CHAPTER 4
BEAUTIFUL, DEADLY, KRAIT
They met for church two nights later. The chapel smelled like cigarettes, leather and whiskey. Don went over the stack of open files, talking about the people who’d skipped and stayed skipped.
“We had a good tail on Bowers but then the drive-by happened. We kinda have to start all over with him,” Lane said.
“I think we can catch up. He’s a heroin addict, so…” Diablo shrugged.
“Well, take Kait with you tomorrow. She needs to learn the family business,” Don said with a wink in her direction.
Lane raised an eyebrow. “We got this, Don. Maybe it’s better if she learns how to write a bond first.”
“She can do both. Can’t you, Kait?”
“For sure, that shouldn’t be a problem, King,” she said, looking right at Lane.
Don grabbed another file. “Didn’t think so. And where we at with Hill, the tweaker burglary bond?”
“That bitch vanished. Her cosigner said they broke up and he hasn’t heard from her. She took off with a bunch of his shit. He wasn’t off the bond. Of course.” Kode said.
“Wouldn’t that be a better fit for her since the defendant’s a woman?” Lane asked.
“Maybe. Wanna do that one too, Kait?” Don asked.
“Too?” Lane echoed, but Don shot him a look that shut his mouth.
Kait nodded. “Yeah, I’m in.”
“Okay, now the fun part…” Don said, dropping a bag on the table. “As you all know, Mondragón was very happy with our attack at the Talamantes compound, so… he got us gifts.”
The room popped off with cheers.
“Spend it wisely,” Don said, throwing envelopes at them one by one. Paper slapped wood, hands, leather.
As they tore them open, Don gave Blaze a pointed look that said everything he didn’t.
“Your stack looks fatter than mine,” Ram said to Kait.
“That’s because I took out what you owed,” Randy said without looking up.
Ram flipped him off.
“Really? Ten thousand?” Kait asked, eyes wide.
“Damn, I just got five,” Kolton chimed in.
They started comparing, bitching and bragging.
“Kait did double the work getting on that sniper. Besides, Mondragón liked her,” Don said.
“Thanks… this is awesome,” she said, glancing at Lane.
His pupils were blown wide, jaw set tight.
“All right, so now that the windows are replaced, we can resume business at Snake Eyes. Loraine’s gonna be there, so I want Buster and Cricket on door duty. Blaze, you’re more than welcome to help out too. Especially while Loraine’s there.”
“I’ll be there, Don.”
“Okay, class dismissed. Kount, hang back for a sec.”
The room emptied out. Lane poured himself another whiskey and sank back in his chair.
“I just don’t want her to get in the way,” he said, already bracing for Don to lay into him.
“What’s the issue?”
“I don’t trust her.”
“Didn’t you see what she did the other day?”
“Well, you didn’t see how she almost got killed by those mercs on the hill, though.”
“I don’t think you realize how valuable she is,” Don said, lighting a cigarette.
“Enlighten me, because all I see is a liability so far.”
“She can go places and make deals we can’t.”
“Because she’s a girl?”
“Because she’s trained, she’s got venom, and she’s hot as shit. Mondragón even wanted to take a closer look. When did he ever care about meeting any of you personally?”
“Then have her turn that kutte into a short skirt and get to work,” Lane muttered.
“Yeah, right. No. We’re going to need Kait. She’s got no record in the States. I don’t want her even thinking about going back to Denmark. So do me a favor and just be cool, will you?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“So tomorrow, give her a crash course on bounty hunting. Show her the ropes, and make an effort to look past the fact she sits down to piss.”
“You just made it worse.”
Don laughed. “I’m stopping by Brews, catch up with Chugs. You coming?”
“No, I gotta clean the tank.”
Don got close to the tank and the Judge got close to the glass. “That’s always fun. Look at this majestic bastard. You beautiful, deadly creature.”
Lane heard the words, but another creature appeared in his mind.
KOLTON'S ROOM
“This is awesome,” Kait said later, dropping her stack of cash on the counter.
Kolton slid up behind her and kissed her neck. “Not bad for your first official payday here.”
“It’s quite a bit. You guys get paid great here,” she said, turning to face him. “I feel bad for Blaze. He’s got a family to take care of.”
“I know, but…”
“When is he going to be able to earn again?”
“Yeah… well, it’s Don’s call. I’m sure his patience will run out soon.”
