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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Jigsaw

The serial killer face people always joke about must be working overtime. Bikers, porn stars, hangers-on—they all part like I’m Moses storming through the damn Red Sea. No one meets my eyes. Even the drunkest hangarounds flinch and stumble back, giving us space.

Good.

I keep my arm clamped around Margot, her body close to mine, guiding us through the noise, lights, and sweat-slick chaos of the common room toward the back hallway.

She’s trembling.

Every step we take, she stiffens—like she’s bracing for an attack.

My stomach burns.

Grinder slips out of one of the side rooms—eyes scanning the room for trouble. He spots me barreling toward him and throws up both hands like he’s trying to calm a wild animal.

“Whoa, slow down. What’s wrong, Jiggy?”

Margot clings tighter to my side, like she’s trying to crawl under my cut for safety or hide herself from everyone.

Grinder’s gaze drops to her. “Margot, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She pulls away from me just enough to lift her chin. Her voice comes out too calm and flat. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

A disapproving, but somehow gentle, scowl settles over his face. Grinder reads people too well. He knows she’s lying and putting on a brave face. “Are you sure, honey? You were all smiles and cheer a few minutes ago,” he coaxes.

Margot shrugs, shrinking into herself. No more words. Just a slight shake of her head.

The creases between Grinder’s brows deepen, and there’s nothing gentle about the scowl he turns on me. His arms cross over his chest, biceps straining his sleeves, eyebrows lifted in a what the fuck did you let happen to her glare. All of it demands an answer. Now.

I don’t flinch away from his silent judgment. I deserve it.

“Bonnie, Nikki, and Amanda need to be thrown the fuck out,” I seethe. “They were in the kitchen last I saw.”

He jerks his chin in a sharp nod. Doesn’t ask questions. Doesn’t need to. Grinder knows I’d never make that call without a damn good reason.

“Anyone else?”

I rake a hand through my hair, pressure building behind my eyes. There were other girls in there, but I didn’t recognize them. Those three were the ones specifically in Margot’s face. “I don’t think so.”

“All right.” He settles his concerned dad eyes on Margot again. “You all right, sweetheart?”

“I’m fine. Just tired.” Her voice is thinner now. Faded. She tilts her head, peering around Grinder. “Can you tell Serena I’ll talk to her in the morning? You guys will still be here, right?”

“We’ll be here for breakfast,” he confirms.

“Okay.”

I don’t wait for another word. I keep my arm tight around her waist and lead her down the hall. Past the guest rooms. Past anyone still watching. I don’t care.

I slam into our room and close the door behind us. My heart’s thundering. My chest’s tight. My jaw aches from grinding my teeth.

Gripping Margot’s arms, I search her body for any signs they hurt her.

“Did they touch you? What happened?” My voice comes out sharper than I mean it to. “Jesus, you were gone for less than five minutes.”

Her lips part, but no sound comes out. Her eyes are wide and shiny with unshed tears.

From the confrontation? Or from me yelling at her?

Calm the fuck down.

Deep breath. Try again.

“Margot, baby—hey.” I lower my voice and reach for her again, gentler this time. “I’m sorry. Please. Tell me what happened back there?”

She sniffles, then breathes deep. She lifts her chin and stares at me. Something seems to shift in her. Her eyes aren’t filled with tears anymore. They’re wary. “Well, for starters, they all seemed eager to tell me how much you enjoy rough sex.”

A sharp, unhinged bark of laughter explodes out of me. “What?”

Her mouth flattens into a tight, humorless line. The weight in her stare pins me to the floor, like she’s dissecting me with her eyes, searching for a truth she’s scared to find.

I scrub my hand over the back of my neck, trying to shake the unease crawling up my spine.

She’s dead serious and staring at me like she’s trying to puzzle out whether I’m the man she thought I was—or someone entirely different.

They must’ve told her some fucked-up shit.

“Is that true?” she asks quietly. “Are they telling the truth? Because… that other girl said something similar at the bonfire.”

Is it? I don’t think so. There are only one or two women in my life I actually cared about pleasing. Felt comfortable enough to let my guard down with.

The rest? A release. A fun time. Boredom chaser. I never wanted to be seen or understood by any of them, so I just fit myself into whatever version of “Jigsaw” they wanted. Played the role. Got them off. Got myself off. Got gone.

So if that’s what one of them was into… maybe?

Yeah, no way in hell do I want to explain any of that to Margot.

“I’m not stupid.” Her voice is steady but soft. “You had a life before me.” She arches a brow. “A very active life with lots and lots of variety, apparently.”

