Page 46 of Tainted Empire (Sins of Our Father)

“I guess I’m the perfect student this week,” I chuckle, trying to keep up with him as we laugh and dance around the bar, not a care in my mind, that is until Hunter shows up.

I’m being spun around from Danny’s arms when I crash into his hard chest, assaulted by the scent of his cologne and pine trees. I freeze and look up in his eyes. They are narrowed and angry and pinned on Danny.

Shit.

“Hunter, don’t-” I try to block him, but it’s useless.

He pushes past me, marching up to Danny and squaring off with him. He’s a few inches taller than the sweet bartender, but Danny doesn’t back down.

“What’s the problem, Brooks?” Danny gruffs out, eyes narrowed and locked with Hunter’s.

“The problem is, you got your hands all over something that shouldn’t be touched. Now I gotta break them,” Hunter says, cracking his knuckles as his muscles bunch and flex beneath his sweater.

“I didn’t know Ali was anybody’s property, nonetheless yours. How ‘bout you take a step back and leave my bar,” Danny says, voice low and stern, but Hunter doesn’t budge.

“Hunter, just go. Don’t cause a scene,” Marley says, standing beside Rob as everyone stops to stare at the two wolves in the middle of the dance floor.

“Why not? We have a live audience and plenty of whiskey for a show,” he snarls, and that’s when I notice the bottle in his back pocket.

I sigh, resting my hands on his shoulders as I try to pull him away, but fail.

“Hunter, come on. You’re drunk and this isn’t the place you want to be thrown out of,” I say, and he scoffs at me, eyes still pinned to Danny.

“And why would that be, Red?” he growls, but I don’t flinch at his tone.

In fact, I just get more pissed off.

“Because this is the only bar that’ll get you a drink for miles and it’s not the place to have a fucking pissing contest. So, let’s go and I’ll drive you home. Now,” I hiss, surprised at the way my voice sounds.

I sound like I’m speaking to a child, a stubborn child that probably weighs over two hundred pounds and could knock me to the ground with the flick of his wrist.

I notice the tension in his shoulders ease as his eyes flick to mine. He glares at Danny once more.

“Touch her again and I’ll have you out of work for a month,” he growls, spitting at Danny’s shoes before I grab him and pull him out of the bar, my temper as high as the mountaintops at this point.

36

We step outsideand even the cool air won’t calm my newly heated face down. I march towards my truck with Hunter stumbling behind me, cursing and mumbling things that I could honestly not give a fuck about. I came tonight to let loose and ease my troubled mind, not throw it for another tailspin.

“Slow down, Red. I can’t walk straight,” Hunter mumbles behind me, causing me to freeze and whip around to face him.

My eyes must be red with anger because as soon as they lock with him, his eyes widen.

“You can’t walk straight because you decided to get shitfaced, drive while intoxicated and come here to fuck up the first good night that I’ve had in a while, so excuse me if I’m eager to get you out of here and back home,” I hiss, but a ghost of a smile flirts with his wobbly lips.

“I’m eager to get you back home too, flower,” he slurs, causing steam to leave my ears.

I walk towards him, fury fueling my steps as I jab a finger into his hard chest. His hand covers the spot as he winces.

“What was that for?” he whines, but I don’t care.

If he wants to act like a child, then I will treat him like one. I may need the practice anyway if I’m going to start teaching in the future.

“That was for you being an insensitive asshole who doesn’t know how to read a goddamn room!” I shout, his eyes narrowing as he leans over me like a tower.

“Oh trust me, Ali, I can read a room. And the room I just read told me that Danny wants more than a dance, he wants to fuck you,” he snarls, his nostrils flaring.

I want to tell him he’s wrong, that Danny is just a friend and that he just ruined that friendship, but not only am I feeling pissed off, but I’m also feeling petty.

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