Page 31 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

“Are you hurting, Boo? I’ll fuck them up. I don’t care if they are related.” Meg growls and makes a whining sound.

I sniff.

“Don’t cry!” Meg says and starts to sob. “You’ll get me started.”

“I’m not crying, it’s rain.”

“Oh, my god, he can’t even realise his own feelings. It’s tragic.”

“Meg!” I snarl.

“I love you, Pixel, you are my bestest bro. Forever and ever. There will always be a place for you in our bed.”

“Meg,” Desi protests.

“Our baby needs us, Desi. He needs his mummy and daddy.”

“Oh, God,” Rory gags. “Nope, that’s not a picture I needed, ever.”

“We can make him feel good.”

“No, we can’t!” Desi says.

“Babe, wait,” Cyn protests. “I don’t think you need the grenades.”

“Pix is crying,” Bonnie says in a low voice.

“Oh, well, RIP King. It was good to know you. I’ll pay for the funeral.”

“Oh, you are a good alpha,” Bonnie purrs.

“Dinner and a show,” Meg says happily, suddenly without a tear in sight.

Kota hums. “Who is there, Pix?”

“Roseland, Blaze, Sage, Rolly, and King.”

There’s a frigid silence.

“Did you say Blaze is there, with the other three?”

“Yes.”

“Desi step on it. We’re probably too late, but we might be able to talk to him before he tries to kill us.”

“Who?” I snap.

“Shit,” Kota says, drawing the word out. “There really is no way to reason with Blaze.”

I start running faster, suddenly feeling hunted. What don’t I know about them?

“Do a drive-by. I’ll jump in,” I say urgently. I just need to get out of here.

“Gotcha,” Desi says sharply.

Ten minutes later, I see the car. I race for it. The car accelerates, then starts making a sharp U-turn. I run for the back door when Desi slams the car to a stop, completely abandoning the drive-by plan.

My scalp prickles, and I lift my head and see Blaze standing in the middle of the road in a white kimono with a gun leveled at the car.