I nodded slowly. “Quite a group you have here.” I was stalling. I didn’t have an answer for Cameron. Not one that would satisfy his curiosity, and I damn sure wasn’t telling him I was watching my wife.
“Well?” Cameron asked.
“Well, what?” I stood my ground, staring the kid down.
“What’s going on here?”
I turned and found Scribe, one of the Sons of Hell brothers. He looked at me, something crossing his face. Then he looked at the boys.
“Carnage?”
I chuckled at the name. Romeo had tried to warn me about this town and the quirky residents, but until you were here to experience it, no amount of explanation would suffice.
Cameron was quiet; I could see the wheels turning in his head. I imagined smoke billowing from his ears, knowing he’d been thwarted again in trying to get information out of me.
“Just being neighborly,” he said through gritted teeth. Cameron spun around and walked off, his brothers following behind him. One last look from Jamison, meant to be a warning, had me coughing out my laugh out of respect.
“Sorry about Carnage. He—”
“Doesn’t realize he’s not the president yet?”
Scribe studied me, and I added, “I met Skylar earlier at the café, after my first run-in with the kid.” I held out my hand. “I’m Jude.”
“I know who you are, Chasm,” Scribe said, ignoring my hand. “What I don’t know is why you’re here in Rosewood. And why we weren’t notified.”
“Just passing through. I didn’t tell anyone because I wasn’t wearing my cut. I’m just a guy passing through town.”
I knew from the look on his face that he didn’t believe a word I said. I dropped my hand when it became clear he had no desire to shake it.
“How long are you staying?”
“Like I said, just passing through. I’m heading out tomorrow.”
Scribe nodded. “Make sure you do. Otherwise, make sure you see King.”
Scribe turned and walked off, and I glanced at the café again. The women were still there. My eyes sought out Morgan, and I sighed heavily, knowing I had to leave her again.
With one last longing look, I walked back to my truck. My presence here was no longer a secret, thanks to Cameron Montclair. Carnage. I shook my head at the name.
Climbing into my truck, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I knew by heart.
“What’s up?”
“I’m in Rosewood.”
My brother was quiet on the other end of the line. He agreed with King when it came to Morgan. He felt I should have told her I was still alive, but he didn’t get it. He’d never been in love. He would never understand why I had to walk away.
“What are you doing there?”
“I found a file folder in Steele’s office with her name on it.”
“What was in the file?” he asked immediately.
“I don’t know. It was empty.” I leaned back against the headrest and closed my eyes. “I had to check on her; make sure she was safe.”
“Jude...”
“Don’t fucking start, Justin. I heard enough shit from King before I left Nebraska. I’ve already hurt her enough. Pulling her back in...” I rubbed my hand over my face. “We barely survived the war. Making her mine again would put a target on her back.”
