Bittersweet (Redemption #3) - Jessica Prince Page 0,42

from passing out.”

“Bunny, stop. I can’t leave.”

My feet rooted to the floor as I looked down at her. That was the first “bunny” I’d gotten in more than five years. That nickname had been a joke between us. It started as Snuggle Bunny whenever she wanted to be funny or a smartass, and had eventually been shortened to bunny, which she used all the time. I never in my life thought I would have missed being called “bunny,” but Christ, I did. I knew there wasn’t a chance in hell she’d call me that if she wasn’t suddenly loopy as hell, but it still felt really fucking good to hear.

“You aren’t fine. Jesus, Shane, you nearly fell right on your ass.” Looping my arm around her waist, I pulled her against my side, holding her tight, and fuck if it didn’t feel good to have her pressed against me.

“It’s nothing,” she continued to argue. “I’ve just been really tired, then there was that drama earlier with Rina, and I think I might’ve forgotten to eat dinner.” She paused, her face scrunching up in thought. “Actually, I’m not sure I had lunch either.”

“Are you kidding me?” I looked at her with a severe frown as I led us out of the office and down the hall. “How do you not remember if you’ve eaten all damn day or not?”

She glared up at me but had stopped struggling, giving me more of her weight, which just proved she really did feel like hell no matter what she claimed. “You try taking care of a five-year-old all by yourself every single day while trying to keep him from tearing the house down, having worked until two AM the morning before. I’m lucky if I remember to wear a bra or brush my teeth half the time. One time I actually left the house to go grocery shopping with two different shoes on and my leggings inside out.”

Fuck me, that hurt. Not the shoes or leggings part. That was actually pretty damn funny, but the part about having to do and be everything for our son. I’d put her in that position, so whatever she was feeling right now, it was all on me.

“I’m here now,” I said in a gentle voice. “I’m sorry I made you do it by yourself for so long, but I’m here, and I want to help. Let me help you, sunshine.”

She tilted her head back as we reached the mouth of the hallway, those honey eyes warmer than I’d seen them in months. I thought she might actually grace me with that smile I loved so much, but before she had a chance, a hard, angry voice shattered the moment.

“What the hell’s goin’ on here? You mind tellin’ me why the fuck you’re groping my sister?”

Well shit.

Stone stood in front of us, blocking our path, with Scooter at his side, both of them scowling at where my arm rested on Shane’s hip with murder in their eyes.

“I’m taking her home,” I answered, calmly. “She isn’t feeling well. She nearly passed out back there.”

“You’re being dramatic,” she blustered. “I’m fine.”

“Jesus, girl,” Scooter admonished, taking her in and seeing the same worrisome weakness and lack of color that I did. “Always puttin’ too much on your shoulders and not takin’ proper care of yourself. You gotta go home.”

“If she needs to leave, I’ll take her,” Stone interjected, lifting his arm toward Shane.

I shifted before his hand could latch on, twisting so she was out of reach. “I said I got her. I’ll get her home safely.”

I recognized the look on his face as one I’d worn a whole hell of a lot when I was younger. It was the look a man got when he wanted to beat the shit out of someone. “Listen here, dickhead. I don’t know who you think you are, but Shane isn’t goin’ anywhere with you.”

“Everything okay over here?”

Fucking hell. Could this night go downhill any faster? I turned my attention to Gage and Laeth who had just walked up, eyeing the other men like they were ready to throw down any second.

“We’re good. I’m just taking Shane home.”

Stone took a menacing step closer. “What part of ‘she’s not goin’ anywhere with you’ didn’t sink into your brain, asshole?”

I didn’t back down. “And what part of ‘your sister isn’t feeling well and nearly passed the fuck out’ didn’t penetrate yours? You wanna get in a pissing match, any other time, I’m game, but right now