Page 73 of Bonded

“Aw… isn’t that so sweet.” Rhys mocks, as he sarcastically makes a kissing sound into the air. Then he notices the patched wound on her neck. “Oh little brother, I gotta say it look like you did a helluva job there. Yeah, she’s not gonna be able to hide that, at least not for a while. You certainly wanted to make sure everyone knew she was taken. I have to applaud you…” he claps, “I’ve only ever seen a bond like that when someone feels rivaled. You got someone… to be worried about Ryan?”

“Why don’t you shut the hell up. Before I shut you up.”

“Oh, I’d love you to try. Come on, I’m ready when you are, but remember, you’ve never managed it yet.”

“Stop!” Darius hisses. “Enough. Why the hell are you here, Rhys? What’s happened?”

Kat nervously holds her hand to her neck, hiding the wound. She feels embarrassed and slightly concerned about what Rhys wants she glances at Darius for answers.

“You seen the news tonight?” Digby asks.

“No. Can’t say that I have. Why?” Darius folds his arms and he can see how nervous Digby is as he fidgets scratching his face.

“Actually, I will have one of those beers.” Digby heads to the refrigerator and taking a beer out, pops the cap and swigs it back.

“So, I’m waiting…” Darius frowns.

“Alyssa—”

“You know what…” Kat sighs, annoyed at the mention of her name. “I need to use the bathroom.” Her neck hurts and she gently touches it as she heads to the hall entrance. “Must have been all that coffee. I won’t be long—”

“Kat. You need to hear this.”

“No… no, actually I don’t.” She sighs raising her hand gesturing him to silence “You know what, I’m not interested in anything about that bitch. So, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go.”

“But you do. Need to hear this about Alyssa… She’s dead!” He swallows and takes a deep breath. “In the park. Alyssa was found dead—in the park.”

Kat takes a breath and her mouth drops open as she turns to face him. “Oh my God… Are you serious?” she gasps. “I mean, you’re sure it was her?” She swallows nervously as he nods. “Whoa… Well, then I’m sorry. So how? I mean, what the hell happened? Do they know?”

“The news channels are all saying it was an attack, likely the same person who killed Munroe.”

“Really… Oh my God! Shit!”

“You sure about this?” Darius frowns. “And you…” he continues, looking at Rhys, “this got something to do with you? You think it’s connected to the club?”

“I don’t know yet?” Rhys shrugs. “Maybe. I’ve got people I know at the police department checking it out.”

“So, that still doesn’t answer why you’re here? This is your problem, not ours.”

“Well… actually it might be your problem.” Rhys grins, “I mean, as my beloved brother here was one of the last people to spend time with Alyssa. Oh, and your team-bitch there, threatened her. But apart from that, I guess, it’s not your problem. I mean, neither of those facts would be a cause for concern, right? Still, us being family, I figured I’d share it with you because after all, my problems are your problems. But what I don’t need is the feds all over my club askin’ my staff awkward questions. You get what I’m sayin’?”

“No, I don’t understand.” Digby sighs, “Darius is right, how the hell is this our problem? Alyssa came back to the club after she left here. You said that yourself. You must have it on camera, so I’m in the clear. Rhys, what the hell’s got you so spooked? Hell, you’ve dealt with the police I mean it’s not like you’re squeaky fuckin’ clean and you’ve been raided before. I’m sure you’ve got enough people on the payroll to make it go away. You already told me that Alyssa kicked off about Kat to anyone who would listen… so she would have made enough of a scene for someone to remember her bein’ there.”

“Yeah, and I remember seeing her leave the club before me. You’ll have that on camera too. She was with some guy when she left. So, others would have seen her leave. I don’t really see the problem. I mean, do you know anythin’ about the guy she left with? Who he was? Sounds like he might have had something to do with it?”

“Yeah, that would be a better direction to send the police. Get them to check him out.” Darius frowns, still concerned.

“I’m already on it.” Rhys sighs. “I’d never seen him before, but I spoke with Michael and he said he was new to the club, but he has been in ‘Noir’ a few times this week—throwing money and champagne around. Buying drinks and making a big show.”

“He had Alyssa in there?” Darius frowns, concerned. “That’s not her territory. Why’s Michael letting her go there?”

“No, the guy went out into the main bar area. Hudson said he bought her drinks at the bar—calmed her down because she was ranting about Kat. All that attention then someone throwing champagne at her, she’d have been in her element.” Rhys rubs his hand over his face and drinks some more of his beer. “But when I get my fuckin’ hands-on him… I will kill him because this whole thing is giving me such a fuckin’ headache and I don’t need the hassle right now on top of everythin’ else.”

“Oh, purr-lease listen to you, what the hell do you sound like? Rhys, you’re such a fuckin’ drama queen.”

“Oh, I’m the fuckin’ drama queen?” Standing his beer down, Rhys shoves Digby hard in the chest, pushing him backward. Getting his balance, Digby growls, pushing him back and Zak takes a deep breath, stepping up next to him. “Oh please… look at the pair of you. Will you sit the fuck down? For God’s sake… Darius, please reign them in before they wet their little panties.”

Darius sighs loudly. “All right, cut it out, all of you—you included,” he points sternly at Rhys. “If you want to kill each other, then go outside.”

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