Page 57 of Bourbon and Lies

I take a step forward, but Lincoln armbars me. “Don’t start something in here, Grant.”

I look toward the hostess station and catch the head bouncer’s eye.I’ll start something outside, then.With a tilt of my head, he looks over at the bar, and he knows exactly what I’m calling his attention to. Waz is a scumbag who likes to stir up trouble, especially for Hadley. I’m almost positive he’s not even supposed to be here.

When I get closer, though, it’s not the woman who confided in me with tears in her eyes. No, right now, Laney is in control of the situation. She smirks at Waz as she spins a few bottles in the air. I watch as she holds his attention and the rest of the bar within earshot. But it's her right hand that takes aim, and seconds later, she’s spraying the front of his pants.

“Looks like she’s doing just fine on her own.”

Seeing Laney handle herself is such a fucking turn-on. But it doesn’t negate the fact that this is the second time now that I’ve wanted to deck Waz just for him saying Laney’s name.

“Guys, I got this,” the bouncer says as he drags him up the stairs.

“Just making sure you’re good, man,” Lincoln says as he helps guide this asshat outside.

“Officer Foxx, so nice to see you again. Been cowering behind your brothers for long enough. You should know Mr. Finch isn’t going to like hearing how handsy you boys are being right now.”

I shove him away from my face and point at him. “Don’t push it, Waz.”

“Or what? We both know you’re not doing anything. You too, Linc.” He looks my brother up and down. “Still haven’t thrown it in Hadley yet, have you?”

That’s enough to get Lincoln fired up, so I hold him off. “Don’t.”

“Wheeler know how you talk about his daughter, you piece of shit?”

Waz spits at the ground in front of us and rights the collar of his shirt. “Mr. Finch considers Hadley a commodity. One that he’ll be able to use when the time is right. He couldn’t give a rat's ass what I say about her.”

“Why are you even here? Hadley has made it clear you’re not welcome,” Lincoln growls. “You think she’s not calling her father about this?”

“I wasn’t here for her.” He smirks at me. “Nah, I was here for that sweet piece of ass. Little New York City girl.”

What the fuck is he talking about?

Lincoln asks, “You want me to play interference?”

He shakes his head with a tsk. “It’s a shame, really. Thought I’d try to take her for a nice ride before she gets what’s coming for her.”

Ace comes up beside me. “If you’re not going to, I’ll take this one.”

I toss my phone to the bouncer. “Brady, if he’s not out in two, call the department and get them to come down here.”

I step forward without giving Waz a chance to register what’s coming. I pop him right in the nose, and the crunch sound that it makes, followed by the spurt of blood that rushes down the front of him, lets me know I hit exactly where I thought. “That’s one.”

“You fucking broke my nose,” he shouts, covering his face and pulling his hands to see the gushing damage.

“Now I’m going to make you piss blood for a month.” I crook my finger at him in a come-here motion. The dumbass is pissed off enough to think he’ll get a swing in, and he tries, but I move too fast for him, and as he overextends, I land a punch right in his side. He’s on the ground, just as a black-and-white pulls up with the lights on but no siren. It wasn’t going to take long. I knew there was a patrol car waiting a few blocks down for any drunks looking to start fights or drink and drive when Midnight Proof hollers last call.

The rookie cop drags Waz off and puts him in the back of the car. The other cop is a friend, a buddy from the academy, and he gives me a nod. “I’m guessing you didn’t see what happened here, Foxx?”

I stuff my bloody knuckles in my front pockets. “He was inappropriate in the bar and caught a shower to the lap for it. Must have pissed off someone out here too.”

“One of the negatives of the job”—the cop looks over my shoulder toward Lincoln, and then back to me—“can’t punch a guy who really is asking for it.” He gives me a tight-lipped smile and nods. “Have a good night, sir.”

“You too, Cortez.” As they drive off, my thoughts spiral about what he said—New York City. The last thing I should be doing is listening to anything Waz has to say, but it’s too specific. Yelling a detail like that had nothing to do with his point. If there’ssubstance behind it, then Laney’s WITSEC cover isn’t as solid as it should be.

“You coming back in?” Lincoln asks from behind me.

I look down at my hand. “Nah, I’m going to walk a bit. Get some air.” I needed to clear my head. Laney handled herself in there just fine. That woman doesn’t need anyone to swoop in and protect her, but damn, it felt good to play clean-up. The second I watched Waz move closer to her, I saw fucking red.

The way I feel about her isn’t something I planned on happening, but here I am. Bloody knuckles, teetering on the edge of worried about what she’s hiding from, and realizing that I can’t go back. I don’t want to. Lincoln’s right, only obsessed isn’t the right word. Falling for her is all-consuming.

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