Page 56 of Free to Breathe
I’ll answer that one. “Because no man has a right to tell me—tell any of us—who and what we are. We’re not victims. We’re not doormats. And sure as shit, we’re not sluts. So, stay or go, Caleb. But tonight is for family pride.”
Em high-fives me. “Damn straight, sister. I’ll get the tequila.”
Caleb makes one last appeal to Ali. “Does Keene know where you are?”
She raises a brow. “When he finishes playing war games in his secure room and sees his phone, he will. After he gets over being pissed, he’ll enjoy me this drunk. Our drunk sex gets outrageous.”
“Eww. That’s my brother.” Cass shoves her.
“And boy, can he use his cock,” Ali taunts her as they sit down around the large table. “Then again, you were there that first night.”
“True. Speaking of which, you never told me…” And my two sisters are off and running.
Phil, who’s dressed in a tight-fitting black T-shirt and jeans, merely says, “No one makes my girls feel less than what they are—strong and beautiful. One of us is hurting. Don’t like how we fix it? There’s the door. You can wait outside until the fighting starts.”
“What fighting?” Caleb asks, signaling a harried waitress, who just flaps her hand at him.
“The minute all these douchebags finish texting their friends and this bar packs full of guys.” Em stumbles past Phil and drops a full bottle of rotgut on the table with shakers of salt and limes.
Phil continues. “Maybe my sister will find one who won’t call her a damn slut and I can sleep better at night.”
I lean up to kiss my brother on the cheek. “If I die, I’ll leave you my chocolate icing recipe.”
Phil looks at Caleb. “Let me amend my statement. First, we’re about to toast asshole doctors who have somehow convinced my sister not to immediately have a very necessary surgery. Then we’re toasting all the dicks who have disparaged her this week. Stay, go, we don’t care.” He turns to Holly, who’s meticulously pouring shots. “It’s the worst tequila in the world. Who the hell cares if it gets on the table?”
Holly gives him a cheeky smile before tipping the bottle to her lips and taking a swig.
Jason picks up his phone and takes a photo.
Caleb pulls his out of his pocket before making a call. “Keene, you’d better get your ass to my location the minute you get Ali’s text. I swear to God, there’s no way I can control this shit alone. It’s going to go bad tonight. Something happened and they’re on a mission…”
Tuning Caleb out, we start the night with a toast that’s all too perfect for us. “Fuck ’em all. Here’s to us!” Our shot glasses clink as we lick, suck, and shoot as fast as we can.
One shot down. The whole night to go.
* * *
My back archesas the guy who just poured tequila in my belly button sucks it out. Holding up the lime to his mouth like a boxing coach, I give a war whoop. Holly, whose hair is intermingling with mine, is laughing. “Pay that guy over there.” I wave vaguely in the direction of Phil. “It’s all for charity.”
“What charity is that, gorgeous?” The dark-haired biker leans toward my face.
I blink at him once, twice. “Ask my brother. He’s handling the details.”
“I’d rather ask you what you’re doing later.” Hmm. He’s not bad-looking, and if I’m going to be pegged as a slut, I might as well have some fun with it.
“Later she’s likely to have her head over the toilet at home, ’cause if she’s not, her ass is going to be so red from being spanked it’s not going to be funny.” Funny. That sounds like Colby’s voice…nah.
Still staring at the dark-haired stranger, I ask dreamily, “Did you mention spanking? I’ve never done that before.”
“For fuck’s sake, Corinna.”
I frown. “How do you know my name? There’re no names right now. I’m trying to forget who I am.”
“Dude, if you don’t get the hell away from my sister-in-law, there’s going to be some major problems.” Ah hell. Keene’s here. Behind my head, I hear Holly mutter, “Shit. Playtime’s over. Why’d Ali have to get with such a buzzkill? They’re not even married yet.”
“Dare you to say it.”
“Let me borrow your orange Valentino heels sometime and you got a deal.”