“Right… You know, on the plane ride I imagined all three of us living here and just riding and hanging out… but life went on without me, I guess.”
Kolton kissed her. “There wasn’t a day I didn’t wish you were here. Life did stop for me when you left. I still love you, Kait.”
He kissed her again, and they went to bed.
A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER
Kait had a hard time sleeping.
She was feeling bad about getting the most money. She looked over and Kolton was sound asleep. She got up, grabbed the envelope, and took half the money.
She stepped out into the walkway, heart pounding out of her chest. She stopped in front of Lane’s door and saw light under the frame. After taking a deep breath, she knocked.
No answer.
She frowned. The light was on, but it was quiet. She hesitated for a second, then turned away and went to the kitchen for some water. From there she noticed light coming from the bottom of the chapel doors, and approached.
When she slowly opened the door, the chapel was dim except for a small lamp on the table near the wall. Lane was there, in a black tank top and jeans, leaning over the glass enclosure where the Judge coiled like living ink. He held a pair of tongs in one hand and a thawed mouse in the other, calm and focused.
The Judge hissed softly, tongue flicking out.
Kait leaned against the door frame and watched him for a second. She knew she had to remain still and quiet while he handled the Judge.
He felt her before he saw her. Lane side-eyed her, eyes narrowing as soon as he recognized her silhouette.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought I might steal the Judge and sell him for some club money,” she said.
He didn’t even smirk.
She sighed and stepped inside.
“I, uh… I was looking for you, actually.”
“The fuck for?” he said, closing the tank once the snake latched onto its meal. The Judge started dragging the mouse away, slow and methodical.
Kait walked closer. The scene before her made her skin prickle—him, the snake, the quiet chapel…
“I think you should have this,” she said, holding out the envelope up before placing it on the table.
“Why?” he asked recognizing what it was.
“You deserve it more than me. You were out there for days planning everything. Not to mention saving my ass.”
He gave her a sideways smirk. “You trying to clear your conscience so you can sleep better?”
“I’m just trying to be fair.”
“Fair would be giving that money to Blaze, since he let us borrow the hardware. Besides, he’s got a newborn…” Lane nodded at the envelope. “Now, if that was it… I’m kinda busy.”
Kait nodded slowly. “You’re right. I’ll do that, then.” She took the envelope back.
“Okay,” he said and began putting the tongs and other stuff away.
Kait was about to leave but she turned around again instead. “There’s just nothing I can do, is there?”
“I just told you what to do.”
“I mean about this shit.”
“Right now, you can let me get back to what I was doing,” he said, glancing back at the Judge, who was already halfway through the mouse. “It’s the only time I get some peace and quiet around here.”
Kait raised her eyebrows and scoffed, turning toward the door. He was such an asshole.
“Be ready by nine a.m.,” he called.
“Yep,” she said, not looking back.
Lane watched the door close behind her and tried to focus on the Judge, on the slow, brutal efficiency of the krait finishing its meal. It usually centered him.
It didn’t that night.
He sat back on the table and scrubbed a hand over his face, annoyed at himself for thinking about her instead of the usual such as the club, the skips, the cartel war maybe? But no, he was staring at the door as if she was still standing there, hair in a side braid with a loose strand along her cheek, black tank top looked almost painted on her body. Baggy gray sweat —Kolton’s probably— riding low exposing her hipbone and the tight skin on her belly.
He exhaled hard and looked back at the glass.
The Judge just kept eating—silent, deadly, unbothered.
Beautiful, deadly creature, indeed.
next morning
“I got Kyle today, so just head to my mom’s for dinner when you’re done,” Kolton said, kissing Kait as he left.
“Okay, I’ll see you,” Kait said, kissing him back.
“That ankle gonna give you any problems?”
“No, it’s been fine,” she said, and headed out to the van where Diablo and Lane were waiting. Diablo was driving. Lane had shotgun.
“Here. So you know who we’re after,” Lane said, tossing her a file as they pulled out.
Kait opened it and looked at the mugshot.
“So, basically, this guy gets high, can’t get out of bed to go to court. Then when he has a moment of sobriety, he calls us to get him out of warrant and back on the court calendar,” Lane started. “We did it for him a couple times, but now we’re done. His sister was his cosigner and she doesn’t want anything to do with him anymore. So here we are. He’s got a house where he goes to get fucked up, but we haven’t found it yet. We need to find it today. I’m sick of this asshole.”
