Everyone tenses, thinking they’re going to have to throw themselves at Hangman to keep him from killing me.
“Eventually, yeah,” I say blandly. “And don’t you think you’re being a little over the top? She’s not worse than X.”
Reaper gets insulted on behalf of his girlfriend. “Selkie’s pretty much worse than everyone. Even Hangman.”
Hash doubles over in laughter. So do King, Zero, Reaper, Trigger and Rocky. Coyote smirks and Stark covers his mouth to hide his grin.
Joker is the only one not amused. “Asshole,” he says to Reaper. “We were just getting Hangman under control.”
“Fuck you,” Hangman says to Reaper. “And fuck you too,” he says to Joker. “This is me under control.”
He has a point.
Hangman slumps in his chair and covers his face as he shakes his head. When he looks up, it’s at me. “Tell me you’re fucking with me.”
“I’m not,” I reply, trying for my stony look, but Hangman looks so demoralized I can’t help but feel for him.
“No,” his says as he thumps his fist on the table. “No. No! No!! I can’t take this! We’re being invaded by the pussy brigade. And the bounty hunter, she’s gonna bring us all down. How do you know she’s not an inside agent?”
I snort. “Selkie, an inside agent? She’s the worst bounty hunter I’ve ever seen.”
“She has no subtlety,” Stark says.
“And doesn’t know how or when to shut up,” Rocky adds.
“And her kid’s just as bad,” Joker says. “Henri would betray her mom in a heartbeat.”
“Are you guys done?” I snarl.
Hash shakes his head. “She tried to kick me in the nuts.”
The room settles down. “What’s wrong with that?” Trigger asks.
Chapter Forty-Four
Selkie
Eight looks like he’s been to hell and back as the guys come out of the meeting room.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Nothin’,” he replies. “I told Hangman you and I were together permanently and he shrugged it off.”
I lift the corner of my lip. “That’s bullshit. You should get that room soundproofed. A deaf person could’ve heard him shouting.”
Hash shoots Selkie a narrow glance then walks outside.
“I think he’s afraid of you,” I murmur.
The kids, who arrived while Eight was in church, are eyeing us with varying expressions of curiosity.
Eight looks at them, then me. “We should go, get them home. Henri and Oscar probably need to pass out.”
It’s true. They’re both sitting on the couch, Brielle between them, quiet as rocks. Henri yawns.
“Yeah,” I agree. I look at my watch. “Fuck, we didn’t get my car out of impound. And now it’s closed.”
Eight shrugs. “We’ll get it out tomorrow.”
