Page 76 of Give Me Redemption

“That’s not how this works,” I argue.

“Do we really have to follow the rules?” she asks with a smirk.

“Fine,” I say, reaching up and grabbing the bottle. I pour myself a shot and toss it back.

I suck my teeth. “Done. Now ask your question.”

She nods, seeming satisfied. “What’s the one thing you wish you could change about your life?”

“Wow. That’s a deep question.”

“You don’t have to answer,” she says, looking at the bottle.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?” I ask her.

“Maybe,” she says, looking cute as hell. God, the things I wish I could do to her.

I exhale. What would I change? Fuck, what wouldn’t I?

“I don’t really know how to answer that.”

“Well, drink up,” she says.

“No, no. I can answer.” I run a hand through my hair. “I’d change the way I feel.”

“The way you feel?”

“I believe that’s two questions, Dalton.”

She exhales. “Shit.”

“Shot time,” I say, grabbing the bottle and pouring her one.

She takes it and tosses it back.

“Now my question is, what’s the one thing you regret the most?” I ask as she places the shot glass back onto the table.

She scoffs. “Pour me another.”

I lift a brow. “Okay,” I say.

Why didn’t she want to answer that? What is this woman hiding? Why behind those pretty eyes is there so much sadness? I don’t understand it.

“Want to stop?” I ask her.

“You’re really not good at this, are you?” she says, and I realize I asked another fucking question.

“Dammit.”

She laughs, but then looks back at the table. Her voice turns serious. “What happened to them?” she asks, nodding toward the photos.

I wince after I take my other shot. “They died.” I shock myself. I haven’t said that out loud to anyone. It’s not something you talk about. Those were my boys, and I just said they died like it was no big deal.

But it was.

God, it was.

It killed me.

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