Page 69 of The Devil's Redemption

Shemusthave a death wish.

“You don’t know anything about me,skank,” I spit.

“Knock it off, Lizzy,” Kid demands.

“No, no, Kid. It’s fine,” I assure him. “I’ll have a shot of whatever she’s having.”

I nod toward Betty Bitch and pray she’s not getting something ridiculous like a prairie fire. I lost a game of pool on my twenty-first birthday, and the rules were loser had to take a shot of the winner’s choice. Well, I got totally fucked when the guy I lost to ordered me a prairie fire—tequila and tabasco sauce. My throat has never burned as bad as it did that night. I didn’t puke, but it was very touch and go for a while after that.

“I’ll keep it simple for the lightweight. Just give us some Jack.”

Whiskey.

It’s like my nemesis. I had a shot of Jameson once and threw up the entire night.

Okay, Sasha. You can do this. You’renotgoing to throw up. You’re going to prove to the skank bitch that you’re a fucking force to be reckoned with.

“Oh, damn. Kid, pour me one, too,” I hear to the right of me.

Maggie.

She winks at me, and I silently tell her how happy I am that she’s here without giving the fact that I’m nervous away to the bitch behind me. Okay, now IknowI can do this.

Kid lays out three shots in front of us. I happen to catch Blade watching us from across the room. I look away as soon as I realize he’s less than thrilled about me taking a shot. As I grab the glass in one hand, Maggie takes hold of the other one before looking at me.

“You are my sunshine,” she cheers at the same time Kid shouts, “Shoot!”

Maggie’s words are all I need to steel my stomach and take the shot like a big girl. The first three seconds after the liquid goes down, I feel the need to expel it from my body immediately.

Keep it down, keep it under control, Sasha.

But then I grab the beer that Kid placed in front of me, and I down a large sip of that, pinning the skank with a stare as I clear the taste of the whiskey from my palate.

“Whatever,” she sighs as she rolls her eyes and walks away.

“Oh my god,” I whisper to Maggie once the coast is clear. “Thank you so much. The shot would have come right back up if you weren’t here.”

“Of course, I’ve got your back, girl,” Maggie winks.

“Kid, can you get Maggie a beer?” I ask.

Once he hands it to her, the two of us walk over to where Blade and Hawk are still talking to Cap and Josh.

For the first time since meeting Blade, I can actually picture myself feeling at home here.

Chapter Twenty-Three

By ten o’clock,the party is in full swing. Blade started making me drink water in between drinks, which I know I’ll be thanking him for tomorrow. I’ve been staying away from the shots, but the beers are going down nice and smooth.

I forgot what it was like to let loose. To not have anyone to worry about but myself. And I have Blade to worry about me, too, which is a plus. I’ve missed this. Not that I was ever some huge party girl, nor am I going to turn into one, but everyone needs a chance to kick back once in a while.

“Hello again,” I hear from behind me.

I turn to see who it is and come face-to-face with Josh.

“Oh. Hi there.”

“Enjoying the party?” he asks.

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