“Well, hello there,Bonesie,” she spits the nickname like venom, eyes locked on Viv. I notice her nails digging into Bones’ arm and almost wince. Those claws are lethal.
“Who’s this? Care to introduce us?” she asks, voice sugar-laced and fake as fuck.
Bones doesn’t flinch. He shifts, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, dodging those nails like a pro.
“Vivian, meet Temperance. My woman. Temper, this is Vivian. She’s gonna help us deal with our little snake infestation. Old friend of Ghost’s.”
Viv looks at Temperance like she’s seeing the Universe crack open right in front of her. “Shit. You’re Elyna,” she breathes, eyes wide.
“This guy,” she says, jerking her chin at Bones, “made me look for you all over the damn country years ago.”
She turns to me. “Shit, Ghostie, I thought you were bullshitting when you said he found her. How the fuck did you get around WITSEC?”
I shrug. She narrows her eyes.
“You’re not gonna tell me,” she mutters. “Damn you.”
Then she looks at Temperance, who’s watching her with careful confusion.
“Nice to meet you, El—well, no. Temperance now,” Viv corrects herself, smiling. “Hell of a disappearing act.”
Temperance lifts a brow. “Wasn’t good enough, clearly.” She tilts her head, eyes narrowing. “What’s with all theBonesieandGhostieshit?”
“She likes to be annoying,” I cut in, wanting to end this circus. “It stopped working after the millionth time, Viv.”
I turn and nod. “Let’s go.”
“I texted Myth. He’ll be here in a few,” Bones says as he drops into his office chair. “Until then — ready to join the club yet?”
Viv smirks. “Your club isn’t ready for me.” She leans back. “What the hell would I be doing in an all-male biker club anyway?”
“That wouldn’t be a problem and you know it,” I grunt. “We already put it to vote. Door’s open.”
She glances at me, then sighs. “If I joined the Vultures, Ghostie, I’d lose half my clients, minimum. That’s a given.”
“You wouldn’t need them,” Bones says, voice firm. “We’ve got the cash. Enough jobs to keep you busy. Security. All of it.”
She smiles. “Sounds sweet on paper. But I like calling my own shots. Always have.” Her face twists in mock-horror. “Plus, one woman surrounded by that many dicks? No thanks.”
“Had to try,” Bones shrugs with a grin. “If you ever change your mind, offer stands.”
She nods, suddenly sober. “Appreciate that.”
Then she leans forward, eyes flicking from him to me. “Now, I heard you picked up an interesting new recruit. Pretty. Italian. A little too clean-cut to be playing biker.”
“Yeah,” Bones says slowly. “We did.”
Viv breathes deep. “You might want to give him a heads-up. There’s a bounty on his head. Big one. No one’s taken the job yet, his last name scares them off. But someone dumb enough is bound to try.”
“Fucking Luca Romano,” I mutter. “Of course he comes with problems.”
Viv’s expression sharpens. “His brother’s a jackass too. Might be a family trait.”
I narrow my eyes. Her tone? Way too personal.
An hour later, Viv and Myth have everything they need. No doubt they’ll move fast.
I head for the stairs, already bracing for the nightmares. That room’s still a goddamn wreck. I haven’t stepped back in since the shitshow with Adora this morning.
