Page 92 of On The Rocks

I plowed my shoulder into the exceptionally tall guy, and he took it to the solar plexus. The guy was a bull and drove me back, grappling with a leg wrapped around mine to put me on my ass.

Luckily, after living ten years with Marcus Justice, I was well aware of some jujitsu moves. I hooked my arm around his back, and we both crashed into the stone patio. One of the Adirondack chairs tipped over, digging into my back.

“Son of a bitch,” I growled and flipped him onto his back. “What the hell man?”

“Get off me!”

“You swung at me,” I muttered and rolled off him.

Justin was bent over, gasping for breath. “Get the hell out of here.”

The guy sat up, his cheeks ruddy with drink. “My girl split.”

“No wonder.” I managed to get on my knees, and Justin held out a hand for me. I let him haul me off the ground then we both looked down at the gargantuan guy.

“Broke up with me.”

“Oh,” we both said in unison.

“Sorry, man.” Justin reached down to help up the guy. “Don’t swing at me.”

He grabbed onto Justin’s outstretched hand and got to his feet. “I won’t. That tool pissed me off, but I’m fine now.”

“Good. What’s your name?”

“Landon Cole.”

“Well, that’s a helluva right hook you got, Landon.” Justin wiggled his jaw.

He smiled ruefully and shook out his hand. “And you’ve got a stone jaw.”

“Goes with his hard head,” I said with a grin.

“What do you do, man?”

“Why?”

“Wondering if that right hook comes with training.”

Landon chuckled. “Navy.”

“Oh, hey. Me too. A long time ago.” I grinned. Not many navy men around this part of New York that was for sure. “AIRRs.”

“Shit, that’s elite shit. I was just a sub, man. I got out last year. Was tired of living in a tin can.”

“Can’t blame you.”

“Well, Landon. You looking for a job?” Justin asked.

His eyebrows shot up. “I just clocked you. Now you want to give me a job?”

Justin laughed. “You didn’t clock me. Just got in a lucky shot.”

“Sure. You can think that all you want.”

He slapped Landon on the arm. “Think you’ll do just fine. That is if you want a job.”

He shrugged. “I work over at the mill.”

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