“Should we try his apartment first?” Kait asked.
“He knows we’re after him. I doubt he’ll be there,” Lane said.
“Okay,” she said, and they spent a few hours driving, asking around, chasing leads that fizzled.
Back in the van, Diablo let out a groan.
“So, I was thinking—he doesn’t know me. We can drive to his place and if he’s there, I can snatch him out,” Kait said.
Lane and Diablo exchanged a look.
“Why don’t we give it a shot, Kount? I’m starving,” Diablo said.
“Fine,” Lane muttered, and they went.
“You got your piece?” Lane asked.
“Yep,” Kait said, tucking her gun and stepping out.
Lane gave a look. “A Ladysmith?” he said recognizing the gun’s model.
“That’s right,” she said matching his tone.
“How fitting.”
She opted for taking the jab and getting the job done. She simply turned and began crossing the street.
“We got you, Kait,” Diablo said, and Lane shot him a sidelong look.
“Jesus Christ,” Lane said, flipping through the file again.
“All right, Kount… what’s going on? You’re way too ticked off about her,” Diablo said, killing the engine.
“Like I told Don, I don’t trust her. Besides, I don’t want other clubs thinking we went soft by patching a girl in.”
“Is that it?” Diablo asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you sure that’s all that’s happening with her?”
“I still don’t know what you’re trying to ask.”
“She’s awesome, she already proved it.”
“Again with that shit. That was one time, and she got lucky. She’s only been here a few days. She may just go back to her windmills by the end of the week.”
“Isn’t that Switzerland?”
“Ain’t that where she’s from?”
“She’s from Denmark. That’s what Klaus was saying that night?”
“She’s from here,” Lane snapped.
Diablo chuckled and looked toward the building. “Well… after this, Don will want to keep her forever,” he said, jerking his chin.
Kait was walking back with Bowers. No cuffs. Just talking him along.
Kait slid the van door open. “I think you’ll do great. This is a good thing for you, Austin. Take it like rehab. Then you get out and try to get your shit together. Just keep trying,” she said.
He climbed in, exhausted. “Yeah, I know. What’s up, guys. Sorry about all that.”
They drove him to the jail and turned him in. Lane went inside to handle the paperwork.
“What’d you say to him?” Diablo asked, genuinely curious.
“He just opened up about how much he hated his life and being that way. Said he’d checked outta rehab a bunch of times. So I suggested he could do rehab in jail, where he can’t check himself out,” Kait said, shrugging.
“Hmm. We never tried that approach,” Diablo said.
“I’m sure,” Kait muttered.
Lane came striding back out. Kait caught herself staring: tactical vest, cargo pants tucked into boots, thigh holster. He had such presence, and it pissed her off that she noticed.
“Well, that’s done. We can leave Hill for tomorrow,” Lane said.
“You sure? It’s still early,” Kait said.
“Maybe we should just swing by her house real quick,” Diablo said.
Lane gave him a dirty look, but he turned the key anyway. “I thought you said you were hungry.”
“After lunch, then. You hungry, Kait?”
“Nah, I had some toast earlier.”
“Is that really all you eat?” Asked Diablo.
“No. I eat other stuff. I had the steak last night with some—”
Lane was listening but was not participating in such a pointless exchange.
He rolled his eyes and thanked God for Metallica’s cover of Whiskey in the Jar coming on.
They stopped at the nearest Whataburger drive-thru and Diablo got a Double Meat Combo.
About an hour later they parked in the back of Melissa Hill’s apartment complex.
Lane was going through the file while Kait and Diablo talked about music and what they played on the radio there.
“It’s pretty much the same, to be honest. Except all the Rap. Not a lot of that. Mostly Electronic shit.”
“Fucking garbage,” chimed in Lane.
“Agreed,” said Kait.
Pepper came on the radio.
“I never get the fucking lyrics right,” said Kait pointing at the radio.
“Me neither,” Diablo agreed. Then he tried. “Marky with Sharon, Sharon got Sherice…”
Lane glanced at him.
Kait helped him. “She was sharing, Sharon’s… something. Or was he sharing Sharon?”
“I don’t know, that’s where I mess up too. I think Sharon was a snakehole,” Diablo said and Kait laughed.
