Collect the Pieces (Lost Kings MC #25)

Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Margot

Rooster and Jigsaw remain in the background until the guests are gone. As soon as the last person leaves, I slip off my heels, allowing my throbbing toes to sink into the carpet in the parlor.

Jigsaw unfolds his big frame from the antique sofa. Restless energy seems to course through him as he shakes his arms at his sides and rolls his head from side to side. “What can we do to help you finish up here?”

He already rescued me from Daniel’s annoying presence. I can’t ask him to do more. And I really can’t ask Rooster to pitch in. “It’s okay. I can handle it.”

“We’re not asking .” Rooster stands and claps his hands together in a loud pop . “Come on, point us in the direction of the heavy lifting.” He lifts his arms in the air like he’s eager to bench-press something substantial.

“The heaviest item has already been carried out.” I walk my fingers through the air toward the back door.

Rooster winces as he seems to realize I mean the casket .

I sigh from exhaustion and the nagging voice that says I’m taking advantage of them.

“We’re not going anywhere.” Jigsaw leans in and whispers against my ear, “And the sooner you finish, the sooner I get you all to myself tonight.”

I flick my gaze toward Rooster, then back to Jigsaw. “You can at least let me make you guys dinner before you send Rooster packing.”

“I think you’ve done enough work today,” Jigsaw says. “We can go out, or I’ll order something.”

“Okay.” My gaze bounces around the parlor. “I usually clean up in here last. Follow me.” I turn and cross the hallway into the viewing room and point to the dais. “The flowers need to be moved into the kitchen. We’ll store them in the cooler in case the family wants to take them home tomorrow.”

“On it,” Rooster says.

I step toward the stand holding the guest book. “I need to put this in the office.” I gesture toward the small, narrow door in the back corner of the viewing room. “There are cleaning supplies in there.” I give him a list of things to wipe down while I run down to my father’s office and take care of some paperwork.

A few minutes later, Jigsaw taps on the open door. “What’s next?”

“We can leave the chairs for now.” I close my eyes briefly, running over the list my father left me. “I think that’s it. I just need to lock the doors.”

Jigsaw leans into the hallway and gestures wildly toward the doors. “Lock those!”

“Got it!” Rooster shouts.

I shut the computer down and stand, stretching my arms over my head and yawning.

“Long day?”

“It was…a lot.” I don’t want to bring Daniel up again, but I think Jigsaw understands.

He holds out his hand. “Come on. Let’s get dinner.”

“Ugh.” I glance down at my stodgy outfit. “I need to change.”

Rooster’s waiting outside the office with Jigsaw. “You guys can come upstairs.” I glance up at Jigsaw. “Maybe Gretel would like to meet Rooster.”

Jigsaw chuckles. “Okay.”

Rooster frowns in confusion.

“Oh, you didn’t tell Rooster you hijacked my cat?” I tease as I head for the stairs.

“I didn’t hijack her.” Jigsaw laughs. “She just has good taste in humans.”

Jigsaw

Rooster follows slowly behind me.

I turn and stare at him a few steps below. “I’m not gonna ask you to join us for a three-way, bro.”

He snaps his head up and frowns at me. “Maybe I don’t want her dad pissed if he finds us both up here.”

“Dad really doesn’t venture up here that often,” Margot calls down. “As for any other concerns, Jigsaw’s already more than I can handle. Besides, I like Shelby way too much to invite you into my bedroom.”

Rooster’s eyebrows shoot up and he lets out a deep rumble of laughter. “Christ, you two are perfect for each other,” he mutters.

I hurry up the last few stairs and wrap my arms around Margot’s waist as she punches in the code to her apartment. “Am I too much for you?” I ask against her ear.

“I love every…” She lowers her gaze and her lips curve into a playful smile. “Second.”

We push into the apartment, and Rooster follows us inside.

“I made more cookies after you left.” Margot points to the kitchen. “And brought a plate up just for you. They’re in the fridge.”

In between tending to a busy service and dealing with her ex, she somehow found time to set aside cookies for me? “Thank you.”

“I’m going to change.” She squeezes my hand. “Help yourself to anything you want. There’s coffee in the cabinet above the coffee maker.”

“I got it.” I glance at Rooster and nod to one of the stools at the counter.

Margot hurries into her bedroom and I head into the kitchen in search of the cookies.

In the fridge, there’s a small black-and-white plate stacked with chocolate chip cookies and covered with plastic wrap.

“Get in my belly,” I sing to the cookies as I flip the cover back and grab one off the plate, stuffing it in my mouth.

“They’re so good,” I mumble, spraying crumbs everywhere.

I plop the plate on the counter in front of Rooster. He lifts an eyebrow.

“What? You like cookies.”

“Yeah,” he answers slowly, reaching for one. “I don’t sing to them, though.”

He takes a bite and nods approvingly. “So, are we going to talk about that guy?” He keeps his voice low. “What’s the deal?”

Cookie chunks lodge in my throat. I cough and take a sip of water. “I don’t know.”

“Better find out. He seems like a real asshole.”

I don’t want to share my suspicions when Margot’s only a few rooms away. “No shit.”

Gretel scurries into the kitchen and lets out a loud, “Mwraar” as she twines herself around my legs.

