Page 71 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

“Bullshit. I swear, I go dark for a few weeks and come back to this. What the actual hell, P?”

Okay, I like her a little bit more now. He’s gone dark, furious, full of aggression and rage. Unhinged. I shiver. This is the killer you don’t want to meet in a dark alleyway.

“Things are complicated. Tell Father that I’m coming home and not to get excited when I bring ice cream cake.”

There’s a long silence.

“You stupid bastard.”

Pix laughs. “Tell me how you really feel, sweet cheeks.”

I don’t like that at all, but what can I do? I grab Pix by the back of the neck and tow him into the shadows, away from Merle. Divide. Always divide.

Blaze and Sage cross the street and stay there, while Rolly and King vanish with Merle.

“Stay out of this.”

I see movement out of the corner of my eye and turn to watch a curvy woman who is standing all in silhouette.

“Not a chance. We’re family. If you make a mess, then we'll clean it up together.”

Pix closes his eyes briefly. “Everyone’s a target.”

“I’m always a target,” she says tartly. “I look good in red and white.”

Pix laughs. “You do. Okay. Can you shake your tail?”

“Hmm, not sure. I might keep him. Didn’t know we’d end up here together, it’s cozy. Better the stalker you know, am I right?”

“No,” Pix growls out the words, clearly unhappy.

“Time for me to head on out, anyway. I need to go and find a certain alpha who owes me a back rub.”

She doesn’t see the shape of the man that detaches from the trees. Neither does Pix. As I watch, he turns and walks away, leaving her alone on the street. She turns, but it’s too late to see anything.

Who was that?

“He will be pleased to oblige, I’m sure.”

“He will whine and bitch, but he’s got magic hands. Okay. See you later, my friend. Fuck those alphas while you're young and not maimed.”

She hangs up and turns and walks in the direction the man went. I wonder if she still doesn’t know or if she’s just pretending not to know.

Daega hesitates. “We can stay or head out.”

“Stay. Her shadow wasn’t interested in us,” I say dispassionately.

Daega grabs my arm. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Nothing to say or see. He was there and gone. A shape. But he was here for her, not us.”

He dials her number, but the phone goes to voicemail.

“Damn it!”

He turns and looks in that direction.

“Can you find her?” I ask curiously. I don’t actually want him to find her, but the file on Sariah Spring is desperately lacking in information.