Lane glanced back at Kait. It was the first time he’d heard her laugh…
And it did something weird in his chest.
Lane scoffed. “You’re such an idiot,” he said disgusted at Diablo.
“Sharon was a snakehole, they were doing her in Texas,” Diablo sang looking right at Lane making Kait laugh even harder.
Lane rolled his eyes.
Then looked forward and spotted her.
“She’s coming out, let’s go,” Lane said already moving.
They barely got out of the van before Melissa Hill bolted. She saw them, screamed something angry and incoherent, and booked it down the street.
They chased her, splitting at a fork. Diablo tried to keep up in the van but the road narrowed, forcing him to hang back.
Lane was behind Kait, and Kait was behind the skip. A tangle of shouting, pounding feet, loose gravel.
Suddenly Kait cut left.
“Where the fuck are you going!” Lane yelled, but she didn’t slow down.
She remembered a side road they’d passed earlier and trusted the mental map. The skip was fast and slippery, already with a good head start. Kait wasn’t letting her get away.
She slipped into an alley and listened. The girl’s footsteps came closer, closer.
Kait spotted a big trash can and waited for the right beat. She kicked it hard. It crashed over the concrete.
The skip tripped, went down hard, rolling across the sidewalk.
Kait pulled her gun and pounced, straddling her.
“Okay, stop! You’re done!” Kait yelled as the woman thrashed.
“Get off me, you fucking bitch!” The skip bucked her hips, tried to flip Kait, clawing at her.
Kait switched to a rear naked choke, forearm pressed under her chin.
“I will blow your fucking head off, you stupid cunt,” Lane said, gun already in the skip’s face.
The skip froze and put her hands up. Lane slapped cuffs on her wrists.
“I got it,” he said to Kait.
Kait let go and rolled off, only then noticing the burning in her knee and elbow.
“Diablo, we’re over on B Street, around the back,” Kait said into the radio. He pulled up a minute later.
“Ride in the front, you’re hurt,” Lane said, jerking his chin at her bloody elbow and scraped knee.
Kait looked down. Skin torn, gravel dust stuck to her. She didn’t feel like arguing. She climbed into the front seat.
“Hey beautiful, you still out there?” Kolton asked over the phone as Kait, Lane, and Diablo pulled into the clubhouse lot.
“We just pulled up to the Nest. I’m gonna shower and head over,” Kait said, stepping out of the van, muscles still buzzing from adrenaline.
“You sound tired.”
“I am exhausted, but we got both of them, so it was worth it,” Kait said, sitting at one of the picnic tables.
“No shit? That’s fucking awesome.”
“Yeah, the tweaker got crazy, though. We had to chase her,” she said, laughing.
Lane was headed inside, but he stopped dead.
That laugh again.
“Holy shit…” Diablo murmured next to him.
Lane looked at him. “What?”
“Um… I’m gonna keep it to myself for now but… damn, Kount,” Diablo said, laughing to himself.
“Damn, what?”
“Nothing… nothing.”
“I’m gonna shower, you fucking weirdo,” Lane muttered and headed inside.
“Okay, I’ll see you in like a half hour. Bye,” Kait said, hanging up and going in through the double doors.
“Hey, Kait,” Alejandra said from near the kitchen.
“What’s up.”
“You need anything?”
“Just a water, I gotta go shower.”
Alejandra reached down and set a bottled water on the counter.
“I just put clean towels in your guys’ room.”
“You rock. Thanks.”
“You’re bleeding, what happened?” Alejandra said, coming around the counter.
“Just a couple scratches chasing a skip.”
“Don’t let it get infected. I’ll bring you the first aid kit.”
“All right, thanks,” Kait said and headed to her room.
Melanie was right on Lane’s heels.
“We did a ton of laundry today. All your clothes are clean and put away,” she said as Lane opened his door.
“All right,” Lane said, watching her for a second. “I’ll… let you know if I need anything else.”
“Okay… sorry,” Melanie said, backing toward the door.
Lane started unstrapping his bulletproof vest. Melanie stopped, turned.
He peeled the rest off. “Yes?”
“I was… just wondering if you were okay,” she said, moving closer, fingertips landing on his chest like she couldn’t help it.
“I’m fine,” he said flatly, looking down at her hand until she pulled it back.
“It’s been a few days since you call me to your room…”
“There’s a ton of shit going on,” Lane said, digging in his dresser.
