Page 39 of Savage

As the night wore on, the crowd started to thin out, and I couldn’t help but notice that Londyn and her buddy were no longer dancing. I quickly scanned the room and spotted Londyn talking to Skylar and Lucas, but Jackson wasn’t with her. He was busy chatting it up with the bartender, and it looked like they were having quite the conversation.

Jackson was smiling and leaning towards him, and the more they talked, the closer he got. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was hitting on the guy. I was so focused on watching them that I hadn’t noticed that Danny had come up behind me. He leaned down and snickered in my ear, “Guess you didn’t need to worry about me after all. Looks like Londyn’s already got herself a new fella.”

“Fuck off, Danny.”

“Hey, there’s no reason to get pissed at me. It’s not my fault that you fucked it up with your girl.”

“I’m only going to say it one more time,” I warned. “Fuck off.”

He lingered a moment longer, and I was about to jump up and punch the asshole in the throat when he finally walked off. I turned my focus back to Jackson and the bartender, and again, they were still chatting it up. I just didn’t get it. Most guys would’ve gotten their drinks and headed straight back to their date.

And then, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Londyn wasn’t the cheating kind. It just wasn’t in her, and nothing could change that—not even the bullshit I put her through. There was no fucking way she’d be in Puckett’s chatting it up with Danny if she had a guy waiting for her back at home, much less go outside with him.

It was all a ruse.

Jackson wasn’t her boyfriend. He was just playing the part, making everyone, including me, think she’d moved on.

I was about to go over and call Londyn on her bullshit when she walked over to Jackson and slipped her arm around his. She whispered something in his ear. He nodded, then gave a quick wave to the crew before they both headed for the back door. They were just about to walk out when Londyn glanced over her shoulder, and her eyes locked on mine.

It was for only a second, but it was long enough for me to know that what we had wasn’t over—far from it.

I stood to go after them but stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted Bruton. I had no idea how long he’d been there. He was hard to recognize without his khakis and sweater vest. I gave my father a nudge with my elbow and asked, “What the fuck is he doing here?”

“Who?”

“Bruton?”

I motioned my hand over to the back corner where he was talking with a small group of older ladies, and from the looks of it, he was schmoozing it up pretty good with them. “If I had to guess, I’d say he’s still working on that damn petition.”

“What petition?”

“He wants another caution light downtown, and the council is bucking him on it.”

“He kills me with this whole council man by day gunslinger by night bullshit.”

“Yeah, but he does it, and he does it well.”

“Maybe, but I don’t like it.” My eyes were fixed on Bruton as I added, “He seems a little too chummy with the ladies.”

“What can I say?” Dad scoffed, “The man’s a player.”

“Damn. I just threw up in my mouth.”

“Oh, it’s not that bad. He’s just making his rounds.” His smile faded as he asked, “So, what’s your plan?”

“Plan for...?”

“Getting this thing with Londyn sorted.”

“Don’t really have a plan, but I’m going to go over to her folks' place and talk to her.”

He glanced down at my empty glass as he asked, “You sure that’s a good idea?”

“Got no choice... I don’t know when she’s planning to head back.”

“Then call Rooster or Torch and have them drive you over.”

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