Series: Shame On You Series by Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51495 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51495 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“We didn’t have anything to do with it, so they can ask until they turn fucking blue in the face. Don’t give them anything.” Nate says all the right words. With a nonchalance that brings ease to most of the men.
“You all have the lawyer’s number, don’t say anything. They don’t have anything and we don’t have anything to give em’,” I add. Carter’s quiet, and Jase and Daniel enter but stay on the other side of the bar. Taking in the scene, looking for someone who sticks out from the crowd of our closest men.
“Well they have fucking rats,” Nicholas, who nearly slurs his words, bites out, and the bar goes quiet. Chills run down my spine.
“Who’s that?” I press, anger brimming, the back of my neck heating. I swear to God if he says her name…Carter’s hand finds my shoulder and he grips it, keeping me grounded.
“Scarlet. Hale. Ronnie. We don’t know what they told the cops, do we?” Nicholas says like it’s obvious and Jeffery tells him to shut the fuck up.
The men around them shift uncomfortably.
“We do. We know everything they told them and they don’t have shit,” Jase tells the men and orders a shot of whiskey. Letting it blow over even though my entire body is fucking tense, every muscle wound tight.
Scarlet. Hale. Ronnie. Not my Braelynn.
Nicholas seems to catch on to his fuckup and raises his hands. “I apologize.”
“That’s why they’re pushing so hard and playing their fucking games,” I tell him. Fucking thankful he didn’t say her name. Grateful he didn’t lump her with them. “They’re hoping one of you will crack and turn too. We know you guys won’t. You’ve been with us for decades now, haven’t you?”
“Yeah,” Jeffery says quickly, nodding and swallowing so damn hard I can see his Adam’s apple move from here.
“And you”—I stare directly at Nicholas in the quiet bar—“twelve years now, right?”
“Yeah, Boss,” he answers. Worry lines around his eyes.
“How’s your dad?” I ask him, remembering a while back he was in the hospital.
“He’s doing good. Holding up,” he answers.
He nods and the bar remains silent.
“Good. Good.” I nod and murmur, debating on whether or not to kill this sloppy mother fucker. We’ve already had too much loss on our side. Morale is low after suffering loss, like the two men I killed for her, and arrests and warrants from cops who are desperate for us to react. The other side needs to take a hit, the other side needs to have loss. And my brothers and I can take care of that ourselves.
“If any of you hears anything, let us know. Don’t give the pricks anything other than the lawyer's name. N is waiting for us to be out of this shit before the next deal,” Jase says.
“In the meantime, we’re taking care of the stress it’s putting on your families,” Carter adds.
Jase wraps it up, “If you need anything, call the lawyer and we’ll take care of it.” He raises his shot glass and adds, “Besides, tonight is a night to celebrate. I love seeing the pricks on the other side get lit up.”
“No one is going to jail. We’ve got it taken care of. Come to work, have a drink, and bide your time,” I call out to Mia, grinning. “Let’s have a round for the boys. I’m feeling like celebrating tonight after that breaking news.”
They all chuckle and order rounds, the atmosphere changes instantly. But inside, everything is raging, every bit of me on edge. And for the next hour I watch everything Nicholas does…and Jeffery too.
Braelynn
The truth that nobody can deny is that wine makes things better.
I intended on keeping a distance in Aria’s studio, but once the wine hit, I couldn’t help myself. I’m no longer watching what I say. No longer holding it together. With a little wine, it’s easier to just let go.
They’re kind and open. Compassionate and understanding in ways I didn’t expect.
They want me here and told me so multiple times, though I’m not sure why. Even with the wine, I don’t feel brave enough to question them about it.
Time passes quickly enough and Addison brings enough snacks that they turn into dinner. The three of us share a charcuterie board and another bottle. I’m grateful for the swirls of meat and cheese but more so for the conversation that’s so seemingly normal, and the two of them joking about life in general. Everything is so easy that by the time we’re digging into the charcuterie board, I’m almost drunk.
I keep a handle on it, though. At least I think I do.
Aria was right. It is better on this side of the house, where there’s somebody to talk to. I didn’t realize just how anxious I felt with Declan being gone until I let the time pass around me and stopped thinking so hard about it. I wonder how often Aria has had to deal with this kind of thing. I guess it must be often enough that she knows to head to her studio with some wine and a friend and wait it out.