“That’s usually when you call me… when you’re stressed.”
“Well, I’ll let you know if I need you,” he turned.
She came up from behind. “Were you with anyone when you were at the Dirty Alley the other night?”
Lane turned getting right in her face. “You know I hate it when you get like this. Stop acting like we’re a thing. I don’t owe you explanations about anything I do. Even if you were my ole lady.”
“Why don’t you, Kount? Why don’t you just make me your ole lady? Everyone already knows I’m yours.”
“Did you fall and hit your head or something?” Lane laughed. “Unreal… Have my dinner ready when I get out. I’m starving.”
He shook his head, still laughing, and walked out toward the bathroom.
Kait stepped out of the shower wrapped in one towel, another twisted around her hair. She dug through the first aid kit, dabbed ointment on her knee, slapped a band-aid over it, then turned to the mirror to get at her elbow.
Someone knocked.
“It’s open,” she called, figuring it was Alejandra.
Lane opened the door instead.
Her pupils blew wide.
“Um…” he muttered and put his head down.
“I thought you were Alejandra. What’s up?”
“Just whenever you get a sec.” He was trying not to stare and failing. She turned again. “You hurt your shoulder?” he asked, catching the raw scrape on her shoulder blade.
Kait twisted. “Oh shit. I guess. No wonder it was burning. Fuck,” she said, trying to reach it. Her fingers didn’t even get close.
Lane thought about offering and hated that he did. The towel outlined her in quiet, dangerous detail—tight lines, trained muscle, the kind you only get by putting in the hours.
She was also taller than any of the girls at the Nest.
Legs for miles.
She turned, and the towel on her head slipped off. Lane stepped forward and caught it. His gaze flickered down, caught on the high line of her thigh where the towel slit opened, then up to her face again—wet hair framing it, cheeks still flushed from the hot water.
She held up one hand smeared with ointment and the other with a band-aid stuck to her fingertips.
He draped the hair towel over a chair.
“Would you mind? I can’t reach,” she said.
Lane took the tube from her. She watched him in the mirror.
When he got closer, Kait could smell him. Not the soap from his skin of the laundry detergent from his clothes but his own smell. He moved her hair aside and her skin broke out in goosebumps. He looked so focused for such a small task. His touch was light, like she was made of glass.
She noticed and chuckled. “I’m not that fragile, Kount.”
He looked at her in the mirror and smoothed the ointment over the scrape, knuckles barely grazing her back.
She met his eyes in the mirror again.
Lane felt sweat bead at his temples. A million thoughts fired at once. He could so easily rip that towel off and—
“I think that should do,” he said, forcing his voice steady.
“One last favor?” she asked, holding up the band-aid.
Lane took it and pressed it on. She winced.
“Shit,” he said, stepping back and wiping his hands on her fallen hair towel.
“It’s okay. Thanks. So, what’s going on?” Kait asked, turning to lean against the counter. The towel rode a little higher up her thigh this time. She caught him looking.
“Just… a couple things about earlier,” he said, snapping back into Kount mode.
“Okay?”
“So… even if skips seem cooperative, you should always handcuff ’em. Just for extra protection. You never know with these guys. Especially addicts.”
“Oh. All right,” she said, nodding.
“And… always let someone know where you’re going. You can’t just run off like you did earlier. You could’ve botched the whole recovery.”
Kait raised an eyebrow. “Sorry. You’re right. Okay. I just didn’t want to chance it.”
He looked at her one last time. “I get it,” he said, heading for the door.
“Hey, Kount?”
He turned.
“Thanks. I learned a lot from you today,” she said with a small, honest smile.
Lane just nodded and left.
Kait took a deep breath and felt something crack open sideways—hope, maybe—that he’d finally start being decent to her. She got dressed and headed to Don and Loraine’s for dinner.
DON AND LORAINE’S HOUSE
LATER THAT NIGHT
“Did I mention how happy I am that you’re here?” Don said after Kait told them about the two skips.
“It was all three of us, really. I can’t take all the credit,” Kait said.
The doorbell rang.
Loraine rolled her eyes. “I got it. You know how much I love dealing with that…” She looked at Kyle and bit off the rest of the sentence.
“I can’t stay here tonight?” Kyle asked.
“Nah, little man, you’re staying with your mom this weekend,” Kolton said.
