Page 29 of Life Or Death

I make my way over to him, parking my ass on the stool next to him as I help myself to his bourbon.

“Nice of you to join the celebration,” Dread says, signaling for the prospect to bring over another glass. “We were starting to think you bailed on us.”

That’s a load of bullshit if I ever heard it. I’d bet my Harley no one even noticed I took off after we returned from North Carolina. Everyone was too eager to get stoned or fucked. It’s how they wind down, and after our first supply drop to the Satan’s Knights being so successful, they deserve it.

I knock back the rest of the bourbon, welcoming the burn. “I had shit to do.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Yeah? How’s the wife?”

I narrow my eyes. This fucking guy loves to push my buttons.

“Lower your fucking voice.”

He rolls his eyes, lifting a freshly rolled joint to his lips. “Oh, please, look around. No one’s paying any attention to us. They’re all too busy trying to get their dicks sucked.” He lights up a joint, and I watch the rolling paper burn as he takes a long pull. “Speaking of which, there’s a shortage of saddle bunnies. If you’re looking to get your rocks off, you might want to make a move.” He pauses, inching closer before he wiggles his eyebrows. “Unless, of course, you’re holding out for the missus.”

I take it back. That, right there, is the biggest crock of shit I’ve heard.

“I haven’t seen her in over a month,” I growl.

The last time was the night I told her what I had done. Hearing her tell me she would’ve preferred death over marrying me put things in perspective for me. I don’t know if it’s pride or fucking remorse, but I’ve been keeping my end of the deal I made with Tori, staying far away from my miserable wife.

“Yeah, I may have heard that,” Dread says, offering me the joint.

I smack his hand away, my eyes narrowing into tiny slits. “Oh? And who the fuck may have told you that?”

He shrugs. “I like the steak at The Hideaway. Ran into the firecracker while I was there.” His voice trails as he brings the joint back to his lips and takes another hit. “Pretty sure she spit in my potatoes last night.” He glances back at me. “I still ate them.”

My jaw clenches hard. “Did she spit in them before or after you grilled her for info on Jess?”

“Oh, brother, I didn’t grill anyone. Our little firecracker sang like a canary before she could bring out the creamed spinach.”

I hope she spit in that too.

“Considering the only person Tori might hate more than me is you, I find that hard to believe.”

He hums thoughtfully, as if this is all one big fucking joke to him.

Maybe it is.

“I don’t know,” he drawls. “I think she’s warming up to me. Waitresses dig big tippers, and I’m a generous motherfucker, especially when my steak is served medium rare.”

My gaze slides to the joint, and for a second I wonder if he laced the herb with something stronger.

“Anyway,” he continues, “she actually asked me if you had been by the hospital.”

I can believe Tori spit in his food, but I’m having a difficult time wrapping my head around her striking up a conversation with Dread, especially where I’m concerned.

“Why the fuck would she ask that?”

“Well, from what I understand, Tori’s been working a lot. Some shit came up with her kid too, making it difficult for her to trek it out to the hospital. If I remember correctly, I think she said she hasn’t been to see her in over a week.” He tokes on the joint. “Or something like that. I’m high as fucking kite, so my memory is a little hazy.”

I let that sink in for a moment. I can’t imagine why she’d add more shifts to her workload when she signed up to be the sole member of Jess’s support system.

“When you say she’s been working a lot, do you mean they’re short-staffed over there, or she’s picking up extra shifts?”

His hand pauses, holding the joint midair as his gaze cuts back to me. “How the fuck am I supposed to know all that? You think I asked questions? The girl didn’t let me get a word in. She literally asked if you’d been by the hospital, then went on a fucking rampage, rambling on about all sorts of shit. She got her period on Sunday in case you were wondering.” My brows furrow at that, and he nods before he continues, “Yeah, I didn’t need to know that either. I swear to Christ, the girl didn’t even pause to take a breath.” He cocks his head to the side as he snuffs out the rest of the joint. “You know what they say about a girl who can hold their breath like that . . .” He lifts his gaze to mine. “I bet she gives great head. Might be the only way to shut her the fuck up.”

I stare at him. “For fuck’s sake. No.”