Page 29 of Banshee
“What the fuck is going on?” King slammed his fist on the table.
“Prez, she needs to be protected. This is my fuck–up, and I’ll fix it,” I admitted.
“Someone better start talking right fucking now.”
Gunner stared at Aspen. “Does Haizley know, Gun?” Cash asked him.
“If she does, she didn’t fucking tell me.”
“Haizley doesn’t know,” Aspen quickly said.
“Sit down, baby girl.” I pulled out a chair for Aspen, then stood behind her, my hands on her shoulders.
“You all know that Kronos approached me about marrying Irene.” Aspen flinched at the use of her real name. “When I refused, it caused tension between the clubs. Steele was pissed, and so was Kronos. It was why I asked to join you here. When I didn’t back down, he found someone else.”
We heard scratching at the door before a loud bark.
“Christ, let the fucker in. I don’t want him breaking down the damn door,” King whined.
Jack grinned, then stood and opened the door for Diesel. He went right to Aspen and laid his head on her lap. Her shoulders immediately loosened.
“Aspen, honey, can you tell us what happened?” Cash asked.
Aspen looked up at me, and I nodded. There was no getting away from this. Nav knew who she was. It was only a matter of time before he told King.
Aspen told her story about Kronos, about Pepper. The motherfucker put her in the hospital. He was a dead man walking. But I could tell she was holding something back.
Cash looked at Sypher. “You did this? You put her here?”
“Yes, I work with the Nyght Nymphs, helping women and children get out of abusive relationships. We pull them out, and we give them a new identity.”
“That’s why she’s fucking here,” Cash mumbled, running a hand through his hair.
King narrowed his eyes at me. “Who?”
“Kytten,” Cash sighed.
“Who the fuck is Kytten?” Ghost asked.
“She’s a member of the Nyght Nymphs, and she’s been in town for weeks.”
Hearing what Cash said, I looked down at Aspen. That was what happened yesterday. She must have seen Kytten.
“Irene isn’t the reason she’s here,” Sypher countered quietly.
Everyone at the table looked at him, waiting for an explanation. When it was clear he wouldn’t be forthcoming, King asked, “Then why the fuck is she here?”
“She followed Melissa and Danika. On the orders of Dani’s grandmother.”
“Fucking Valhalla,” King huffed. Standing from his seat, he paced the room, muttering to himself. “Jesus Christ, when will this shit end? I moved to the fucking Midwest for a quiet fucking life.” He shook his head and continued muttering, “I guess it was good while it lasted. I had three fucking years before the shit hit the fan.”
“Why was Kytten following my old lady?” Ghost asked, his hands clenched into fists.
“Val had asked Kytten to go to Oklahoma City and watch over Dani when Dante showed up in New York. When Melissa left to bring her here, Kytten followed.”
Cash looked at Aspen. “You talked to Kytten yesterday.”
Aspen nodded but still refused to look up at anyone. “She said she wasn’t here for me. She said I was still safe.”
