Bradford Bastard (Bradford Bastard 1)

There’s a loud oomph followed by a throaty moan as Chanel fights back and pushes off the wall, giving Jax all he needs to keep going. “They’re a pedigree pair, each putting up a fight as they get into position. The race is dragging on, the stud ready to drive this home. There are plenty of other players on the field, but where these two are concerned, there is no competition.”

Bri laughs, her hand shifting away from her head again, and I promptly push it back, unable to block out Jax’s commentary, as we hear the obvious sounds of Logan and Chanel mid-fuck. “The opening is narrow, but the stud is going for it, pushing harder and harder, not relenting in his determination. But—oh no. OH NO! He’s going too hard. The stud is at risk of finishing this race early, but it seems the princess won’t accept second place. She’s forging ahead, holding the stud in line. For those watching at home, it seems this is going to be a quick game. Blink and you’ll miss it. This pair have fought it out for so long, it was bound to come to an explosive end and—” Jax pauses, his eyes wide as a stupid grin cuts across all of our faces, hearing Chanel scream Logan’s name. “YES! YES! The princess pushes ahead, taking control of this race and flying across the finish, making the stud her bitch as he comes in a close second, equally as proud.”

Everybody cackles as they come down from their high, and I’m not surprised when they remain in the den, the soft murmurs of their conversation coming through the wall.

Light conversation fills the room and all too soon, Bri disappears inside her own head. “What’s wrong?” I murmur, stealing her attention.

She shakes her head. “Nothing, I just …”

“This isn’t about what Jax said earlier, is it? About where you and I stand with each other?”

“No,” she rushes out, her eyes widening at the thought. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as curious as everybody else, but if I’m honest, I don’t think you and I can get through a conversation like that without ending up in bed or screaming at each other. I don’t know what’s in your head, Tanner, and I have a slight suspicion that you don’t either.”

A grin pulls at the corners of my lips. I hate how clearly she reads me. It makes it far too hard to get away with shit. “So what’s bothering you then?”

She glances away, her gaze dropping to her hand in her lap. “Every time I breathe in, I feel the way he was weighing down on me, and every time I swallow, I remember his hands and how scared I was not being able to breathe. I thought I was going to die.”

“I would have never let that happen.”

“But what if you weren’t there? What if your coach had asked you to do one more drill or if you’d decided to stop for gas on the way home?”

“Then you would have fought back and annihilated him,” I tell her, damn sure of it too. “I’ve seen how easily you drop a guy, Killer. You’re brutal. You’re not the kind to sit back and take it. If someone swings at you, you swing back with twice as much force.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Damn sure.”

Bri nods and settles back in beside me before allowing herself to get lost in the girls’ conversation, but her usual spark isn’t there. I don’t blame her though, getting in a car wreck and having your asshole ex-boyfriend pin you down and strangle you isn’t exactly the highlight of anyone’s day.

I hate seeing her like this. Hate that out of all the people to bring her down, it’s him. Hate that the same fucker that messed with my sister is now messing with Brielle.

This asshole is going to die, and it’s going to be by my hand. Fuck the consequences. Fuck the future I’ve worked for. Nothing else matters to me now. He won’t get away with this. Not if I have anything to do with it.

Knowing damn well that there’s nothing I can do about Colby Jacobs tonight, I focus my attention on Bri because I’m damn sure I can do something about that frown marring her gorgeous face, even if it means making a complete ass of myself. There’s nothing I won’t do to see her smile, especially after the shit she’s been through.

Pulling out my phone, I start searching for my best work to date, and once I’m satisfied with my selection, I pull up a new message and briefly hesitate. This is the stupidest fucking shit I’ve ever done, and despite knowing that, I hit send.

With Bri putting her phone on silent at the hospital, I give her a soft nudge and wait as her bright blue eyes meet mine. “What’s up?”