Page 35 of Dread’s Beloved

“You’re back,” the old lady working the front of the store notes.

“Honeymoon,” Dread tells her. He went over this with me before we left Hell’s Hollow that everywhere we go, if anyone asks, we say we’re on our honeymoon. This is the first time I’ve heard him say it.

“Congrats to the two of you. How long are you staying with us?”

“Not sure,” he mutters, keeping vague.

“Are you local?”

“Babe,” he calls, ignoring the question. “Grab a couple of protein bars.” He glances back at the clerk. “Gotta keep up my stamina. My woman is a wildcat in the sack.” He winks at me, and I shake my head.

“Coming right up, honey lumpkins.”

That earns me a big grin from him and the lady.

“Where are you staying?”

“One of those sky rentals.”

“Air BNB,” I correct him. She’s a little old lady and likely someone’s nosey mamaw.

“You know what you need. A home-cooked meal. You can’t survive off those cardboard bars. My husband and I would love the company. Of course, it won’t just be us. A few of us get together and take turns hosting weekly. We play cards and gossip. And there will be beer.”

“Name the time and place. We’d love to, wouldn’t we, honey lumpkins?”

Dread glares at me, and I smile sweetly, batting my lashes.

“We’ve already got plans. You and me. Our wine and the hot tub. Move your ass, we left the steaks laid out.”

“So bossy,” I murmur and blow him a kiss.

As soon as we’re outside, he thrusts my helmet at me and starts shoving our bags into the saddlebags. “What’s your problem?”

“No time for chitchat. Gotta get our shit and hit the road.”

“What?”

“You heard how many questions she was asking and inviting us to dinner.”

“She was being nice.”

“You might be, but the rest of the world is not. Don’t be stupid.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“I didn’t say you were. I said, don’t be. Now get your ass on the back of my bike.”

“And if I don’t.”

“I’ll spank your ass right here.”

I narrow my gaze at him, seeing the fire dancing in his eyes and decide to get my ass on the bike.

We book it back to the cabin to grab our bags before taking off.

As we roll back by the little market, the front door is wide open, and that sweet little old lady is laying in the entrance in a puddle of blood.

I gulp as Dread roars on past. I know he won’t stop to see if she’s alive. We can’t afford to.