Jax (Breaking the Declan Brothers #1)(25)

“It’s been awhile since she’s been in here,” Rusty says, sticking a few bills in the register.

“Motherfucker, I don’t need this shit tonight.” I run a hand through my hair.

Rusty’s eyes snap to me. “Please tell me you didn’t fuck that?”

A few months back during a dry spell, I met her at a bar in Galveston, and yep, I sure the hell did. I wished that I hadn’t, though. I like it rough, like kinky, like dirty, but that bitch, she’s just wrong. She wanted me to do things to her that made even me shrill. To top it off, after I fucked her, she got all clingy. And I’m usually a good judge when it comes to picking out the discreet ones, but that crazy chick sure had me fooled. It took me weeks to get rid of her.

“Jax,” Rusty smacks me on the arm, “you did.” ‘Cause I make it a point never to kiss and tell, I only offer Rusty a short grimace. “Shit! That’s why she kept coming around, and here I thought she was after Zeke. All right,” she pats me on the chest, “you go down to the basement and get a bottle of Jack Daniels. We’re all out. And I’ll try to get rid of her.”

Lisa’s my problem, not Rusty’s, but the clock's a-tickin’. I got a feeling that crazy bitch will cause nothing but problems when, or if, Em shows up.

“Thanks.” I kiss Rusty on the cheek and head toward the back. Rusty has sort of taken over Slate’s job at the bar. She covers if Zeke or I can’t be here. She’s the only one we trust. Granted, it took Zeke a year to accept that he wasn’t getting in her pants. He tried, even though he doesn’t have the right junk in his trunks. Like Zeke and I, Rusty’s into chicks. Once Zeke got it, they became friends, and now he has someone to check out the chicks with. I’m not into all that shit. If I’m into a girl, the only person who needs to know is that girl.

I make it to the basement, find the whiskey, and head back up the stairs. I come behind the bar, spot Lisa still sitting at the bar, her dark brown eyes burning into me. I glance at Rusty. She lifts her hands and mouths a “Sorry.”

I check my cell again. Fuck. I walk around the bar and stop in front of Lisa. “I told you, you’re not allowed in here.”

She spins around in the barstool to face me. Her fake jet-black hair swinging with her, she places a hand on my stomach. “You miss me, Jax.”

“No.” I grab her wrist and remove her hand from my body. “I don’t.” I take a step back and pull her off the stool. “It’s time for you to go.” I drag her toward the door. I’ve learned, it’s the way ya gotta treat her, to the point and downright cruel. But even then, I think the crazy bitch likes it.

Just as we make it to the front, she yanks her hand from me and backs up against the wall.

“Lisa, we talked about this,” I warn.

She reaches out and grabs my shirt, pulling me hard against her. I get a whiff of alcohol mixed with that nauseous perfume she wears. “You want me, Jax,” she licks her lips. “You know you do.”

I glare down at her, cursing myself for this bad fucking call. “It was a one-time thing. That’s it. I don’t fucking want you. I don’t want you here. And I don’t ever want to see you again. I explained this all before.”

Her hand slips around my neck. She tips up and kisses me. “What the fuck!” I push her away, wipe my mouth, and turn. Fuck! My eyes clash right into Em’s. My entire body goes numb.

Em smiles at me, flicks her brows, and then she surprises the shit out of me. She doesn’t turn around and bolt out the door. She heads for the bar. I watch her get up on a stool and order a drink from Rusty all while Lisa’s still pawing at me. I grab Lisa’s wrist and drag her out the door. We get outside, and I let her go. She stumbles back in her heels, looking injured.

“Leave, Lisa,” I point out to the parking lot. “And don’t ever come back. Do you hear me?”

“But Jax…” She takes a few steps toward me.

“I swear to God if you don’t get the fuck out of here right now.” I clench my fists. I’ve hit a girl before but never to cause bodily harm. Ever. But, fuck, she’s gotta see she’s pushing me.

“Okay.” She stomps a heel hard into the ground. “Fine! Fuck you.” She readjusts her purse onto her shoulder and fucking finally, she walks away.

I wait for her to get in her car and leave before I release my balled fists.

Now to deal with Em.

This was not how tonight was supposed to go. I planned on having a few drinks with my girl, teasing her a bit, and then taking her back to my place and making her mine, physically. For in all other matters, she already belongs to me. Emmie Rue has been mine since my eyes accepted her as a woman and not a little girl. Even then, besides the few years’ difference, I knew that I couldn’t take her. I had to work on my aggression, and she needed to understand that she wasn’t just a pretty face. She had a whole lot more to offer.