ASHES & PAIN
Chapter 15
HUNTED
Church broke apart slowly.
Some headed toward the bikes. Others headed to the bar, cigarettes already lit before they’d reached the steps.
Kait slipped through them without saying much.
“Kait.”
She didn’t stop.
“Kait.”
Kolton caught up with her halfway on the walkway.
“I don’t wanna talk to you.”
“You didn’t let me explain.”
“I heard enough.”
He moved in front of her before she reached her door.
“I didn’t hurt her.”
Kait stared at him.
His eyes were bloodshot. He looked like he hadn’t slept.
He grabbed her shoulder. Not hard, just enough to keep her steady.
“I fucking swear.”
She waited.
“I went there, yes,” he admitted. “She said she was coming back to the Nest, so I left. That was it.”
“You expect me to just believe that? Why did you send Josh away? He took the cage, he could’ve given her a ride.”
“Cause I was there and, I don’t know.”
Another pause.
“Why did you lie and tell Josh I knew then?”
Her expression barely changed.
“Cause I don’t have to explain shit to a prospect, babe. Fuck.”
Kait looked him in the eye.
Kait looked him in the eye.
“I was with Kyle all night after that. As soon as I left her house mom called to tell me Kyle was burning up.” He caressed Kait’s cheek. “I swear, baby. I took him to clinic right after. Ask my mom.”
“You realize how everything sounds, right?”
“Yeah, it sounds convenient, I totally see it. But as much as that shit between you and her was bothering me, it ain’t enough to make me want to kill her… Not to mention I’m on probation?”
Kait looked at him trying to find a contradiction or a flaw in his story.
“I didn’t hurt her, babe… On my son.”
Kait took a deep breath and nodded once.
“Then help me find who did.”
“I will. C’mere, I fucking hate this.”
He hugged her hard.
“I hate fighting. That’s all we do anymore.”
From the chapel steps, Blaze watched their bedroom door close. He stood there a few seconds longer than he meant to.
He thought of him and Kait earlier on that truck bed and finally understood why Kolton couldn’t let her go.
One time…
But he knew that one time would haunt him for a while.
next day
Morning came whether anyone was ready for it or not.
By seven, the Nest had settled back into routine.
Kolton had already left to get Kyle ready for school.
Things were normal.
Routine.
Whatever people thought about Dulce’s murder, they kept it to themselves.
Business went on.
It always did.
Kait was riding with Ram running some errands.
After dropping some money off to Chugs, Kait took a detour and eased the Kriger to the curb across from the vacant corner building.
Ram shut off his bike beside her.
“The hell is this place?”
Kait rested both boots on the pavement.
“Looks like an old hotel, Ram.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I like the location.”
“For what?”
She looked across the street.
“I’ve been thinking about a new place… for the girls.”
Ram looked at the building again.
“Keep talking.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. She knew he was already on board.
“Just, a place they can do what they do safely.”
“I can see that…”
“Maybe if there was already a place like this, Dulce would still be alive.”
He nodded toward the storefront.
“Damn. That shit about Dulce sucks… she was so good at—”
Kait pulled the folded scrap of paper from her vest.
“You’re a fucking pig.”
“Well, I didn’t know her, we never really had a conversation, we actually couldn’t ‘cause she always had my—”
Then stopped as soon as he saw Kait’s face.
“Shut up and give me a quarter, I’m gonna see if that phone works.”
“My bad.” He said reaching into his pocket.
She caught the quarter and walked over to the payphone outside the corner bar, dropped in the quarter, and dialed.
Ram started looking in the windows. “We can put a mechanical bull right in the middle, some mudwrestling going on too.”
That made Kait chuckle, then a woman answered.
Kait introduced herself, asked if the property was still available, then got straight to the point.
“What’s the asking price?”
She listened.
Her face stayed perfectly still.
“Okay. Yes, very interested.”
A pause.
“I understand. Can it be today?”
Ram tried to get her attention again.
“Yes, that’s fine, I’ll see you at 11. Thanks.”
She hung up.
Ram watched her walk back.
“Well?”
Ram’s eyebrows climbed.
“They want to show me the place before they give me a price.”
“Shit, that usually means it’s expensive.”
“I know. I’m meeting with someone tomorrow at 11 to go in.”
They both looked back at the building.
“I don’t wait until tomorrow. I’m here now.”
Kait took a quick look around and broke a glass panel from the door.
“I fucking love you,” Ram muttered.
“After you,” she said as she unlocked it and opened the door.
“Pardon me,” Ram said shoving his hands into his pockets and walking in slowly pretending to be a cowboy.
They walked around the place. Kait could already see it.
The bar where the reception desk was. There was already a back office. The lobby had plenty of room for more than one stage. Maybe they could have live music too.
She nodded.
The place was perfect.
Kait looked at Ram who was pretending to dance with a señorita.
“Wanna go upstairs?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Finally! I knew you were gonna ask me one day.”
“Oh, shut the fuck up,” Kait said and went upstairs.
“Hold on, it’s kinda creepy down here.”
