Page 176 of Fury

He nudged a chair out to the side for me, and I sat, bringing the full coffee mug to my lips and taking a sip. Perfect.

He only stared at me.

“Pretty stupid thing for both of them to do,” I said.

“Very stupid. It’s taken care of.”

I met his gaze. “I have no doubt.”

He stroked the thick, uneven handle of the mug. “You got a lot of these handmade mugs and dishes, flower pots too. You taking pottery classes or something? Hobby of yours?”

I drank more coffee. “No.”

He scanned the three framed photos of Beck I had on the sideboard.

“How’s your boy?”

“Beck’s good.” I rubbed my fingers over the scalloping on the cup. “He’s a professional musician.”

“Guitarist?”

I smiled. “And a pianist, and a drummer. He lives in LA.”

Finger crossed his long legs. “But you stayed on here?”

I swallowed more coffee, savoring its rich heat in my mouth. “I like the Black Hills, this is home for me.”

He only nodded, his eyes flicking around my small kitchen. “You with Tricky? His property? His old lady?”

“I’m no one’s anything. Tricky and I have a good time together off and on when it suits us.”

His dark, probing eyes slid to mine once more. I was suddenly desperate to know if he had an old lady. He must have one. He’d been his club’s president for a long time now. The chief of a dynasty, undoubtedly sought after by many a woman, and rightly so. Did he have kids? He must have had kids. He’d wanted children.

I didn’t ask. I only clamped my jaw together. What was the point of asking? Life had pushed on, and we’d pushed on with it and against it.

“Tania’s the one who called me, let me know about Catch at the club,” he said. “He’s her little brother.”

“Yeah, she told me that her brother is a Flame. Ironic, huh? Small, crazy world.”

“Isn’t it?” His lips curved up in a slight grin. “I made sure the Jacks understood that she and I know each other, so they don’t fuck with her now that Catch has pissed them off for the third time.”

“Good, I’m glad. She’s moved back home to be with her mom who’s sick. She’s getting a divorce and opening a business here too.”

“I know.”

“So, you showed up and defused any more fireworks over there, huh?”

“I only defuse when I want to.”

Another shiver raced over my skin at his eerie tone.

He brought his mug of coffee to his lips and drank. “You good here then? Your business?”

“I am. It was tough getting started, but I’ve built a good reputation, and I have solid fans far and wide. I even get a number of tourists on their way to Mt. Rushmore or Sturgis. I’m thinking of expanding online, and I’m designing a makeup line now. I’m happy with my little success.”

“You deserve it.”

“Thank you.”

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