Twisted Scotch (Brackenridge #3)

1. Marley

MARLEY

“You want some sugar?”

The man chortles, giving a full-mouth grin minus one front tooth. The crumbs settled in his beard and the stains on his faded, stained flannel disgust me. “Hell yeah, sweetheart. I want some sugar.”

I paint a saccharine smile on my lips, tightening my hold on the handle of the nozzle. Tracy, my boss and bar owner, yells my name just as I aim it at him and squeeze the handle. He jerks back, choking and sputtering on a face full of club soda, before he stumbles off the stool.

The regulars around him break out in loud laughter, moving away from the runoff spray bouncing off him.

Tracy grabs the gun from my hands, slamming it back on the counter.

Jax appears behind the man, cuffing him by the collar and dragging him toward the front door.

My heart pounds watching someone who was once the love of my life handle the large man like nothing more than a small pest, even if that’s his exact job as bouncer.

He’s not defending my honor as my knight in shining armor.

“Can I do that next time?” Brielle asks, giggling as she comes around the bar and grabs a handful of towels. The blonde waitress is the perfect mix of fierce and fun. She’s also my new sister-in-law, the feisty omega who married into my brother’s pack.

“No,” Tracy snaps, running her hand through her short hair. “Take a breather, Marley. Fuck.” I’m not sure why she’s so worried. What’s the guy gonna do? Call the police? Officer, she soaked me with carbonated water.

A chorus of complaints rings out around me.

They know they’re going to have to wait longer when I leave and it’s just Tracy working the counter.

It makes me want to roll my eyes because not one of those fuckers stood up as the guy spewed disgusting comments about me.

Though it doesn’t surprise me. I’m just another beta in their eyes, nothing worthy to defend.

My heart flutters back to Jax, but I push away the feeling.

I clench my jaw but head down the hall without a word.

Kinsey, another waitress, looks up as I pass where she’s sitting down for her break, her pregnant belly more obvious under her tight shirt.

The embodiment of everything an omega is to be, not that I degrade her for it.

She and Brielle have actually been really decent people since they arrived in town.

It’s not fair to them that their designation is so sought after and draws the attention of some of the patrons of the bar.

She tucks her auburn hair behind her ear. “Everything okay?”

I nod, waving her off, but pause when she moves to stand. “Have Tracy move you behind the bar, some of the men are starting to get rowdy. And you know how some of them have gotten weird about…your status.” My eyes fall back to her belly and her hand cups it with a sigh.

“Colt wants me to quit.”

Most omegas don’t work jobs, but Brielle and Kinsey have their packs wrapped around their fingers.

I knew her alpha’s request was going to come sooner or later.

I don’t dislike Colt, not really. It’s more that I never liked how little he had to work for our brother’s affection.

Some would call it jealousy, or even resentment.

I don’t care to put a name on it either way.

“Not a bad idea. Plus you have the inheritance from Levi, so you don’t really have to work,” I tell her with a shrug. And even more money whenever that old man croaks.

She worries her lip. “It feels weird to take his money. It was everything Maverick didn’t want.”

I roll my eyes now. Men and their dumb opinions. “You brought him his omega, he can suck it up.”

Kinsey chuckles. “I guess you’re right.” She cocks her head to the side. “What about you and the bouncer? I swear there’s sparks every time you look at each other.”

I blink. “And conversation over.” I give her a peace sign as I head into the alley behind the bar and lean against the wall to take a breath.

Something in the air tonight is making me irritable.

Maybe it’s being surrounded by omegas, happy with their packs.

Hell, one of them is pregnant already. It’s hard not to feel a sliver of jealousy over it all, not that I can fault them for any of it.

They’re just doing what nature wants for them. I only wish it were that easy for me.

I look up at the thud of footsteps heading toward me, surprised to find my brother.

I knew Brielle got home today, but I figured it was just her and Maverick returning from the rodeo circuit.

There was some drama on the ranch they had to handle, and I’m sure if I had picked up one of his missed calls, Cooper would have filled me in on what happened.

“Hey. You just get back?”

He nods. “Earlier today. Had to help settle the animals. One of the horses isn’t doing well.”

I frown, knowing how much all ?the men on the ranch care for the animals. “That sucks.”

