Page 14 of Dread’s Beloved

“We’re just having fun.”

“You know how he is. Don’t go catching feelings for him.”

“I like him.”

“I know you do. Liking him is one thing. Expecting him to date you is another thing.”

“People can change.”

“We know better than anyone how bikers operate in relationships.”

Sukie frowns and stares out the window into the dark. I love my brother, but we both know he’s not capable of being faithful to anyone but the patch on his back.

“I know Zane hurt you. Dark and him aren’t the same.”

“You’re right. My brother is more honest about shit. He doesn’t sugarcoat or hide that he’s a womanizer, and that’s great as long as you know the score.”

“You don’t think this stuff with letters and prank calls screams Blair?” she changes the subject, and I let her. I don’t want to argue about Dark.

“No. She already won. She took my husband. Why would she need to do this shit?”

“Zane told the judge you slept together to restart the separation clock. That had to piss Blair off.”

“You think she’s sending letters to herself?”

“I think she’s sending them to you, thinking Zane and you are reconciling. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I heard he broke things off with her.”

“When did you hear that?”

“Few weeks ago.”

So she heard this around the time the letters started. It makes sense. I guess. “And you didn’t think to tell me that?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Don’t be mad. I was worried he’d weasel his way back in like he has in the past. You two share a lot of history.”

“I don’t want him back.”

“Okay,” she says softly, and I wonder if she really believes me.

I pull up outside of her mom’s house. Like me, Sukie still lives at home.

“I’ll call you tomorrow, Kitty cat.”

I nod.

“Hey,” she says, holding the door open, one leg out as she holds my gaze. “You’ve got a super-hot biker taking you home. Blair didn’t win shit. You did.” She smiles big and takes off up the walkway before I can respond.

I wait for her to disappear behind the door before driving off.

Dread roars behind me. Yeah, a super hot biker is following me home. Not because he wants to. He was given his orders and is only following them. I’m sure he’d rather be at the clubhouse getting laid by one of the whores right about now. Instead, he’s babysitting his Prez’s sister because my ex is a cheating asshole. Zane should be protecting me, but he’s not. We’re not together and I’m not his problem anymore.

I turn off on the road to home, wishing things were different.

But I can’t go back. Only forward.