Holden looked considering. “We’ve all made mistakes. Axel has spent a night or two in a jail cell for drunken and disorderly.”
“Deputy Handsy was just looking for an opportunity to feel me up,” Axel protested, shooting a look over his shoulder.
Sure enough, the deputy—Dalton Harvey—sat at the bar again tonight, nursing a beer, gaze flickering over to Axel more than seemed necessary.
“Are you fucking the deputy?” I asked incredulously.
Holden choked on his beer while Axel laughed. “In his dreams, maybe.”
“In your dreams too,” Holden said. “That’s what worries me. You’ve got to stop trying to get his attention. It’ll just lead you to a jail cell again.”
“You worry too much,” Axel said dismissively, then turned to Emory. “Tell us more about this ex-con. What did he do? Murder is one thing, but we can’t hire any rapists.”
“Nothing like that,” Emory said, eyes widening. “According to Allison, he was driving the car when his cousins robbed a liquor store. He told her he didn’t know they were going to do that, but he did some time for it. Four years.”
“Ouch,” Holden said. “But you can vouch for this guy?”
“Well, yeah, but not personally,” Emory said. “Allison trusts him, and I trust Allison.”
“Allison Prince?” Axel said. “Weren’t you two practically married before Gray stole you away?”
Emory rolled his eyes. “No, smart-ass.”
I grinned, damn happy to see that Emory could hold his own with my acerbic brother. Axel was the type of guy who could steamroll you if you didn’t push back.
“Allison is dating Matteo,” Emory continued. “His dad is controlling his life, making him work at the fire station for free and just suffocating him, so?—”
“Tell him to come by,” I said.
“You calling the shots now?” Holden asked.
“No, we’re all calling the shots together,” I said. “Besides, we know what it’s like to have an asshole father shoving us down in the dirt. What does it hurt to give the guy a chance?”
“If it gets me out of tow duty, I’m all for it,” Axel said.
“Of course it’s all about your personal convenience,” Holden said dryly. “You’re spoiled by those?—”
“Uh, guys?” Emory broke in. “Is Bailey in trouble over there?”
We all looked toward the pool tables, where a beefy guy with a neck as thick as Bailey’s thigh was poking a finger in our brother’s chest, face red.
“Uh-oh. Our hustling baby bro is about to get his ass handed to him,” Axel said, jumping out of his seat.
He tore across the room while Holden cursed. “This isn’t going to end well.”
I pushed my chair back. “Should we?—”
“No, you stay with Em. I’ll go rein them in.”
Holden charged after Axel. But it was too late. The beefy guy shoved Bailey, and then Axel shoved him, andthen?—
“There goes the deputy,” Emory said. “I hope Axel doesn’t end up in the jail cell tonight.”
Deputy Harvey charged into the chaos by the pool tables.
He pressed one big hand to Axel’s chest, pushing him behind him. With his other hand, he pointed a finger in the angry guy’s face and gave him a lecture that had him backing off with a sullen glare. Last of all, he turned to Bailey, who reluctantly handed over a wad of bills. Damn, how much had he hustled the guy for?
“What Holden said about Axel wanting the deputy’s attention. Is he also…?”