“Mornin’, darlin’, and yeah, same table,” Ky responded.

I lifted my head just enough to see an old gray-haired lady wearing a strange pink garment, smiling a wide smile at Ky.

“Didn’t tell me y’all would be doing business today. I’ll have to shift some seats outta your way to give y’all some privacy,” the woman whispered as we weaved among tables filled with staring people and walked behind a separating wall to where an unset table sat on its own.

“Ain’t got business today, Maude. Here for food and nothing else,” Ky replied.

“Oh, okay. Give me a minute to get y’all set up.”

There was a stretch of silence, and I risked a glance up. The woman was staring down at me and shook her head, then faced Ky.

“You know, in all the years I’ve known you, and that’s your whole damn life, I ain’t ever seen you in here with a girl.”

Ky shrugged and blushed slightly, which made me smile. He caught me watching him and his eyes narrowed, causing me to drop my mirthful gaze.

The lady Ky had named Maude leaned in close, the scent of her strong perfume suffocating, and said quietly, “She ain’t no sex-trafficking victim, is she? Why’s she dressed so strange? Looks like she belongs back in the seventeen hundreds!”

“Club business, darlin’. You know how it goes,” Ky said flatly, his jaw rigid.

“I got no problem with you handling club business here, and didn’t when your daddy and Styx’s daddy did either. You boys always look out for me, but there are some things I ain’t happy to entertain.” She paused, then added, “The girl looks like she’s just been ripped from Utah and that weird polygamous cult. Damn beautiful face, though. Beautiful.”

I noticed Ky had become stone at Maude’s words, but her references did not make sense to me. The word “cult” did, however, and it worried me.

“Ain’t no sex trafficker. The Hangmen never have been and never fuckin’ will be. I’d rather murder those evil cunts than join their ranks. And where this bitch came from ain’t none of your concern. She’s with me, and that’s the fuckin’ long and short of it.”

“All right, all right,” Maude replied, exasperated. She rubbed at Ky’s arm. “I’ll leave y’all alone and get you some menus.”

“No need. My usual for both of us.”

“Got it!”

Maude’s strangely high-heeled shoes clip-clopped on the floor as she walked away.

Ky released my hand, and I lifted my head. “Sit down, sweet cheeks,” Ky ordered. I did as I was told.

When I scanned my surroundings, I noticed we were sitting at a small round table, a chair on either side. Ky sat opposite me and immediately cast an assessing gaze around the room. The people nearest our table immediately dropped their eyes and turned away.

In fact, they looked terrified. A little girl at their table, however, could not break her gaze from mine. She looked about six years old, all innocent and pure. My stomach churned as it dawned on me that was how young I must have looked when I was sent away and deemed a Cursed.

Two young women at the table behind were staring at Ky, and seeing my interest behind him, Ky looked back, flashing them a handsome smile. The women giggled and blushed. Ky faced me again and his eyebrows danced.

“They were staring at you for a long time,” I said.

“Yeah.” Ky shrugged. “Bitches cream like fuck over this face and body. It’s because I’m hot, sweet cheeks. Happens all the time.”

My mouth gaped at his candor. I was not sure of the meaning of some of his words, but I understood his tone. “You are very vain.”

“Nah, I’m fuckin’ honest. I’m hot as fuck and I know it. Why lie?”

Eyes narrowing, I surmised, “You place too much value in beauty.”

Ky scoffed and pointed at my face. “Says the most beautiful one.”

Offended, I argued, “Beauty means nothing to me… believe me.”

Ky shrugged again. “Because you’re beautiful. We both are. Beautiful people always say that shit about not thinking it’s important. But, Lilah, we’re both fuckin’ stunning. Ain’t no changing it.” He leaned forward and waggled his brows. “So embrace it. I do… frequently.”

I shook my head, having nothing to say in response, and Ky smiled victoriously.

Ky stretched his arms over his head. Catching my attention, he cracked his neck from side to side, flashed another smile, and asked, “Do you like pancakes?”

“Pancakes?” I asked, puzzled.

“You ain’t ever had pancakes and bacon?”

I shook my head.

“Damn,” he sighed out.

From his reaction, I surmised that pancakes and bacon must very special indeed.

At that moment, Maude returned with two mugs and a carafe of something black in her hand; it smelled lovely. As she placed the mugs down, I could feel Ky’s heavy stare watching me.

Maude poured the liquid out in a mug for Ky, then turned to me. “Coffee, honey?”

I looked to Ky for instruction. “Erm…”

Maude’s eyebrows pulled down, and I caught her suspicious glance at Ky.

“She’ll take it,” Ky answered. My shoulders sagged, feeling relief when Maude swiftly filled my mug and walked away.

“Thank you,” I said. “I did not know what to do. I have not had to answer for myself before.”