Page 66 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

“Didn’t you get…” I see King and Pix hanging out of trees doing pull-ups.

“Yeah, see my problem? Cats, cats that are high. Cats with a need to shit in a litter box, running around going, Mer-ow and looking absolutely ridiculous.”

“Would you like a hug, Blaze?” Roseland asks.

Blaze glares at him. “Yes, I would like a hug. What do you take me for?”

Roseland chuckles and goes over to my alpha and hugs him. “There, there. Sage will yell at our nasty pack, you just sit here with me.”

Blaze sniffs. “He left me alone.”

“I know, it was horrible. Come on. Sage, go deal with the kids.”

I stare after them, my mouth hanging open, not sure if I’m offended or amused and then, because I was told, I go and drag my omegas and alphas out of the rivers and trees so we can get moving.

King

Sage walks up and down the line of us, blistering us with words that make me feel like I’m about five years old and really naughty. I cock my head to the side and look at the body and the damage she’s done while I take in the much-deserved lecture. Her violence is ruthless and so full of rage. For someone as cheerful as Raptor is, she sure is internalizing a lot.

“Go clean it up,” Sage snaps, pointing at the body.

“I really hate brain matter.”

I glance at Rolly. “You kill people all the time.”

“I know, but it’s all gross. Just makes me queasy. Reminds me of the rissoles they used to feed us at the institution, all under cooked and soft.”

My stomach jolts, and I decide I don’t like rissoles or brain matter anymore either.

I roll my eyes and grab the idiot who tried to kill my omega by his boots. I drag him into the forest. It’s going to take us a bit of a hike to get rid of all these bodies, but Roseland suggested a spot that would actually be perfect.

Speaking of Roseland, I watch him carefully. He looks sick, conflicted.

I look down, returning to my task, but when I head back, I go in the direction of the ex-detective. He looks up at me with eyes that hold too much emotion.

“Want to help me get rid of bodies?” I ask.

I almost laugh, but he surprises me and stands up, nodding.

Okay, this is strange.

“Roseland, you don’t have to. I was just trying to break the ice.”

He glances back at me. “I know. Thank you for trying.”

I grab a body, watching Roseland grab one with his jaw flexing. We get to the spot he suggested, and he’s not even out of breath.

“I don’t condemn you all for what you do. I’ve killed people, and I’m sure I’ll do it again; it’s just…I had ideas and a plan. A life with a dream. I wanted to save people. I wanted to stop bad guys. Now I am the bad guy.”

“But you’re still saving people,” I point out.

He’s hurting. I can see that clear as day.

“What are you so worried about?” I ask when he stays silent.

It takes him five minutes to find his voice. “I fail. It’s all I do. What if I fail to save them?”

Oh. Well, that isn’t what I thought this was going to be about.