Twist the Knife - Page 178

“Because you mentioned visiting Downstate. I don’t want you to think I’m hiding anything. I want you to visit there. I just want to warn you what you might encounter.”

“Your home charter,” I say, the words feeling unnatural on my tongue.

“Yes.” He smiles as if he’s pleased I remembered that, then his expression turns serious. “Girls like to sometimes…haze ol’ ladies? Tell them tales about…”

“Your wild, swinging bachelor days?”

“Yeah.”

I work that out in my head for a few seconds. “So, you’re trying to politely tell me that if I visit your clubhouse, there is a high probability that some random woman—or many random women—will introduce themselves by telling me that they’ve fucked you at some point? Is that what I’m supposed to infer from this roundabout conversation?”

He bites his lip and nods.

My stomach rolls with disgust. But that’s unfair. He’s thirty. Of course he’s slept with other people. I’m more jealous that they were actually having good sex and I didn’t know how good it could be until I met Jigsaw.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to thank them for teaching you”—I wiggle my fingers in front of his body like I’m weaving a magic spell—“to be so talented at all the sex stuff.”

He chokes on a laugh and shakes his head. “I don’t know what to say to that. But standing your ground is usually the best approach with them.”

“If your club loves and respects ol’ ladies as much as you claim, why do you let the…muffler bunnies…harass them?”

“We don’t let them. If they get caught disrespecting an ol’ lady, they usually get tossed out and told not to come back.” He shrugs. “But…it’s not always that simple.”

“Okay.” I’m liking the idea of visiting his downstate clubhouse less and less.

“I’m not saying it will happen for sure. I just want to warn you.”

“Okay.” I sit up and slide to the end of the bed. “Just remember, if anyone messes with me.” I glance over my shoulder and catch his eye. “Or if any of those girls try to touch you in front of me.” I narrow my eyes so he understands how serious I am. “Don’t forget, I’m used to carting dead people around.” I flex my arm muscles. “I’m stronger than I look. And I know how to dispose of bodies.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Jigsaw

Margot is the most exciting and terrifying woman I’ve ever known. So hesitant and concerned about running into girls from my past one minute. Then stone cold the next, reminding me she knows how to dispose of bodies.

Absolutely intoxicating. My perfect woman.

Adorable too, because I can’t picture her hurting a fly. She’s too sweet. Too sensitive to ever hurt someone. All that means is I need to keep her close and protected when we’re at the clubhouse.

“I’m not taking more shifts at Crystal Ball either,” I announce.

She tilts her head and sits on the edge of the bed next to me, tucking her leg up so it grazes my side.

I rest my hand on her knee, sliding my thumb over her satiny skin.

She’s quiet, waiting for me to elaborate.

“I’m not saying I’ll never have to work there again. But I didn’t volunteer this week when Dex asked.”

“Why? Don’t you lose money then?”

Dex, or the club really, pays me well for those shifts. But I didn’t factor that into my decision. “I make money with the club other ways. It’s not a big deal.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“I know.”

She bites her lip. “I don’t want you to be mad at me later.”