“Can I talk to you before I go? Kyle, get your stuff ready,” said the woman in the doorway.
“That’s Lee, Kyle’s mom,” Don said quietly.
Kait just watched.
Lee and Kolton went down the hallway.
“I need some money,” Lee said.
“Of course you do. What for?” Kolton asked.
“Kyle needs clothes. He’s been so bad, he’s got holes in every shirt, every pair of pants,” she said, popping her gum.
“My mom gets him clothes every time he comes here.”
“That’s how fast he goes through them. He needs new shoes too.”
“My mom got him a pair like last week,” Kolton said, arms crossed.
“Those things run out too. I just need, like, a hundred bucks.”
“Is it gonna go straight up your nose? I know you’re fucking Luis,” he said through his teeth.
“Don’t worry about who I fuck. Or what goes up my nose. Like you’re the one to talk with your little coke problem—”
Kolton smacked her face to get her to shut up quickly. “You shut the fuck up,” he sighed, pulling his wallet out.
Lee brushed off the slap. She was used to getting set straight by Kolton like that, or any man, for that matter.
She glanced back toward the dining table. “So that’s her, huh? The love of your life…”
“Yep,” he said, handing her the cash.
“Super blonde and super hot. Good job.”
“I’m gonna ask Kyle on Monday if you got him clothes.”
“Go ahead. Come on, Kyle!” she yelled.
Kolton said goodbye to his son and shut the door a little harder than he needed to.
Forty-five minutes later, Kait and Kolton went back to the Nest and wandered to the pool table. Blaze was there, playing with Lane, Diablo, and Kode. Smoke, chalk dust, Tool’s Eulogy, and cheap beer.
Kait and Kolton took a couple of stools off to the side and watched.
“You still good with those painkillers Loraine gave you?” Kolton asked, brushing a thumb along her cheek.
“Yeah. They’re making me kinda sleepy with the beer, though.”
“You wanna call it a night? Get some rest?”
“Not yet. I can still hang.”
“We can go to bed anyway,” he said, kissing her.
“Hey!” Blaze called. They both looked over. “You gonna play or what?”
Kait noticed the annoyed look on Lane’s face. “I’ll just watch. Go ahead,” she said, leaning her good elbow on the table.
“Prince, take my shot. I gotta go piss,” Kode said, handing him the cue.
“Kode and Blaze are stripes,” Lane said as Kolton lined up.
Three girls walked in, drifting straight toward the pool table. Kait recognized two of them—Dulce and the redhead from the Dirty Alley. The third was a blonde she had only seen on stage.
“Ouch, what happened to you, sweetheart?” Dulce asked, eyeing the bandage on Kait’s elbow.
“Oh, hey. Just a little scratch,” Kait said.
Dulce plopped down next to her. “Want me to kiss it better?”
Kait smirked. “You are too much.”
“But I bet you can handle me,” Dulce said, licking her top lip.
“Hey, boys,” the redhead said.
“Sup, Peach?” Diablo grinned, and she kissed him.
“Nothing, just bored. We wanted to hang out,” she said, hugging him from the side.
The blonde drifted toward Blaze while Kolton sank his shot.
“Nailed it,” Kolton said as the ball dropped into the side pocket. He lined up another.
“So… when you stopping by the Alley again?” Dulce asked.
“I don’t know. Still settling.”
“I hope you don’t get homesick and go back,” Dulce said, twirling a strand of Kait’s hair.
Kolton came over after missing his next shot and slipped an arm around Kait. “You should give it up, Dulce.”
“Never,” Dulce muttered—and Melanie walked over with a bucket of beer.
“Oh, can I get one?” Dulce asked.
“You know where the fridge is. Here, guys,” Melanie said, dropping a couple cold ones in front of Kait and Kolton.
“Fine,” Dulce huffed and got up.
Kolton sat, rolling his eyes. “You better stop being nice to her. She’s pretty relentless.”
“Yeah? How long did it take her to get in your bed?”
Kolton scoffed. “That was a long time ago. Never happening again.”
“Why you say it like that? That’s a hot Mexican chick.”
“Not into that anymore,” he said, kissing her neck.
“What are you into now?”
“Top notch European imports,” He went harder at her neck and sucked on it and she chuckled.
“You done playing?” Lane called from the other end of the table. Not amused.
