Page 17 of A Hurt So Good

War turns to me and says, “You ready to go, little bird?”

“That depends. Where am I sitting?” I tease. He winks at me, and we both walk out of the room and back down the hall. The both of us step outside and walk back to the SUV.

“She’s your sister?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder at him.

“Technically, she’s Denz’s sister, but we’ve been around since she’s been born.”

“She seems to really care about you guys.” War nods his head, looking around before dragging his gaze back to meet mine.

“We’d do anything for her. She’s family.” I nod my head, wishing I had that. The last family I had stole everything I had worked so hard for. I wouldn’t know what having people like that in my life would be like. I saw how happy she was even though she acted like she was annoyed. I could see how her eyes brightened when she looked at them.

“Is she going to be okay by herself?” I ask as we walk closer to the car.

“She’ll be fine. Denz will be home later,” Harlon says. As we’re about to pile into the SUV, the girl comes back, stomping down the road. Harlon sighs as she walks right up next to the SUV and stares daggers at me.

“He in there?” she asks, not looking at either of the guys.

“Why don’t you knock and find out,” I smart off to her. Harlon chuckles, but War just stands tall, watching the showdown.

“If you lay one fucking hand on my boyfriend, I will gut you,” she warns me. Now, I choke out a laugh. I take a few steps toward her, getting right in her face.

“If you think you can take me, try it. I’d love to get my hands dirty.” The guys must see my hands curl into fists because Harlon moves quickly back around the car and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me back against his hard body.

“You can’t go messing up that pretty dress before dinner. We’d never hear the end of it,” he says in my ear.

“You think I care about this damn dinner?” I ask him in return. He chuckles and lowers his lips to my ear.

“I don’t either, killer, but our parents do, and I, for one, don’t want to deal with my dad’s shit tonight.” I suck in a breath and nod my head. I can be good if I need to be. Harlon doesn’t release the hold he has on me when War moves to stand in front of us.

“You know he’s working. Why are you down here trying to start shit?”

“Who is she? That’s all I want to know,” the girl says, crossing her arms over her chest as she glares at War.

“She’s none of your concern. That’s who she is. Get the fuck out of here before I do something I won’t regret later,” he warns, his tone harsh and deadly. A shiver runs down my spine as Harlon lets go of me. He walks back around the car and climbs in right before War does the same. Thinking better of the whole situation, I open the back door and climb in, sitting on the goddamn speaker box. War glances over his shoulder and chuckles but doesn’t say another word.

In fact, no one does as we drive across town and end up at the restaurant.

As soon as we pull up, a valet is there and waiting. The guys climb out as I do the same, smoothing out my dress.

I trail behind them, neither of them bothering to look in my direction as we make our way inside.

The woman at the desk smiles brightly as she looks between the two, eyeing them both up and down. I roll my eyes as she motions for them to follow her, again I trail behind them.

She walks us through the restaurant and out the back door to where my mom and Jarrod sit. Jarrod sees us and immediately stands, hugging both his sons before moving to me next. He wraps his arm around me, pulling me into a hug before whispering in my ear, “You look gorgeous in that dress.” My cheeks heat as he pulls away and takes his seat.

“Arya. You look lovely,” My mom greets me, even though she has barely looked at me.

“It is one of yours.”

“And that’s all the better,” she smiles as she grabs her glass and takes a drink. My cell chimes in my purse, and I quickly pull it out while everyone orders drinks but me. Looking down at the screen, I cringe.

Unknown: You look amazing in that dress. Too bad all I want to do is rip it off you and strangle you with it.

My head jerks back as I glance around quickly. I don’t know who the hell this is or what they want. Strangle me? What the hell?

Harlon bumps my arm with his elbow, my eyes quickly looking at his.

“She’s waiting,” he says, nodding toward the server. I quickly rattle off my order before excusing myself and going to the bathroom.

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