Judge (Shady Valley Henchmen 1)

“And by that he means he forgot about it as soon as he walked through the bar doors and got so shitfaced that he had to almost be carried out,” Detroit said, smirking.

“We all have our vices,” Raff said, shrugging. “Now where is my girl?” he asked, voice booming as we walked into the bar.

If we were hoping to stay under the radar, all those hopes flew out the window when all the eyes turned to see who’d called out.

And then there she was.

Turning with a smile on her face that said she knew exactly who had spoken, and was glad to see him.

But that smile faded and fell as soon as she looked at me.

She was back to her usual work uniform—the bar tee and black leggings—but she had her long hair down.

And she still had her sling on. But she’d gotten a new one. In a green that matched The Bog color.

“Oh, shit, trouble is back in town,” Nyx said, shaking her head as Riff and Raff moved toward the bar.

Riff gave her a smile, but Raff reached across the bar, grabbing both sides of her face, and planting a loud, smacking kiss to her cheek.

“Hurt that arm fighting all the guys off with a stick?” Raff asked, looking over at Dell.

“Oh, save all that charm for Lula,” Dell said, rolling her eyes at him as she got him a beer.

“Well, is someone going to go get my woman, or what?” Raff asked.

“Your woman,” another voice said, scoffing.

My gaze slid over to find a tall, curvy woman moving out from behind the bar, likely having heard Raff when he’d come in.

She didn’t look a damn thing like Detroit. But what cousins did?

Where Detroit was more ruggedly handsome, Lula was pure feminine softness in the face and body. High cheekbones, soft jaw, big light brown eyes, big tits, wide hips, thick-ass thighs.

Her hair was long and curly, and the black strands were highlighted with a honey-brown color.

Gorgeous.

I saw what Raff was so drawn to.

Even if I could barely spare her a glance before my eyes sought out Delaney again.

Was I imagining it, or did her gaze shoot to the side as soon as mine shifted toward her?

Had she been looking at me when she didn’t think she’d get caught?

Jesus Christ.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

Even as I thought that, though, I noticed her gaze had gone from me to someone else down at the corner of the bar.

And who did I find there?

The same somewhat short guy from the diner.

Only this time, I could get a good look at him.

And, hey, there was no accounting for taste. Everyone had different shit they were into. Or you could overlook someone’s appearance because they were funny as fuck or had great head-game, what-the-fuck-ever.

But all that being said…

Fucking really?

That was the guy she’d picked over me?

I could point out ten other better-looking guys in the bar right that moment.

Jealousy, violent and ugly and uncontrollable, surged through my system.

I’d never really been the kind of man to fly off the handle and throw shit or punch holes into walls, but, fuck, if ever there was a time when I wanted to do it, it was right then.

“Listen, I’m not saying we have to name the kids after my family,” Raff said, getting a raised-brow look from Lula.

“But Bubba Jr. has such a nice ring to it!” she quipped.

“Look, I get it. You’re scared,” Raff said, holding a hand out, palm up.

“Scared? Of what, exactly?”

“That with your model beauty and my ruggedly handsome good looks, our offspring would be so gorgeous that the world would have no choice but to worship them as gods, and that all that power might go to their heads, but I’m sure we can keep them grounded.”

“Where the fuck do you come up with this shit?” Riff asked, shaking his head as he took his beer and moved away from the bar.

“He’s just jealous because I’m the handsomer twin,” Raff declared.

“You’re practically identical,” Lula said, shaking her head.

“Not true. I have way thicker eyelashes,” Raff declared. “I can’t blame you for not noticing, though. It’s all so much to take in at once. It’s like looking at the sun. If you try to for too long, you might go blind.”

“It’s been dull around here without you, Raff,” Lula said, giving him an indulgent smile.

“I gotta leave you for just long enough that you miss me, but not long enough for you to start looking for a replacement.”

“Oh, but who could ever replace your crazy ass?” Lula asked.

“That’s what I’m saying!” Raff said as my gaze followed Dell as she moved around the bar.

She wouldn’t so much as glance at me.

“Here, can you handle this?” Nyx said in just a loud enough tone as to grab my attention.

When I looked over, she was handing Dell a half-filled garbage bag.