Page 14 of Vendetta
Going back the way he came, he kept his footsteps silent, trying to contain the storm of emotions that just hit him.When he returned to the hallway, Peggy was waiting.She gave him a hard look.
“What took you so long?”she asked, trying to sound like she wasn’t interested in the answer.The wariness in the woman’s eyes suggested otherwise.
“My boss called.”As a lie it worked because if she thought he was on the phone, she would think he didn’t hear anything he wasn’t supposed to hear.
“Have a good one,” she said, tone flat.
“You too,” he muttered, walking toward his van.
Yes, he knew what they were doing.But now, he needed to figure out where their other hot spots were and get his hands on solid proof.Once he had it all plotted out, he’d dismantle the whole fucking operation from the inside and then, and only then, he’d let them know who destroyed them.A man they thought long dead, risen from the ashes.
* * *
Dylan
The bar was quiet at her next shift a couple of days later.For now.
Dylan wiped down the counter for the second time, more out of nerves than necessity.Her phone buzzed in her apron pocket.Just a quick check-in from Jason.While it was nothing heavy or flirtatious, it had her heart skipping a beat.
Jason hadn’t ghosted her.When she woke up alone in bed the next morning, she assumed he had.There was no note or text.Nothing.It would have ruined her entire day except for the text he sent her around lunchtime while she was in the grocery store.
Hope you slept well, beautiful.
More texts arrived after that.Always short, because Jason wasn’t a big talker, and he absolutely didn’t do emojis.She’d thought about him too much since that night they spent together.It felt good to breathe next to someone who didn’t expect anything from her for once.Someone who looked at her like he actually saw her.He hadn’t asked about seeing her again, which gave her a few doubts, but she kept hearing from him so there was hope.
Sometimes Dylan still questioned why she had come back to Oak Grove of all places.She had a small, cramped apartment and a job at her uncle’s bar.The only way she was better off than when she lived in Richmond was that she didn’t have a loser boyfriend.Honestly, she shouldn’t even be considering another relationship just yet.
Ah, but Jason made her want things.Right now, it would be worth it if he’d walked through that door again.
Instead, the door opened and the temperature in the room shifted.A group of Cottonmouths swaggered in like they owned the place.Coiled snakes on their cuts, the boots, the body language, the presence.And then she saw her uncle, Eli.He caught sight of her instantly and gave a nod.He moved toward the bar, toward her, while the rest of his crew scattered to their usual table like hyenas to a carcass.
“Didn’t expect to see you tonight,” Eli said, taking a seat at the bar, expression unreadable.
“I’m scheduled,” Dylan replied, grabbing a clean glass and setting it in front of him.“Same as last week.”
“You know this place gets rough after dark.”His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent.He wasn’t just making conversation.
“I can handle rough,” she said, meeting his eyes.“You never gave me a chance to tell you about my work experience.”
Eli gave a short, dry laugh as she poured him a beer.“You’re a Crizer, I’ll give you that.Stubborn as fuck.”
He watched her a moment longer, then lowered his voice just enough to make her lean in.“You’re smart.You’ve got options.You don’t need to be here, Dylan.”
“Iwantto be here.”
Her uncle’s eyes narrowed at her.“Wanting something doesn’t mean it’s good for you.”
Before she could answer, one of the guys at the table hollered for a round of beers, and Eli pulled back, voice lighter.“Go take care of them.”
She nodded, forcing a polite smile as he walked to their table.But her stomach dropped after that very short conversation.She could have assumed that his advice was meant to keep her safe and protect her.But that wasn’t what it felt like.It felt like a warning.And the way he said it left a cold weight in her stomach she couldn’t shake.Why was he trying to warn her?Was there something going on that she wasn’t supposed to know about?
Dylan got a round of beers ready, carrying the tray over with practiced ease, balancing bottles and short glasses like second nature.The laughter at the table swelled as she approached.They were the kind of sounds men made when they were trying to look like they ran the room.
“Careful there, sweetheart,” Trucker said as she leaned in to set down the drinks.“Don’t spill any on me.This jacket’s older than you.”
Dylan gave him a tight smile, unfazed.“Then maybe don’t lean so close to the edge of the table.”
That got a few snickers from the others.Grudge, lounging with his boots up, muttered something to Creep beside him, and they exchanged a glance.“Girl’s got teeth,” Eagle said, louder this time.“Might want to watch that.”