There were eight rooms upstairs. The one overlooking the street could be the main office.
AMBER’S APARTMENT - LATER
Amber answered after the second knock.
She looked exhausted.
Not from crying anymore.
Just… empty.
She hugged Kait.
“You okay?”
Kait nodded. “You?”
Amber gave a humorless laugh. “I don’t even know anymore. I don’t think it’s dawned on me yet.”
She stepped aside.
“Come in.”
Amber closed the door behind them.
Her apartment smelled like burnt coffee and cigarettes and some flowery citrus perfume.
A pair of heels rested beside the couch.
The television was on, muted, playing some daytime talk show neither of them looked at.
“You want some coffee?”
Kait shook her head.
Amber dropped onto the couch with a tired sigh.
“I talked to the cops again.”
Kait looked over.
“When?”
“This morning. Guess who?”
“Are you serious? What’d he want?”
“He said he was trying to find Dulce’s next of kin.”
“I told him yesterday she didn’t have any family here.”
Amber slowly shook her head.
“That’s what I told him.”
Kait lowered herself into the armchair across from her.
“What else?”
“He started asking about work. He wanted to know where she’d been lately, how she was making her money after the Alley burned down.”
“Did you tell him anything?”
“Of course not. I know better.”
Kait leaned forward.
“Do you know where the studio is?”
Amber frowned.
“No, but this girl, Arianna, is the one who hooked Dulce up with those guys.”
“Call her. See if you can get me an address. Something. Anything.”
Amber walked over to her bag and pulled out a small address book. After finding the page she needed, she picked up the phone and dialed.
A few minutes later, she handed Kait a piece of paper.
“It’s not an address, but it’s close. Arianna gave me some cross streets and a few landmarks.”
“Thanks.”
Kait folded the paper and slipped it into her vest.
“So… where were you going with Dulce?”
Kait caught the change in her voice.
“Going? Um…”
“Don’t do that with me, Amber.”
Amber swallowed.
“The clinic.”
“Why? You sick?”
“Not… that kind of clinic.”
A long silence.
“You mean…”
Sunshine nodded.
“It’s Blaze’s.”
The words hung between them.
“I had an appointment.”
Amber stared at the floor.
Kait waited a moment before speaking.
“Does Blaze—”
Amber shook her head fast and grabbed Kait’s arms.
“No. Of course not. Please don’t tell him.”
“I won’t. That’s none of my business.”
Amber let go.
“Kait…”
She hesitated.
“I still need to do it… but I can’t go alone.”
She looked up.
“Would you…”
Kait shrugged.
“Yeah. Just let me know when.”
Amber nodded.
“Tomorrow.”
“Shit. What time?”
“Seven.”
“Sure. I can do that.”
“You can drive my car. I don’t think I’ll be able to get on the back of your bike afterward.”
“I figured.”
Kait headed for the door.
“Okay. I need to stop by Snake Eyes.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Kait headed to Snake Eyes to find Kode.
He wasn’t there, but Randy told her he’d gone to the city jail to post bond and should be back soon.
She stayed at the counter for a while, talking to Randy about the barn and how much progress they’d made, until the front door opened.
“Hey, Kaitydoll.”
Kait’s expression immediately soured.
Loraine came in carrying a couple of grocery bags and set them on the counter.
“Hey,” Kait muttered, turning back to Randy. “I’m gonna wait for Kode in the back.”
“Alright, sweetheart.”
Randy went back to what he was doing, apparently oblivious to the tension.
Kait walked into the back office and took a seat at Kode’s desk. The computer screen was black, so she moved the mouse around, trying to wake it.
Nothing.
She clicked a few times, then leaned back in the chair.
The door opened.
Kait looked up, expecting Kode.
Instead, Loraine stepped inside.
Kait turned back to the computer and tapped the space bar a couple of times.
Still nothing.
“Hey. How’s it going?” Loraine asked.
“Fine.”
“Yeah? Good.”
Loraine lingered by the doorway.
“It’s just that the other night, you seemed a little upset.”
Kait shrugged and clicked the mouse again.
“Listen, Kait. I know things have been difficult between us.”
Kait looked over her shoulder.
“I really don’t wanna get into that right now.”
“I understand.” Loraine stepped farther into the office. “I just want you to know I never meant for any of this to happen.”
Kait gave a dry laugh.
“Yeah, okay.”
“I mean it. I hate seeing this family divided, especially now that things are finally starting to settle down.”
Kait turned back to the monitor.
Kait headed to Snake Eyes to find Kode.
He wasn’t there, but Randy told her he’d gone to the city jail to post bond and should be back soon.
She stayed at the counter for a while, talking to Randy about the barn and how much progress they’d made, until the front door opened.
“Hey, Kaitydoll.”
Kait’s expression immediately soured.
Loraine came in carrying a couple of grocery bags and set them on the counter.
“Hey,” Kait muttered, turning back to Randy. “I’m gonna wait for Kode in the back.”
“Alright, sweetheart.”
Randy went back to what he was doing, apparently oblivious to the tension.
