Page 16 of The Crowing of Hell
“Rooster will always be the one you won’t admit got away. But you’ll fucking feel it. To your dying day, you’ll rue losing him. And every guy you come across, you’ll measure up to him and find them lacking. They won’t be honourable enough, or faithful, or kind and loyal. And you will yearn for a decent husband. But it will be too late. Because Rooster’s seen the truth of you. He’s more man than any you’ll ever fuck.”
Rooster stared at Kenny as she laid the law down on Sadie. Each venomous word Kendara launched hit Sadie hard, and he guessed she saw the reality in Kenny’s words.
“That guy five days ago flung himself down a steep embankment to save my ass in an accident. The car caught fire, and he didn’t flinch. No, he dragged me out and saved my life. That’s a fucking hero, you dumb bitch. Even with half a leg, Rooster remains a real man. And you had him, had all the goodness hecould bring to your life, and you threw him away. Makes you the cripple, not him. So, take your emotionally stunted self and fuck off,” Kenny hissed.
“Holy shit,” Madisen whispered. “I wanna be her.”
“Damn girl, you go,” Clio cheered.
Sadie peered around and saw the hatred and pity aimed in her direction. She glanced at Rooster, who stood waiting.
“Cripple,” she spat, but it lacked heat, and Rooster began to smile slowly.
“Yeah, I can heal. You can’t transplant that personality,” Rooster retorted.
He was still rocked by Sadie’s venom, but he was determined not to let it show. Kenny’s defence had given him an ego boost.
Sadie tried to draw herself up but failed as she slunk from the clubhouse.
“Do you really have that recorded?” Big Al asked immediately.
“Yup. I never speak a lie,” Kendara replied.
“A lawyer that tells the truth. You’re a unicorn!” Madisen teased, and Kenny laughed.
“Thanks. I might need that statement and recording,” Rooster said to Kenny.
“No probs, just let me know. That bitch isn’t safe to raise a kid. There’ll be a lot of emotional abuse and neglect from her towards an innocent child,” Kenny responded.
“I planned to get a DNA test done straight away and go for custody,” Rooster replied as he waved Kenny to a sofa.
She walked past him, and he struggled to keep his eyes off her ass. Dear God, it was perfect.
“Why get a DNA test? Take the damn kid, whether it’s yours or not. No baby deserves to be stuck with her. If you don’t want to raise it, give it a couple of months and put it up for adoption. But don’t leave that child to suffer,” Kenny said, holding his gaze.
“I wouldn’t give it up,” Rooster stated.
Kenny’s eyes warmed, and a smile crossed her lips. Rooster found he liked that look a lot.
“Somehow, I knew you’d say that. You’re a hero, Rooster,” she responded.
“Nope, just an average guy who knows right from wrong,” Rooster replied.
“Well, Mr Normal Hero, listen to me. You lost a leg through being a hero. If a woman can’t see beyond that, she’s not worth your time. Stop looking at barflies and club whores. There’re far more fish in the sea who’d snatch up someone like you,” Kenny declared.
“A cripple?” Rooster asked, just to see the flash of ire in Kenny’s gorgeous eyes.
“A hero!”
“Funny enough, between you and me, I can deal with that moniker better than Sadie’s one for me,” Rooster teased.
“So you should. Don’t you know? I’m the law, so what I say goes!”
“If you say so, ma’am,” Rooster quipped and relaxed. “What brought you here, anyway?”
“I came to say thanks and drop you this off as a thank you for picking me up,” Kenny answered. She held out a box, which Rooster just noticed she was holding.
Rooster leaned forward and opened it. A delicious smell drifted out, and Levi sat up straight as Big Al crept closer.