AllFreeNovel
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It’s a good time I watch from the sidelines.
Cash comes up on my right. “Enjoying yourself?”
“One disaster averted,” I say. “That’s all I’m grateful for.”
“Being prez is tough. But you’ve got this.”
“I’ve got no choice with Tom being behind bars and Silver being on a leave of absence. Hopefully he returns sooner than later.”
“You’re doing fine,” Cash says. He grips the back of my neck in brotherly spirit. “You were made for this shit.”
“What about you? You letting loose for once?”
He shakes his head, his golden hair like a fucking shampoo commercial. “Nope, you know I don’t play with fire anymore. Why get burned?”
“What day is it now?”
“Day one thousand and five and counting.”
“I’m proud of you, bro. It’s not easy staying sober.”
“It is when I remember what my old man let himself become. I’ll try my damnedest not to end up like him. It’s safer watching the fun from the sidelines. Speaking of fun, Johnny’s taken to the new barmaid, hasn’t he?” Cash asks suddenly, motioning to the bar floor.
I follow his gaze, picking out Sydney instantly. She’s sitting on a bar stool with a wide smile on her face. Her denim cut offs are so short that when she sits down, they look like fucking panties—her smooth thighs are in full view as she crosses her legs and laughs at something Johnny Flanagan says.
Of all the guys in the world. Of all the guys in the club.
This has got to be a fucking joke.
My jaw squares as I bite down hard. “I’ll say.”
“It’s innocent,” Cash adds. “Johnny’s got no game. She’s humoring him. She laughs at all the guy’s jokes.”
But I’m not listening.
I’m lost in tunnel vision. Everybody else in the bar blurs. The saloon walls and chairs and bar with alcohol stocked behind it blurs.
All I can see is Sydney’s face lighting up as Johnny leans in closer. He grins and palms her fucking knee, then his hand travels. It moves up toward her barethigh.
I set off at a fast stride. I knock into several guys on my way. No apology. No second glance.
I keep going, heading straight for them as my breath goes ragged. My fists tighten. I’m fuming beyond rationale by the time I reach them.
Sydney looks up first. Then Johnny—at the last second.
I throw my fist at him. A brutal blow to the cheek. He groans and fumbles sideways, collapsing into the table and stools next to him.
The whole bar goes silent. Somebody cuts off the music. The beer stops flowing. All the chatter ends and people turn around to look.
I don’t give a fuck. I round on Sydney like a beast on a murderous rampage.
“Get in the fucking back,” I rumble. “I’ve got work for you.”
…and a hard lesson to teach.
The shock fades from her face. She develops a glare, then does as I say. She hops down from the stool and heads toward the back with so much damn unapologetic confidence, it’s maddening.
This girl needs to learn a lesson the hard way.
