The car journey was awkwardly Silent there was so much Kate had to say but there was probably never going to be a good time to say it, Richie didn't even try to make conversation she would love to be able to see into his mind he was one of the most unreadable people well now culebra she had ever encountered. He didn't wear his heart on his sleeve and it was hard to figure out how he felt about people.

They pulled up to a rustic Mexican tavern when they entered Kate felt extremely under dressed all the women had skin tight cocktail dresses on and the men similar to Richie sharply dressed and she entered in a mere vest top and denim Short's with a pair of Jordan's. The crowds mesmerized by a stunning flamenco dancer. Richie stopped to talk to a barman who pointed him to a secluded booth

"come she won't be long" Richie led the way fixing the buttons on his suit

"If I'd of known you were bringing me here I would of least made an effort to dress a little less like a gas station clerk " Kate informed looking at all the good looking women around her slightly intimidated.

Richie let out a bemused laugh "Relax kitten it's not a date'

"obviously I didn't mean it like that but you know I kind of stick out like a sore thumb" she defensively argued as they sat at the booth, Richie looked across at her a boyish grin on his face "Aha you stick out for all the right reasons don't worry about it"

Kate felt her self blush much to her embarrassment she began fiddling with her hair again sweeping it back into a ponytail with the hairband on her wrist.

"You're just being polite" she reasoned.

Richie was watching the dancer she was a busty middle aged woman great complexion with striking features, the traje de flamenco flowing with the movements of her arms gracefully

"you can accuse me of being many things but being polite or nice are the one's I'm less frequented with Kate giggled he was right he was pretty acid tongued in all honesty not at all a flattering gent if anything awkward

A heavily tattooed man approached the booth followed by a sultry Venganza Her prescense was intense am aurora of power and importance surrounded her

"Richard Gecko always a pleasure no Seth tonight? Richie stood so she could take a seat next to him

"Not tonight we flipped a coin on who was taking this one you know we made a promise to leave Kate alone so as you can imagine she could have been a real hard ass, But here she is "

Kate felt more than pissed they flipped a coin on who was going to be the bearer of bad news that no matter if she wanted, There was always this vague probability they could just turn up even though they had promised to leave her alone. She thought it was cowardly she scowled at Richie as he sat back down.

Venganza placed her hands on the table intertwining her finger's her fingers laden with beautiful gems and gold

"We have met before when you were under Amarus spell"

"Then no we haven't actually met then,it was more of a possession than spell" Kate interjected sharply offended she was implying she had met her

'Well besides from from the newly appointed la diosa I'm the last remaining lord, its my duty to oversee the welfare of my kind, unfortunately it seems xilbalba has left it's mark on Texas. someone is eager to bring back Amaru"

Kate slumped back in the booth her expression tired she had known there was a possibility that some crazies may worship her being Amarus vessel. but was reassured by Tanner numerous time's that's all they were bat shit crazy. The possibility of Amaru coming back nill and they were chasing a lost cause an old almost forgotten ideology.

"Well it's not like I am going to go looking for a fanclub and what use am I anyway?"

"Well until we can figure out there intentions we have to keep you out of their reach you can stay with your friends the Geckos"

Kate and Richie looked at each other equally unimpressed

"No not a chance I have a job and a life" Kate argued

"Yeah I'm not much of a babysitter " Richie agreed with her objection

"No he isn't and what about Scott?"

Venganza sighed and rolled her eyes and admired a big onyx ring on her index finger

"Scott isn't my problem and its not a request either ,Richard here takes to babysitting duty or I have Hugo here tie you somewhere cold and dark and keep you there instead, My patience Is wavering though and I am missing my favorite dancer so?"

Kate huffed and looked the lord in her eyes they were uncompromising, Kate wasn't going to argue instead she stood up and tried to move out of the booth, the big burly tattooed culebra now known as Hugo. Venganza had escort her grabbed Kate by the arm.

Frd up of beimg manhandled by men of the snake variety for the night she kicked him in the shin but it didn't phase him he just squeezed harder, Kate squealed in pain

"What's your problem you're hurting her "Richie leapt up.

Venganza started to laugh "See not such a bad babysitter after all, unhand her"

Hugo let go Richie quickly moved besides Kate and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, Kate was quick to push his arm away, Was he compensating for the hell he had put her through,it her feel award she wanted to stay mad at him for good reason not have him defending her all the time. But then again when it wasn't him hurting her he always got protective like when Seth had shouted at her or Malvaldo had threatened to turn her.

"Let's go" she huffed giving Venganza one last icy glare she pushed her way through a crowd that had gathered to watch the flamenco.

"Look I had no idea this was her plan" Richie reasoned following behind her

"Well you should of flipped a goddamn coin on it rather than burdening yourself" she shot back she almost fell through the door she was that eager to get out the fresh air welcomed as she took a deep breathe, She remembered her cell was in her bag in Richie's car she could text Scott and tell him she was OK and that she was once again a hostage of the Geckos but under different circumstances this time and not to worry

,Just as she got lost in her train of thought a low growling came from in front of her, Richie stepped in front and fanged out his brow became raised and scaled, his eyes glowed amber and fangs extended. Kates heart began to race once again two panic attacks in one night was not her idea of fun but she soon focused with that she nervously laughed as she walked past Richie

"It's a coyote rummaging the trash" much too her relief it was just some Texan wildlife she seriously couldn't handle much more being sprung on her tonight.

