Page 81 of The Runaway and the Rugged
I figured Shane would do the same, considering the certain level of affection he had for Greta, but instead, he picked her up effortlessly and tossed her drunk ass over his shoulder.
“Ugh, Shane! I’ll puke on you, dammit,” Greta groaned, hair danglin’ just inches from the ground as the rest of her body hung over him like a sack.
“Shut it, Taz,” he growled, his palm connecting with the back of her thigh in warning. I didn’t have the energy to be bothered by it, she deserved it and probably a hell of a lot more.
We carried the women through the bar, catching amused, curious, glances as we stormed past. Most noticing Greta from the wild, curly mane and I had a strong feelin’ she’d just sealed her fate as the talk of the town for next few weeks.
“G-Garth,” Emelia half groaned, half mumbled into my shirt, a fresh stain of drool just below my collarbone.
“I got you, Outlaw,” I dropped my mouth to the crown of her head and whispered softly.
We were close to the door, Shane just a few feet behind me, when suddenly an arm appeared from the crowd beside us and landed roughly onto my shoulder.
“Hey, man, where you headin’ with her, huh?” A smug, blond guy appeared out of nowhere with bloodshot eyes and his gaze focused a little too intensely on Emelia.
Who the fuck is this?
“I’d keep my damn mouth shut and turn around, Jasper. He ain’t in the mood, and I ain’t in the mood for any more bullshit,” Shane announced from behind me, but already I could sense this fucker was goin’ to be a problem. He was lookin’ at Emelia like he had a claim to her and when a rough, unsteady laugh cametumbling from his mouth, I damn well knew who he was without a doubt.
The piece of shit who was recording her.
“He ain’t in the mood?” he sneered, taking the bottle in his hand and tossin’ it back. “Had her up on the table back there. So that means I get the first crack at her in my bed.”
Before I knew it, I was driving my boot into his stomach. Full force, ignited by rage, I kicked him into another damn dimension. His body flew backward until his back connected against the side of a pool table, nearly causin’ the whole thing to topple over from the force of it.
I didn’t care that almost the entire bar went silent or the fact all eyes had fallen on me. I’d reached my breakin’ point, and there was no way I could hold back anymore. I wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t a saint. And right now, I felt more like a territorial beast than I did a human.
Chest fluctuating to the rhythm of my heart, I glanced down at Emelia, expectin’ to see pretty green eyes lookin’ up at me. Instead, she was still fast asleep like I hadn’t just jostled her around.
“Fuck… Goddamn idiot,” Shane muttered angrily. I knew I had just stirred up a whole damn storm for him, but it was clear his annoyance wasn’t directed at me, but at the fuckwad who didn’t listen.
Hushed whispers began to shift into normal conversations again, and with one last glance at the groanin’ asshole who was sittin’ with his head tucked between his legs, I advanced out the door with Shane following close. Once at the truck, I opened the driver’s side, while Shane opened the passenger. We carefully placed both passed-out women inside, with Greta leaned heavily against the door and Emelia slouched over toward the driver's seat. I then quickly hopped in, cautious not to disturb her, and kept her pressed tight against me.
After getting Greta settled in, Shane walked around the front of the truck and stopped next to my rolled-down window, a look of exhaustion heavy in his eyes.
“Sorry ’bout the shit show tonight,” I admitted, knowin’ half was my fault while the other was also partly mine, due to bein’ related to the other guilty party.
He shrugged, his stare lingering on my sister before meeting mine.
“Make’s life more interesting.”
Couldn’t tell if he was talkin’ about Greta or all the chaos that went down, but regardless, he didn’t deserve to be in the middle of it.
“Well, regardless, I owe you one.”
I owed him more than one, but I figured he already knew that.
“Don’t worry ’bout it. Just get these two home and in bed, yeah?” He slapped the door panel with a grin. “And tell Greta the next time she tries to come to dollar beer night, I’ll toss her ass out myself.”
With that, he disappeared back into the bar, leavin’ a ghost of a smile on my face as I cranked the engine and drove us back to the ranch.
Getting both women inside proved to be more fuckin’ difficult than I thought. Greta was awake by the time we got back, wanting to walk on her own up to the guest room, which only took an hour after falling over at least five times. From laughin’ to cryin’ because it hurt, to needing to use the bathroom, and finally getting some Tylenol before laying down in bed.
I about broke a sweat gettin’ her laid down.
Emelia wasn’t as difficult, but the second I picked her up, those olive eyes locked with mine. I almost stumbled up the steps of the house because I hadn’t expected it.
“Hi,” she whispered, her eyes glazed and tired but never once leaving mine.
