“Y-yes, Drew,” she answered quietly.
“You still got the roughneck special going on? Or do you recommend I stick with the steak and eggs today?”
I looked back at her, my own smile growing as that glint in her eyes came to life. “We can fix you up anything you want. You’re the guest of honor, as always.”
Jacob started to stir underneath my hand, his body wriggling as he came back to life. I squished that fucker’s faceinto the counter and pressed down harder.
“You’re too good to me, Jan.” I grinned. Looking over my shoulder, I glanced at Ayda. “What do you think, baby? What should I go for?”
“Steak and eggs,” she said, smiling up at me.
I nodded my head and turned back to Janette. “You heard the lady. Steak and eggs, please, darlin’. Coffees all round for the boys, and ask the other diners what they’d like. On me. An apology for the rat infestation we’ve brought in today.” I gave Janette a wink and watched as she stifled her laughter before walking through the swinging doors into the kitchen.
Jacob was struggling in my grip, his words coming out as nothing more than spitting and gasping noises while I used all the arm power I had to crush his ignorant skull. Sighing again, I bent down until our eyes were on a level, and offered him a smile.
“Hey,” I practically sang. “I’m the new boyfriend. Name’s Drew Tucker. You must be the ex?”
Jacob’s face wasn’t just red; it was turning purple, and his arms began to flail as he tried to reach up and pull me off him.
“I wish we could have met under better circumstances. I came in here today trying to be the bigger man, Jakey, but you just wouldn’t… stop… running… that mouth of yours. It was either give you a slap up the head and hope you remembered your manners, or shove a T-bone steak down your throat. I went for the one that wouldn’t choke you to death.” I grinned again, scrunching my whole face up with false happiness. “You should thank my girlfriend for that. An hour ago, I’d have killed you. She used all her magic to sate me just before we rode out here. I’m feeling more generous now. Calmer. Almost spiritual, actually.” I breathed deeply and smiled. “Feelsreal fucking good.”
“Sonofabitch,” Jacob spat out, his legs flailing everywhere.
I hadn’t wanted to think about it until now, but up close and personal, Jacob looked familiar. Especially now he was angry. The tone of his voice, the cocky, arrogant way he spoke, and that fire in his green eyes reminded me of someone…
I just couldn’t think who. A thousand enemies of the past ran through my mind, but nothing clicked. Another sign that my prison paranoia still lingered in me, even on the good days.
“My mother wasn’t all bad,” I huffed out through a laugh, biting back at his insult. “Can’t say the same about yours, though.”
Jacob’s eyes popped wide—all his features strained as the blood struggled to get to where it needed to be in his head.
“You talk a good game. You’re cocky enough to sit in front of an entire MC and insult your ex-girlfriend who they are now protecting. I’ll give you points for bravery, kid. You’ve got balls. They’re not quite full-grown yet, but you’ll get there after a few more chicks have sucked your dick.” I blew out a slow exhale and moved my face closer to his. “But what you failed to figure out is that while you may have been screwing my girl while she was lost and didn’t know better, I was probably out there fucking your mom in the back of that truck you’ve thrown in front of this nice place.”
“Fuck you,” he hissed.
“And that’s the thing about being an adult. I know Ayda has a past. She knows about mine. And nothing your sleazy little ass says can turn me off her. ‘Cause I’m the guy who pleases her so much now, shecan’tscream. I leave her breathless. You… you just want to hear people cry your name tomake your dick seem bigger… Coach.”
“Get off me,” he pushed out through squashed lips. The whites of his eyes were now turning orange and red.
I pressed my lips together and shook my head slowly. “Sorry. No can do. Not until you apologize to my old lady.”
Ayda was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Deeks who’d moved around the counter to be closer. It was instinct for him now, like it was for most of the guys. Ayda looked down at Jacob like he was a spider that had crawled out of the toilet and needed to be squashed. She blinked once and smiled up at me, her whole expression changing.
I gave her a wink and turned my attention back to Jacob.
“We’re ready when you are.”
He was breathing like an animal, all spit and rage and desperation pouring from his mouth with every breath he took. “I’m not sorry for shit.”
I pushed my lips together and blew out dramatically, looking up at my other Hounds as I rolled my eyes, lifted Jacob’s head up and slammed it back down again.
His whole body curled in on itself, the pain spreading farther than his head now as he struggled to focus. Even his arms were going weak as he scratched me like a damn wildcat, using nothing but his nails to try make a dent.
“I hope you teach your football team better manners and discipline than you’re showing me.” I breathed down on him, pushing my face to his and turning serious on his ass. “Last chance you get before Idoshove that bone down your throat, and it will have fuck all to do with steak.”
Jacob blinked several times, clearly trying to rid himself of the spots, stars, or whatever the hell he was seeing when he looked at me.
Closing his eyes, he sucked in a breath and ground his teeth together. “Ayda.”
