Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Try it, mother fucker.” I nodded my head toward River, who was watching our exchange with unreadable eyes. I knew he would step in if it escalated, but right then, he knew I was handling it. I didn’t need a hero, and River knew that. “I’m sure River wouldn’t mind hearing what you have to say about my position at this bar.”
At my words, the man’s face visibly paled, and he swallowed hard before he looked down at the bar, not saying another word. I snorted. “Fucking pussy,” I muttered before I stood back up to my full height, snatching a beer out of the fridge and slamming it down in front of him. “Figure out how to get the top off yourself.”
My eyes slid over to someone taking a seat on a stool a couple of feet down from where the asshole was currently sitting. I clenched my jaw, swallowing hard as my eyes met Red’s. The last time I’d run into him, he had cornered me outside, telling me to get him inside that warehouse or he would blow my brains all over the gravel lot.
Red just looked back at me with sad, tired eyes. “I’m not here to cause problems, sweetheart. I just want a beer,” he told me, sounding completely nonthreatening, and that just made every alarm in my head go off.
My eyes flickered to River’s table, but I did a double take when I realized that he was no longer sitting there. In fact, Sam, Joseph, and Vern were gone from the table, too.
Then, I felt River’s hand on my lower back, his dominate aura wrapping around me, protecting me from the sleazebag in front of me. Vern flanked my right, and I knew Joseph was behind me without even having to turn around. Sam was leaning beside Red, looking highly amused by the situation.
Glad someone found humor in this shit because I certainly didn’t.
“You’ve got to have a fucking death wish to come in here, Red,” River spoke quietly, but he may as well have fucking shouted it in Red’s face. When River spoke calmly while he was angry, it had the same effect as someone shouting. There was just something about his voice that raised the hairs on your body.
Red shrugged. “I knew she was working tonight,” he stated, nodding his head toward me, “and I knew that with me being in town, you wouldn’t let her come to work by herself. I need to talk to you, River.”
River shrugged. “I don’t really give a fuck what you want, Red. I’m a hairsbreadth away from bashing your head on this fucking bar top. The only reason I haven’t is because this bar is separate from club shit.”
“I was given guardianship of my son, River. I need family,” Red rushed out, knowing his time was limited. I straightened up as River stiffened beside me. “I can’t do this shit by myself, man. He’s a newborn, and I’m fucking lost. And I don’t want a kid, River. I’m willing to put aside our differences if it means this kid gets a good home.”
“What the fuck do you want me to do, Red?” River impatiently demanded. “Fucking spit it out already.”
“I want to give you the kid, River,” Red stated bluntly. I could practically feel River about to tell his brother no, but I couldn’t let that happen. The baby was innocent. It had done nothing wrong. “I can’t take care of this baby. He’s still in the hospital. His mother died giving birth to him. I can’t even fucking name him, River. I don’t want any part of him.”
Before River could answer, I jumped in. “I’ll take him,” I told Red. His eyes widened as they locked on mine. “Even if your brother doesn’t want him, Red, I’ll take him. I promise that I’ll take care of him.”
River turned me to face him, his brows pulled low. “You sure this is what you want, darlin’?” he asked, his voice gruff.
I nodded. I couldn’t let that little boy suffer. I knew if River and I took care of him, he would have a chance at a healthy, prosperous life. If the state got their hands on him, there was no telling what would happen to that boy.
“River, you and Red may have your differences, but that little boy hasn’t asked to be brought into this world, and he deserves to have someone that will love him and take care of him.”
River blew out a harsh breath but nodded his head at me. He looked at Red. “We’ll follow you to the hospital,” he told his brother. “Make sure you thank my old lady for giving your kid a home. She’s not heartless like I am, and she’s the only reason I’m allowing this shit. Once custody is turned over to Adelaide, you get your fucking ass out of this town.”