Page 63 of A Lot Like Love
“Boys, how about we get out of here,” Ryder suggested, pulling away from Chloe and facing his brothers now that Nate was back. “Time to move this party, huh?” He didn’t want to have this particular conversation with anyone in earshot.
“You okay with this, Chloe?” Chase asked with a wink.
“Just make sure he’s a good boy. I can trust you guys with that, right?”
Ryder slipped on his jacket and winked at Chloe as his brothers laughed, keeping his head down as he headed for the door. He knew it was impossible for him to blend in, especially with his brothers flanking him—they were all six-four and it wasn’t exactly easy to go incognito. All he needed was to get past Parker. The table he was at was off to the left, not in the direct line to the door, but still…
“Hey, King!”
Ryder cringed, recognizing Parker’s drunken slur. He kept walking, hoping his brothers either hadn’t heard or didn’t care enough to stop.
“I’m talking to you, King boy. Come over here, you lying bastard.”
“What the fuck did he say?” Nate asked, stopping and staring in Parker’s direction.
Ryder slapped a hand on Nate’s shoulder. “Let’s just go. We don’t need this shit.”
“No one speaks to you like that and gets away with it. What the hell’s he on about?”
Chase came closer. “That scumbag’s the one spreading the bullshit rumors about you. Time we ended this feud once and for all, huh?”
Ryder stood his ground, not taking his eyes off Parker for a second. Everything was about to turn to shit and there was nothing he could do about it.
“What bullshit?” Nate asked.
“Let’s go, come on,” Ryder said, giving them both a shove forward. It didn’t work—he might as well have tried to push solid marble through the bar on his own. “It’s not worth it.”
“To hell it isn’t,” Chase said, stalking toward Parker before Ryder could do anything about it.
Damn. Ryder had been ready for his brothers to beat the shit out of him when he told them, but he hadn’t anticipated them doing the same to Parker first. Which meant he either had to tell them damn fast before it came to that, or just ride out the shit storm and hope for the best.
Dammit. He knew what he had to do.
“Nate, stop,” Ryder said, closing his hand over Nate’s shoulder just as Chase swung a punch at Parker.
“You lying asshole,” Chase yelled as his fist connected with Parker’s cheek.
Fuck!Parker stumbled backward, but before he was down his two goons came in swinging. Ryder ran forward and shoved Nate out of the way, one of the heavy’s fists grazing the side of his face as he ducked too slow before he managed to slam his bunched fist into the guy’s stomach.
“Don’t tell me your brothers forgave you already,” Parker called out, his laugh grating as he sat back and watched the show.
Parker’s two men were down, Nate and Chase panting beside him, blood smeared across both his brothers’ shirts.
“Leave it, Parker. Just goddamn leave it,” Ryder muttered.
“Leave it? What, don’t tell me they don’t know the truth about our little bet?” Parker lit up a cigarette, his cheek red. “And I’m still waiting for the keys and the deed. Haven’t seen them arrive yet and I’m just dying to let myself in.”
“What the hell’s he talking about, Ryder?” Nate asked.
“Let’s go,” Ryder said, his voice low. He glanced back toward the bar and saw Chloe. She was shaking her head, her mouth fixed in a grim line. She didn’t have to say anything for him to know what she was trying to tell him—she wanted him out of there, to get the hell away from Parker and deal with his brothers on his own.
“Ryder?” Chase asked.
“Look…” he started.
“He hasn’t told you that he bet his third of the ranch and lost it?” Parker asked, his smile sickening. “And here I was thinking you boys were tight.”
Nate turned slowly and glared at Ryder, his gaze unforgiving. He didn’t utter a word, just stalked past him toward the door. Chase’s stare was just as deadly, only he didn’t walk out. He gestured with his head instead, waiting for Ryder to go first.
