"What are you doing here, Kate?"

The last person – wait, was Richie still a person? Could he really be called that now that he was a culebra?

"I asked you a question. Why are you here?"

She turns around, gives him a cold stare. He still looks like the old Richie, dressed in a black suit, hair slicked back, his face an odd combination of man and boy. He's tall and handsome, and from the moment she met him, there was something between them that drew her to him like a moth to a flame. After everything that's happened these past few months, that connection still exists and she has no idea why. She picks up the warm pot sitting on the counter. "I work here. Do you want some coffee?"

"I don't drink that stuff."

She pours herself a cup. "Oh, that's right. You're more into." She meets his stare. "Blood these days, right?"

There's a loud whistle from the other side of the diner where a rowdy group of men are sitting and demanding her attention. As she circles around the counter to approach them, Richie blocks her path.

"You really think that's a good idea?"

She looks up at him, her eyes defiant. "Do you want to take their order?"

"They're not interested in food."

"Yeah well, that's all I'm offering."

"As far as they're concerned, you're the special of the day."

"I can handle them. Besides, they're not the most dangerous thing in this diner."

She walks past Richie and approaches the group. Between the ass-pinching and flirting, it takes a while for her to get their order. By the time she returns to the counter, Richie's already made himself comfortable on a stool, watching her like she's his next meal.

"I'm still waiting for an answer."

She takes a sip of her now lukewarm coffee. "Have you seen my brother?"

Richie gives her a look of disdain. "No. Why would I?"

"I've been tracking him. Last I heard, he was in this area."

"What would Scott be doing here?"

"I don't know."

"If he had any brains, he'd stay the hell away. As should you."

"Guess we can't all be as smart as you."

"Unfortunately."

Irritated by his condescending tone, she leans back against the wall. "Just because you're okay with ditching your brother, doesn't mean I am," she fires back, taunting him.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Don't I? Who do you think became his partner after you took off?" The surprised glint in Richie's eyes takes her by surprise. "You didn't know."

Although a snide smirk forms across Richie's lips, the troubled look in his eyes don't dissipate. He's curious about Seth, and only feigning disinterest.

"Seth used you to pull jobs? Guess I left him far worse than I thought."

"He didn't use me for anything. We were partners."

"Sure," he scoffs. "I know my brother. He likes to be the one in charge."

"Granted it wasn't easy, but I wasn't going to let him boss me around. He was a major pain in the butt about the whole thing but came around after a while."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I'm telling you the truth. If you don't want to believe it, that's your business."

Richie holds her stare for the longest time, and she wonders if he's doing that same mindreading trick he did when they first met by the pool. Back then he'd sensed all the pain and anger she held towards her father. What would he see now? Her desperation? Fear? Or would he experience the overwhelming guilt she felt at abandoning her brother?

"How is he?"

His tone might be matter-of-fact, but she hears the subtle quiver in his voice, spots the fleeting spark of concern in his gaze. They're a lot alike, Richie and Seth. Both can be stubborn and set in their ways when they're angry. "Not good."

His eyebrows furrow as he slowly leans forward. "How so?"

"When he wasn't busy planning jobs or bitching about you, he liked to get high."

"He smokes up to relax. He always has. It's not a big deal."

"No, not weed. Heroin."

Instantly Richie shakes his head 'no'. "Nope." He shoots her a look of contempt. "Now I know you're fucking with me. Seth's not a smackhead."

"Losing family has a way of changing people."

"You said the two of you are partners, so where is he now?"

She paused. "We.. decided to go our separate ways."

"Why?"

"Because he wants to pretend you and other culebras don't exist and I can't do that. Scott's out there. I can't just leave him to fend for himself."

"Did it ever occur to you that Bruce Lee may not need you? Maybe he's fine on his own."

Right away her temper flares at his callous disregard. "His. Name. Is. Scott."

In a blink of an eye he stands up, leans over the counter to grab her arm and pull her close. Fear trickles down her spine remembering how quickly he can shift from sweet to threatening - and that was when he was just human. Now that he's a culebra, he's exponentially more terrifying. "If Scott wanted a happy reunion, you wouldn't have to look so hard for him. Obviously he doesn't want to have anything to do with you."

So Richie does know how to read minds, because he was able to pick up on her biggest fear. She swallows the lump in her throat. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"This isn't a lifetime movie, Katie-cakes. Scott isn't going to come looking for you. He doesn't want family, he wants power."

"Maybe that's true for you, but I know my brother. He's good, he's kind, but right now he's just confused. Once he finds his way back, he'll be fine again."

He eases his grip on her elbow as his eyes penetrate into her soul. "You should stop being so naive."

"How is your girlfriend, Richie? Still driving you insane like she did before?"

He pulls back, seemingly surprised by her acerbic tone.

"I heard what she did to you, how she tortured you for months, and now the two of you are playing house together. Isn't that sweet?"

"You sound jealous."

She bristles. "Don't flatter yourself."

"It was just a kiss, Kate. I didn't make you any promises."

His sheer arrogance makes her want to reach out and slap him. "Get over yourself, you idiot."

"You don't see me getting upset about you and Seth shacking up, do you?"

And yet, she could sense the current of hostility vibrating off of him in waves. Was he jealous? What the hell? He had no right to be. "Get out, Richie. I don't want you in here."

His eyebrow quirks up, eyes gleaming with cockiness. "It's a diner. I'm a paying customer."

"And I reserve the right to refuse service."

Richie angles closer, sneering at her, when, suddenly, someone grabs onto his neck and pulls him away. A bloodcurdling scream reaches her ear only to be silenced a second later when the familiar figure in front of her shoots the customer straight in the face.

It's the same man who killed Rafa, and now he's back.