“I’ll fetch the bread,” Dad said and left again. He reappeared moments later with the smell of hot bread wafting in the air.
“Damn, I missed this,” Briar remarked and sniffed appreciatively.
“Family dinners?” Dad asked as he sat.
“Home-cooked meals. But yeah, family dinners too,” Briar replied and offered Dad a cheeky grin.
Conversation flowed as Dad cut the bread and slathered butter on it, and Mom served up huge helpings of her beef casserole. Dinner had ended, and we were letting it settle before pudding when my phone texted. The message was from Jinx, and I frowned.
‘April is here, dressed to kill and flirting with any man that catches her fancy. Want me to step in?’
Undecided, I chewed it over for a few seconds and sent back a no. April could do what she wanted. I glanced at Briar, and an idea grew.
“Fancy going for a beer after dessert?”
Briar looked at me, puzzled, and I slid my phone towards her slightly. She read the text before nodding. “That sounds great. You can show me this bar your club owns.”
“Ah, you two go have fun!” Mom announced, beaming.
“We will!” Briar exclaimed, her face giving nothing away. But Briar was going to make a point tonight; I could sense it.
April
I was on my third drink, happy but not drunk, when Stone walked in with that bitch. She was honestly stunning, and Stone was laughing at something she’d said. At the sight of them, my mood plummeted. I thought I’d dressed to impress, but she killed it. The tight little black dress drew eyes from everyone with a dick in the bar. Jealousy swamped me as my teeth ground together.
Stone spotted several of the Hellfire members, and with a hand on her back, Stone walked over. Angrily, I watched as he introduced her, and she smiled prettily.
“Are you okay?” Teagan murmured, following my gaze.
“Yeah, let’s get a round of shots in,” I replied, turning away. Jinx, who was serving, gave me a knowing look but took our order and said nothing.
???
An hour later, I slid off my stool. “Be back soon, I need to pee,” I murmured to Teagan, who nodded. She was flirting with some guy, but I’d lost interest because I kept watching Stone and the new woman. While Stone was attentive and definitely loving towards her, something was off. I pondered the issue as I hit the toilets and relieved my bladder.
When I came out, I nearly stumbled. Checking her makeup was Stone’s girlfriend. Silently, I gritted my teeth as she looked up and smiled. Unable to return the smile, I nodded and proceeded to wash my hands. I dried them and walked past her.
“Wow, really, April? Not a single fuckin’ hi?” she demanded, and I turned.
“What?” I replied, not even bothering to be polite.
“Eleven years and you can’t use the manners Clara installed and say hello? What a damn embarrassment,” she snapped.
“How the fuck do you know Clara?” I snarled, ready to defend my adoptive mom.
“You really don’t recognise me? Briar, Stone’s sister.”
“Yeah, you’re not Briar. Did Stone put you up to this?”
“Take a good look, bitch. I get the fact that Stone did a number on you, but you asked him to start dating. You, April, convinced Stone that you had a second chance. Considering your behaviour, it’s a good job Stone learned about your issues and attitude before you got any deeper. What was this? An excuse for revenge? Stone was an asshole, but move on, bitch, ten years have passed.”
I reeled at her tone. Then squinted. I recognised her now; this was Briar! Oh lord, I’d made a fool of myself. But Briar’s words rankled. Without thinking, I hit back.
“If not for Stone’s criminal connections, I might not have been kidnapped, terrorised, and forced to work for someone illegally. And that same man wouldn’t have come near me yesterday with a bribe to keep quiet. Take your holier-than-thou attitude, Briar, and shove it.” With that, I stormed out and headed for Teagan. When I spotted her, she was all over Smokey again, who’d arrived.
I rolled my eyes, said I was leaving, and left. Fuck tonight! It had totally backfired.
???
