Fuckinghell.
Ethanstood from his chair, backing away from Beau as best he could because he surelydidn’t want to drag him into the middle of the chaos that would likely ensue.This was the exact fucking reason he hated being out with people. It was themain reason he usually kept himself isolated from his brothers – yes, isolated.Even when they were all hanging out at their local bar.
“Youheard me.” The mumble came from a bunch of guys sitting near the door. Ethansearched the shadows to see who was there, and he noticed Ricky Dillinger wasamongst them. The rest Ethan didn’t recognize, but there was one whose face hecouldn’t see.
Ethanknew immediately who that was, and the past nearly came back full throttle,making his legs shake from the effort to remain standing.
JimmyReardon.
Gavin’solder brother.
Theguy who’d almost beaten Ethan within an inch of his life all those years ago.
Fuckinghell.Ethan knew without a doubt he wasn’t going to beable to hold Sawyer back this time. Especially since Sawyer was the only one ofthem who knew what happened back then because Ethan had needed someone to helphim, someone who could keep a secret. And then he had needed a place to go,refusing to let his parents see him in that state.
Atthe time, seeking Sawyer’s help had been a no-brainer because Travis had beenin the Army. His oldest brother would’ve been his first choice, but now that hethought about it, Ethan was glad Travis hadn’t been around. It probablywould’ve ended badly, all things considered.
Butthe blinding rage that he’d seen on Sawyer’s face after he managed to explainwhat happened was something he would never forget. It was a miracle Sawyerhadn’t gone after Jimmy already. Ethan also knew Sawyer had never said a wordto their brothers because Ethan knew Travis would’ve probably done somethingthey would’ve all regretted.
“No,I don’t think I did,” Sawyer answered loudly, moving closer.
“Comeon, boys,” Mack hollered from behind the bar. “Not in here.”
Noone seemed to pay the bartender any mind, especially not Sawyer.
Andthat’s when Ethan realized he’d have been better off staying at home.
??
Theanger pumping through Beau’s veins was making his vision hazy. He’d heard thewords, but he didn’t even have time to process the voice to know whom itbelonged to. And he’d immediately turned to face the crowd near the door whereeveryone’s attention was now focused, but before he could make it very far, hewas tucked at the back of a group of pissed off Walker males.
Sawyerwas in front, his cowboy hat sitting low on his head, shielding his face, butthe balled up fists at his sides and the hatred in his tone was unmistakable.The guy was pissed. Possibly angrier than Beau had ever seen him.
Behindhim, Zane, Brendon, Braydon, Jared, and Kaleb looked like linebackers as theytoo took careful steps forward, coming around to circle Sawyer when he stoppeda few feet short of the table.
Beaucaught movement and noticed Ethan had eased away from him and was standing nextto Travis and Gage who’d carried up the rear, looking damn ready to rip someheads off.
“Careto repeat it, Reardon?” Sawyer asked, his voice low and deadly.
Thescene wasn’t new to Beau, but seeing all of the Walker brothers standingpractically shoulder to shoulder, their six-foot-five-plus frames taking up anyavailable real estate was an intimidating sight, that was for damn sure.
Beaumoved in closer, coming to stand next to Zane. Ready and willing to jump in ifhe needed to. In fact, he was burning for a fight, something he hadn’t done inyears. And these foul mouthed mother fuckers were beginning to piss him off.
“Iwasn’t talking to you,” Jimmy said, keeping his head low, his body obviouslybraced for a fight.
“Idon’t give a fuck who you were talking to, boy.”
Anotherchair scraped across the hardwood as Jimmy got to his feet. “Who the fuck areyou callin’ boy?”
Sawyer’schest bowed up and his arms bulged as he went nose to nose with Jimmy. It was clearto Beau that there had to be bad blood between the two men. They were staringone another down like they were geared up to kill each other. Sure, a commentthe likes of which Reardon spouted could undeniably trigger retaliation, butthis was more. This seemed… personal.
“Layoff the boy, Walker,” an older man sitting in the corner said.
“Nocan do, Charlie,” Sawyer answered simply, his head never turning, which meanthis eyes never left Jimmy’s face. Beau almost felt sorry for the prick. Almost.It would serve him right to have to go toe to toe with Sawyer.
Beaudidn’t know much about Jimmy Reardon, other than the guy liked to run off atthe mouth. If he remembered correctly, Jimmy had a younger brother, but for thelife of him, he couldn’t remember the guy. For some reason he wanted to saythere was a story there, but he couldn’t get his brain to function long enoughto put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Beau’sattention was redirected when Ricky Dillinger pushed his chair back, his eyesdarting around the room. Beau followed his gaze until he noticed where itlanded… on Ethan. He was standing beside Travis, his arms crossed over his expansivechest, his eyes narrowed and intent.
