Redemption Road (Vicious Cycle #2)(59)

“Tequila’s good,” Jolting Joe suggested.

Annabel grimaced. “No tequila,” she whispered. I knew she had probably been exposed to Mendoza’s drunken rages after he’d partaken of too much tequila.

“Give her some Jack and Coke.”

“Don’t sugarcoat it for me,” Annabel protested.

Deacon joined us at the bar. “Give the girl a bottle of Jack and a glass, brother.”

Annabel turned to smile sweetly at Deacon. “Thank you.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think this is any of your business.”

He grinned. “Actually, it kinda reminds me of the time you didn’t think anything was wrong with Alex drunkenly dancing on the bar.” His comment earned him a smack from Alexandra.

“I can’t believe you just brought that up.”

“You were so sexy that night,” Deacon mused, his gaze becoming hooded.

Alexandra rolled her eyes. “On that note, I’m taking Willow and going home.” When she started past him, he grabbed her and pulled her to him, molding her body against his own.

“I won’t be long.” He kissed her hungrily. When he pulled away, Alexandra appeared to have forgiven him. She took Willow’s hand and waved good-bye.

Turning back on his barstool, he took a longneck from Jolting Joe. “Anyway, as I see it, payback’s a bitch.”

“Asshole,” I muttered under my breath. “Fine. A bottle of Jack and a glass.”

“Yes, sir,” Jolting Joe replied. After he retrieved the whiskey and thankfully just a shot-sized glass, rather than a regular-sized one, he placed it in front of Annabel. She unscrewed the lid and poured the dark liquid almost to the brim.

After cutting her eyes in my direction, she asked, “Aren’t you drinking?”

“Someone needs to stay sober to keep an eye on you.”

“Oh, Rev, you’re actually sounding like an old fart.”

She knew just how to goad me. “Fine. I’ll take some Jack, too.”

Once I had a glass as full as hers, she clinked the two together. “Bottoms up.” I’d barely had a chance to bring the glass to my lips before she had knocked hers back. Her eyes pinched shut as a shudder ran through her body. When she opened them, she grinned. “That was intense.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you just downed that.”

She grinned. “Let’s just say I learned a lot during extracurricular activities my freshman year.”

“I see.” When I swallowed my Jack, Annabel poured us another drink, but this time she sipped at it more cautiously. When Jolting Joe left us, we were alone again. “You want to talk about earlier?” I asked.

“No,” she replied, then took another sip. She cut her eyes from watching the couples on the dance floor back to me. “I’m sorry I freaked out like that,” she said softly.

“You didn’t freak out, and you don’t need to apologize.”

She sighed. “I feel so selfish being jealous of Alexandra. I mean, it’s not like I’m ready to have a baby right now. Maybe it’s something stubborn in me that only wants what it can’t have.”

I shook my head. “I think you have every right to be upset. A part of your future was taken away. It doesn’t matter if you wanted a child today or if you’d never wanted one.”

Annabel gave me a sad smile. “You always say just the right thing.”

“Once again, I think you’re flattering me.”

“Guess I haven’t worked my magic on you in the last month,” she mused.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I told you that day at tohi a-ma that I wanted you to be able to see how wonderful you are. Being modest is admirable, but it doesn’t mean you always have to discredit your strengths and talents.”

Just like Annabel, I remembered that day. What she had said to me had stayed with me this past month. Part of me was flattered by her compliments, while another part of me doubted their authenticity. As much as I hated to admit it, everything seemed to have changed between us. No matter how hard I’d tried to stop or fight it.

With most of the wives and families clearing out, the band had cranked up even louder. Some of the unattached men were enjoying the scantily clad sweet butts or club whores who came around on party nights. When clothes started coming off, I turned to Annabel. “Maybe it’s time we got out of here.”

She giggled. “Oh, Rev, that”—she motioned with her glass to the half-naked women gyrating against the men—“doesn’t bother me. I might as well be back at a sorority party.”

Although she said it didn’t bother her, I didn’t want her to be around anything that could trigger a backlash of emotions for her. “I would feel better if we went back to my room.”

“Your room?” she questioned in surprise.

“Yeah, the officers in the club have rooms in the back so we can crash here. Tonight some of the other guys will be using them.”

“For indecent purposes?” she teased.

I laughed. “Yes. I’m sure for that.”

“I don’t think I’ve had so much Jack that I can’t make it back to the house. I might not be able to walk a straight line, but I’m pretty sure I can walk.”