Page 16 of Cold Foot Curse

“He won’t ever tell you. He’ll be carrying that secret to his grave and hoping it doesn’t follow him straight to hell.”

Cash cracked his knuckles and crossed his forearms on the table, leaning heavily forward. “You hate him, don’t you?”

“No.” She considered it. “I don’t know actually. Maybe. I don’t really know him. I just know he made a decision that messed up our plan.”

“Your plan to pair up?”

“Kind of. We had an arrangement. He was supposed to keep all the pressure off me and not ask me for my heart. We were just going to exist together, you know? How long has he been in your Crew?”

“Nine months ago was when we escaped Cold Foot. We pledged to the Crew pretty soon after.”

“Has he ever mentioned me?”

Cash shook his head slowly.

She huffed a breath, because truth-be-told, that stung a little. It was hard being so easy to forget. He was probably happy to be out of the contract with her. He was probably planning to never let her know he’d gotten out of prison.

Jess had felt stupid in a lot of moments over the years with Sister’s Edge, and right now was another one of those times.

She’d thought about him over the years, and kept his picture where she could pull it up easily.

Kade had moved on completely.

“I saw his face right after he found out you were being claimed by Connor, just so you know.”

Jess stopped ripping up the napkin. “What?”

“He looked gutted. I can see you beating the shit out of yourself in your head right now. I don’t know why he didn’t go get you right after he got out. I don’t know much of his story from before the escape. But I do know him as he is now, and he’s good. Whatever he did, he’s not that anymore. People change.”

“No one ever changes. Not really.”

Cash took one of the fries from her basket, and around the bite, he said, “I used to think like that too.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Cold Foot Crew for one. Two was my mate opened up my eyes to a lot. The world is bigger than just in here.” He gestured to his head. “You’ve been in that neighborhood, depending on people for a ride, sucked into being a rule-minder to a Crew who was trying to contract you into pairings, thinking you’re free when you’re not. You didn’t even look mad when that asshole broke that door right next to your face. You weren’t even mad, lady. That’s going to sink in here in a few weeks. Trust me.”

“Trust you, a stranger who came in and started a war in the heart of my Crew, and then left with me?”

Cash grinned and gestured to Kade, who was walking back toward the diner now. “You’ll thank me for that in a few weeks too. Trust me.”

She was still staring at Cash like he was an idiot when the bell over the door dinged a dainty sound, signifying that Kade was in here. He strode to the table and made Cash scoot over so he could sit across the table from Jess, as far away as he could. She pursed her lips and focused on eating her fries. Who knew when her next meal would be. She had her purse, so she had her debit and credit card. She had a little in her bank account, but not much, and she would need to find a place to stay. If she had her animal, she could go beast at night, but she didn’t. She would need shelter.

What town was this? She looked out the window for some sign. If it had an extended-stay motel here, she might be able to get a cheaper rate while she figured out a job.

“Are you not hungry?” Kade asked gruffly.

“I’m just…” Jess forced herself to eat a couple more fries.

“You’re just what?”

“Stressed.”

She watched the change in his expression. His stormy blue eyes softened. “It must be a lot. For me too.”

“How does me having to figure out my entire life in an instant have any effect on you?”

He swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”

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