Dude worked his fingers raw.
I slid in opposite him, waited for him to look up.
“Still worth it?” I asked when he did.
Because of me, we’d be hiding out in Redemption Hills for the rest of our lives.
Jud grunted. “You really still askin’ that question?”
“Yup.”
“Well, you should stop. Would do anything for that kid.” He stretched farther out in the booth, filling the whole thing. He jerked his chin toward me. “For you.”
My head shook as I fiddled with the edge of the beer list, peering across at my brother. “Just don’t want to hold you back.”
He scoffed. “Hold me back? You’re the one who made the sacrifice, Trent. One who did what you had to do. One who set us free. I’d make a fuckin’ million of them to pay you back.”
My insides coiled. A clash of anguish and hatred.
This retching, writhing mess of sins that would forever mar my soul.
“Not a debt, man. Other way around.”
“Bullshit,” he spat.
I pushed out a heavy sigh.
Jud leaned forward, his enormous frame pushed up against the table, his words gruff. “You gotta quit blaming yourself, man. Wasn’t your fault.”
“Wasn’t it?” I challenged.
“Nope.” He actually grinned. “Besides, you landed us where we belong. Kinda like it here, if I’m bein’ honest. The quiet life.”
My nod was slow, sure the cost of it was always going to be too high.
Then I watched his grin widen when he looked to his right. Out into the bar. I didn’t have to follow his gaze to know she was there. Thought I could actually sense her moving around the tables as she shadowed Leann through the club. Still in training and learning the ropes.
Could sense that lithe body swishing through the crowd.
Sense her spirit pulsing in little sparks that rippled through the dense, dank air.
Pinpricks prodded at my flesh.
Might have already known she was going to be there, but I looked anyway.
Taking her in as she weaved through the brimming crowd.
Bold but shy.
Confident but delicate.
Eden wore a black Absolution tank that served as our uniform, the thin material stretched tight over her slender curves, these sexy as fuck super short leather shorts that showed off her dancer’s legs, and a pair of over the knee high-heeled boots.
She’d look so fuckin’ good on the back of my bike.
Jolted at that. Struck by my stupidity. By this want I couldn’t shake.
I couldn’t go there.
I’d touch her. She’d let me. I knew she would. But she’d hate me in the end, no question about that. I’d taint her. Soil her. But God knew I was itching to get dirty.
Swore, I was a twisted fuck. Salivating at the mouth to tear into something sweet.
That thirst only intensified as she followed Leann over to our table, autumn eyes catching mine for one heated beat before she straightened and put on a professional face.
Considering we were at a biker bar, that only made her seem even more out of place.
All prickly and cute and making my dick twitch all over again.
“Why, hello there…if it isn’t my two favorite Lawsons,” Leann drawled in her southern accent.
She was so full of shit. Girl nearly creamed herself on the rare occasion that Logan made his way into the bar.
“Aww…now don’t go making me blush, darlin’,” Jud goaded her because he knew it, too.
I held my laughter.
Dude loved to mess with her.
She’d moved to California from Mississippi with the hopes of finding fame in Los Angeles. Apparently, it hadn’t panned out, and she’d found herself in Redemption Hills with the rest of us outcasts instead.
“Are you doing good?” Jud asked, sincere this time.
“I am now that you’re here.”
Jud grinned. “Charmer.”
“Only for you.” She touched his shoulder.
The girl definitely knew how to work a crowd. But she was sweet as hell and a good server, too, and she’d become a huge asset to the bar.
She gestured to Eden at her side, like I hadn’t noticed her standing there.
Nerves rode out on Eden’s warmth.
Girl tiptoeing, too.
“This is Eden, and she’s brand new here and helpin’ me out tonight,” Leann said.
Wasn’t a man to miss an opportunity, so I swung my attention to Eden, which didn’t take a whole lot of effort considering I kept sight on her from the corner of my eye, unable to focus anywhere else but on the girl who’d stolen every sense.
All trembling fierceness. Stark, gutting beauty.
Her attention jumped between Jud and me. Surprise before some kind of affected amusement played through her features, clearly coming to the realization that Jud and I were brothers.
She lifted her hand in a dainty wave. “Hello.”
Jud sat back farther in the booth. His eyes raked her like he was contemplating all the things he might do to that body. “Sure good to meet you, Eden. I’m Jud. This one’s brother.”
Rage flared.
The irrational kind.
Because right then, I wanted to beat my brother’s ass for no other reason than he was eye-fucking the girl.