I turned my head to see Everly scowl at her brother. “He’s a baby bird, brother.” Her voice took on a whiny edge. “If I want a baby bird as my suitor, I can have one!”
Joe thunked a fresh tankard in front of me, breaking my concentration. The air current returned to normal.
“Did you learn anything?” Joe asked, jerking his head toward the table we both knew I was eavesdropping on.
I sighed. “Not really.”
“Too bad.” Joe clapped me on the shoulder. “Help me brainstorm how to impress Brit. I want her as mine.”
I put my hands up. “Talk to her?”
Joe shook his head. “Too risky. You’ve heard me talk.”
“Fair enough.” I grinned. “Challenge her to a fight?”
“She’d pin me to the ground in seconds,” Joe countered.
I snorted. “Isn’t that where you want to be?”
Joe let out a roaring laugh, catching the attention of several tables around us, and I forced myself not to turn and see if Quinn noticed me.
“What do you want, Lawson?” Everly’s high, demanding voice cut through the crowd.
I looked at Joe, both of our hands going to our weapons. Although we weren’t on duty, we’d not changed out of our blacks yet. The roar of the Happy Rooster quieted enough to let me know everyone strained to hear the clash of two family titans.
Maybe in his mid-twenties, the new arrival’s forest-green hair came down just past his ears and was slicked back from his face. He held his shoulders back. His hands rested in the pockets of his perfectly tailoredblack slacks. His staggered stance showed his training, ready to dodge if anyone swung for him.
“Nothing from you, Grierson.” The man turned to Quinn, only to narrow his eyes. A shadow fell over his face. “Did someone hit you?”
He reached forward and tilted Quinn’s head up. The purpling bruise from this morning caught the light, and my magic burst inside me like a bubbling bog.
Quinn batted his arm away. “I fell. I’m fine, Cayden. And why would you care?”
The Lawson’s lips tightened.
Quinn shook his head. “Do you want to join us?”
Someone actually gasped.
“Quinn, darling.” Everly let out a strained laugh.
The Lawson cocked his head to the side. “You really don’t understand family politics, do you?”
Quinn popped his lips. “Nope. But for some reason, you’re all here and these”—he motioned to the rest of the table—“are my new friends. And you can join us, or you can say your bit and shove off.”
A not-so-kind smile pulled at the Lawson’s lips. “I’m buying a round. And if they don’t piss me off, you can stay with them. If they do, you can come to my table.”
My heart jolted. Quinn had made himself the perfect pawn between two rival families. Joe gave me a knowing look, and I silently cursed while telling myself I didn’t care.
“Ha, no,” Quinn barked.
The Happy Rooster went silent. Only the sound of rain pounding against the tin roof filled the space.
“I’m so fucking done with all of this today.” Quinn climbed onto the table. “A round for everyone, on me.”
Joe stood and cheered along with half the pub. The rest looked ready to pass out in shock.
Quinn turned back to the Lawson. “You can either stay here until you piss me off, or y’all can explain to me exactly what’s going on. I’m not choosing sides.”
