Twist the Knife (Lost Kings MC #24)

A sharp frown creases his brow and he almost seems…disappointed?

“No.” He pulls me down next to him again but I keep some distance so I can see his face. “I’m going to be away for a week or two. The whole club’s going to be away, actually. Well, except Teller. So if you need something, call him. He’s sticking around because his wife’s going to give birth to those twins any day now.”

“Awww.” My stomach flutters. “How sweet. Are they excited?”

“Yeah, I think so. Teller’s more…anxious. Constantly fussing over Charlotte.”

“I can understand that. She must be so uncomfortable. Then when they get here, twins will be a handful. Do they have help?”

He snorts, his lips curling into an affectionate smile. “Yeah, whole club will be helping them out. Probably won’t leave them alone. Grinder and Serena have had Lilly at their house practically every day since baby Lincoln got here.”

“That’s really sweet.”

He lifts one shoulder.

I bite my lip, hesitating before I tentatively rub my hand over his chest. “So, what’s this big club trip for?”

“Uh, the old president of another charter passed away.” He shifts his gaze, as if the topic weighs heavily on him. “He’d been a member for a long time.”

Working in the death business hasn’t made me immune to grief yet and sympathy tugs on me. “I’m so sorry.”

Jigsaw doesn’t offer any stories about the man, or even his name. The silence that follows suggests this visit is more about club protocol than true mourning.

My concern grows and my hand rubs faster against his shirt. “Will you be safe?”

He studies me with an intensity that quickens my pulse. “Yeah. Dex and I mapped out our route. It’ll be a couple of days of long, hard riding but it’ll be good for the club to be out on the road together. We’re meeting up with our Virginia charter, so we’ll get to catch up with those guys too.”

Just how many charters of his club are there? All the googling in the world wouldn’t provide those kinds of details about the Lost Kings MC. “Are your…the ol’ ladies of the club going too?”

“No.” He shakes his head, his expression turning serious. “Lot of different clubs and some tension in that area. Everyone thought it was safer to have them stay home.”

“So, you came over to give me one last lesson before you hit the road?” I try to keep my tone light, but fear that we’re done drags my voice down.

“Not at all.” He rests his hand over mine, stopping my restless movements. “I’ll be back. I’m not planning to stay and party. Just paying my respects and coming home as soon as my prez gives me the all-clear. Dex will want to get home to see his girl, too, so I’ll probably end up riding back with him.”

My breath catches. Does he realize what he just said? Dex will want to see his girl too. Does that mean Jigsaw considers me his girl that he’d want to hurry home to see?

I swallow hard, the question dancing on the tip of my tongue. No, do not ask him that. Not after the way I seemed to spook him last time.

Instead, I snuggle closer. “I’ll miss you.” The words slip out before I can stop them.

The hand over mine travels up my arm, his touch firm and reassuring. “I’ll miss you too,” he rasps, like he’s admitting something he isn’t ready to say.

Sleep tugs at the edges of my consciousness again, even though my mind’s racing with my plans for the next few weeks. It feels more urgent to make my move now.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he whispers, breaking the silence.

“We’ll continue our lessons, right?” I ask, hating the pathetic hopefulness in my voice.

His body stills and he’s silent for a beat too long. “Yeah,” he answers slowly, his tone now smooth and casual. “We’ll pick up where we left off.”

“Was this lesson two-b? Or lesson three?”

He lets out a rough laugh. “I don’t fucking know.”

Doubt coils around my heart. I should’ve kept that question to myself. He leans over and presses a quick kiss to my forehead, lingering for a moment like he’s inhaling me. “Get some sleep.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX