Page 39 of Give Me Redemption

Yeah, because it’s that simple to lie to a person and act like you’re someone else.

I shake my head.

Please, don’t fuck this up, Dalton.

___________

I step out of my car, the night air slipping down my shirt and warming my skin. Looking around the parking lot, I wonder if he’s already here. I called Davy on the way over and told him what was going on.

He’s happy about this. Says it’s a good plan.

Jesus, let him be right.

I pull open the door, seeing Jace already down at the bar. I hear Chris ask him if he’s with Michelle, and I speak up when Jace looks confused. He turns to me, his eyes doing a once-over down my body, his lips lifting. Good. He likes what he sees.

It’s showtime.

Chapter Eighteen

Harlow

“Nah, Adams literally walked around with a hole in the back of his pants and underwear. You could see his ass as clear as day.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “Why would y’all do that to him?”

Jace shrugs. “We had the firecrackers, and he was there. He only had a few burns on his ass. To pay us back, he made us look at it until our drill sergeant caught sight, and then we all had to do a hundred push-ups.”

“Oh my God,” I snicker. “That’s terrible.” I pick up my water and drink from my straw.

“Yeah, good times,” he says. He looks down for a moment, his mind seeming to go elsewhere. I tilt my head slightly as a frown shows on his face. We’ve been here for hours now. Most of the place is empty, the game long over.

“You okay?” I ask, putting my glass down.

He snaps his head up, his lips still frowning, but like he didn’t just go off into his own world, he gives me a smile.

“Yeah, just realized I haven’t talked about any of the guys in a while.”

I search his eyes. Dark blue around the rims with bits of light blue throughout. They almost look like a swimming pool. A very inviting pool of water, with the sun glistening off the top. Behind the beauty, I see a hint of pain. Reading people is part of my job. This boy is hurting, and I want to know why. I look away, because I realize he’s been staring at me, too, and I have my own secrets.

Like the fact I’m not who he thinks I am.

Get your shit together, Dalton.

This is a job.

Nothing else.

I clear my throat, deciding I need to ask some questions.

“So your brother owns Red?” I ask, looking back at him as I mess with my straw.

“Yeah,” he replies. “But that’s enough about me. Tell me about you.”

Shit.

“What do you want to know?”

“Bar is closing soon, folks,” Chris says. My eyes go to my watch and I realize it’s nearly midnight.

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