Say It's Forever (Redemption Hills #2)(68)

A grunt rumbled out as I took a long pull. “Yup.”

“Funny what life does, yeah?” Trent mused on a low breath. “Way we think we know the way it’s supposed to go—the way we want it to go—then boom, it comes right in and shakes us up.”

He glanced my way with a knowing expression on his face. The baby owl tatted on his throat bobbed when he swallowed. “You know it firsthand, man. How terrifying it is, putting your heart on the line and knowing it can be gone in a flash. Logan’s right, though.”

I grunted. “About what?”

Deflecting with ignorance seemed the way to go.

“Stepping out and letting yourself love someone.”

Alarm whipped a storm through my spirit.

“Love? Getting ahead of yourself there, yeah?”

His brow curled. “Am I?”

“Just want to fuck her, man.” Let the smirk split my mouth.

Trent laughed an incredulous sound, and he reached out and gave a condescending pat on my cheek. “If you just wanted to fuck her, you already would have.”

Then he snagged his tumbler and pushed to his feet, slanting me a telling glance before he strutted his smug ass out to where Eden was dancing. Girl fluid and hot, ballet in her blood.

Beside her, Tessa was dancing like a total spazz.

Shocker.

And next to her…Salem.

Salem whose rhythm was half time. Driving me out of my mind. Her hips rocking and vibrating in this slow seduction.

She glanced my way.

Thunderbolt eyes struck.

Energy crackled.

I roughed a hand over my face.

Fuck.

Keep it together, man.

Trent edged up behind Eden the way I was dying to do to Salem. Nuzzled his face into the back of her neck. Pulled her flush against his chest.

Salem looked at me as she moved.

Eyes raking, whispering, like she was begging me to do the same.

That connection throbbed.

Booming and shivering.

I attempted to scan the crowd for a good target.

Easy. Quick. No strings.

My gaze traveled right back to the girl.

Her gaze raked me.

My insides shook.

Fuck it.

I drained my beer then pushed to my feet.

I was just going to take this one little thing. I mean, what could dancing with her hurt?

I started that way only to get jostled back by an asshole who suddenly went blazing by. He beelined right for the girls.

Karl, that fucker.

Dressed in a suit with his hair perfectly styled and that douchey-ass expression on his face.

Tessa threw her arms in the air to welcome him.

Poor girl.

“Karl, happy birthday, baby!”

Prick sauntered right in.

He slipped his left arm around Tessa’s waist to haul her close, only the creeper did the same to Salem with his right. He tugged them both to him, leaning over and bending them back like he could somehow get more.

Hell no.

Just fucking no.

But that jealousy turned to something else entirely when I saw the way Salem’s eyes went wide as they met mine from over his shoulder.

I was already on my way.

I tapped at Karl’s shoulder. You know, real friendly-like. “Think you’ve got your arms around the wrong girl, man.”

He cocked a smug grin my direction, a fucking mouthful of too-straight teeth. He curled his arms tighter. “Nah. Think I’m doing just fine. It’s my birthday, and I’ve just decided what I want.”

“Get off me.” Salem tried to push him off. Asshole didn’t even budge.

My hand clamped down on his arm. “Told you to let her the fuck go.”

“Fuck off,” he tossed out.

“What the hell, Karl?” Tessa shrieked through the mayhem of the bar that just seemed to amplify the greed. Way this fucker thought he could reach out and take whatever he wanted.

Panic radiated from Salem. The same panic I’d glimpsed in my shop that day when she’d thought someone was after her. Like in an instant, she was lost to the past.

She shoved and hit his chest with her fists. “Let me go.”

A scream ripped up her throat when he hugged her tighter.

Scumbag got no further warning. My hands were on the back of his suit jacket, and I was tearing him away. The asshole made the mistake of swinging as I dragged him around. He clipped me on the jaw, right about the time both the girls went stumbling back.

Had him by the shirt collar in a flash. My arm cocked back. One jab to his pompous face and his nose was bleeding out. Pussy crashed to the floor when I let him go like the pile of trash he was.

Gasps and shrieks hit the air, and people jumped back to get out of the way, while others gathered closer, clearly thirsting for a fight.

At least this prick Karl seemed to be because he scrambled back to his feet and flew my way.

Trent pitched a grin at me from behind, laughing under his breath that this fucker actually thought he stood a chance. Trent didn’t even make a move, just sat back like he was going to enjoy the show, though he edged Eden behind him.

Karl roared as he came my way, and I took him by both hands and gave his scrawny ass a good shake. “Cool the fuck down or I’m going to make this a birthday you don’t ever forget.”

He spat in my face.

“Oh, motherfucker.”