That stings like a motherfucker. Not because she’s wrong. But because those jealous little vipers threw it in her face to hurt her. And I wasn’t there to stop it.

She tucks her hair behind one ear and almost smiles, but it’s fragile. “I know when I first asked you to…help me, I said I just wanted basic instructions.” Her lips form a weak smile. “No master-level sex classes.”

My chest squeezes and I groan. “Margot, we are so far past sex lessons now.”

“Yes. We are,” she whispers. “I want you to be yourself with me.”

The rawness of her voice curls around me in an almost physical way. Barbed wire wrapped in satin.

She’s not angry.

She’s scared I’ve been holding back. That I don’t trust her enough to give her all of me.

Fucking hell, why can’t I be better with words? Why can’t I explain how perfect she is for me? How with her, I feel whole for the first time in my life.

I reach for her, curling my hand around the back of her neck, grounding both of us. “I’m exactly who I want to be when I’m with you.” That’s a truth I feel deep down in my bones. “I like who I am with you. Who I am because of you.”

She stares up at me like she wants to believe every word.

“I love you,” she says, her voice strong and sure. “but I want you to be…happy. Not feel like you’re missing out or you have to hold back.” Her lips tremble into a brave smile. “I’m a sturdy girl. I can take it. Teach me anything you want.”

Fuck, the brave way she says that hits me hard—like she’s offering me some sort of weapon and daring me to use it.

But what she’s implying leaves me…unsettled.

“Margot.” I tip her chin up, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “I don’t know what those evil little bitches told you, but I don’t enjoy hurting my partner to get off. Never have.”

She frowns, still unsure.

The weight of what I need to say turns my tongue to lead.

I swallow hard and force the words out. “I’ve survived enough beatings and punishments in my life. Nothing about hurting someone I care about does it for me.”

Pain flickers across her face and it damn near guts me.

I can’t breathe seeing that ache in her eyes.

I shift her in my arms, curling myself around her from behind. My arm sweeps over her chest and pulls her tight until her back is pressed to my front.

That’s better.

She wiggles, trying to turn around again. But I slide my arm around her waist, trapping her in place.

Leaning down, I brush my lips against the curve of her ear. “Have I ever given you the impression I have trouble asking for what I want from you?”

“I don’t think so,” she whispers.

I gather the hem of her dress in one hand and slowly drag it upward, the fabric whispering against her thighs until my knuckles graze soft skin. “Aren’t you always saying how demanding I am?”

She laughs softly, her breasts jiggling with the movement. “I think the word I’ve used is bossy .”

“Same difference.” I trail my lips along the side of her neck, enjoying the way her chest rises and falls faster. “So if there was something I wanted to do with you…” I pause, kissing just below her ear. “Don’t you think I’d say so?”

“I guess.” She hesitates. “Unless you thought I couldn’t handle it.”

“Margot, there is nothing I want to do with you that I think you can’t handle.” I close my eyes and tip my head back, searching for the right words to end her fears for good. “Please. Whatever those girls said? Put it out of your mind. It has nothing to do with us .”

Finally— finally —the tension melts from her body. She rests her head against my chest. “Okay.”

“I’m sorry this happened again.” Sorry doesn’t begin to cover it. Furious and murderous are much closer. “I’m angry at myself for not protecting you better. Fuck, I was only ten feet away.”

“It’s weird,” she whispers. “I can’t imagine someone coming up to me and saying such horrible things anywhere else. But in your world, that’s common?”

I swallow hard. “Unfortunately, it happens more than it should.” Her words sink deeper, and I gently turn her to face me. “Wait. What other horrible things did they say to you?”

She fiddles with the snaps on the edge of my cut and won’t meet my eyes.

“They were sort of specific about your past interests…rough sex, ass play, hair pulling, threesomes. One claimed you fucked her so hard, you bruised her spleen.” She frowns and purses her lips.

“But I don’t think that girl actually knows where her spleen is located. ”

Her gaze lifts, eyes shining with wicked intent. “I was going to use my knife to show her, if she didn’t shut up.”

My eyes bug. I choke on a laugh. Jesus. Only my girl would say something like that…and mean it.

I’ll fight every one of my brothers on this if I have to, but those three bitches are never setting foot in this clubhouse again.

“They all seemed to agree on your love of threesomes with…Steer?” She frowns since the name isn’t familiar to her. “So that offer Stella made…is that something you’d want to do? Not the filming it part but…”