instead of bragging like a lot of guys would do. “She just told all your brothers she loves you. I’m impressed you didn’t run screaming down the road.”

I drop my cocky smile. “Brother, I’m so fucking in love with her and also wildly obsessed with her.”

Dex snorts. “A little healthy obsession’s good for the soul. With the right woman, anyway.”

“I think you’ll find joy in knowing that she calls me out on my bullshit.”

His lips twist with amusement. “Those must be some fun conversations.”

“They’re both terrifying and arousing.”

Dex presses his hand over his mouth like he’s trying to keep something from escaping—amusement or disbelief, it’s hard to tell. His shoulders shake once before he drops his hand. “You worried partying with porn stars might be too much for her?”

“You heard how she pulled a knife on Dee-Dee at the bonfire, right?”

“That seals it. She’s definitely the right woman for you.” There’s nothing but approval, maybe even admiration, in his tone.

“I think so too.”

“Good.” He reaches out and slaps my shoulder. “Gonna make it official?”

“In due time.” He’s been so helpful, I figure I owe him the same. “Are you worried about Emily partying with the porn stars?”

“I warned her ahead of time.” He shrugs. “After Swan and some of the other dancers pulled their crap, I think she can handle Stella and her crew.” He holds up both hands. “And I never had any serious ties to any of these women.”

A twinge of guilt pokes at me. I could’ve been more welcoming to Emily when they first got serious. “That situation with Swan get any better?”

He tips his head side to side. “I don’t think they’ll ever be besties, but they’re civil. For now.”

“Swan’s tight with some of the other ol’ ladies. That causing any tension?”

He opens his mouth, then hesitates. “I don’t know,” he finally says. “She hasn’t said so. Serena was her best friend before Grinder or I came along. So, they’re fine.”

“Maybe we should swap charters,” I joke.

Dex gives me a long stare like he’s trying to decide if I’m the dumbest motherfucker alive—or a fucking genius.

MARGOT