“My shot already?” Kolton asked, surprised, and grabbed the cue again.
“So, we didn’t know you guys let girls in the club,” Peach said. “Can I join too?”
Lane scoffed, shaking his head.
“Do we have to audition or something?” Dulce asked, coming back with beer in hand and sitting with Kait again.
“Yeah, you see that black couch over there?” Lane said.
The boys laughed.
“Well, if you’re the one interviewing…” Dulce said, giving him a look.
Lane made a face like he’d bitten into something rotten.
“Kait’s the only girl in the club,” Blaze said.
“You do all the stuff they do, Kait?” Dulce asked.
“We don’t discuss club matters with snakeholes. Know your place,” Lane said.
“You’re always so cranky, Kount. Maybe this little honey over here ain’t doing her job right anymore,” Dulce said, jerking her chin at Melanie.
Melanie snapped.
She threw a glass of water straight at Dulce.
“You fucking bitch!” Dulce screeched, soaked.
Kait caught some of the splash and got on her feet. Kolton was immediately at her side.
Lane moved faster than anyone, grabbing Melanie by the arm and yanking her away.
“I’m so sorry, Kait,” Melanie said as Lane dragged her toward the door.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, bitch!” Peach yelled, rushing to Dulce. They stomped off toward the bathroom.
The blonde handed Kait a bar towel. “I’m so sorry. Dulce is such an idiot.”
“It’s just water, guys,” Kait said, drying her kutte as everyone hovered.
“Lane needs to set his bitch straight,” Kolton muttered to Diablo.
“What the hell happened?” Kode asked, coming back.
“You were in the bathroom this whole time?” Blaze asked.
“Yeah…”
“I’m gonna call it a night. Thanks again… what’s your name?” Kait asked the blonde.
“Amber. Hi.”
“You actually have a normal name,” Kait said.
Amber laughed. “Well, I go by Sunshine at the Alley.”
“I can see that. All right, guys…” Kait said, hugging Blaze goodbye.
“I’m going too,” Kolton said.
“Let’s finish the game, Prince. Kode can cover Kount’s shots,” Blaze said.
Kolton glanced at Kait.
“Have fun,” she said, kissing him.
Kait headed through the double doors and stopped short. Lane’s voice cut through the night right across the courtyard.
She slid behind the stairs and listened.
“We had this fucking conversation just a few hours ago. I hate repeating myself,” he snapped.
“I’m sorry, she just got under my skin. Especially because she may be right and I’m not enough for you anymore,” Melanie sobbed.
“Don’t do that shit. You know it doesn’t work with me.”
“I’m sorry,” Melanie sniffed.
“Let me make this easier for you and stop this shit right here.”
“No, Kount, please,” she begged, grabbing his arm.
Lane pulled away. “I’ll let the boys know you’re available.”
She hugged him from behind. “Please don’t do this to me, Kount.”
“I was very clear. You did this to yourself. Maybe now you’ll learn to know your place.”
“I don’t want that anymore.”
“You didn’t mind before,” he said putting his hands out. “And apologize to Kait. You got water all over her.”
His boots pounded off to the garage.
Melanie went into the closest door.
Kait hurried to her room feeling awful for Melanie. Lane was a fucking asshole… but she had to give him credit for one thing: he was honest. Brutal, but honest.
“Hey, baby,” Kolton said, walking in and startling her. “Why you so jumpy?”
Kait stood and went to him. “Lane was yelling at Melanie out there just now. Couldn’t help but listen.”
“Good. She fucked up,” Kolton said, sitting to pull his boots off.
“He made her cry and everything.”
Kolton laughed.
“It wasn’t even a big deal,” Kait said, dropping beside him.
Kolton shrugged. “She’s his, so… Besides, she’s been pissing him off lately.”
“Apparently, she’s not his anymore. He told her he was done and he was gonna let you all know she was available.”
“Ram will be very happy to hear that,” Kolton smirked.
“Fucking Ram…”
“Honestly, baby, don’t feel bad for her. She knows what she is. Honeys that don’t make it as ole ladies go back to being snakeholes. It’s just how it goes.”
“Well, I guess no one forces that shit on them,” Kait said.
“Exactly. But anyway…” he cupped her face. “Are you too tired for me tonight?”
“I can stay up for a couple of minutes.”