Kait walked into the back office and took a seat at Kode’s desk. The computer screen was black, so she moved the mouse around, trying to wake it.
Nothing.
She clicked a few times, then leaned back in the chair.
The door opened.
Kait looked up, expecting Kode.
Instead, Loraine stepped inside.
Kait turned back to the computer and tapped the space bar a couple of times.
Still nothing.
“Hey. How’s it going?” Loraine asked.
“Fine.”
“Yeah? Good.”
Loraine lingered by the doorway.
“It’s just that the other night, you seemed a little upset.”
Kait shrugged and clicked the mouse again.
“Listen, Kait. I know things have been difficult between us.”
Kait looked over her shoulder.
“I really don’t wanna get into that right now.”
“I understand.” Loraine stepped farther into the office. “I just want you to know I never meant for any of this to happen.”
Kait gave a dry laugh.
“Yeah, okay.”
“I mean it. I hate seeing this family divided, especially now that things are finally starting to settle down.”
Kait turned back to the monitor.
“Looks like you and Kolton are finally getting back to where you used to be,” Loraine continued.
“He’s been doing so much better lately.”
“Right.”
“And it’s all thanks to you. I told you he would get better in no time if you stuck around.”
Kait pressed the space bar again, harder this time.
Loraine rested a hand on the back of the empty chair beside her.
“I also hear Lane is doing well in Huntsville.”
Kait stopped.
“Yeah?”
“Don says he’s doing a wonderful job over there. And now that Melanie’s with him, I think they’re finally getting serious. Everyone is moving on.”
Kait struck the keyboard with the side of her fist.
Loraine flinched.
Kait turned in the chair and glared at her.
Before either of them could say another word, Kode appeared in the doorway with a folder tucked under his arm.
“What’s up, Toast?”
He glanced at Kait, then at Loraine.
Loraine smiled.
“Hey, this shit’s not working.”
“Really?”
Kode went over to her.
Loraine moved toward the door.
“Okay, I’m sure you two have club business to discuss. I’ll leave you to it.”
She gave Kait another pleasant smile before walking out.
Kode watched her leave, then looked back at Kait.
“Did you break my keyboard?”
“No.”
Kode set the folder down and pushed the power button. The screen came to life.
Kait stared at it.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Kode pulled up his chair.
“So… How can I be of service?”
“Help finding something.”
A few minutes later, the two of them had narrowed the studio’s location to somewhere near the Port of Corpus Christi.
“It makes sense,” Kode said. “Industrial district. Isolated. Anonymous. Vans coming and going wouldn’t raise an eyebrow.”
Kait nodded.
“Exactly.”
Kode leaned back in his chair.
“It’s convenient if they’re smuggling girls, too.”
He frowned.
“I don’t think these guys are just regular pimps.”
“No. They’re not. There’s gotta be a lot more shit they’re involved in.”
Kait stared at the map.
Kode was quiet for a moment.
“Still crazy about Dulce.”
He shook his head.
“We were just hanging out the other night.”
Kait looked away.
“Yeah…”
Kode glanced at her.
“Hey, you figure out how you’re voting yet?”
Kait sighed.
“Yeah. We need the money, so I’m backing Don.”
Kode nodded slowly.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing. But damn, Toast. That’s a big fucking step.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“We can’t lose our home, Kode.”
“Yeah… I had no idea there were problems with the Nest.”
“Me neither. I guess Don didn’t want us to worry until it got this bad.”
Kode put his hands up.
“Don’s the man… and that’s why I’m also voting in favor. Besides, I’ve got some shit I need to buy before the end of the year.”
“Like what?”
“Computer equipment. Backup drives. A generator.”
Kait looked at him.
“A generator?”
“Y2K, Toast.”
She stared at him.
“You’re not starting with that shit again.”
“I’m telling you, when those computers roll over to January first, nobody knows what’s gonna happen.”
“Yeah, well, if the world’s ending, I don’t think your fucking computer’s gonna matter.”
“It’s not the end of the world. That’s the whole point. But if computers stop working, we’re fucked. We’ll go back to the stone age.”
Kait shook her head.
“Maybe we need something like that to happen.”
“Fuck that. It’s gonna be chaos.”
“Whatever. Buy your generator.”
Kode shook his head.
Kait took a deep breath to reset the room.
“Anyway, one last thing. You think you can pull up property values?”
Kode grinned.
“Sure.”
“What’ve you got?”
The highway into Corpus Christi gave way to freight yards, warehouses and shipping companies.
The farther north she rode, the fewer storefronts she saw.
Instead…
Concrete.
Corrugated steel.
Chain-link fences.
Railroad crossings.
Semis.
Shipping containers stacked three high.
Everything smelled like diesel fuel and saltwater.
Kait slowed the Kriger as she rolled through the industrial district near the port.
Every warehouse looked exactly like the last.
No signs.
No windows.
No reason to stop.
She spent the better part of an hour riding every side street Kode had circled on the map.
Nothing.
She was about to head back when movement caught her eye.
A pair of men stepped out of a gray warehouse two blocks ahead.
They weren’t talking.
They weren’t laughing.
