Page 74 of Thunder's Reckoning

Horse pushed off the bar, came over and dropped onto the stool beside me. His eyes weren’t jokin’ now. “I’ve known you a long time, brother. Ain’t never seen a woman get in your head like this. You’d stare down a barrel without blinkin’, but youmeet that little dark-haired girl and suddenly you’re standin’ around lookin’ like you forgot how to breathe.”

“She’s not just anyone,” I said, quieter, the smoke makin’ my throat raw. “She’s… special. Knew it the second I laid eyes on her.”

Horse nodded, slow. His smirk was gone. “That kind of woman don’t come around but once.”

Mystic, not wantin’ to be outdone, grinned as he elbowed me again. “Yeah, and that kind of woman’s probably layin’ in bed right now wonderin’ if you’re thinkin’ about her. Meanwhile, Leena’s two steps from climbin’ in your lap just to get a reaction. That’s a disaster waitin’ to happen.”

I glanced toward the tables. Sure enough, Leena was bendin’ too low, laughin’ at somethin’ that wasn’t funny, flickin’ her hair like it was some kinda signal. When her eyes caught mine, she bit her lip.

I didn’t smile. Didn’t nod. Just turned away.

Horse laughed as he stood, drainin’ the last of his whiskey. “Oh, Leena’s gonna be so fuckin’ pissed she can’t get your dick anymore.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” I snapped, done with this shit.

Mystic sobered just a little, watchin’ me with that careful look of his. “Be careful, brother. You’re in deep. Just don’t drown in it before she figures out how to swim.”

He disappeared into the back room, leavin’ me with Horse’s laugh echoing in my ears, the reek of stale cigars, and the hollow ache that had been creepin’ into my chest since I left the clubhouse.

Sable.

She was probably curled up with the kids right now, her room dark and locked tight. Safe. For now.

And I needed to keep her that way.

Even if it meant standin’ here in the smoke and noise, watchin’ the world spin without her, pretendin’ I gave a damn about anything else.

***

HORSE WAS PARKEDon the stool beside me, nursing his whiskey. Neither of us were talkin’ much, just watchin’ the tables, lettin’ the sound of cards hittin’ felt and dice clatterin’ sharp against wood fill the air.

Then Horse tipped his chin toward the far side. “You see him?”

I followed his gaze. New guy. Too clean. Boots polished, jacket sharp, hair slicked back like he was tryin’ to pass for a businessman. Sat stiff at the table, chips stacked untouched in front of him, no drink in hand. Just watchin’.

“Yeah,” I muttered. “I see him.”

Horse snorted. “Looks like he walked in here from the wrong goddamn world. Don’t like it.”

I pushed off the bar, drifted closer casual-like, makin’ it look like I was just makin’ rounds. The stranger’s eyes tracked the dealer’s shuffle, but not like a man lookin’ for luck. Like a man waitin’ for a chance.

When the dealer slid him his cards, he didn’t even glance at ‘em. Just smiled thin, voice smooth. “I’m just passing through. Looking for family. My niece, she was headed for Charleston. Never made it, that old car she was driving may have given her trouble. Thought maybe someone here had seen her.”

The table went still. Too still.

Locals shifted in their seats. Nobody spoke. Dealer flipped the next card without lookin’ up.

My gut clenched. Niece. No mention of children. Close enough to be a story, close enough to be bait.

I stepped up to the edge of the table, arms crossed. “This ain’t the kind of place folks come askin’ about family,” I said, my eyes hard.

His smile didn’t move. “Sometimes answers show up in unlikely places.”

“You’re lost,” I told him flat. “Nobody here knows what you’re talkin’ about.”

He didn’t argue. Just pushed his untouched chips into the center of the table like he was settlin’ a debt, then stood smooth.

“Appreciate the time,” he said, and turned for the door.