Page 5 of Dread’s Beloved

“But Rizzoli’s is having an all-you-can-eat pasta bar.” She pouts.

“We could go to Tonky’s.”

“What about Blair?”

“Maybe she won’t be working.”

“Are you sure?”

“I heard they got one of those mechanical bulls.”

Sukie grins. “Now you’re talking. Margaritas here we come.”

My bestie returns to work, and I have more errands to run.

When I get to my car, my cell rings with a call from a private number.

I’ve been getting them randomly for weeks. It’s probably some spammy robo caller because every time I answer, they never say anything or leave a message.

It’s super annoying. I never should have answered. Once they realize you accept calls, all the scams and spam calls and texts start up. I hate all that fake bullshit.

I hit ignore, but they automatically call me again. Ugh.

I swipe my thumb across the screen and answer. “Hello.”

Once again, I’m met with dead air.

Chapter Two

Dread

“Get your own,” Prez grumbles, snatching his lunch out of my reach while I shove a piece of his cornbread in my mouth.

“I would have had you told anyone Kitty was delivering. We’ve got to do something about that fuckin’ prospect before he poisons someone.”

Dark chuckles. “He’ll learn.”

“That dipshit could fuck up a pb & j sammy, man.”

“You know how to fix that?”

“I’ll bite.”

“Get you a sandwich-making bitch.” He grins, and I shake my head.

Fucking asshole.

“Maybe I’ll call Sukie.”

“Sukie’s got a job,” he grumbles, shooting me a dirty look. Target hit. “Bitter called. Those caskets are ready. Grab the truck and you, Pain, Haunt, and Horror go pick them up. Usual spot. Money is in this bag.” He hands me a black duffel stuffed with cash.

“You got it.”

“Send Lethal in on your way out.”

“Will do, Prez.”

He dismisses me and digs into his meal that has my damn mouth watering. He knows we all love Pricie’s cooking and today was soup bean day.