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"No man left behind," Bellamy adds, slapping a hand down hard on my shoulder before he takes a seat.
"Just came from Beach Babe Burgers," Jameson says. "Seems like you're not the only one growling at everyone today. Hud tried flirting with Violet, and I thought I'd have to perform CPR after the way she shot him down."
My gaze finds Hudson. "Stay away from her and leave her alone." The threat in my tone is unmistakable. I will mess up the kid if that's what it takes to make my point.
Hudson whistles as he sits back in his chair and lifts his hands. "Was just trying to get her to smile, man. She looked like she needed someone to lift her spirits is all."
I wipe a hand over my face and inhale, the image of Vi's beautifully broken expression flashing in front of my eyes from when she finished telling the history of her past and all it entailed.
It strikes me now that she repeated her story all without shedding a tear. Like she disassociated herself from the time and events.
I've always been a man who could put himself in someone else's shoes, but in this case, I can't. I don't understand how a man—any man—could drug and rape a woman, let alone his own wife.
And yet if the news feed is any indication, Violet's ex is definitely not the first and only.
No wonder women chose the freaking bear in the woods. Who can blame them?
And no doubt Violet does need someone in her life who can make her smile. For the first time since laying eyes on her and becoming completely smitten by all things Violet Greene, I wonder if I'm that man. If I can be that man. The one she needs to be able to help her put the past behind her so she can live the life she deserves.
Because when I add Violet's past to my sister's… I'm not sure I can put the violence Violet's endured behind me. Especially when I know the guy's still out there. Free to do whatever he pleases to her or any other woman unfortunate enough to gain his attention.
"O-kay," Hudson says loudly. "Fun times to be had here. I'm going to go get a drink. You want anything?" he asks the others.
"Too early for me. Just a soda," Jameson says.
“Same,” Bellamy says.
Hud leaves, and I feel the others' gazes on me.
"You okay, Sully? I know Hud can be a lot sometimes, but it's for show. He's got substance, and if you need to talk, we got your back."
The two best friends are new to the crew but great additions. They work hard and are both upstanding guys. Gabe made sure of that before bringing them on board. Bellamy has been around a little longer than Hud and Jameson. He’s the decent sort, always ready to step up and do whatever needs done. “I’m good. Thanks though. Appreciate it."
Jameson fiddles with a drink menu left behind on the table.
Bellamy stands. “I’m going to feed the juke box,” he says as he walks away.
Silence descends, and I brace myself because of the look in Jameson’s gaze.
"Can I ask you something? Between us?"
I cock an eyebrow at that. "I guess."
"You like Violet, and seeing as how she's kind of one of the gang, being a local and all, I know things can get tricky gossip-wise."
I frown, unable to get a feel for where he's going with this.
"I guess I'm just wondering how you knew?"
"Knew what?"
"That she's it. The one you want something real with?"
I tilt my head and give his question serious consideration because of the tone he uses. The guy isn't messing with me. He's genuinely asking. "I knew when I realized I can't stand the thought of her with anyone else," I say truthfully, absorbing the words as I say them. "I wanted to be that guy. Her guy."
That hasn't changed but—
No, it hasn't changed. I just have to figure out how to be that man so that I don't hurt her, too.
