Page 22 of Dread’s Beloved

“Yeah. We grew up together until Spook and Lundie separated. It’ll be nice to catch up.”

Yeah, I bet he’ll want to do more than catch up. I don’t know why them sharing a past grates my nerves, but it does.

“Don’t stray too far off.”

She offers me a weak smile, probably regretting coming here.

Downstairs, Nightshade is seated at a table in the bar area, shoveling cathead biscuits and gravy into his mouth. “Punky, bring Dread a plate,” he snaps at a chick standing off to the side. “You want coffee?”

“Black. One sugar.”

Punky takes off for the kitchen and is back in a flash with a plate and a steaming cup of joe. I take a sip and dig in. I’m fuckin’ starving and not only for food. Riding five hours with Kitty pressed up on me was pure fucking torture. I’d have to be dead not to be attracted to her or fucking want a taste.

I fill him in on all the shit going down with Raven Fork Reapers. Nightshade is old school and doesn’t like to talk on the phone. And sure as fuck doesn’t believe in email. Sure, the funeral home in town might have all that shit for the business, but when it comes to the club, no fucking way. Only way to reach him by phone is to call the gate and leave a message and wait for a call from an unknown number, and that’s if the bastard decides to return your call. I was shocked as shit Dark got through to him as quickly as he did.

“How long you think you’ve got until Miller catches on.”

“Press released their identities this morning. Front page news. I’m sure the story has spread like wildfire online.”

“Feds been brought in yet?”

“Nope. Caudill is still running with the murder-suicide story. We all know that scumbag Miller is behind it. Zane was receiving notes that were intended for Kitty. She was getting hang-up calls. The mistress was mistaken for Kitty. So he’ll be hunting.”

Nightshade takes it all in.

“Hyde know?”

“Yeah. Midnight got word to the Tennessee boys. They’ve got their own issues with RFR.”

“Plenty of that going around.”

“They been giving you trouble?”

“Trying to, but nothing we can’t handle.”

“Should I be concerned?”

“Nah. A man like Donavon Miller wants revenge, but he wants to be the one to do it himself. He’s not going to be passing out her picture with a price tag. He’ll want her alive.”

I hope he’s right. Because if I was a piece of shit like Miller, I would be underground while my lackeys did the heavy lifting. But if payback was all he wanted, he could have had anyone put a bullet in her years ago. For him, this shit is personal.

What Kitty doesn’t know and what will never make it to the papers is that Blair was raped. Caudill didn’t share if they think Zane was forced to watch. My guess is he was forced to watch and maybe even to pull the trigger. Shit is whacked and totally fucked.

No one deserves that shit, but I’m damn glad Kitty didn’t go back to Zane or she’d be dead.

“Anything the two of need as long as you need it, we’ve got you.”

“Appreciate it, man. Dark sends his regards.” I pull out the envelope he gave me and slide it across the table.

“I’ll get word to him that you two arrived safe and sound.” He snatches the envelope off the table and pushes his chair back. Our talk is finished for now.

Punky moves in to clear our plates as more brothers start wandering inside and downstairs.

“Set me up with another plate for Kitty, would ya?” I tell her.

“Sure thing.” She saunters back to the kitchen.

Spook grips my shoulder. “Longtime no see. Where’s Kit Kat?”