One lit a cigarette while the other locked the steel service door behind him.
Kait kept rolling without looking directly at them.
Leather jackets.
Dark jeans.
Combat boots.
Short hair.
Military posture.
One carried himself with a slight limp.
Not from age.
From an old injury.
Eastern Europe.
She knew Balkan crews when she saw them.
The taller one scanned the street without moving his head.
Professional.
Not paranoid.
Trained.
Kait didn’t slow.
She let the Kriger idle past as if she were just another biker killing time.
Neither man gave her a second look.
Good.
She made the block, turned twice, then parked beneath the shade of an abandoned loading dock overlooking the warehouse district.
From there she could see the building without being obvious.
Gray concrete.
Faded loading doors.
No company logo.
No trucks backed into the docks.
Just…
A white cargo van.
Ten minutes later another vehicle arrived.
A black Mercedes sedan. Late eighties model.
One of the men opened the gate before the driver even reached it.
Interesting.
Kait watched for another few minutes.
Nobody came out.
Nobody went in.
Everything about the place screamed legitimate.
Everything about the people didn’t.
She reached into her vest and unfolded Amber’s handwritten directions.
The warehouse sat less than a block from where Arianna had described.
Close enough.
She folded the paper and slipped it back into her vest.
Her cell phone rang.
She frowned.
Hardly anybody ever called it.
“Yeah?”
“Hey.”
Kolton.
“Where you at?”
She looked back at the warehouse.
“…Corpus.”
“The hell are you doing in Corpus?”
“Checking on a lead for the studio Dulce was working at.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve come with.”
“It was a last minute thing. I’m on my way back anyway.”
“Ok, cool.”
“So what’s up?”
He sounded almost nervous.
“I was wondering if… you would come over?”
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
She could hear him smile.
“I made dinner.”
She looked toward the warehouse again.
The white cargo van was still parked inside the fence.
“Just us, at my house.”
Silence.
“I haven’t had you to myself in a long time.”
Kait rested her forearm across the handlebars. She took a deep breath.
She thought of Loraine’s words about Lane and Melanie “getting serious.”
“…Okay.”
The relief in his voice was immediate.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Mom is gonna watch Kyle so we can just hang out.”
For the first time that day, Kait smiled.
“Okay, I should be there in about an hour.”
“Great,” he chuckled.
“Okay, see you in a little bit.”
She ended the call and looked back at the warehouse one last time.
The steel door opened.
One of the Serbs stepped outside to smoke.
Kait lowered her sunglasses.
“I’ll get them, Dulce.”
She thumbed the starter and pointed the Kriger toward Dryden.
The sun was dipping below the mesquite trees by the time Kait turned onto the quiet residential street.
Kolton’s house sat near the end of the block.
One story.
Tan brick.
White trim.
A two-car driveway where LeeAnn’s Buick was tucked in forgotten and Kolton’s bike was parked sideways.
Loraine had talked Don into buying the house for Kolton and LeeAnn as a wedding present.
They’d barely made it three months.
When things started falling apart, Kolton drifted back to the Nest. The house had become abandoned since LeeAnn went to prison on her suspended sentence.
But tonight… it looked lived in again.
The porch light was on.
Freshly cut grass lined the sidewalk.
Brand new American flag hanging beside the front door.
Even the flower bed had been weeded.
Kait killed the engine and climbed off the Kriger.
Before she could knock, the front door swung open.
Kolton smiled.
Not the cocky grin he wore around the club.
A genuine one.
“You made it.”
“I said I would.”
He stepped aside.
“Come in.”
The house smelled like garlic, grilled steak and butter.
Kait looked around as she stepped inside.
Everything was spotless.
Almost suspiciously so.
“You expecting the Health Department?”
Kolton laughed.
“I spent half the day cleaning.”
“I see. Good job.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I wanted it to look nice.”
Kait slipped off her kutte and draped it over the back of a chair.
“How’s Kyle doing?”
“He’s fine now, there’s no school tomorrow, so mom’s taking him to see LeeAnn in the morning.”
Kait nodded.
Kolton grabbed her hand.
“Let’s eat.”
Kait let him lead her into the dining room.
The little oak table had been set with actual plates instead of paper ones.
Two candles sat in the middle.
One was already leaning sideways.
Kait smiled.
“Wow. Candles and everything.”
Kolton looked down.
“I was trying something.”
“It’s nice.”
She smiled as she sat down.
He disappeared into the kitchen and came back balancing two plates.
Steak.
Mashed potatoes.
Corn.
He set one in front of her.
“So…”
He tried to sound casual.
“…what do you think?”
Kait picked up her fork, took one bite of the potatoes…
…and immediately looked at him.
He tried to keep a straight face.
“What?”
She pointed her fork at him.
“Loraine made these.”
His eyebrows went up.
“No, she didn’t.”
She laughed.
“These are your mom’s mashed potatoes.”
Kolton sighed dramatically.
“You too fucking smart. Yes, mom made dinner.”
Kait grinned.
“I knew it.”
“But, I cooked the steaks.”
She laughed.
