Page 191 of Ride the Sky

“Oh, man,” Ford hoots, lifting his beer when he sees us coming. “We’re gonna be feelin’ good tonight.”

Charlie arches a brow. “Think he already feels good.”

“Whose face you bust your knuckles on?” Davis asks.

I grin. “Pappy.” Best feeling of my life was pounding that piece of shit into a pulp.

The smile slips off Davis’s face. “I need bail money?”

“Got it handled,” I say easily, giving a nod to Tripp, who’s just entered the bar.

“The news about Pappy will be in the paper tomorrow,” Fallon says. “He’ll get what he fucking deserves.”

Ruby wrinkles her nose. Confusion simmers in her blue-eyed gaze. “But who’s leaving Fallon flowers? And who told Wyatt about the rodeo?”

Charlie’s eyes move to mine. “Ruby’s right. It doesn’t add up.”

Unease tugs at me. We still don’t know who was in Fallon’s house. All I know is that Weston’s article is set to run tomorrow, and Pappy will get his fucking due. But it feels unfinished.

“C’mon, Davis,” Reese teases. “We have mysteries that need to be solved.”

“That is a question for sober Davis.” Dakota laughs, nodding at her husband, who’s locked in a beer chugging competition with Ford.

“For once, Davis has the right idea. It’s time for beer,” Fallon mutters, slugging down a shot. “Not time to play Hardy Boy Detective mystery.” Irritation clouds her pretty face. The last thing she wants to do is get into this. Not tonight. When my girl’s in a bar, she wants to have a good time.

Fallon picks up a dart and hurls it at the board. “Fuck Pappy. Let’s celebrate.”

Beef appears with more. A bucket of beer. Two pink drinks in goblets with straws. A tray of amber-colored shots. “Congrats, Fallon.” He slaps her arm, rocking her forward. Then eyes the table. “Drinks are on the house until one of you starts a fight.”

Davis arcs a finger around our group. “No one’s starting a fight.”

Charlie and I share a grin.

“Thank god.” Dakota winces and reaches for a shot. I catch a glimpse of a white bandage on the back of her elbow. “I needanother drink to take the sting out of this tattoo.” She looks at her sister. “How on Earth did you ever do your knuckles?”

Fallon grins. “Stupidity. Youth.”

I look around the women. Ruby, Reese, and Dakota all have mischievous smiles on their faces. “Hold up. Y’all got tattoos?”

Ruby, curled up on Charlie’s lap, showcases a small cowboy hat tattooed on the inside of her wrist.

“Yup.” Dakota peels back the cloth from her tattoo. A tiny cupcake. “We had a girl’s day.”

“A drunk day,” Ford quips, only to get an elbow from Reese.

He turns to his wife. “Hell, baby, I ain’t complainin’.” Wolfish smile on his face, Ford presses Reese back against the wood-paneled wall. “Let me get a closer look at that tattoo,” he drawls, dragging the hem of Reese’s skirt so far up she squeaks.

“Get a fuckin’ room,” Davis growls.

“You’re one to talk, D.” Charlie grins. “Ain’t that lipstick on your neck?”

Davis flushes.

Ford jerks his head at Fallon. “What’d you get, cowgirl? Everyone’s been mum’s the word.”

I suck in a breath, my heart pounding.

Lips twitching, Fallon holds up her ring finger. My brothers quiet.

---