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CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Jigsaw

A few days later, I’m pacing the cracked sidewalk outside a rest stop off the Thruway.

“I should’ve just gone to pick her up myself.”

Margot brushes her fingers along my arm, like she’s trying to calm me. “She’ll be here.”

I glance at my phone for the third time in a minute. “They’re close.”

A red Honda slows, blinker ticking, then swings into the lot. The passenger door flies open before the car even stops, and Jezzie jumps out, backpack slung over one shoulder, her grin so big my heart squeezes. Like she’s actually happy to see me.

“Hi!” Jezzie squeals, running so fast, she stumbles over the curb.

I catch her, locking my arms around her just in time. She crashes into me with a grunt and throws her arms tight around my neck. “Hi, Jensen.”

“Hey, kiddo.” My voice comes out rougher than I want it to.

She pulls back, eyes bright, then throws herself into Margot’s arms with even more force. “You came with him?”

“Sure did.” Margot laughs, hugging her back. “I was looking forward to seeing you too, Jezzie.”

“So, I finally get to see your place, Margot?”

“Yup.” Margot tosses me a quick glance. She’d been worried Jezzie might get creeped out, but my sister practically bounces with excitement.

If everything goes the way I hope, we’ll head to Cain’s place afterward. One thing at a time.

She talks nonstop the whole drive to Margot’s. Barely comes up for air.

“Oh my God, I love the new 4Runner,” she says, running her hand over the seat like she’s appraising it. She leans in and takes a sniff. “Still smells brand-new. When’d you buy it?”

“Picked it up yesterday.”

“What’re you doing with the old one?”

My grip tightens on the wheel for half a second. I glance at her in the rearview. I was planning to give the truck to Cain so he had something to run around in besides his crotch rocket. But if Jezzie wants it…“I have a buyer for it, I think. Why? Do you want it?”

She wrinkles her nose. “Nah. Too big for parking where I live.”

I blow out a relieved breath.

“So are we all going to Zips to celebrate Griff’s big win?” Jezzie asks.

“That’s the plan.”

“Did you watch the fight, Margot?” Jezzie asks.

“I did.” Margot half turns in her seat. “Did you?”

“Yeah, some guys Erin is friends with had a big party for it.”

I scowl into the rearview. “What guys?

She flicks the back of my head.

“Don’t mess with the driver,” I warn.

“Sorry.” She sits back and stares out the window. “Jensen?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you remember…” Her voice falters. In the mirror, I catch her glancing at Margot before settling her eyes back on me. “When we drove cross country? When I moved in with Aunt Angela?”

I swallow hard, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “How could I forget?”

“Meeting at the rest stop today kinda reminded me of that trip.” She rolls her eyes. “We stopped at so many, remember?”

I almost choke and drive off the road. We stopped at so many because I was scattering my father’s bones in as many different locations as possible. There’s no way Jezzie knows that, though.

“And you took me shopping,” she adds, softer now.

I nod slowly, not sure where she’s going with this. “Is that a hint you want me to take you shopping again?”

She smiles faintly. “No.” Her gaze shifts to Margot. “Has he told you about where we grew up? On a farm. Very religious parents.”

Margot nods slowly. “He’s told me.”

In a way I’m glad it’s on her mind today. I just don’t know why . “You okay, Jezz?”

She doesn’t answer right away. Just keeps staring out the window. Finally, she nods. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

Half an hour later, I ease into the driveway and pull around to the back of the funeral home.

“Wow, this place is huge,” Jezzie says. “You really live here?”

“My whole life,” Margot says. “I have an apartment on the third floor now.”

“Okay, this is actually amazing.” Jezzie steps out of the truck, staring at the house. “You could like film a whole creepy mini-series here or something.”

“Jezzie,” I warn.

“What? I mean it in a good way. It’s a whole vibe. It’s giving haunted but elegant.”

Margot chuckles. “I like that.”

We head inside. Jezzie slows down just inside the back hallway, eyes scanning everything like she’s stepping into a museum.

“Whoa,” she murmurs. “It’s even cooler inside.”

After a quick tour of the upstairs—everywhere except the prep room—we stop in the kitchen.

“Want something to drink?” Margot asks, already opening the fridge. “We keep refreshments down here for clients.”

“Sure. Water’s great,” Jezzie says, eyes still roving over the dated kitchen.

“I’ve got cookies and brownies too.”

“Oh, yum. Yes, please.”

We settle at the small table in the corner.

Neutral ground.

Margot said the house should be empty today. Paul might be home but unless Jezzie and I get into a screaming match, it should be fine.

Jezzie tears into a brownie while I try to remember how to breathe.

Margot leans against the counter, watching us. Jezzie turns in her seat, raising an eyebrow at Margot. “What’s up. Why do you two—oh! Are you guys getting married?”

Margot ducks her head with a laugh, brushing her hair behind one ear.

“Not yet,” I say.

Jezzie blinks. “Wait, what? I thought you never wanted to take a wife.”

I bite back a smile. Sometimes she still slips into those antiquated phrases.

Jezzie finishes the brownie and grabs a chocolate chip cookie, biting into it like a little savage. “So, what’s with the weird faces?”

