Chapter 17
LANGSTON
The way her tiny hand fit into mine, my large one engulfing hers, had unknown emotions stirring in my chest. She was so small, tough but wounded, and in more danger than any of us realized. What I’d discovered earlier had me more on edge than normal, and that wasn’t good for anyone.
Especially not the fucker we were walking toward.
Deep in my gut, I knew they weren’t done revealing all the “surprises” they came here to blindside Juno with.
There was more to it than making her face them when they broke the engagement news.
No, the asshole would want to do as much damage as possible while he was here.
While it was true that I didn’t like many people, I had a deep hatred for men like Eric.
The type of man who bullied, manipulated, and degraded the woman who loved them all because they thought lording over someone made them powerful.
Women in love could overlook glaring red flags, and some fuckers used that to their advantage.
They would manipulate and twist the gentleness women naturally offered until there was nothing left, just a hollow shell of themselves, and they were so used to doing everything on their own, they forgot what it was like to have a proper partner, leaving the man free to do whatever he wanted while the woman carried the emotional and mental load of the entire relationship.
Not that I was an expert on covert narcissists, but I understood from an outsider’s perspective from watching Mattie go through the entire cycle with her asshole soon-to-be ex-husband.
Thankfully, she made the tough decision, leaving the controlling bastard before I resorted to killing him.
It was hell not following through on all my murderous fantasies, but the asshole was my adorable nephew’s father—not that I wanted him anywhere near the chunky, cheerful kid or my sister ever again.
Worried my hold was too tight around Juno’s delicate fingers, I flexed my own to adjust my grip and to remind myself she was still there, close behind me as we weaved through the full tables.
I glared at those filling the seats, pissed that they had chosen tonight of all nights to come out to get their socialization needs fulfilled alongside Dave’s famous nacho fix.
A slow grin spread when Eric stiffened at my approach, no doubt remembering my less-than-pleasant attitude during the boat ride from Anchorage. Good, maybe this wouldn’t end in bloodshed if he was already intimidated by me from our short time together.
His gaze slid down to where my hand was wrapped around Juno’s.
Confusion registered first before a deep line formed between his brows and his lips dipped in a disapproving frown.
The scars lining my knuckles popped as I wrapped my hand around the back of the chair beside West, using my other to guide Juno into the seat.
Needing one of my own, I stole one from the table behind us, shutting their protests up with a hard glare, and slammed it down between Juno and Eric.
Falling into the seat, I spread my long legs out wide, forcing him to move to keep us from touching.
“Those should be illegal.” I broke off my bored stare from the douche to see what Juno was referring to. All the tension drained out of me at seeing her and West grinning at each other.
“What should be?” West laughed, his dark eyes brighter than I’d seen them in too damn long.
My heart clenched at the sight of how carefree he seemed, and happy—genuinely happy.
Fuck, this had to happen between the three of us, for him, for me, and hell, for Juno too.
So she could see and know exactly how she was meant to be treated, like a fucking gift, and maybe West and I could finally find someone who we could spoil rotten and love every second.
Juno playfully pressed the tip of her index finger into one of West’s dimples.
“Those dimples should be illegal. I bet they allow you to get away with murder.”
His smile grew wide, making the other dimple pop. “If that were the case, then I wouldn’t be holding back from making this table one person lighter.”
My chest rose and fell with a loud huff. “They don’t get him out of murder, but they help him get away with more shit than he should.”
“What’s going on here?” Eric asked, cutting into our conversation. Clearly annoyed at being left out, he flicked his hand between the three of us. “How do you all know one another?”
Wanting to follow Juno’s lead, I kept my mouth shut, but I dropped a hand to her bare thigh and gave it a reassuring squeeze. My gaze slipped to where I touched her, imagining how easy it would be to slide my fingers up her inner thigh to brush a finger along her slit.
I swallowed a frustrated groan. It either meant I had restraint of steel or was a blind dumbass for how I’d held myself back all these months.
It made me want to kick my ass at the time lost from not trusting her and giving in to the mouthwatering temptation that she was.
All this time, she could’ve been with me and West, but I couldn’t get past those lingering thoughts of needing to protect my family.
