ASHES & PAIN
Chapter 16
WOUNDED
Everything inside her stopped.
Her mouth parted.
“Lane, what—”
Footsteps.
Close.
Lane reacted before she finished her sentence. His hand caught her wrist, pulling her back into the container.
The steel door swung almost shut.
Leaving only a narrow crack.
He stepped in front of her.
One arm slightly behind him.
Keeping her there.
Outside, boots pounded across the concrete.
One prospect ran past.
Another shouted farther down the row.
“I lost her!”
“You stupid motherfucker! That wasn’t even her.”
“It was the shadow people,” another one said.
The others laughed.
Lane didn’t move.
Neither did Kait.
His eyes swept over her first.
Face.
Shoulders.
Hands.
No blood, no injuries.
Only then did he really look at her.
The bruises had faded from the Loyola Beach attack.
Her hair looked like it got longer.
Those impossible gray eyes…
Still just as hard to look away from.
His gaze drifted lower.
Her lips.
Then back to her eyes.
Kait was studying him too.
The jaw she’d missed nibbling on.
Those pale blue eyes.
He somehow looked bigger now.
Stronger.
The silence wasn’t awkward.
It was dangerous.
Every instinct they had said the same thing.
Close the distance.
Hold on.
Forget everything else.
For one impossible second…
Neither of them remembered why they couldn’t.
Before he realized what he was doing…
His hand lifted.
His fingertips brushed her cheek.
Barely.
Just enough to make sure she was real.
Kait didn’t pull away.
She leaned into the touch…
Only a fraction.
Enough to tighten something in his chest.
Their eyes held.
His thumb almost moved.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
Then forced herself to look away.
“Ram… he, um…”
Her voice caught.
“He got hit.”
Lane lowered his hand.
“He’s gonna be okay.”
A beat.
“Blaze stayed with him.”
She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“…What are you doing here?”
Lane blinked, as if waking up.
“I came to town to meet with Don, then Ram called…”
Another pause.
“And said you were in trouble.”
“You came for me?”
He held her eyes.
“Yeah.”
Kait’s stepped in, her hand found his chest.
“Kount!”
Trace’s voice echoed through the containers and Kait pulled her hands back fast as if she’d been caught stealing.
“You around here?”
“The crackheads are gone!” Koa called.
Lane looked toward the opening.
Then back at Kait.
“We need to go.”
She nodded.
The ride back to Dryden was quiet.
Lane led.
Trace and Koa stayed behind him.
Blaze rode beside Ram, keeping an eye on the blood soaking through the bandage wrapped around his arm.
Sludge followed in the van.
Kait rode near the back.
By the time they rolled through the Nest gates, dusk had settled over the courtyard.
Engines shut off one after another.
Everyone climbed off their bikes.
Blaze walked over to Ram, slipping an arm around his good shoulder.
“Come on. Let’s get Sunshine over here.”
Kait looked up.
“She can’t.”
Blaze frowned.
“She had a tooth pulled this morning. She’s still fucked up from the Novocain.”
“…Shit.”
Blaze looked at Ram.
“I guess we’re going to the ranch.”
Ram sighed.
“It fucking hurts!”
“Yeah,” Blaze said. “I’m working on it. No more riding, get in the truck.”
Without another word, Blaze helped him toward the Chevy.
Don stood on the second-floor walkway. His eyes settled on Kait.
“Toast.”
Everyone looked up.
He turned and walked through the chapel doors.
The silence he left behind was somehow louder than if he’d yelled.
Kait let out a slow breath.
“…Fuck.”
Nobody said a word.
She headed for the stairs glancing at Lane one last time.
Don closed the chapel door.
He leaned both hands on the table.
“You got Ram shot.”
She opened her mouth.
He cut her off.
“What did I say about that?” His jaw tightened. “Every man we had on deck just rolled 40 minutes away from home. It was just me, Randy and a couple prospects.”
He jabbed a finger against the tabletop. “All my snakes. Not one Fang at the Nest, and one gets shot because you decided to play detective.”
Kait’s expression hardened.
“We found the warehouse. That’s all I wanted to—”
“I don’t give a shit. I told you not to waste time on that, didn’t I?”
“It wasn’t a waste.”
“No?”
His voice stayed calm.
“You took six members and a van for a dead snakehole.”
The words hit like a slap.
“But I didn’t. I didn’t know Huntsville was here, or that Chrome was going to be in Corpus. I also didn’t ask Ram to come with. It just happened that way. I’m sorry.”
He took one slow step closer.
“But you made every decision that put them all there. Even a goddamn president.”
“I never ask for Lane to—”
“The club has a hell of a lot better ways to spend time and resources than chasing ghosts.”
He held her gaze.
“Especially with a major vote going on tonight.”
Kait’s jaw tightened.
“I was just trying to wrap this up. I thought she deserved better, that’s all.”
“She deserved better?”
Kait opened her mouth but Don cut her off.
“Your club deserved better than being left exposed.”
She looked away.
“You gambled with the Nest’s safety.”
“King, I… no.”
