Page 48 of Venomous as a Snake

“So, you just drugged them for shits and giggles, then?” he inquires with as much judgment as I expect from Pimp.

“What do you know about it?” I challenge.

“What do I know about you drugging two gang members?” he asks, leaning back in his seat. “Enough. Between you stapling a note to his chest and returning them to their sender, it’s like you’re trying to stir shit up.”

I give him a tight smile, encouraging him to finish.

“You’re being reckless,” he repeats. “What are you thinking?”

I prop my elbows on the table, my chin resting atop my folded hands as the tightness around my mouth evolves into amusement. Walker narrows his glowing amber eyes, frustration pinching the skin of his brow.

“Oh, please. Do tell me more about how shitty my decision-making skills are.” I bounce my index finger between the two of us and snort. “I love this whole pot and kettle conversation we’re having.”

“Why are you trying to set Clay off?” Walker growls, the rumble of his crocodile heavy in his voice.

Drew clears his throat. “In the spirit of honesty, I’d like to add that Walker has also tried to set Clay off. He just isn’t as good at it as Kody is.”

I whip my attention between the brothers. “What do you mean? What did you do?”

“Why?” Walker inquires, amber eyes blazing with fury at Drew as he speaks to me. “Why did you leave that body in the office?”

“I would have gotten rid of it,” I muse.

He scoffs. “When? After someone found it?”

“Maybe,” I respond sarcastically. “I came home to pick some things up, but Ali told me you and Drew were taking care of it. When were you going to mention that you own said club?”

“You left your initials on his fucking forehead, Kody,” Walker barks, a tremor rolling through his shoulders. “You left a body in public. What were you thinking?”

I narrow my eyes, unimpressed with his deflection. “What did you do to set Clay off?”

He keeps talking over me. “Are you just killing people for fun now?”

“Yes, and no. You didn’t leave the body in your office, did you?” I ask. “It is your office, isn’t it, Walker?”

If he would give me one honest answer, I would give him more. He’s just so fucking bull-headed. The only way we’ll really talk through this is if I hurt his feelings. I don’t want to, but I know what it’s going to take to get him to that next step.

“Why do you care?” he counters.

His question hits me hard. I’ve always cared about his dreams and goals… His achievements. But to need more of a reason than caring for him? That’s absurd, and it’s something he’s never asked of me before today.

Drew holds his hand up, further stirring the pot. “We didn’t leave the body in Walker’s office. He helped me load it into my jeep, and I dropped it at the end of Clay’s driveway.”

“That’s fucking stupid,” Walker snarls. “You were supposed to wipe the blood off his forehead and—”

“Thank you,” I cut in. “I was thinking the first message wasn’t enough.”

“It’s so weird how casually they speak of murdering someone,” Collin whispers to Forrest. “That’s not even the first one.”

Forrest rolls his eyes. “She didn’t know him…”

Walker growls, slamming his hand on the table. “You can’t go after Clay.”

“It’s funny how you’ve been MIA, but now…” I point downward, picking this specific spot in our timeline. “Now, you suddenly want to tell me what to do?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” he defends, his jaw muscle ticking.

“You always had a choice, Walker,” I murmur.