Cooper flashes me a smile and looks over at me leaning against the wall. “Rough night?”

“No, I just got put in timeout before I made things worse.” It’s hard to hold back a smirk.

He returns my amusement before his smile dips. “You haven’t called me back. Are you mad I got married?”

I stare at my brother’s guilt-ridden face, the look pinching something in my heart. My arms cross over my chest and I shake my head.

“I promise. I’m not mad. It made sense,” I say. “You know how bad I am about keeping my phone on me.”

Cooper still grimaces, turning his face away from me. “I still wish you were there for my wedding.”

He’s always been the sweetest one of us two.

I guess three, if we want to count his half-brother Colt.

It probably bothers him more than me that I couldn’t be there for his impromptu wedding, and maybe that says more about me than him.

Yet, I truly did get it. It made sense; it was a logical decision made for the safety of their omega.

Her parents were threatening to legally keep them away.

I don’t hold it against him for doing it. I know his alpha instincts ride him hard to protect his omega. Hell, if anything, it’s karma from my past.

“You guys could always just have another celebration and invite everyone. It’s not a big deal, Coop. Stop worrying.” I try to appease him.

His nose wrinkles. “I’d be upset if I missed your wedding.”

I laugh at the sad irony, dropping my arms to run my finger along the seam of the brick at my back. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m not getting married.” I can’t, not legally anyway. Not that I’m looking to.

Cooper’s knowing stare flickers up to mine, and my breath catches a little, hoping he doesn’t mention the one man I always try to avoid. My brother clears his throat, deciding against it, then shrugs. “I’ll bring up the possibility of another celebration. I’m sure Brielle would love it.”

My lips almost pull into a smile at that. I’m sure his omega, who is quite literally a princess with gold-spun hair, would love a party. “Tracy would probably allow you to throw it at the bar. She finds Brielle entertaining.”

He rolls his eyes, his mouth cracking with a proud smile. “Yeah, probably, especially if we plan it after the holidays.”

I shrug. “Yeah, whenever. Kinsey is pregnant, so I’m sure Brielle will factor that in.”

Cooper’s face goes a little pale, and my eyebrows raise.

“Is Brielle pregnant too?”

He shakes his head, his teeth digging into his bottom lip. “At least, I don’t think so. Colt hasn’t said anything, and he would, right?” His half-brother is the type of alpha with an incredibly sensitive nose, enough to smell pregnancies weeks early. Another thing Cooper admires about him. Ugh.

I shrug. “If he did, it would be to you.” I push the small jealousy that always comes when I think about Colt.

Growing up, it was always Coop and me, even if he’s a handful of years younger than me.

Then our mother dropped the truth of his father, the one that abandoned him.

It wasn’t the first time. Coop had a half-brother across town, older than both of us.

And he’s been in awe of Colt since then.

I get it. They’re both alphas, and men. But I’m just a jealous, possessive person, and I hate that Coop built his whole life around joining the ranch, even if it gave him a career as a rodeo star.

We stare at each other for another few seconds before he clears his throat. “Came to check on Brielle.”

I nod to the back door. “Easier to go that way. Jax is throwing a few rowdy men out.”

He doesn’t move and I tense, already knowing what his next question is going to be because he can’t help himself. “Have you heard from Mom?”

“Nope.” I can’t help the annoying pop of the p because he knows how much I hate when he asks.

His throat bobs. “The rehab center said she checked out months ago.”

I nod slowly. “Have you checked the local hospitals?”

He scowls. “Marley.”

Shrugging, I rub ?my arms and push off the wall. “It may be morbid, but it’s realistic. If she checked out of all-expenses-paid rehab, then she doesn’t want the help, Coop. When are you going to let go of the hope that she’s going to get better?”

My little brother looks away from me, his nostrils flaring as his fists curl at his sides. I move closer, patting his shoulder because no matter how jaded I am, I love how much he isn’t. “It’s not wrong to hope, okay? She’s our mom, and I get it. Just…be cautious.”

He shakes off my hand with a pout. “I’ll come over later this week?”

I roll my eyes. “If you must.”

His lips twitch and he nudges his shoulder against mine as he passes me.

I bend down, examining my flat tire with a groan. “Are you kidding me?”

“Need help?”