Bittersweet (Redemption #3) - Jessica Prince Page 0,99

Ronny,” Rina hissed through her lipstick-smudged teeth.

“Bet I could,” he said with a grin that showed he was in serious need of dental work. “Just like I kicked his ass back in high school.”

“Shut the fuck up, Ronny,” someone in the crowd shouted. “Everyone knows Jensen beat the shit outta you back then, so just sit your fat ass down!”

“What the fuck’s goin’ on over here?”

Stone appeared at my side, and it was like Rina had just laid her eyes on a wagyu steak. She batted her lashes, making her mascara flake and fall off. “Hey, Stone.”

He didn’t bother hiding his disdain as he looked her over, his top lip curled up in disgust the whole time. “’Sup,” was all he offered before turning his attention to Ronny, who—at the big man’s sudden appearance—was now rethinking his plan to fuck with me.

“You were saying?” I asked Ronny, my expression conveying just how amused I was feeling. I’d never had so much trouble hiding a smile. “I think it was somethin’ about being able to kick my ass?”

Stone let out a loud guffaw, looking at me with bewilderment. “This pencil dick said he could kick your ass?” He laughed again. “Ah, fuck man. That’s great. I needed a laugh.”

Before I could say anything, Shane snaked up against my side and looped her arm through mine. When I tipped my head down to meet her gaze I saw the worry swimming in her eyes. “Hey,” she said softly. “You good?”

I smiled down at her and gave her the truth. “I’m great, sunshine.” And it was the truth. Back in the day, the only person who could push me to losing it worse than Ronny was Whitman Rose. But standing there now, with my woman at my side, my son safe with people who loved him, surrounded by good people and friends, the man in front of me barely registered. “You take my beer over to the pool tables?”

She slowly grinned, reading my eyes and knowing I was going to be just fine. I didn’t have a reason to be angry about anything, not when my life was so goddamn good. “Sure did.”

“Good.” I reached over and clapped Stone on his shoulder. “Let’s go, brother. I feel like kicking your ass at pool tonight.”

“Where the fuck do you think you’re goin’,” Ronny bellowed when I began to turn away. “I’m not done with you yet, asshole.”

“Oh for God’s sake, Ronny,” Shane exclaimed in annoyance. “Just give it a rest already. No one wants to see you get your ass handed to you tonight. Everyone here knows you’re full of shit. You need to walk away before I break your nose . . . again.”

His face started to go red, so I hooked my arm around Shane’s shoulders and pulled her against me so I’d be the buffer in case he decided to do something really fucking stupid.

“You know what? Fuck this place, there’re better bars in this town. I’m done with this shithole.”

“Thank God,” Shane muttered under her voice.

“But, wait,” Rina called after him. “I’m not ready to go and you’re my ride!”

“Then find a new one, bitch. I’m outta here.” He stomped out of the bar, with Rina teetering after him, nearly tripping several times as she tried to run in her stripper heels.

“You good?” I asked, looking down at my sunshine.

“Absolutely perfect,” she said in a soft, dreamy voice, tipping her head back farther so I could lean in for a kiss.

“All right. It’s good you two patched things up, but I don’t need to see this shit,” Stone grumbled. “We playin’ pool or what? I feel like puttin’ money on it.”

I was down with that. I’d drink a few beers, play a couple games, take Stone’s money, then I’d take my woman home and fuck her until neither of us could walk. It was going to be a good night.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Shane

“I never thought I’d say this, but I think I hate shopping.”

Farah threw her head back and laughed as we exited what felt like the millionth store in the past three days. We were still on the hunt for furniture to fill my house, but it was taking so long, and I was being so indecisive that all my other friends had bowed out, refusing to go with me anymore.

“Mommy, we should get all Avengers stuff!” Brantley declared seriously.

I smiled down at my boy and brushed his hair back from his forehead. “I love you, bud, but we aren’t doing