Page 98 of Breach of Honor

“I’m yours, and you’re mine.”

The back of my throat burned with salty tears. If the Feds didn’t take Jason down fast, I might go insane. This woman deserved truth and honesty. Love and happiness.

“Yes, M. I’m yours. I’ll only ever be yours. Never forget that, okay?”

“I won’t.” Her arms wrapped around my neck, fingers threading through the hair at the base of my head.

We held each other as the sky grew dark. At the edge of the ocean, a new day would begin as the sun woke and it couldn’t be stopped.

Tomorrow would come, and our lives would change.

Club Rendezvous made my skin crawl with shame and disgust. The hallway where “Jenny from the Block” had blown me while Miranda stared in awe snorted mockingly at my predicament as I passed. I wanted to turn around and run through the VIP door where we’d just entered.

The only good thing about this place had been Miranda in her mesmerizing red dress. Fate had brought us together that night, I was sure of it. Other than finding the girl of my dreams here, there was nothing respectable about the place.

On the other hand, Jason beamed like a neon dildo, licking his chops at the scantily clad women. I was embarrassed I’d once thought of this place as fun. Mortified was a better word.

I wasn’t the same immature and entitled man I’d been seven months ago. That night felt like a lifetime ago.

For years, my parents had urged me to take SJI seriously, but I’d laughed and mocked them like a spoiled brat. Now I would be making the ultimate sacrifice for them, hoping it might make up for all the years of neglecting my responsibilities.

“The energy in this place is rocking!” Jason yelled.

I didn’t respond, approaching the bar.

“What’ll you have?” the bartender asked.

“Two scotches, neat,” Jason said. “What’s Miranda up to tonight?”

Now was the time I had to appear annoyed. “Work,again. It’s always work.”

“How much does she work?”

“Sometimes sixty hours a week!” That was a bit of an exaggeration, but he’d never know the difference. “Here I thought having a girlfriend would be awesome.”

Jason smirked, eyeing me. “Sounds like trouble in paradise.”

The bartender placed our glasses on the bar. I handed him my credit card. “Start a tab.”

He nodded and was gone.

I raised my glass, and Jason did the same. “It’s good to see you. And even better that you’re local now.”

“Thanks. And just in the nick of time. No more lonely nights for you!” He grinned, elbowing me. I wanted to choke the asshole for fucking with my family and SJI.

“Here’s to perfect fucking timing!” I clinked my glass to his and drank down a large gulp.

A half an hour later, and we were on our third drink. Jason talked to several women but hadn’t settled on one yet. I was about to come out of my fucking skin, waiting for Cori to show up. Sweaty armpits, elevated heart rate, stomach in knots, I hated everything about tonight.

Flirting looks were coming from all directions. If Cori didn’t show up soon, I might be forced to talk to one of the women.

“Hey, hottie at the end of the bar.” Jason kicked my shoe. I clenched my jaw, fisting my hand ready to knock his teeth out.

I let my gaze travel to “the hottie” just to appease him—scarlet-red hair. I narrowed my eyes to focus better; to my relief, it was Cori. How ironic Jason would notice her first. “What about her?” I played it off like I wasn’t interested. It would challenge Jason to convince me otherwise.

“Seriously, you were just complaining about Miranda working so damn much. Now you’re going to blow off a redheaded siren? She’s definitely interested.”

“She’s not my type.” I knew my stubbornness would get him excited, but why wasn’t he attempting to beat me to the punch? Since college, Jason had tried to get the girl before me. What was up with him?