Vengeance Road (Torpedo Ink #2) - Christine Feehan Page 0,54

Darby’s plate, afraid the others would eat everything before she even arrived. The plate beside Steele’s also had food on it, evidence that he was looking out for Breezy in spite of their argument.

She placed the pitchers of juice apart on the lower end of the table because Blythe had put her two pitchers on the upper end. The table went from one end to the other of the dining room and had clearly been custom made. It was beautiful. She couldn’t help admiring the woodwork.

Steele held her chair for her as she slipped into it. She didn’t look at him, but at the amount of food on her plate. There was no way she could eat it all, not with her stomach churning the way it was. She couldn’t stop the fine tremors running through her body, over and over. Steele noticed because he always noticed everything about those around him and her in particular.

He leaned into her. “This is good, baby. Just eat, and when the kids go to school, we’ll hash this out. We’ll ride out tomorrow morning before dawn, starting for Louisiana. Code will continue to feed us information so by the time we get there, we’ll know where we’re going. This morning is mainly for him to get as much information as possible.” He picked up her fork and held it out to her.

She took it because she didn’t want to make a scene. The others were talking and laughing together, like one big family, but she knew they were all very aware of her. She didn’t want to give them any reason for turning the spotlight on her. Besides, she wanted to observe them together. The atmosphere was very different from that at any function with the Swords.

“Do you want some of Blythe’s weird pink salt?” Maestro asked and held out a salt shaker. The salt really was pink.

She took it, looking at it suspiciously. “What is this really?”

Steele nudged her with his shoulder. “Blythe lies and tells us it’s salt, but I don’t think it is. Kenny usually has a contraband salt shaker if you want to try to get it from him, but if you’re caught, Blythe gives you her stern look. It’s pretty cute, but only Czar gets away with saying that to her because she thinks that scowl makes her look badass.” He didn’t bother to lower his voice, although he pretended to.

Blythe was quite a distance down the table from them, but she glared at Steele. “I heard that. I don’t look cute when I’m giving you my meanest look.”

Czar hooked his arm around her neck, brought her in close and took her mouth. Breezy nearly dropped her fork. The kiss wasn’t a little peck. It was intimate and hot, and she considered fanning herself. She should have looked away, but she couldn’t. When Czar let her up, Blythe was pinker than the salt.

“I love that look,” Czar said. “Gives me a hard-on, baby. Every single time. And yeah, it’s cute as hell when you get all badass on us.”

Blythe shook her head, but she was smiling. “It’s salt, Bree. It’s just natural, not processed, and so much better for you. It has all the minerals in it as well. And Kenny, if you have processed salt anywhere on your person or hidden in your clothing …” She broke off. “I saw that handoff to Ice.” She snapped her fingers and held out her hand. “I’ll put that with the other two hundred salt shakers I’ve confiscated from the three of you.”

“I wasn’t in on that,” Storm protested, trying to look innocent.

In spite of everything, Breezy found herself laughing with the others. They seemed more like one huge family, the way they interacted. She didn’t know that much about real families, hers had been more than dysfunctional, but each of the club members was so in tune with the others, it was almost as if they knew exactly what the others would say and do before they did it.

Steele was a part of that. He’d always been a part of that, even when he rode with the Swords. These people had ridden with him. His brothers and sisters. Breezy looked around the table as the teasing continued. This was Steele’s family. He belonged. She could understand why he’d chosen them over her. She didn’t know how to be like them. She didn’t fit in because she had no idea how to act.

Darby leaned close. “They’re all crazy.” There was

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