Page 57 of Tormented
SEVENTEEN
Sawyer
The bitch does it on purpose, I’m fucking sure of it. Her hips pop to the left, the line of her cut-offs shifting as she leans her elbows on the top of the rough-cut bar and talks to Tap. His gaze lifts over her tanned shoulder, and he hardens those dark eyes on me, letting me know I need to shut it down.
Never did listen, did you . . .?
Fucker. I don’t need that masochistic asshole in my head getting mixed up in things this time. Look how that turned out before, for fuck’s sake. Always think you know best, you self-sabotaging—
Settle down. Wouldn’t want you spooking the prey this early on . . . .
Abbey reaches out for her drink, eyes on me, and wraps those long, slender fingers around the tumbler. She’s on the scotch. Interesting. Would have pegged her for one of those sugary premix girls. Never seen her with a drink in her hand before now.
Do we get to play . . .?
I shake my head clear and push off the wall I was leaning against with a grunt. Casting my gaze around the room I locate Tap now on the far side talking with two of the younger members. He’s been on a drive of late, looking for new blood to sponsor. Makes me think he knew a bit more about King’s choice to go to war than he let on.
There’s no need to look at Abbey to know she watches as I cross the room. Her awareness is like fire, burning into me when we’re near. Asked her if she knew how long it had been since we’d last talked, and she blew me off with a bullshit denial. She knows. It’s written in the way her hand absently rests on her neck as I flash her a smile.
“What you up to?” Tap asks, interrupting my play as I come to a stop beside him.
The two younger guys have scarpered. Seems to be a common response when I appear.
“Nothing at all, brother.”
He looks cautiously across to Abbey and gives her a small nod. She drops her chin as though ashamed, and spins so her back is to us, leaning both elbows on the bar.
“She’s got all the boys’ attention,” I say.
“Yeah, she has. But it doesn’t mean a thing.” He regards me through narrowed eyes. “She’s still off-limits.”
“So she says.” I frown, as does he.
“When you leavin’?” Tap crosses his flannel-clad arms over his chest. The man looks like a lumberjack got lost and stumbled into the wrong neighborhood.
“In the mornin’, I guess.” I pull my focus off Abbey and look Tap over. “What do you know about King’s plans?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing. He was in the middle of somethin’ when I called just before. Said he’d ring me back later to talk about it.”
“Why send Abbey, though?” I ask, eyeing her shift her weight between her feet.
“Guess he thought you could use the company.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it,” I say with a grin. “Babysitter, you mean. He doesn’t trust me toget there without findin’ trouble.”
“Can you blame him?” Tap asks. “Hell, even I know you couldn’t make it without stirrin’ shit up somewhere along the way.” Tap smirks.
I shake my head. “You assholes have got me pegged, huh?”
“Better than you’d know. At least if Abbey’s with you, there’s somebody who can call for backup if you let your little buddy off the chain again.” He points to my head with a cocked eyebrow.
“Brother,” I say with a slight chuckle, “if I let him out to play then a li’l thing like her wouldn’t stand a chance.”
So glad we understand each other . . . .
“Not that you’d hurt her.” Tap hardens his gaze on me, leaning in so his nose is mere inches from mine. “Would you.”
Only what I’ve been trying to tell everyone—especially Hooch—for weeks now.