“Hey, girl.” I bend down to pick her up and she purrs so hard, her sleek, fuzzy little body vibrates against my hands.

Rooster stares at me like I’ve grown an extra head.

“What?” I turn the cat toward him. “Gretel, don’t be scared. He’s all doodle-do and very little cock-a.”

Gretel head-butts me and rubs her head against my chin as if she agrees whole-heartedly with my nonsense joke.

Rooster reaches out a hand, letting it hover in the air. “Can I pet her, or will she attack me?”

“I don’t know.” I walk around to the other side of the counter. “Let’s find out.”

“She hasn’t attacked anyone, yet!” Margot calls out from somewhere down the hallway.

“That’s reassuring,” Rooster mutters, eyeing Gretel with suspicion. He hesitates, then slowly extends his hand. The cat gives it a cautious sniff before rubbing her head against his fingers, purring louder.

“Gretel approves,” I announce loud enough for Margot to hear.

He pets her for a few seconds, and then she returns to rubbing her head on my chin.

He huffs. “Do you sneak her extra treats or something?”

“Don’t be jealous.” I shrug and set Gretel down. “I’ve always told you females of all species find me charming.”

Rooster rolls his eyes. “Margot’s such a saint.”

Yes, but I’ve taught her how to be a good little sinner.

He glances around the apartment, his gaze skipping over the long bookcase taking up an entire wall. “This is nice up here.”

“Were you worried I was spending all my time in the cold room downstairs?” I glance over my shoulder and lower my voice. “With the bodies?”

He pauses for a few too many beats. “No.”

Somewhere in the back of the apartment water rushes from the shower into the tub. I force myself not to salivate and hunt Margot down in the shower. Instead, I grab another cookie off the plate and set it on a napkin, then break off a piece. “Where do you want to grab dinner?” I pop the piece of cookie in my mouth, savoring the sweet, chocolaty chewiness.

“I don’t have to tag along to dinner with you two,” he protests.

“Bro, I’ve literally third-wheeled it with you and Shelby multiple times. Across the country.” I spin my finger in the air like a bus wheel. “Shared tight quarters in the RV.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“You can at least have dinner with us.” I pull my sad puppy face and lower my voice again. “Then I’ll ride home with you.”

“Why?” He frowns. “I figured you’d be staying here.”

“Don’t want you riding home alone.”

He stares at me, a completely puzzled expression twisting his big, bearded mug. “You know I’m a grown-ass man who rides by myself all the time, right?”

“Yeah, but it’s late. You’re not used to these roads the way I am.”

“You mean the giant highway that runs from here right through Empire and downstate? What are you worried about? This is all our territory now. There’s no issue flying colors here at night or any other time.” He grabs a cookie and chomps it in half.

Crumbs fly off his fingers as he munches on the cookie. I pick up a napkin and hand it to him.

“You seem awfully cozy here,” Rooster says in a low voice, making it hard to figure out if he’s pleased or concerned by his observation.

Gretel leaps onto the end of Margot’s chaise lounge and meows loudly.

“Sorry, are we ignoring you, girl?” I walk over and rub my knuckles over the top of her head. She purrs louder and leans into the petting.

“Ahh, is this where you snapped the picture of Wrath’s book?” Rooster asks, moving closer to Margot’s bookshelf.

“It’s not Wrath’s book.” I scoff. “It’s a book his chin to navel happens to be on the cover of.”

“Whatever.” His lips quirk. “Did you tell Margot?”

“No, I’m waiting to see if she puts it together.”

“Puts what together?” Margot reappears, wearing purple jeans and a bright black, purple, and pink sweater that hangs off one shoulder. Her long hair now flows loose and freely over her shoulders.

“I was saying, you have a really nice place here.” Rooster quickly changes the subject.

“You didn’t think I lived downstairs with our clients, did you?” Margot teases.

Rooster’s lips twitch into a guilty smile. “Not exactly. As we were coming up all those steps, it brought Cinderella in the attic to mind.”

I chuckle because I’d had a similar thought once upon a time.

Thankfully, Margot isn’t insulted. She beams at Rooster.

Gretel chirps with impatience and thumps her front paws against Rooster’s leg. He jerks back, then smiles down at her and gently scratches behind her ears.

“Gosh, I had no idea she was such a little hussy,” Margot laughs, wrapping her arms around me. “She’s hidden from every other person who’s been in my apartment besides Jigsaw.”

Gretel hops off the chair and rubs herself against Margot’s leg, then throws herself on the floor and rolls onto her back, showing off her tummy. Margot squats down to pet Gretel for a few seconds. Then Gretel springs up and hurries into the kitchen, stopping to turn her head as if she’s checking to see if Margot’s picking up the hint or not.

“Oh, someone’s hungry. Give me a minute.” Margot returns to the hallway and Gretel races after her.

“She has like a theater room and kitty city down there.” I point in the direction where Margot just disappeared.

He nods once. “You want to go to Remy’s place for dinner? Kill two birds and all that?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“I’ll head home from there.” His lips curl into a smirk. “Then you don’t have to worry about me riding so far alone, Dad ,” he finishes with a sarcastic head bob.