Page 2 of Colt’s Betrayal

“And to Kingdom Come, apparently, but probably not in the same way.”

His eyes flash. “Don't start, Jayne.” Raze leans back in the chair, openly entertained, and Dad notices. His irritation disappears almost immediately. That bothers me more than the anger.

“I ain't prospecting,” Dad says. “Nobody expects that. A man doesn't spend thirty years patched and start over carrying beer for kids half his age. Cyrus knows it too.”

I haven't asked, but he keeps explaining anyway.

“I've got history. I know this life. I know Ransom, and I know Kingdom Come better than Kane ever fucking will.”

There it is. The name changes him. It always does now.

“Kane grew up in Kingdom Come.”

“Yeah, under his daddy. King knew what that club was and wasn't fucking afraid of it.”

I don't answer. There isn't any point. I stopped listening to Dad explain what Kane had done wrong somewhere around the fiftieth time. Kingdom Come had changed. Kane had apparently made it weak. Judge was in his ear and the younger men didn't understand.

Dad did, or so he constantly tells me, right up until he left the club he'd belonged to for most of his life and started showing up wearing leather with ghosts stitched into it. Raze's attention settles on me again.

“Chains says you never had much use for the life.”

I look at Dad. He looks away. My stomach sinks. “What else has Dad told you?”

“Enough.”

“You never wanted anything to do with this life,” Dad says. “It's not exactly a secret.”

“It also isn't his business.”

Raze tips his head. “Touchy subject?”

“No.”

“Colt usually is.”

For a second, I don't register what he said. Then I suddenly do and every muscle in my body goes still. Dad's eyes flick toward me, but it's too late. Raze saw it.

“You do remember him.”

“I remember a lot of people.” I shrug as if his statement hadn't just awakened every nerve in my body.

“Chains said you were smart enough to get away from that one.”

My eyes go back to my father. He has the decency to look slightly uncomfortable. But not enough.

“You've been discussing Colt with him?”

Dad exhales. “Jesus Christ, Jayne. It just came up in conversation.”

“Oh, really? How exactly?”

“I asked whether you had a man,” Raze says. “Long time ago, wasn't it?”

“Twelve years.”

The answer comes too fast and Raze notices. His gaze moves over me again. “I figure twelve years is long enough for you to have a drink with me.”

“No.”