“I swear.”
She looked at him for another second before smiling.
Kolton smiled.
“I did.”
She cut into the steak.
It was actually…
…really good.
She looked back up.
“I guess you did cook this.”
“Told you.”
“Cause it’s overcooked.”
His face fell. “No, it’s—”
She burst out laughing.
“I’m kidding,” she pointed at him with her knife. “Your face.”
“That’s a perfect fucking steak.”
For a little while…
It almost felt like they were sixteen again.
huntsville
Night had settled over Huntsville.
The chapel occupied what had once been a detached maintenance garage behind the clubhouse.
The concrete floor had been stained a dark gray.
The cinderblock walls had been painted black.
A torn Krait banner hung behind the President’s chair.
Everything else was simple.
A long wooden table.
Ten mismatched chairs.
A coffeepot that looked older than half the men in the room.
An American flag.
A Texas flag.
No decorations.
No wasted space.
Just business.
Lane stood at the head of the table.
Konway occupied the chair to his right.
Koa leaned back with his arms crossed.
Trace had a legal pad open in front of him.
Diablo sat quietly beside the five Koils who made up the rest of Huntsville’s chapter.
Ten men.
Small.
Efficient.
Exactly how Lane wanted it.
He looked around the table.
“I got a call from King. He wants me in Dryden tomorrow.”
Nobody interrupted.
“There’s a proposal on the table.”
Lane rested both forearms on the table.
“If it goes through, it changes everything for us.”
Trace frowned.
“Good or bad?”
“Both, actually.”
Silence.
“It’ll make this chapter a hell of a lot of money.”
He let that sink in.
“Enough money to finish this clubhouse.”
A few heads nodded.
“Expand, bring in more men. Increase inventory and territory.”
“So we won’t need Lycan MC’s money anymore?”
Diablo’s eyebrows were raised. He knew how dealing with Lycan MC was a dangerous thing.
“No. If Dryden comes through, Lycan will be giving us money.”
Konway spoke first.
“Oh shit. So what’s the catch?”
Lane looked him in the eye.
“Weed. Lots of it.”
Nobody said a word.
The room went still.
Koa finally broke the silence.
“Really? Hmm…”
Lane nodded once.
“Yeah.”
He wasn’t there to sell the proposal to his men yet.
He wanted to feel the energy around the idea.
“I’m going to learn more about the operation. Of course, it’s not gonna be forced on us, but it will help the mother charter quite a bit if we’re part of it, especially with distribution to Houston.”
Another quiet settled over the room.
“What’re you thinking?” Konway asked.
Lane didn’t answer immediately.
“I want to hear the whole plan before I have a real opinion.”
Nobody argued with that.
Lane looked toward Trace.
“You’ve got road assignments tomorrow.”
Trace nodded. “Already built.”
“Run ’em.”
Trace glanced down at his notes and gave a thumb up.
Lane listened without interrupting, making the occasional correction or asking a question until everything for the next day had been accounted for.
When they finished, Lane looked back around the room.
“I’ll ride out first thing.”
He looked toward Diablo.
“You’re staying here. You’re in charge of the runs. I’m taking Koa and Trace.”
Diablo nodded immediately.
“Got it.”
Lane stood.
“Anything else?”
They all nodded.
“Good.”
He looked around one last time.
“Rollout.”
The men stood and drifted back into the clubhouse.
Lane remained behind for a moment.
The room fell quiet again.
Tomorrow…
He’d be back in Dryden.
Kolton's house
The giant snake burst through the waterfall.
Kait laughed so hard she buried her face against Kolton’s chest.
“Oh, come on.”
Kolton couldn’t help laughing too.
“I told you this movie was awesome.”
“It’s terrible.”
“It’s awesome.”
She shook her head, still smiling as the snake somehow managed to swallow another impossible victim.
“This thing’s bigger than the damn river.”
“They should’ve brought a bigger gun.”
“They’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
He laughed getting the Jaws reference.
“That too.”
The laughter faded.
The television kept playing in the background.
Kait traced an absent-minded line across his chest.
“…Hey.”
Kolton looked at her, still smiling.
“I’m sorry.”
Kolton got serious.
“For what?”
“For accusing you. I really thought you had something to do with it.”
He was quiet for a moment.
“I know.”
“I got caught off guard.”
“It’s okay.”
She looked up at him.
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
Kolton gave a small shrug.
“I know you cared about Dulce.”
He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
“But it’s because of that…”
He smiled sadly.
“…I’d never hurt her because that would hurt you.”
The answer came so naturally it almost caught her off guard.
“I could never do anything that could hurt you. I love you.”
Silence settled between them.
Kait searched his face.
She believed him.
“Still. I’m sorry.”
He smiled.
“I forgive you.”
“You do?”
“On one condition.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“What’s that?”
He grinned.
“You gotta kiss me.”
She rolled her eyes.
“That’s your price?”
“And it’s non-negotiable.”
She leaned up and kissed him.
Softly.
When she pulled away, he was still smiling.
“I knew you’d cave.”
“Oh, shut up and watch your stupid Anaconda.”