All she wanted to do was go back to the trailer and hug Scott forget about Corey making a pass at her and sleep in the comfort of her own small but cosy room with a gun under the pillow. She got to the car and lent against the passenger door Richie back in human form walked up to her.

"next time let me make sure there is no threat before waltzing off ,This isn't a game"

"I may not be a supernatural killing machine like you not anymore anyway but I have eye's and I'm not going to be intimidated by a fucking coyot Now I'm tired and I want to text my brother so if you don't mind " Truth be told she was petrified but she didn't want to let on, In a kind of I don't need you type of way she could not let him have the satisfaction that's if he didn't know it already

Richie frowned at her before walking round and unlocking the car, Kate jumped in frantically searching her bag for her phone, she saw the glint of the gun metal in there for a split second she imagined holding Richie up telling him to fuck off, But it would be a matter of hours before Venganza found her she couldn't ask Scott to run he had his band he was finally enjoying life again, so she took it on the chin and grabbed her phone and began tapping away at the screen.

Once she had finished she tossed it back into her back and lent her forehead on the window watching the dark surroundings pass by as Richie drove the odd neon sign jumped out bit apart from that it was eerily quiet

When they arrived at jack knife Jed's there was one lone drunk propping up the bar and the bartender it was pretty quite just a quite as the highway and at work she was now used to living in hectic chaos at home. Kate realized on the clock above the bar it was almost last order's

"bottle of Scotch and two glasses" Richie shouted over

"you joining me?" he asked

Kate hesitated mulling it over "After the day I've had sure if the boss doesn't have a problem giving an under 21 liquor, who am I too argue"

"shhh" Richie smiled taking the bottle and glasses from the bar he sat down and Kate followed she took a good look around he had done alright job with the place really, Last time she was here was in its underbelly being held by Malvaldo it made a refreshing change to be at this level, Richie poured twp glasses out.

"Last time I remember it was Seth who used to bury his head in a bottle" Kate teased as she took a sip of the drink grimacing at the burn at the back of her throat.

"Yeah well Seth doesn't have the same stress's I do"

"Oh you mean me?" Kate enquired

" Actually no you're just the cherry on top" he answered pun intended

"Yeah well as you can tell I'm just thrilled with the prospect of being here with you and Seth, I still fucking hate you both for everything, But I suppose choiced with being here or in a lords dungeon, Well I've handled you both before"

Richie looked at Kate a little bewildered maybe hurt and it gave her some satisfaction

"Feel better for that?" Richie asked wide eyed Kate swilled the remaining drink she had round watching it tease the side of the tumbler

"actually yeah I will sleep better tonight" Richie didn't respond he just poured another drink Kate could see he was pondering

"So where is big brother? " she asked innocently

"Probably currently plowing the recently appointed lord" Kate's mouth gawped opened she was shocked with the revelation

"You mean Santanico" she blurted Richie met her shocked expression with a poker face just about to down his drink

"Kisa actually or La diosa" If Kate could have one wish it would be that the ground could swallow her up right now, she didn't want to believe it one because Seth was so anti Fang's and Two because Richie was actually besotted with her and held a slight glimmer of hope she would come back after she left even a fool could of seen it.

But then was it his own doing when he betrayed them both for the blood well he pushed them together and Seth even shot Sonja so he could stay and help Santanico.

'So do you still speak?" she enquired

"yeah of course no woman will come between us"

"Good" Kate almost cheered trying to lighten the sombre mood, Richie fillwd her glass back up then back to his

"Now what about you Katie cake's who was Nick Jonas on the freeway?"

Kate choked on her drink at Richie's ability to compare almost anybody to a celebrity

"Corey, a housemate and Scott's bandmate" she answered honestly Richie looked at her sternly it almost reminded her of a look her father used to give her when he disapproved

"I should of killed him" he finally responded

"That's the scotch talking" Kate yawned Richie Gave her a half hearted smile

"bed for you its been a long sob of a day"

Richie showed Kate to a room it was in the maze of corridor's below the bar. It was a spacious room with a double bed, nightstand and dresser

"En suit is through there" Richie pointed to a door his eyes tired, Kate flicked her shoe's off and sat at the end of the bed

There is a jackknife Jed's T-shirt in the top draw of the dresser, you know to sleep in if you need me my office extension is 101 on that phone," Kate looked at him wondering how much he could hear in her head now, it was such a strange feeling she gave a weary smile as he left. She looked on her cell eagerly waiting on a reply from Scott but there was no smoothed her hands over the bed linen and fetched the T-shirt from the drawers it was a xl so plenty roomy she slide her vest top off and placed the shirt over her then removing her Short's. She climbed into the bed she felt a little lost she was so used to being in a room not much bigger than this bed. She closed her eyes her body tired and aching but her mind wired. She tried to block out the noise and eventually Willed herself to sleep.