Page 14 of Colt’s Betrayal

His mouth curves. “Colt?” I let the silence answer for me and Raze leans back.

“Your daddy says you were all over that bastard when you were a kid.”

“I was nineteen, not exactly a kid.”

The drinks arrive, saving me from saying more and Raze takes a drink.

“He still thinks he's the hardest man in Kingdom Come?”

“Colt never talked about himself that way.”

“Course he didn't.” Raze looks smug.

I lift my glass. “Exactly my point about dangerous men.” Raze's eyes narrow. I take a sip. He waits and I let it land. It works faster than I expected.

“He ain't shit compared to Perdition.”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

I shrug. “You're the one who keeps bringing him up.” A muscle moves along his jaw. “You think he could take me?”

“I think Colt wouldn't sit here asking me whether he could.”

That one lands hard. Raze leans forward.

“Friday night, he won't have the fucking chance.”

My pulse jumps, but I keep my face still.

“Why, what happens on Friday?”

He smiles. “There she is. The woman who actually wants to know what kind of man I am.”

“I agreed to a drink because you said Perdition was different. I'm trying to work out whether that means anything or whether this is all just talk.”

His ego does the rest. “Blackwater Road.” I take another sip. “Never heard of it.” Raze watches me carefully. “Old logging turnoff about six miles east of the river crossing.” My heart starts beating harder and I force myself to look unimpressed.

“And?”

“And Kane rides through there on his way to meet Cyrus.”

“With Colt?”

His smile widens.

“Judge too.”

I look down at my drink because I need half a second where he can't see my eyes. I have what I came for and I don't need anything else. I look back up. “You really think my father knows them that well after everything?” Raze laughs. “Thirty years don't disappear because Kane rips patches off a cut.”

The words sting for reasons that have nothing to do with the ambush. “And Dad gets what out of this?” Raze's expression changes slightly. “Your old man's proving he picked the right side.”

“Is he, though?”

“He knows how clubs work.”

I think about the bare leather cut Dad wore into my living room.