“I got an anaconda for you.”
She laughed.
“I knew you were gonna say that.”
He kissed her and rolled her over.
Outside, the neighborhood had gone quiet.
The movie continued playing to an empty room as the evening slipped away.
NEXT MORNING
The alarm clock buzzed at six.
Kait reached over and shut it off before it could wake the whole house.
Kolton stirred beside her.
“Mmm… what the fuck?”
She slid carefully out of bed, gathering yesterday’s clothes from the floor.
“Where you going?”
She pulled her jeans on.
“Got shit to do.”
He cracked one eye open.
“You shitting me… I thought we had all morning.”
“I gotta take Amber to the dentist, she can’t drive home all fucked up on Novocain.”
He pushed himself up on one elbow.
“Who the fuck is Amber?”
“Sunshine.”
“Really?”
He watched her put her kutte on.
“You gotta roll out in a couple hours anyway.”
She leaned over and kissed him.
“Go back to sleep.”
He caught her wrist before she could stand.
“Stay. Tell that bitch to take a cab.”
She hesitated for only a second.
“Can’t.”
“This is bullshit.”
“Bye.”
He smiled anyway.
“Later.”
By the time the front door closed behind her, Kolton was already staring at the ceiling.
He’d hoped to have her in bed all morning.
Instead…
He listened to the Kriger rumble away down the street.
“Son of a bitch.”
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER
Amber sat quietly in the passenger seat.
Neither woman had said much since leaving Dryden.
The clinic occupied a plain medical office building tucked between a real estate offce and an insurance agency.
No sign advertised what happened inside.
Just a small brass plaque beside the entrance.
Amber stared through the windshield.
“I almost told him.”
Kait looked over.
“I almost canceled three times.”
“You still can.”
Amber was quiet.
“No.”
She took a shaky breath.
“I can’t. I’m not ready for this shit.”
“I can’t. I’m not ready for this shit, and I don’t think Blaze is ready for it either… Especially going through the divorce.”
Kait didn’t try to change her mind.
She simply reached across the center console and squeezed her hand.
“Well, you tell me. What do you wanna do?”
“No. I have to. Come on.”
Kait nodded and they got out of the car.
Amber got called in fairly fast and Kait just sat in the waiting room flipping through magazines about parenting, and a Cosmopolitan.
She found it ironic that the Cosmo offered hot sex tips and tricks to “Make him last longer.”
Wasn’t that the reason everyone was here?
Then she thought of her night with Kolton… he was great in bed, so passionate, intense. He made sure she was satisfied and last night he had been extra caring.
And yet…
It would never feel as good as it felt with—
No. Fuck you. I’m to think about you, especially like that.
Nearly two hours later Kait got called in to see Sunshine.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
“Just tired. Sore.”
“Let’s get you home then.”
The drive back to Dryden passed mostly in silence.
When they reached Amber’s apartment, Kait slowly walked her upstairs.
Amber unlocked the door, then turned back.
“Kait?”
“Yeah?”
“Promise me you won’t tell him.”
“I won’t.”
Amber swallowed.
“Thank you. Love you.”
“No problem. Get some rest.”
Kait waited until Amber disappeared inside before heading back downstairs.
She looked at her watch.
She still had time.
The realtor was expecting her.
She climbed back onto the Krieger and headed toward the corner of Oak Street and Cactus Avenue.
The realtor was already waiting when Kait pulled up.
Late fifties.
Sport coat.
Clipboard tucked under one arm.
“You must be Ms. Lokken.”
“Kait.”
He smiled and offered his hand.
“Frank Ellis.”
He unlocked the front door and pushed it open.
“Watch your step, there’s glass. I hope no one tried to break in.”
“Oh no…”
Frank explained and described all the things she’d already seen.
“The previous owner used to rent out the place for weddings and gatherings until he decided to shut down.”
Kait nodded, already mapping out everything.
The stages.
The bar.
Private rooms.
The upstairs still had most of the original layout.
A long hallway.
Rooms on either side.
The windows overlooked both Oak Street and Cactus Avenue.
“You’ve got good visibility from every direction, best view in the joint.”
She walked to one of the windows and nodded.
This was definitely going to be the main office.
“This was actually a brothel first before it became a hotel.”
“You don’t say?”
He shrugged.
“Yes, construction started in the late 1800s.”
1910, you liar.
Kait slowly nodded.
“I can tell.”
They made one last lap through the building before returning to the lobby.
Frank closed his folder.
“It’s priced competitively. One hundred thousand ain’t nothing for this piece of history”
She almost smiled.
Kode’s numbers said otherwise.
The building was worth closer to seventy.
Maybe seventy-five if someone really wanted it.
One hundred was a ripoff.
“I appreciate you showing it to me.”
“My pleasure.”
“Yeah, so if you want to go over it with your husband, take all the time you need.”
“Right…”
“If he decides to make an offer…”
“I’ll call.”
They shook hands.
Kait stepped back onto the sidewalk and looked up at the old hotel one more time.
She wasn’t ready to negotiate.
