Page 19 of Sling’s Awakening

I give him a deadpan expression.

I don’t know whose leg he thinks he’s pulling, but it isn’t mine.

Fucking dumbass.

“Fine.” Mountain sighs as his shoulders slump. “Val makes me play Words with Friends with him. I put my letters into a helper because he always kicks my ass. I got a shit ton of points for using an x.”

“That is the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard. Apparently I need to give both of you more shit to do if you have enough free time to do that.”

“I’m inviting you to a game next time. I think it would be good for you.”

“If you do that, be prepared for the consequences.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Mountain grins. “But back to your neighbor. If you aren’t going to hit that, do you care if I take my shot? I saw her looking at me tonight.”

I look at Mountain. I know by the grin on his face he’s trying to get a rise out of me and I hate that it’s fucking working.

The only thing he’s going to shoot his shot with is a new word in his stupid game.

“No, you can not take a fucking shot.” I glare. “And she wasn’t looking at you.”

“Really? Because I could have sworn I saw her checking me out in between making you those bitch drinks.”

“Are you trying to get knocked the fuck out?”

Mountain’s laugh booms over the music playing throughout the clubhouse as his chest shakes. “I’d like to see you fucking try. You might be taller than me, but I can take your scrawny ass any day.”

“Scrawny?” I ask as my brows shoot up and I stand to my feet, throwing my drink back. “You and I outside, now.”

“Let’s fucking go,” Mountain says loudly as he slams his drink and stands up.

“If anyone wants to see me beat Mountain’s fucking ass, come outside!” I yell over the music, getting the attention of our brothers as I head out. “Prospects! Come make sure his ass doesn’t cheat!”

“On it, Prez,” Barbie, our newest prospect, says as he follows behind us.

“Cheat?” Mountain asks, looking at me as if I’m insane. “Last time you tried to take me, you tried to choke me out.”

“Tried?” I ask as I square up. “Motherfucker, I had you on the ground.”

Mountain huffs. “I was only on the ground because I didn’t want my president to throw his back out the day before we had a run, old man.”

“I’m going to knock your ass out,” I growl as I run toward him, bending down and hitting him in the stomach with my shoulder, laying him out.

Mountain grunts before throwing me off. He’s too big to get up faster than me, and I’m on him again before he can get up to his knees. This time I’m behind him. I wrap my arms around his thick fucking neck, putting him in a headlock. I squeeze as Mountain’s hands try to pry my arm away.

“Yeah,” I grunt. “Who’s your daddy now?”

Mountain grunts, his face growing more and more red by the second.

I squeeze tighter. “Tap out, bitch.”

Mountain grunts louder as he struggles against me. Finally, he taps the grass.

“He’s out,” Barbie declares, waving his arms in a crossing motion.

I release the hold I have on him before collapsing to the ground, panting from being out of breath. “That’s what I thought, motherfucker,” I barely get out.

Jesus Christ, I’m out of shape.