“No? You thought you knew better than the Head of the Snake.”
“I would never—”
“You investigated without permission. You took Ram and he got shot.”
Each sentence landed like a verdict.
“King, I didn’t think—”
“Oh, I know.”
His voice was almost quiet.
“That’s the problem. You. Didn’t. Think.”
Kait swallowed.
“King—”
“Shut up.”
A long silence settled between them.
“You will never go against my orders again, you understand me?”
Simple.
Final.
“Yes, sir.”
Don gave one short nod.
He stepped aside and opened the chapel door.
“Now go eat, wash up… get some rest. We have an important vote tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kait turned slowly.
“And Kait…”
She looked back.
“Don’t disappoint me again.”
“I won’t.”
She walked out without saying another word and headed straight to the Kriger.
She passed everyone on her way out and didn’t stop as some of them called out her name and asked where she was going.
Lane climbed the steps to the chapel two at a time.
The door creaked softly as he stepped inside.
Don stood in front of the Judge, a glass of whiskey in one hand, quietly staring at the snake behind the enclosure.
“Hey.”
Lane shut the door behind him.
“Hey.”
Don took another sip without looking away.
Lane waited a moment.
“What happened?”
Don finally turned. “Why?”
“Kait took off.”
Don sighed. “Son of a bitch… Well, she needed to know this was on her.”
“She didn’t look too happy.”
“I know but…” Don took another sip. “I told her to leave that shit alone.”
Silence settled between them.
“She couldn’t have known Chrome Union was gonna be there.”
“No.” Don’s voice remained calm. “But she knew I told her not to go.”
Lane rested a hand on the back of one of the chapel chairs.
“This could cost you her vote.”
Don looked up.
“You think so?”
“Maybe.”
Don frowned, turning the glass slowly in his hand.
“You really think she’d vote against it because of this?”
“She may vote against you out of spite.”
That hung between them.
“Did you yell at her?”
Don gave him a look.
“Well, what the hell was I supposed to do? She ignored a direct order.”
“I know.” Lane nodded. “But her friend was murdered. There was no way she was just gonna let it go.”
Don was quiet for a long moment.
Finally, he sighed.
“…I suppose.”
“I can go talk to her.”
Don looked at him.
“And hopefully save her vote.”
Another beat.
“Shit. Alright, go get her. We got church soon anyway”
Lane nodded. As Don shifted the glass, he noticed the white bandage wrapped around his forearm.
“Hey, what happened to your arm?”
Don glanced down. “Nothing. Got burned making breakfast.”
Lane gave a small nod. Then he turned and walked out, already knowing exactly where Kait had gone.
The Kriger rolled to a stop beside the lakehouse.
Kait killed the engine and sat there for a moment, both hands still on the handlebars.
The silence felt heavy.
She looked at the house but had no intention of going in.
After a moment she swung off the bike and walked down to the dock.
The boards creaked beneath her boots all the way to the end.
The lake was calm.
A breeze pushed a few ripples across the surface.
She shoved her hands into her pockets.
Don’s words refused to leave her alone.
You didn’t think.
She hated that he was right.
Ram had trusted her enough to ride with her.
Now Blaze was digging a bullet out of his arm because of it.
Don’t disappoint me again.
She let out a slow breath.
“Fucking bullshit.”
The words escaped before she even realized she’d said them.
She lowered her head.
Kait stared across the water, hands buried in the pockets of her jeans.
A motorcycle echoed somewhere behind her.
She didn’t move.
The sound grew louder.
Then slowed.
Gravel crunched.
The engine idled for a second before falling silent.
She closed her eyes.
She knew that bike.
She’d know it anywhere.
Boots scraped against the gravel.
Then onto the wooden dock.
Slow.
Measured.
Each step a little closer.
The old boards creaked beneath his weight.
Kait never turned around.
Lane stopped a few feet behind her.
The lake rippled quietly between them.
“Hey. You good?”
Kait glanced over her shoulder but didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry about Dulce. I know how much you cared for her.”
“Looks like I’m the only one.”
“Maybe Don would’ve let you do this after taking care of priorities.”
“Stopping some assholes from killing more women not a priority?”
“As fucked up as it sounds… No, not really. That is not our problem. We ain’t cops.”
Kait scoffed.
“And she is just a dead snakehole, right? And there’s always gonna be plenty of those.”
“You still shouldn’t go against your president’s orders.”
Kait crossed her arms and turned.
“Is that what you’re here for? I already got an earful from Don. I don’t need to fucking hear it from you too.”
“No. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“And why would you do that? You’re not my president and I thought we were supposed to stay out of each other’s way.”
“Kait, you know I—”
Kait turned and closed the distance between them. “Why don’t you worry about your ole lady? She’s probably having a heart attack because you’re not home.”
Lane’s face soured.
“What are you talking about? What ole lady?”
“All I keep hearing is how happy you and Melanie are.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“Is it true?”
“Is it true you moved in with Kolton?”
Kait studied him.
“Yes,” she lied.
