Page 26 of Dread’s Beloved

“I told him not to. It’s good to see you, honey.” She squeezes my bicep.

I glance over at Kitty and find her staring at Cassandra. As though she knows she’s caught gawking, her gaze cuts to me and narrows.

Cass steps in front of me, blocking my line of sight. She’s even prettier than she was back then. Gorgeous, shiny black hair. Full red lips, long lashes, blue eyes. Her tits have gotten bigger and so has her ass.

Nightshade used to be my brother-in-law.

“Last I heard, you were living in Florida.”

“I did, but there’s no place like home. How about I get you a beer and we can catch up?”

“Sounds good, darlin’.”

She touches a hand to my jaw, giving me her sweet smile. A killer smile. Fucking hell. I don’t see a ring on her finger. Guess her third marriage didn’t work out. I was husband number two. Who knows how many there have been since? Cass is beautiful, smart, and funny. But when the party is over and shit gets real, she cuts and runs.

I wasn’t innocent in the way shit went down between us. Was no saint. Wasn’t the best husband. I was younger and dumber. Helluva lot wilder. Our sex life was phenomenal until she wanted to experiment and got into partying a little too much. Hell, we both did. I ended up with an addiction to painkillers, and Cass ended up leaving me for another man. I got a trip to rehab, and she got our dog in the divorce. It was messy and ugly. It was also in the past, and I’m not that man anymore.

I go over to check in on Kitty. Knives excuses himself to take a leak.

“You doing all right, sweetheart?”

“Yeah. I’m fucking great.”

“Shit deal you got handed, babe. We all understand.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

I start to press harder when Cass returns with a beer. Seeing her and Kitty together is like daylight to darkness. Sugar and spice.

“Here you are, honey.” She hands me the beer and curls an arm around my waist, smiling up at me as though we had never parted ways.

“Hey Kitty. You probably don’t remember me.”

“Do we know each other?” her brows knit.

“I’m Dread’s wife.”

“Ex,” I tell her. “Ex.”

“I’m sorry. You two are married?”

“No,” I say as Cass answers, “yes,” in tandem.

“We’ve been divorced for about twelve years.”

“Eleven, but who’s counting? Man, I’ve missed you,” Cass tells me as Kitty glares at us. “I knew your mom. Was really sad to hear about her passing.”

“Funny. No one has ever mentioned you.”

I clear my throat. This is going south fast. I know Kitty is going through a lot, but she doesn’t need to take any of that shit out on Cass. She doesn’t know her or anything about our past.

“No, I wouldn’t reckon they would. Bad deal, losing your man and your friend,” Cass tells her.

Knives returns, and Kitty looks ready to cry or fight. I’m not sure which. “I’m going to have a beer and catch up with Cass a bit. You got her?” I ask him.

“I’ve got work, but can get Walker to cover me.”

I nod, and Kitty scowls at me. She hates the world right now. I would too if I were going through what she is. Knives seems to make her happy, so I leave them to it, but Cass and I sit close enough I can keep an eye on her.