Page 158 of Kings Fear No One
Silver makes the announcement like he’s announcing scores from a sports game.
I’m in the back office with Mace and Cash, shooting the shit. We’re making the most of our last chance to give Mace hell about tying himself down.
“No more club girls,” I remind. “You’re about to have the old ball and chain attached.”
He gives me a dubious look. “You mean like you do? You’re the married man around these parts or have you forgotten?”
“He’s got you there,” Cash says.
“You don’t need to be talking either. You might as well be married the way you and Kori are shacking up. You two live and work together.”
Cash can’t keep his signature Hollywood actor smile from inching onto his face. “What can I say? She’s my best friend. It’s been that way since we were six.”
Mace scoffs. “Funny, ’cuz I thought I was your best friend.”
“You are… except she’s a lot prettier than you. So she automatically wins.”
We’re cracking up in laughter when Silver enters and makes his announcement.
Mandy’s dead.
I lose my sense of humor that fast. Standing up from where I’m reclined on the suede couch, I jut my chin at him. “You joking, or you serious?”
“There are three things I don’t joke about, Ghost. Money, divorce, and death.” Silver scrubs two fingers against his brow like a terrible migraine’s paining him. “I went down there to feed her her daily gruel and found her slumped in the chair. Her face and neck were as swollen as a balloon with too much air. Some kind of allergic reaction.”
“Allergic reaction?” I repeat.
“The stranger thing was there was a tray of cookies nearby. Burnt ones.”
“Peanut butter cookies?” Cash asks.
The three of us all question him with a mere glance. He gives a shrug.
“I overheard Sydney and Kori talking about it earlier. Sydney had baked them to surprise you, Mace. She said they’re your favorite.”
“You’re saying Syd poisoned Mandy?” Mace asks in return, skepticism thick in his voice. “Don’t get me wrong. She hates Mandy’s fucking guts. But that’s ’cuz she’s a Steel Queen and she’s all in on our club. Our enemies are her enemies. But poisoning Mandy? Not her thing.”
“Mandy was allergic to peanuts,” I say slowly, searching my memory. “I’ve overheard it before. Back when I was… you know. One of the captives was once beaten for trying to feed her peanut butter.”
Only one other person affiliated with the MC would know that.
I have to contain my real reaction. I let the others speculate for a couple minutes while I’m dragging a hand across my jaw, resisting the pull my mouth gives to grin.
My sweet and innocent little wife ain’t as sweet and innocent as she’d have me believe.
It’s exactly the type of nonviolent crime she could justify. She could rationalize feeding someone and wiping her hands of the situation if they have some kind of reaction. It’s not like she poisoned the cookies herself.
Matter of fact, knowing my baby, she probably rationalized it as feeding a hungry woman.
Charity work in the Lord’s name.
In reality, she was eliminating Mandy. She was seeking revenge for me like I’d done for her.
I give up on my poker face and grin to myself.
“I’m guessing you’re happy she’s gone?” Silver asks, interrupting my inner monologue.
“Hmm? Yeah,” I answer, clearing my throat. My grin widens. “Good fucking riddance to that disgusting bitch.”