Lane searched her face, looking for the lie but couldn’t find it.
His face changed.
He let out a tired breath and nodded.
“So just leave me alone.”
Kait walked past him, but Lane caught her wrist.
“Why are you lying to me?”
“I’m not. What, you think you’re the only one who can move on?”
“Oh, so you did? You moved on…”
“Leave me alone, Lane. I’m too tired and pissed off for this.”
Lane let go and Kait began to walk back to the house.
He followed her. “Why can’t you answer.”
Kait didn’t say anything.
“So you’re just gonna stay here all night?”
“Nope. I fucking hate this place, I don’t know why I haven’t burn it down yet.”
Lane got in front of her. “Why? Because it reminds you of me? Of us?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly why.”
He stopped.
“Will it work?”
Kait stopped. She was in front of the house now. She could almost see through the walls. All her moments with Lane.
Lane walked up to her and stood behind her. “Because if that’s enough to end this, I’ll burn it down myself.”
Kait turned.
“Why did you come here?”
Lane couldn’t help it anymore and held her face. “Kait—”
Kait moved her face.
“No. Fuck this.”
She pushed him.
“Go home.”
“Come with me.”
A tear rolled down her face.
Lane took a deep breath.
“There is nothing between me and her, or anyone.”
She wiped a tear off hard.
“Well, I am with Kolton. And I am going back to him.”
Lane looked down. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I’m done… and it needs to end.”
She said and got on the Kriger.
She wiped another tear off her face and started the engine.
Lane took a couple steps but could only watch her go.
He was not going to follow her this time.
the nest
By the time she reached the front of the clubhouse, Kolton had just climbed off his bike with Kloud, Klik, and Kriket. The four of them were laughing about something that had happened on the protection run.
He spotted her immediately.
“There she is.”
He walked over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Hi, baby.”
Kolton gave her a quick kiss and Kait gave him a small smile.
“How’d it go?”
Kait shrugged.
“Found the warehouse.”
Kolton let out a low whistle.
“Seriously?”
“Pretty sure.”
“That’s huge.”
“It would’ve been…” She sighed. “If I hadn’t gotten Ram shot.”
Kolton’s smile disappeared.
“What?”
“Chrome Union found us. Ram caught one through the arm.”
“Shit…”
“He’ll be alright. Blaze took him to the ran so Randy could patch him up.”
Kolton shook his head.
“Oh, shit. You okay, though?”
Kait forced a smile.
“Yeah.”
“You sure? Your eyes are red.”
She chuckled.
“I’m good.”
Kolton smirked.
“King chew your ass out, didn’t he?”
“You have no idea.”
“I do, trust me.”
She laughed softly.
“Yeah… you probably do.”
She slipped her hand into Kolton’s. “C’mon.”
He smiled and squeezed it gently.
“Let’s grab a beer before church.”
Together, they walked inside.
Lane pulled up at the same time and watched them for a moment.
Holding hands.
Smiling.
“Yeah… it needs to end…”
He found his men just by the garage.
“Koa, Trace. Mount up. We’re going home.”
chapel - LATER
The chapel slowly filled.
Ram walked in with Blaze a few minutes later, his left arm wrapped in a fresh bandage beneath his jacket.
“You gonna live?” Klik asked.
Ram grinned.
“I’ve survived worse hangovers.”
A few chuckles circled the room.
Blaze shook his head. “Keep laughing. You’re changing that dressing tomorrow.”
Ram saluted him with his good hand before taking his seat.
Don walked in last.
He looked around the table.
“Klaus is on speaker.”
A small speakerphone sat in the middle of the table.
Static crackled for a moment.
“I’m here,” Klaus’ voice came through.
Don nodded.
“Good.”
Kolton looked around the room.
“Where’s Huntsville?”
Don sat down.
“Headed home.”
Kolton frowned.
“I thought they were staying for church.”
Don folded his hands on the table.
“Nah, they weren’t even supposed to stay that long. The Chrome Union incident changed that.”
Nobody questioned it.
Don looked around the room.
“Let’s make this quick.”
His eyes settled on each patched member.
“You’ve all heard the proposal. We are not putting our patches on the streets. We are not selling to our own people. This is strictly transportation.”
A beat.
“To Yuma, Las Cruces, and Huntsville. For now.”
Kait raised an eyebrow. She was surprised Lane would go for it.
“Let’s vote then. Klaus?”
“No. I don’t like it. It’s too risky.”
Don nodded.
“Noted.”
Randy leaned forward.
“I agree with Klaus, so I also vote no.”
He folded his arms.
“It never stops at transportation.”
“Nein,” Klaus added. “Next thing you know we have the feds busting through our door.”
Silence settled over the chapel.
Don looked around the table.
“Anybody else voting against it?”
Nobody spoke.
He nodded once.
“Alright, then who’s in favor?”
One by one…
All hands went up.
“Majority’s clear.”
Don nodded once.
“The motion carries.”
No celebration.
No applause.
Just silence.
The first step had been taken.
Whether it would save Krait or destroy it…
Only time would tell.