Not yet.
But she already knew it was going to be way cheaper than that.
Kait pulled into the Nest just before noon.
She showered quickly, changed into a clean T-shirt and jeans, then wandered into the clubhouse.
Ram was already halfway through a sandwich.
“You eat yet?”
She stole one of his fries.
“I’m eating now.”
He pointed at her with the sandwich.
“Where you headed?”
“Corpus.”
He frowned.
“The fuck for?”
“I think I found the studio Dulce was working at.”
That got his attention.
“You serious?”
She nodded.
“I wanna take another look before I tell King.”
Ram finished chewing.
“I’m coming with.”
“You don’t have to.”
He stood.
“I ain’t letting you go by yourself.”
“You don’t have to.”
He stood.
“I ain’t letting you go by yourself.”
Kait smiled.
“I just need to confirm the place.”
“Don’t matter. I’m bored anyway.”
“Okay then.”
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER
Lane shut off the engine.
The familiar sounds and smells settled around him.
He was glad to be there but it didn’t feel like home anymore.
Don met him halfway across the yard.
“Hey, son. You made good time.”
Lane nodded.
“I wanted to leave a little earlier, but oh well.”
Don laughed and embraced him.
“Boys, how we doing?”
Koa nodded. “Good to see you, sir.”
Trace raised a hand. “Doing well, sir. How are you?”
Don looked back at Lane. “You hungry?”
“I could eat.”
“Let’s eat something first.”
Lane smirked already knowing arguing was pointless.
“Alright.”
By the time lunch was on the table, Kode and Blaze had joined them.
Conversation stayed on Huntsville.
Membership.
Collections.
Repairs.
Business.
Then the front door opened.
Loraine walked in carrying Kyle on one hip.
The little boy was asleep against her shoulder.
“Oh, hi, guys. I didn’t know you were going to be in town.”
Lane didn’t even look at her.
Koa and Trace said hello.
Don looked up.
“Everything alright?”
“Yeah.”
She smiled.
“I just got back from seeing LeeAnn.”
She shifted Kyle slightly.
“I stopped by Kolton’s house. They’re not there.”
Don frowned.
She looked around the room.
“I figured they’d be home still. At least Kaitydoll.”
Lane’s fork stopped halfway to his mouth.
Don looked at her.
“Kait?”
Loriann answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“Yeah, she stayed with Kolton there last night.”
Lane set his fork down.
Very carefully.
“Well, Prince is on a run. Not sure where Toast is.”
Lane got up and walked to the bathroom without another word.
Behind him…
Loraine watched him leave.
Satisfied.
PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI
They watched three girls come out of a van. Blonde, young, attractive.
“Well, those ain’t their sisters, that’s for sure”
Kait nodded slowly.
“Nope. So I guess that’s it.”
“Damn… those chicks are fine.”
“And probably underage.”
Ram sighed.
“Way to cockblock, Toast.”
“Anytime… So, you still with Peaches or what?”
Ram rolled his eyes.
“I, um… she’s getting a little… attached.”
“Gross.”
“I know! So, that’s probably not gonna last.”
“Aw, sorry to hear that, Ramirez.”
“Oh, well… maybe I can take a trip to Europe and get to meet your friends.”
Kait blew a raspberry.
“Right. Okay, I’ve seen enough.”
The same white cargo van.
Then the black Mercedes pulled up and the girls got in it.
Ram nodded.
“So what now?”
“I ask King to greenlight it for me.”
Ram grinned.
“A huevo.”
Kait looked around at the surroundings.
“Hey, I don’t wanna go back yet. You want a beer before we roll? There was a bar like two blocks down.”
She shrugged.
They parked beside a pair of pickup trucks and walked inside the little waterhole.
The place was exactly what you’d expect.
Wood paneling.
Neon beer signs.
The Devil’s Right Hand playing on the jukebox.
A handful of dockworkers crowded around the pool table while two shrimp boat crews argued over football at the bar.
Nobody gave Ram a second look.
Kait, however… impossible not to notice her.
They grabbed a booth by the window.
Ram ordered a Dos Equis.
“Shot of vodka,” Kait said and the bartender nodded.
“Damn, borracha, you need to start going to meetings.”
“Fuck you.”
Ram chuckled and they got their drinks.
They sat at a table and took in the scene for a moment.
“You really think King’s gonna approve it? He kinda told you not to spend too much time on this.”
“I can’t let it slide, Ram.”
“No, I get it.”
She looked out the window.
“They’re not getting away with it.”
Ram smiled.
“Yeah, that’s fucked up.”
Talked about nothing.
Kait told him about Ananconda, he also said he had an anaconda in his pants.
Ram argued Anaconda was the greatest movie to ever come out of Hollywood and he talked about Jennifer Lopez’s ass.
For twenty minutes…
They paid and stepped back into the afternoon cold.
The salty air rolled in from the bay.
Kait reached into her pocket for her keys.
Then she stopped.
Three motorcycles rolled slowly past the bar.
Ram caught the change in her expression.
She never looked away.
“CU prospects.”