The only way to pay penance was doing whatever she needed to feel safe with me and spending massive amounts of time between her thighs.
My attention kept finding the faint red marks along her throat from where I’d wrapped my hand around it in the hall.
Seeing her chest rise and fall, my gaze slid down, my thoughts instantly going to fucking her full tits one day soon, or letting West do it while I fucked her or him.
We should probably try both ways to see which was better for all of us.
“Langston.” The amusement in her voice had me shaking out of those dirty thoughts and focusing on her smiling face. “My eyes are up here.”
“Oh, he knows,” West laughed. “I’m sure he’s just coming up with fun activities for later, sweet cheeks. By the way, take notes, Lang, so you don’t forget. I can’t wait to hear what you just came up with.”
“Enough,” Eric snapped. The few tables around us fell silent, a few locals turning their attention to Eric, who shot them a fake apologetic smile.
I noted the muscles along his jaw twitching as he ground his teeth.
“What are you doing here, boat guy, and what are you both doing touching my June Bug?”
Juno snorted with an eye roll. “First, I’m not your anything.
Second, stop calling me that. I hate it.
I’ve always hated it. And third, what’s going on here”—she gestured to the three of us—“is none of your business. Oh, and ‘boat guy,’ really? He has a name. And Langston is here because I want him to be.”
“Unlike you,” I added under my breath, just loud enough for him to hear.
Palms to the table, he leaned in as if that would make him seem intimidating.
Maybe to a woman, but with me, it just poked the fucking bear.
“Watch your tone, Juno. And do you know who the fuck you’re messing with?
” Eric sat back and rolled his shoulders, glaring at me.
“I could get you fired for how you’re treating an Uplift client. ”
“I think you’re asking the wrong question.
Do you know who you’re messing with?” West stated in a menacing tone that had my lips curving upward.
Seeing him so protective and aggressive on Juno’s behalf was hot as fuck.
West wasn’t a dominant guy, unless you went after someone he considered family; then a very dark side of him came out.
Stephanie approached the table, carefully clutching four glasses filled with amber liquid. I shot Eric a disapproving frown. Had he really sent his girl to the bar to fetch drinks?
Her timid smile dropped as she took in the tension radiating from the table. After setting a drink down in front of everyone, giving me what I had to assume was supposed to be hers, she moved her purse out of the seat and eased into the chair.
“Oh, you’re friends with Juno?” she asked.
I offered a clipped nod, which made her fidget on the hard wooden chair. Forcing her smile wider than what looked natural, Stephanie focused on Juno. “Did Eric tell you we hoped you’d come? To the wedding, that is.”
“You’re kidding me,” West said with an incredulous laugh.
Fingertips pressed to her temples, Juno rubbed small circles as if massaging away a headache.
Needing to find a better solution to her discomfort, I sorted through the causes while taking in the mostly empty table, minus the four drinks and an empty water glass. Angling back to look behind Juno, I hitched my chin at West to get his attention.
“Food?” He shook his head. “We need to feed her before we leave.”
“I’m right here, listening to you,” Juno huffed with zero frustration in her wiry tone. “And saying it like that makes me feel like a pet.”
“We’re here to take care of all your needs, pet.” I shot her a cocky smirk, which she returned with an exasperated headshake.
“Yes,” Eric called out, forcing our attention back on him, just how he liked it. “Steph and I want you there, Juno.” The way he emphasized the word had West and me both chuffing. Like that would happen.
“When and where is this joyous occasion happening?” Juno exhaled. She picked up the highball glass filled with amber liquid and crinkled her cute nose.
“Care for something different?” West asked, leaning in close.
“Yeah, would you mind? This isn’t even on my radar of drinks I like.”
“No duck farts,” I ordered.
“Agreed, no shots,” she said through a fake gag.
West pushed back from the table. “I’ll grab you something from the bar.
Vodka and Sprite with a lime is your usual, right?
” At her slow nod, as if shocked he had noticed it was her go-to drink, West shot her a small smile before hitching his chin my way.
“Plus, I’ll order some food.” He scanned the table.
“To go. I have a feeling we’ll be leaving soon. ”