I rub my palms over my thighs. The words are right there, but they catch in my throat.

“I have something I need to tell you,” I say.

She freezes, mid-chew, then slowly sets the cookie down. “Are you sick?”

“No. Shit—no. Sorry. It’s not like that.” I glance at Margot. She gives me the smallest nod, like she’s willing me to go on. “At least, I don’t think it’s bad.”

Not anymore.

Rip off the Band-Aid. Just say it.

“Cain came and found me.”

Jezzie’s whole body goes still. Her breath catches. Eyes wide, locked on mine.

“Cain?” she whispers.

I nod.

A dozen emotions flash across her face—shock, disbelief, something like hope. “Really? How is he?”

“Uh, okay. Good.”

“How’s his mom?” she asks, picking up the cookie again, though she just holds it now, forgotten in her hand.

“She actually passed away.” I hesitate. “That’s why he wanted to find me… us.”

“Shit.” Her voice drops. “That’s awful.”

I nod slowly, giving her space, watching closely. Waiting to see where she wants to go with this information.

She sets the cookie back down. Doesn’t look at me.

“Where is he now?”

“Not far. I’ve got him set up in an apartment.” My thumb taps against the side of my thigh. “Friend of the club found him a job. He’s planning on sticking around and going to school here in the fall.”

Silence stretches between us—heavy but not angry, yet.

“Did he ask about me?” Her voice is so soft I barely hear it.

“Yeah. He… asked about you right away.” I clear my throat. “He wants to see you.”

She finally looks up, eyes shining, jaw tight, like she’s holding back a flood of memories. “I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.”

I nod again, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “Yeah, I know.”

That had been my plan back then. To forget he even existed.

“Is he mad at us?” she asks, voice cracking on the last word.

“I don’t think so.”

She frowns, maybe considering how much I’ve revealed. “You got him an apartment? And a job? How long has he been here?”

My chest tightens. There it is.

“Not long,” I say carefully. “Couple weeks.” I cough and glance at Margot. Couple months.

Jezzie leans back in her chair and stares at me.

“A few weeks ?” Her voice doesn’t rise, but her disbelief hits hard. “And you’re just telling me now?”

“I wanted to wait until your semester was over.” I shift in my seat, the words thick in my throat. “And I wanted to make sure… he wasn’t dangerous.”

She lets out a short, bitter laugh. “Oh my God. Are you kidding? He’s like the shyest, sweetest kid?—”

“He’s not a kid anymore.”

Her mouth opens—ready to fire back—but nothing comes out. She clamps her lips shut, nodding slowly, breathing hard through her nose. Her eyes go glassy again, jaw working like she’s chewing through anger and heartbreak all at once.

“It’s not an excuse.” My voice scrapes up from somewhere low and ragged. “But I’ve never forgiven myself. For leaving you there. For what our father…” I can’t even say the words. I swallow hard. “For what he did to you.”

“Jensen.” She lets out a strangled sob. “But you…saved me.”

“I should’ve done it sooner.”

“But you were…shit, you were younger than I am now.” She frowns, blinking fast. “Wow, I really need to get my act together.”

A muffled laugh huffs from Margot.

Jezzie shakes off the moment of self-reflection. “I never blamed you. I was just thankful you got me out of there.”

“Yeah, but then you were mad at me for leaving you with Aunt Angela?—”

“No, I wasn’t.”

I blink and stare at her.

“I was mad you didn’t stay there with us.” She shrugs. “I thought we were going to all live together. I realize now, that would’ve been weird for you and her. But I was mad you wanted to live with a bunch of bikers instead of us.”

It’s a subtle difference—but it changes everything.

I glance over at Margot. No smug I told you so in her expression—just soft eyes, glistening with tears. She brushes them away and gives me a quiet, wobbly smile.

A chair scrapes over the tile and Jezzie approaches me slowly. I stand and pull her into my arms. She sniffles against my chest.

“Were you really worried Cain was a threat?” The words are muffled against my shirt, but I make them out. She tips her head back. “He used to hide under my bed when it rained.”

I rumble with laughter and squeeze her tighter. “Like I said, he’s not a kid, anymore. He’s still kinda shy. A little mouthy. Resourceful.”

“Can we go see him?”

“Yeah, let me see if he’s around.” I release her and pull out my phone.

“Wait, you didn’t tell him I was coming today?”

I hesitate. “No. I didn’t want to…get his hopes up if you didn’t want to see him .”

“So…you were trying to protect both of us?”

“I guess.”

“I love you, Jensen. You’re a good brother. Even if you’re a pain in my ass sometimes.”

“Right back atcha.”

Instead of wasting time texting, I dial Cain’s number.

While the phone rings, Jezzie approaches Margot and gives her a hug. “Was this your doing?” she whispers.

Margot shakes her head.

Cain answers. “Bro, who still calls people, like ever?”

“I do,” I growl. “Are you home?”

“No, but I’m headed there in like ten minutes.”

“Great, you mind if I meet you there?”

“Yeah,” he answers cautiously, like he’s hopeful. Fuck, I really have been neglecting this kid. “Sure.”

“I’m bringing someone with me who really wants to see you.”