The riders continued another twenty yards before one glanced into his mirror.
His head snapped back.
He slapped the shoulder of the prospect beside him.
All three Harleys braked hard.
“Fuck…” Ram muttered.
The bikes swung into a U-turn.
Kait didn’t wait.
She threw a leg over the Kriger.
“Move.”
Ram was already firing up his bike, Papi.
The three prospects came straight at them.
One pointed.
Another grinned.
Even over the rumble of the engines, Kait could see him shouting.
SNAKE BITCH.
The Kriger roared to life.
Kait dumped the clutch and peeled out of the parking lot.
She glanced in her mirror.
They were gaining.
One of the prospects reached beneath his kutte.
Kait drew her Makarov with her left hand.
She fired blindly behind her.
The shot forced him to duck.
Traffic scattered.
Car horns blared.
The chase shot through downtown Corpus at nearly eighty miles an hour.
Bullets cracked past them.
One shattered the mirror of a passing pickup.
Another punched through the rear window of a parked sedan.
Kait cut between two delivery trucks.
Ram stayed tight on her rear tire.
She looked again.
Still three.
Still closing.
She caught Ram’s eye in his mirror.
Raised two fingers.
Then pointed in opposite directions.
Split.
Ram nodded once.
Then—
POP!
Ram’s handlebars jerked violently.
The round tore through his upper arm.
His bike fishtailed before he muscled it back under control.
Blood immediately soaked through his sleeve.
He gritted his teeth and kept riding.
At the next intersection he peeled left.
Kait noticed he got hit but stayed on the boulevard.
Exactly as she’d hoped…
The prospects ignored Ram.
All three stayed with her.
A grin crossed Kait’s face.
Good.
The prospects never even looked back.
They only wanted her.
Ram watched the chase disappear around the next block.
“…Pinche loca.”
He slowed just enough to duck into an empty service alley.
Hidden from the street, he killed the engine.
His left arm burned like fire.
He looked down.
Clean through.
He’d live.
He dug his phone out with his good hand and hit Blaze’s number.
Blaze answered on the second ring.
“Howdy.”
“Chrome Union’s after Toast.”
“…What? Where?”
“Corpus, at a bar near the port. The fuckin’… Oh, it’s called the fucking Port Bar.”
“The fuck are you doing in Corpus?”
Ram gritted his teeth.
“Toast found the studio.”
“What studio?”
“The fucking Bosnians. Just come to the fucking port. I got hit in the arm, man!”
“Bar by the Port?”
“I know where they are,” Ram heard Kode say in the background.
Another burst of gunfire echoed somewhere down the street.
Blaze heard it.
“Fuck they’re still shooting.”
“They’re chasing Toast.”
“Let’s fucking move already!”
“Is that Kount?”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
The Hardline tore through Corpus with Koa and Trace close behind.
They found Ram two blocks from the Port Bar.
He was sitting on his bike tucked in an alley, one hand pressed against his bleeding arm.
Lane never shut his engine off.
“Port!” Ram yelled pointed toward it.
Blaze and Kode pulled alongside Ram.
Lane looked once at his arm.
He’ll live.
Then twisted the throttle and the three Harleys thundered toward the waterfront.
The Port Bar came into view.
Only one Corpus patrol unit sat in the parking lot, lights flashing lazily.
Lane never slowed.
Neither did Koa or Trace.
Within seconds, the bar disappeared behind them.
The streets grew quieter.
Warehouses replaced storefronts.
Shipping containers.
Railroad crossings.
Loading docks.
The port.
Lane scanned every side street as they rode.
Then—
Four motorcycles.
Scattered across two blocks.
The Kriger lay on its side beside a loading dock.
Another had slammed into a chain-link fence.
A third rested against a warehouse wall.
The last had simply been abandoned in the middle of the street.
Lane braked hard.
“So much for a chase,” Koa muttered.
Lane climbed off the Hardline.
He drew his pistol.
“Spread out. I got the containers. Check the docks and warehouses.”
Trace cocked his gun.
“I got the docks.”
The three of them split and Lane disappeared into the maze of shipping containers.
The shipping containers stretched for what felt like miles.
Blue.
Red.
Green.
Stacked three high.
Narrow lanes twisted between them like a maze.
Kait slowed to a stop inside an empty container.
Her breathing settled.
Her gun rested against her thigh.
She listened.
“…We find her, we all get patched in.”
One prospect.
Too loud.
Another answered somewhere to her left.
“Harvey’s gonna love this.”
The third one hollered.
Kait rolled her eyes.
Idiots. Can you be any louder?
Every one of them announced exactly where they were.
Too much adrenaline.
Too much meth.
Too little training.
She closed her eyes for a second and listened.
Boots.
Running.
Metal clanging.
Then…
Silence.
Good.
They’d moved farther away.
She slipped toward the opening.
One careful step.
Then another.
She turned the corner—
—and slammed into a wall.
Solid.
Muscle.
Leather.
Texas flag…
She looked down at her own hands on his chest.
The she saw the PRESIDENT flasher.
Her eyes lifted.
Lane.
