“When she’s wearing your cut,” Faden added, grinning up at him. “Just lookin’ out for you, son.”
“I didn’t realize I needed to be looked after,” Hunter retorted.
“You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t fucking thank you, Faden, you redneck fucking drunk.”
Faden shrugged, looking cocky. “I volunteer my services when I see fit—”
“You better apologize to my woman.”
Now he sneered. “Fuck that, Sav, you know I speak fucking truth! We’re looking out for you—”
“If you don’t apologize, I will fucking drag your drunken ass out of here, Fade.”
Faden rolled his eyes, swinging his drunken gaze at me now. “I’m sorry, Skye,” he said, but the apology was absent in the smile he gave me next. “If you ever want a third cock to swing off, I’d be happy to serve—”
Hunter slapped him with an open palm, and Faden’s head snapped sharply to the left. Sharp inhales sounded everywhere, even Miles had his brows raised in surprise before he let out a hard laugh, roaring, “You just got bitch slapped, Faden! Like a fucking chick! You sissy little bitch.”
Faden stretched his jaw out, looking equally shocked before he let out a loud laugh. “Fuck me, Sav, why you gotta do that to me, man? In front of everyone, too? What the fuck?” But there was no anger in his voice as he continued to laugh, shaking his head as he added, “I fucking deserved that, didn’t I?”
“You’re fucking lucky you still got your balls,” Jesse said on a smile.
Hunter wasn’t laughing with them. He fumed there for a moment, glancing around the room like he was deciding what he wanted to do. Then he bent down, dug his fingers into Faden’s black sweater and shoved him out of his chair. “Fucker is going to retire for the night,” he growled, dragging a stumbling Faden out of the bar. “Say good night, Fade.”
“Good night!” Faden shrieked delightfully, causing everyone to laugh.
I watched them until they disappeared into the Lounge before glancing back at the table. Jesse was now sitting in the chair Faden had been in, muttering something I couldn’t hear to Miles. And Miles was shaking his head, whispering something back before bringing the beer to his lips, swinging his eyes back to mine.
We looked at each other for several moments.
He wasn’t smiling, but I could tell he wanted to.
I was smiling, even though I didn’t want to.
Because this is what we did: faced off when no one was looking, his cruelty sparring with my defiant smile.
He eyed my mouth, his gaze hardening before he stood up and walked to the bar, feet from where I stood. He settled the beer down on the bar, waving Kara back over to serve him. She abandoned her table and rushed to do just that, and as he waited for her to cross the room, he grumbled, “Can’t keep letting everyone fight your battles, princess.”
My smile slid off my face as he turned to glance at me quickly, taking in my reaction. He stared into my eyes again, this time his anger absent, replaced by a more inquisitive look.
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” I asked him.
He watched me for several more moments. “Tired of it.”
A bubble of anger surfaced in me as I retorted, “You don’t know me, Miles.”
He looked down at his empty beer. “I know you more than you think.”
What did he even mean by that?
“If you think I’m going to run back to Leo, you’re wrong,” I said next, feeling shaky with emotion.
His expression hardened. “Stay with Hunter, and there won’t be a fucking issue.”
“It’s not your business what we decide to do.”
“We?”he echoed in surprise just as Kara stopped next to him, looking uncertain. “You think Hunter’s deciding any of this with you?”