Page 8 of The Only Reason (The Trident Trilogy 2)

Mack grabbed a beer at the bar before he walked over to where Chase was sitting.

“I don’t know how you’re going to keep whoring around like this when Millie moves in with you,” Chase said.

“Ah, no. It’s all done when we move. It’s just me and her. No women allowed,” Mack said as he pulled up a chair. “After Millie graduates from college, I might even find a nice girl like Mariel and settle down.”

“First of all, you know damn well Mariel isn’t a nice girl,” Chase said, laughing. “And second, you think you’re going to be celibate for four years?”

“Well, maybe not that long, but I can be for a while. I just want to enjoy my time with Millie. No distractions.”

“Maybe when Millie is out on a date, you can sneak in a woman or two. I wouldn’t want you to lose your touch.”

“I will never lose my touch,” Mack laughed. “And like I’m going to let Millie date.”

“Brother, I have brought two daughters through the teenage years and sent them off to college. They date. They date assholes. You’re going to have to grin and bear it. Living with her all the time is going to be an eye-opener for you.”

Mack sighed. “Man. I can’t wait. It’s going be the best time of my life. Bring on the problems. Bring on the asshole boyfriends. I’m ready to be a full-time dad.”

“Hey!” Mack and Chase looked up to see a man standing over them. He pointed at Mack. “Did you take my girlfriend outside?”

“Depends,” Mack said, taking a long drink of his beer. “Who’s your girlfriend?”

“Speaking of asshole boyfriends.” Chase rolled his eyes as he stood up and pushed the man back away from Mack. “Believe me, brother. You don’t want any part of him.”

The man shook Chase’s hand off and stepped toward Mack again. He pointed at the brunette across the bar. “My girlfriend is the one with the red shirt. I saw you walk in behind her.”

Mack stood up slowly. The rest of his team started gathering behind him. “First of all, I didn’t take anyone anywhere. And second, you’ve got about five seconds to back off.”

“You need all them to fight me?” the man said, gesturing to the team.

Mack laughed, not turning around. “They’re just here to watch. You want to fight? Take your best shot.”

The man started walking away before he turned back suddenly and ran at Mack, trying to tackle him around the waist. Mack stepped slightly to the side and caught the man around the neck. He pushed him back roughly.

“I’ll let you get away with that one, but that’s the only pass you get,” Mack said.

Chase walked between them, looking at the man. “Take the pass,” he said, shaking his head. “Save yourself. She ain’t worth it.”

“Get out of my way,” the man growled at Chase.

“All right, brother,” Chase said, sighing. “Go get ’em.”

The man squared up with Mack—his fists in front of his face—as he began to shift from foot to foot. Mack rolled his eyes and remained relaxed.

“Stay away from my girlfriend,” the man growled, finally taking a very wild haymaker at Mack.

Mack easily grabbed his arm, held it high in the air, and put a quick uppercut into his ribs. The force of the blow lifted the man off the ground. Mack let go of his arm and let him fall to the floor.

“Damn, Mack. I think I heard at least two of his ribs break,” Harry said from behind him.

The man rolled over, crying out as he grabbed his ribs. Mack sighed and walked away.

Chase lifted the man off the floor, putting his arm around him. He walked him to the door and patted him on the back. “You’re going to want to go to the emergency room.”

Mack shook his head as Chase walked back over to him. “I tried to warn him. I always give them an out.”

“You can only do so much. There’s no fixing stupid,” Chase said as he sat down. “Karma’s a bitch, though. You know Millie’s going to bring home some guy just like that.”

“Man, shut the fuck up.”

“My grandma always told me your kids give you back what you put out. If that’s true, then Millie’s going to date someone just like you. Lord help us all.”

“First, we both know there’s no one quite like me—“

“Thank God,” Chase said, finishing the last of his whiskey.

“And second, if she did happen to find that rarest of all men,” Mack said, grinning, “I would be happy to welcome him into the family with open arms.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” Chase said as he headed to the bar for a refill.

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