Kolton pushed her back onto the bed, getting on top of her. “It’ll definitely be longer than that,” he said, and kissed her.
next morning
Kait woke up early. Painkillers had worn off, but habit pulled her up. She padded to the kitchen, got coffee and toast. Even Alejandra wasn’t up yet.
Lane was on the couch watching the news. Mack was knocked out on the other couch. Commercial on mute. The TV light flickered over the room.
Kait stopped behind Lane and took a bite of toast.
Crunch.
Lane frowned.
The fuck was that?
He didn’t turn.
She took another bite.
He finally glanced back. She stood there chewing, holding her toast.
“Morning,” she said still chewing.
“Eating that crap again?”
“So? There’s some fresh coffee in the pot.”
“Black. No sugar,” he said, turning back to the TV.
Kait scoffed. “Yep, help yourself.”
He didn’t answer.
The news came back on.
“There is still a heavy Border Patrol presence this morning, as INS investigators work to piece together what happened in this stretch of Laredo a few days ago,” the reporter said from a dusty roadside.
“Oh, shit…” Kait said under her breath.
“I hate having people behind me,” Lane said, looking up at her. “Can you sit down or stand somewhere else?”
Kait smirked and sat on the other couch, opposite Mack.
“So what exactly happened here?” the reporter asked.
“You don’t know shit,” Lane told the inspector on the TV.
“It is still under investigation at this time, but we can confirm several members of the Talamantes cartel were killed,” the INS inspector said.
“How many we talkin’ about?” the reporter asked.
“Eight,” Lane said.
“We have five bodies total, at this time,” the border patrol agent answered.
Lane chuckled. “Morons.”
“Will they actually dig?” Kait asked, finishing her toast.
“No. They don’t give a shit. It was just a little too messy not to be shown on the news. They’ll sweep it under the rug. Like all the others,” Lane said.
“You guys are up early,” Alejandra said, walking in. “Need anything?”
“Coffee,” Lane said, smirking at Kait.
“I’m good. I made my own cup, thanks,” Kait said, taking a sip.
“Hey, babe. Why’d you get out of bed so early?” Kolton asked, wandering in shirtless and half-asleep.
“I was just up already.”
“You need anything, Prince?” Alejandra asked.
“Just to get this one back in bed. Come here, baby,” Kolton said, picking Kait up.
“I want coffee too,” Mack mumbled, finally waking.
Kolton carried Kait back down the hall. Alejandra walked to the kitchen.
“I bet you she tastes like strawberries,” Mack said.
“Ask Kolton after he’s done,” Lane said, standing up and heading to his room.
Irritated.
Later in the morning, Kait and Kolton rode through Dryden. Downtown first, then out toward the water, all the way to Loyola Beach. They grabbed lunch on the far end of the parking lot—burgers, fries and lemonades from some small joint called Beach Bites. El Duelo drifted in from somewhere. Probably the group of young Mexican rockers down below, kicking a hacky sack around defying the stereotype.
“So, how you like being back?” Kolton asked with his mouth full of burger.
“It’s great. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
“You okay, though? About your dad…”
“Yeah. What can you do? He’s… gone,” Kait said, shrugging.
Kolton took her hand. “Did I tell you how happy I am that you’re back?”
Kait smiled. “Not today.”
“Well, I am. As unreal as it still seems,” he said.
She just smiled and went back to her burger.
“So… don’t lie. D’you leave anyone behind over there?” he asked.
Kait scoffed. “I did, actually.”
“Yeah? Was it serious?”
“Nah. If it was, I wouldn’t be here.”
“What happened?”
“Well… he wasn’t serious.”
“About you two?”
“About the club. He was supposed to take over but didn’t think he could handle it.”
“Really? You were dating the VP?”
Kait shrugged.
“Besides, the people we had business with only wanted to deal with my dad. Rune was never gonna get their respect.”
“Rune… sounds like some big Viking dude.”
“He was, well, is. Should still be alive,” Kait said, then shook her head, done with that topic.
“He’s not gonna try to come down and get you back, is he?”
“Nah.”
“Good, ’cause I’m gonna fuck him up if he tries,” Kolton said, leaning over to kiss her.
They headed back toward their bikes.
And stopped cold.
Four motorcycles were lined up beside theirs.
Kolton’s stomach dropped as he recognized those colors. He also remembered he wasn’t on Krait turf anymore.
“Fuck…”
