Throne of Scars (Lost Kings MC 20)

“Well, that makes me feel better about all the peanut butter and peaches I’ve been craving lately,” I mutter.

Lilly’s nose wrinkles. “That’s an interesting one.”

Shelby returns carrying a tray of blue and pink cupcakes. “I couldn’t help it. These flamingo cupcakes were so flocking cute.”

I burst into laughter. “Oh my God, these are amazing. Did you make them?”

“Heck no. You don’t want me baking a dang thing. I ordered them from a bakery near us. That place is gonna be the death of my waistline.”

“Give me a break, Shelby.” Lilly plucks a cupcake off the tray. “You have a perfect figure.”

“Thanks.” She sighs. “It’s hard to know since every week some jackass is posting a photo of me with some piggy pun as the caption.”

“That’s horrible,” Hope gasps.

“Wah, wah, I know I shouldn’t be complainin’. I’m lucky anyone gives a damn about me at all, but frick it’s annoying.”

“You shouldn’t have to put up with that just because you’re a singer,” I say. “But I kind of know what you mean. I got a few uh, less than flattering comments on my last couple of videos. ‘I knew you must be pregnant, your face looked so much fatter lately.’ Like, who on Earth thinks that’s an appropriate thing to say to anyone?”

“Appropriate went out the window a while ago,” Shelby mutters, biting into a cupcake.

“Too bad some of those people don’t realize that if Rooster ever hunts ‘em down they’re gonna be in for a world of pain,” Trinity says.

Shelby frowns and cocks her head. “Ya know, there was one yahoo that used to print a ton of crap about me. Haven’t heard a peep from him in months.”

Lilly and Hope snort and burst into giggles.

“Rooster probably tracked him down.” Trinity smirks. “Poor guy. Let us all pray he still has the use of his legs.”

“Let’s pray he isn’t six feet under.” Swan presses her palms together for a brief moment of silence. Her mouth slides into a sly grin.

“That really shocked Grinder,” I say. “Some of the comments people leave for me. He was livid.”

“He does give off big murder daddy vibes,” Shelby mutters around her mouthful of cupcake.

Lilly squints. “What?”

Emily has her hand pressed to her lips like she’s trying not to laugh. I narrow my eyes at her. “What’s so funny?”

“She’s right!” Emily bursts into laughter. “I thought the same thing when I met him. The way Serena described him, I expected some soft old dude—”

“Hey!” I smack her arm.

“You know what I mean.” She waves me off. “Then she shows up with hard-bodied Santa.”

Hope snorts and coughs a spray of cupcake into her napkin. “Oh my God.”

“Easy, mama bear.” Trinity thumps Hope’s back a few times.

“Sorry,” Emily says to Hope. “But I thought to myself, this is a murder daddy. He’s sweet to Serena but I bet he’ll yank someone’s spine out through their throat if they say something mean to her.”

“Amen!” Trinity lifts her hands toward the ceiling.

“That is almost exactly what Gray said when he read those comments on my Instagram. I don’t think he realized the people leaving them could be anywhere in the world.”

“Social media wasn’t a thing when he went inside,” Trinity says in a sympathetic tone. “I barely have a grasp of it myself, so I can’t imagine what he thinks.”

“I know he’s surprised I make money from my makeup tutorials and postings. But he’s never belittled it or anything. He seems fascinated, almost.” I squint, thinking over my life. “I’ve never dated a guy who didn’t make fun of my makeup hobby.”

“And what did I tell you about those kinds of guys?” Emily leans forward. “They can either appreciate your art or get the fuck out of your museum.”

“Whoa!” Shelby pumps her fist in the air. “That’s the best dang quote I’ve ever heard.”

“That really does perfectly sum it up,” Trinity says. “I’m so happy Grinder supports you like that. It took a lot for me to tell Wrath about photography and designing book covers when I was treating them as a side hobby. And oh my God, when I came clean—no judgment or scorn from him. He couldn’t have been more supportive. Went out and bought me every single thing I could ever need to take it from a hobby to a career. Rented me studio space…That’s love.”

Hope reaches over and squeezes Trinity’s hand. “I love you guys.”

“Rooster bought me a whole ass RV to tour in since my record label wasn’t concerned about my comfort or safety,” Shelby says. “I will never get over how matter-of-fact he was about it, either.” She pulls her shoulders back. “You need this. I bought it. This is what we’re doing,” she imitates Rooster’s deep voice.

“Men of action. That’s what we have,” Hope says. “They’re a rare breed.”

I lean over and nudge Libby who seems enraptured by the whole conversation. “This is what I was talking about. If he wanted to, he would.”