Page 178 of Shattered Pieces

“Do you think Archer sent those people after me?”

“Not really, but who knows when it comes to Lex? You might still be Diesel’s girl, but you’re not Psychos’ property. Crews know by now that you don’t have their protection, so someone could be making a move. We’ll figure it out.”

I watched our surroundings as we drove through Rawson Grove, still not really understanding why a crew hadn’t taken over here. It didn’t have any threats to chase them off.

When we arrived at the docks in Ashburn Valley, we turned left instead of right, parking close to a row of boats. There was a house boat at the end, a small porch area with a few chairs, and it honestly looked like it needed repairs.

“How is that thing even still floating?” I asked, making Hunter chuckle as we started walking towards it.

“It’s sturdier than it looks. Hendricks gets it maintained and checked annually. He’s only here to sleep, so he doesn’t bother making it look nice.” He lifted a hand and knocked on the door, waiting for a second before knocking again.

“Jesus, I’m coming,” Archer called out, stomping through the house and ripping open the door. “What the fuck do you two want?”

“Can we come in?” Hunter scoffed, earning a bewildered look in return.

“Absolutely not.”

“Did you send men into my house to kill me last night?” I asked, not bothering to waste time.

“No, or you wouldn’t be here asking me about it. I don’t hire amateurs,” he said dryly. “Why would I even want you dead? You’re annoying, but you’re not that annoying.”

“I’d like that in writing,” I grumbled, crossing my arms. “Do you know who did then?”

“I heard Maddox tried to kill you already, so maybe ask him.” He tried to shut the door, but Hunter put his foot out to block it, shoving him back inside and holding him by the front of the shirt.

“I’m not playing, asshole. Did you send someone after her for fucking Lexi?”

Archer’s jaw clenched in a way that told me he was aware of me touching his wife, but he didn’t fly off the handle about it.

“If I wanted her blood spilled over it, I’d have done it myself. If anyone was going to die over touching her, you would’ve been in the ground a long time ago. Her prison fling with Lexi pisses me off, but I’m not going to send men after her. Especially not sloppy ones. Get off me or both of you are dead.”

Hunter looked like he was thinking about ignoring him, but he let go and took a step back when a girl walked in to see what was happening. I didn’t recognize her, but she seemed to relax when she saw us.

“Why don’t you and Lex just share girls? You both fuck the same ones,” Hunter said dryly, glancing at the girl. “Hey, Marnie.”

“You scared me, asshole. I thought there was a war going on out here,” she scowled, making me snort.

“There is. Hi, I’m Rory.”

“Marnie,” she smiled, not hiding the nerves on her face from my comment. “Should I go?”

“You’re fine,” Hunter grunted, giving me a dirty look when I walked over to Archer.

“I want to talk to you in private.”

“Absolutely not,” Hunter bit out, but I ignored him and patiently waited for Archer to point to the room off to the left.

“Fine. In there. Then you fuckers leave,” he warned, following me into the room. It appeared to be his bedroom, and he locked the door behind us, leaning back against it to cross his arms. “What?”

“Swear it wasn’t you,” I demanded, making him groan.

“You need me to pinky swear or something? I didn’t pay idiots to try and kill you. I’m quite capable of doing it myself.”

“You’re not mad about me fucking your wife?” I asked, grinning slightly. “Sorry, girlfriend. She’s not really your wife now the Demons are gone, right?”

His eyes narrowed, his voice flat. “What did she tell you?”

“That the marriage was a sham to piss off Lopez and secure her protection from your crew. That’s not very crew leadery of you to trick them like that,” I tsked, his hand shooting out to wrap around my throat as he hauled me closer.