47. Jasper
47
JASPER
I’m leaning against the wall outside the garage, soaking in the afternoon sun and the scent of fresh-cut grass. And getting the fuck out of that oven of a garage for a few minutes. Though it’s not much better out here with the blacktop reflecting the sun, but at least there’s a fucking breeze.
The world feels weirdly normal, considering the news that broke yesterday. The thought of some psycho running around unchecked has my hackles up. I rub the back of my neck, the tension coiling tighter with each breath. This shit isn’t sitting right with me.
Hawke saunters over, his easy grin in place as he takes a long pull from an iced coffee.
I lean over and shove his shoulder. “You went to the Coffee Shop and didn’t bring me one back, bro? That’s cold.”
Hawke shrugs with a wide grin, unapologetic. “I hung out with one of the baristas a few times this week. She hooks me up with free coffee.”
“Until you hook up with someone else.” I glance at him with a wry smile.
“Yeah, well, they know the score, Jagger, don’t you worry.”
I push off the wall and head back inside the sweltering garage, calling over my shoulder, “I’m not.”
Hawke follows behind me. “You hear the latest?”
I raise an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate. “The serial killer rumors?”
“Yeah, that. Prez is having a field day with this serial killer shit,” he drawls, taking a sip. “Reapers playin’ cops in a town that’s not Rosewood —never thought I’d see the day.”
I snort, shaking my head. “Yeah, well, Avalon Falls PD came to us for help. What else was he gonna do?”
“Nah, he’d never jeopardize our truce,” Hawke says.
“Or turn down a chance to help make sure Rosewood stays safe.” It’s a lot of conjecture right now without all the information. It hasn’t officially been declared a serial killer, despite what Coraline’s ma said yesterday. Could turn out to be one of those one in a million coincidences.
Hawke chuckles. “Still, feels a little weird, you know? Like the world’s gone upside down or something.”
Reapers usually keep to ourselves in Rosewood. We learned that lesson the hard way back when we were in the thick of an attempted hostile MC takeover years ago.
Before I can respond, Hawke pulls his phone out of his pocket, glances at the screen, and swears under his breath. “You’re not gonna believe this,” he says, holding up the phone. “My guy inside the local FBI division just dropped a bomb. They’re taking over the investigation into the murders, and guess what? The two victims found in the park near Carter’s place? Chad Fell and Ernie Slater.”
My stomach drops, and I clench my jaw. “Are you fucking with me right now?”
“Nah, bro. See for yourself.” He hands me his phone.
I read through the text exchange between him and his contact, Ethan, and fuck me. He’s right.
“Fuck.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Hawke says, rocking back on his heels. “But it’s fucking wild, right? What are the fuckin’ odds that they both kick the bucket the same day we fuck ’em up a little?”
“Although,” I muse, tilting my head and handing his phone back. “Now I’m less convinced it’s a serial killer.”
Fell and Slater were small-timers. Two punks working for Falcone, who’s a slightly bigger punk, trying to make a name for himself. But if someone took them out, it means there’s something bigger going on. “Maybe Falcone fucked with the wrong people in his little power trip since his uncle died.”
“Most likely.”
Before we can delve deeper, Rocks pops his head in the garage from the office. “Hey, Jagger, there’s some chick asking for you in here.”
A smirk tugs at my lips, and I head toward the office.
Hawke’s hand lands in my gut with a laughing taunt. “Damn, bro, you got it so fuckin’ bad.”
I grunt and keep walking, flipping him off over my shoulder. “Get some work done, asshole,” I taunt him back.
All thoughts of serial killers and MC politics fall away, my mood lifting at the thought of seeing her. But when I push open the office door, my smile fades.
Naomi, my half-sister, stands in the middle of the office, hands clasped together and a wide smile on her face. “Oh good. I was hoping you would be here today. I thought I knew your schedule, but then you didn’t show up a few days ago, so I wasn’t sure anymore. But it doesn’t matter, because you’re here.” Her words come out faster and faster, and by the end she’s rocking from heel to toe, like she can’t contain her excitement.
I grab her by the bicep and walk her further into the office, closing the door behind me. It takes effort to keep my expression neutral. “I thought I made myself clear last time you dropped by unexpectedly, Naomi.”
“Yes, well, you’re still not answering my texts.” She leans into my touch just as I remove it. “And I don’t think I like being ignored. Not from you.” She bats her lashes at me like some kind of cartoon, this strange expression on her face I can’t quite name.
I fold my arms across my chest and glare at her. “That’s because I don’t want to talk to you.”
She shuffles forward a step, batting her lashes at me. “But we’re family, Jasper.”
My lip curls, loathing the way my name feels when she says it. “It’s Jagger to you.”
“Right,” she says with a chuckle. “Silly me. I’ll remember for next time.”
“There will be no next time, Naomi. I’m busy.”
“Oh, I know. That’s why I’m here. My car needs some repairs, so I brought it in and requested you.”
My jaw clenches hard enough to hurt. “What kind of car do you have?” I already know the answer, but I’ve got a point to prove.
“A Camry.”
“We don’t work on Camrys here, bummer,” I lie.
“Oh,” she exclaims, tapping her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Did I say Camry? I meant Echo.”
I shake my head. “We don’t work on Fords here either.” Another lie.
She scoffs, that overly nice mask slipping a little. Her eyes look a little wild for a second, but then she blinks and it’s gone. “Okay, well, what do you work on?”
I narrow my eyes at her, annoyance bubbling under my skin. “For you? Nothing.”
She glares at me. “Why are you being such an asshole?” she snaps, her voice rising.
“You can’t just waltz in here whenever you want, Naomi. I need time, and even then, I’m not promising anything.” I don’t want to mislead her, but if I don’t make myself crystal clear, I’m afraid she’s going to keep showing up whether I want her to or not.
I don’t know the fucking protocol for this, but all I do know is that I don’t currently want to get to know the woman in front of me, even if she is related to me.
She stomps her foot, her fists clenched. “I’ve given you time. I just want to be with you?—”
“Stop,” I interrupt.
Before I can say anything else, the door opens again, and Coraline steps inside. Her smile falls in slow motion, her eyes darting between Naomi and me. “Is this a bad time?” she asks, her voice careful.
I force a smile, my irritation melting away at the sight of her. “Never a bad time for you, baby,” I say, stepping closer to her. The tension in the room shifts, and I see Naomi’s eyes narrow at the endearment. “She was just leaving.”
Naomi huffs, crossing her arms tighter and storming out without another word. Good. I hope she gets the fucking point now.
I almost feel a twinge of guilt. I get that she’s just trying to get to know a sibling, but she’s going about it the wrong way. That, and there’s something off about her.
“Everything okay?” Coraline asks, her voice soft but curious.
I hesitate for a moment, then shrug, forcing a casual tone. “Just an angry customer. Her car needs a lot of work, more than she wants to pay for.”
She raises an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a small smile. “Speaking of repairs. The weirdest thing happened. My car is making this weird clunking noise, so I thought I better bring it by for you guys to check out. I’m sure you’ll need it for a few days, so I was thinking . . .”
I drape my arm around her shoulders and curl her toward me. Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, I murmur, “Yeah, baby, you should stay with me tonight.”
“Wow, Jasper, what a great idea,” she teases, leaning into me.
I chuckle, warmth spreading through my chest at her playful tone. “C’mon, let’s go pretend to take a look at your car and make-out in the backseat instead.”
She throws her head back and laughs as I lead us out into the sweltering heat. My heart pinches at the sound and, not for the first time, I wonder how the fuck am I gonna keep her. Because I don’t think I can ever let her go.