Page 19 of Dread’s Beloved

“You got a better idea?” Dark challenges.

“You could send her to Hell’s Hollow.”

“Nightshade owes me, but since you’re so worried about her, you can take her.”

“I’d rather be on the hunt for this piece of shit.”

“Can’t have it both ways, man.”

“Call him.”

Dark nods. “Get your gear and meet me at Pricie’s in an hour.”

“I’m not hiding. If Donavon wants me. Let him come try me. I’m not that scared little girl he spared.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Dark snaps at Kitty.

“I can help. It’s me he wants.”

“He’s not going to get you,” I grumble.

Her tear-filled gaze lands on me. “Zane and Blair are dead because of me.”

“Don’t take that on. It’s not your fault he’s a woman-murdering fucker,” Midnight, their father, says. For once, he appears sober.

“I’m not going to Spook’s. I need to be here for Zane’s funeral. Technically, I’m his wife.”

“Where is she?” a female voice screeches.

All of us cut our eyes to the doorway of the living room. Debra Hayes comes snotting and crying into the room. Soon as she spots Kitty, she lunges, hands outstretched, going right for the throat to choke her. “You killed him. You’ve killed my beautiful boy.” She sobs as Midnight hooks an arm around her waist and yanks her back.

Once upon a time, she was a gorgeous woman, but looking at her now, you’d never know it, and that’s not because she’s grieving. She’s been ridden hard in her day and it fucking shows. Loves liquor and pills. Was known to sell her pussy for both. Her husband is so far gone on the shit he doesn’t care who she fucks as long as he gets his cut. Kitty was the best thing to ever happen to Zane to get him out from under all that.

Everyone knows that.

Debra Hayes is trash. Still though, her only son is dead, and he died hating her guts. She’s feeling lots of feelings about that. Most directed at Kitty because it's easier to blame her for all the bad blood between her and her son.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve barging into my house running that nasty ass cocksucker you call a mouth,” Midnight tells her. “Only favor you ever done your precious boy was bring him into this world with good looks and the sense to cut ties with you. He hated you. Good reason to. Fucking anything and everyone for your next buzz. Shame it’s not you lying on that metal slab with a hole between your eyes.”

“Dad,” Kitty croaks.

“Don’t dad me. It’s about time someone told this cunt about herself. Now she knows what everyone thinks about her, though she didn’t need to hear it from me because she sees it every fucking day when she looks in the mirror.” He walks Debra to the door. “Kitty will plan Zane’s service. If you wish to be a part of it, then you come sober or not at all.” The front door opens and shuts. Midnight marches back into the living room.

“It goes without saying that we’ll cover the expenses for Zane and Blair.”

Dark nods in agreement.

“I just can’t believe this. I don’t know what to do or say.”

“Nothing to say or do besides keep your head straight,” Death tells her. He knows better than anyone what it’s like to bury not only a child but a wife. He lost both in a car accident some years back when he was riding with the Birds of Hell MC. “Listen to your brother and your father so they aren’t burying you next. Miller made a mistake. He won’t be so careless next time. He’s out for blood and vengeance.”

Chapter Eight

Kitty

I dust some powder across the bridge of Zane’s nose. Sherrif Caudill is sticking with his murder-suicide headline. One that has made all the local papers and news stations. I had to change my cell number and my email address. Requests for interviews are non-stop.

Blair’s family is holding her service in Ransom. Lurch transferred her to Peterson’s Funeral Home this morning. Getting Zane ready for his is the first five minutes I’ve gotten to myself since Dark got word Donavon was on the loose.