Bubba and Red stepped around him. Bubba looked like he always did—mean and thick through the neck, jaw tight like he chewed nails for breakfast. He hated my father, and because of that, he hated me too.
But there were dark circles under his eyes, and that cough was worrying.
Red looked wrong.
Yesterday, he wasn't too terrible, but it seemed like he suddenly worsened overnight. His skin appeared gray under thefluorescent lighting. Sweat covered his temples, even though the room wasn’t warm. His eyes lacked clarity and didn’t focus as they normally would.
“You ready to get that ass kicked?” Bubba got out right before he started coughing so badly, I thought he’d hack up a lung.
“Depends,” I smirked. “You putting money up?”
George laughed.
Red didn’t.
I wasn’t sure if he was even aware who was in the room with him.
His jaw clicked once.
Taryn went still beside me.
“Prez wants the fight clean,” Bubba wiped at his eyes. “No fucking around. You go down in the third. Make it look good.”
I didn’t answer because fuck him.
I sat up, pulling Taryn with me.
George came closer to the cot, eyes dragging over Taryn in a way that made something hot and ugly settle under my ribs.
“She can watch,” he licked his lips. “Seeing you get your ass kicked may put her in the mood for a real man.”
Taryn smiled at him.
It wasn’t friendly.
“I think your time on earth as a man may be coming to an end.” She yawned as if his presence was beneath her.
Damn, I needed to dick this queen down.
George blinked in confusion. “Oh yeah?”
The guy was full of witty banter.
Her eyes flicked past him to Red.
“Yeah,” she smirked.
Red swayed. Just the tiniest bit.
Bubba grabbed his arm. “You good?”
Red nodded too fast, making his teeth click together again.
“Fucking fine,” he muttered, jerking his arm free. “It’s just allergies.”
I laughed, “Definitely allergies.”
Red glared, “I wouldn’t be laughing if I were in your shoes.”
