The liquor burned as it slid down my throat.

Rum. Not Jack. I’d had enough Jack to last me a lifetime, and I’d never even tasted it.

Thanks for that, Pop.

The floor shifted beneath my feet, and chatter from the other—there weren’t many—patrons swirled around me as I leaned against the bar. My eyes felt heavy, and my throat felt raw. I was drunk. Not quite shit-faced, but I was well on my way.

I slammed the empty glass down on the scarred wooden bar top. Ashley…Annie…Alice… hell, I couldn’t remember the bartenders name, rushed forward, almost tripping over herself to reach me.

“What can I get ya, honey?” She leaned forward, and the deep cut of her shirt fell open, giving me a close-up view of her tits. Impressive, I thought. I pulled my eyes away from her rack and looked up at her face. Not impressive.

“Rum.” She reached for another glass. “The bottle.” I hit my chest with a closed fist and burped. A voice—her voice—popped into my head. “You’re such a pig, Hendrix!” I smiled for a half second before the memory of her—of losing her— started to claw at me.

Don’t think about her now!

I needed more alcohol—STAT. “Just give me the damn bottle!”

Flustered—Abby? Maybe that was her name—slid the bottle towards me. “Let me get you a clean glass, Hendrix.”

Huh. She knew my name, but I didn’t know hers. Talk about awkward.

“No need.” Putting the bottle to my mouth, I chugged. The cheap alcohol felt like acid as it slid down my throat and into my empty stomach.

Minutes passed, and the room began to spin. “You okay, handsome?”

I glared at—what’s her name—the bartender. “Don’t call me that.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and shimmied her hips. “Why not?” A flirty smile tilted her lips up, and she leaned forward again, sticking her more-than-likely fake tits in my face for the second time in the last few minutes.

My dick didn’t even twitch.

I lifted my chin and slurred, “What’s your name?”

“Veronica.” I wasn’t even close. “Don’t you remember me?”

Should I? Please tell me I hadn’t screwed this girl and didn’t remember it. Even I didn’t stoop that low. “No.”

Her smile disappeared, and an exaggerated pout appeared on her heavily made-up face. Exactly how many inches of make-up was she wearing? “We went to high school together!” As if yelling at me would jog my memory. “We were in the same Pre-Calc class together,” she prodded, “Mr. Henson, remember?”

I remembered Pre-Calc. Didn’t remember her. Why would I? All through high school, my focus had solely been on one girl. “Don’t remember you.” I grabbed the bottle and took another gulp, spilling more than I drank.

“Oh, come on! I sat beside Rebecca Deaton at the table right in front of you. We both had the biggest crush on you.”

It didn’t matter where she sat. She could have been in the middle of my lap, and I still wouldn’t have noticed. “Not ringing a bell. Sorry.”

She batted her eyelashes. “Sure, you don’t,” she teased.

“I don’t.” I shrugged my shoulders and took another swig.

Her mood changed in the blink of an eye. “You’re kidding me, right?” Why did I have to be kidding? The way she talked, you’d think she was Miss Universe or something. She wasn’t. Picking up a cleaning rag, she started wiping down the bar. “I mean, I know you had a girlfriend back then, but she was like…” her voice trailed off, and a disgusted look crossed her face.

I froze at her words.

Ah, hell.

I shouldn’t have asked. I really shouldn’t have. I knew I’d regret it if I did, but her venom laced tone was too much to resist. “She was what?” There was no mistaking the tinge of anger in my voice. Six years—2410 days to be exact—later and I was still as protective of her as I always had been.

Swear to God, if this girl said one bad thing about her, I’d throttle her.

Vanessa—or was it Veronica?—eyes widened, and she dropped the rag into a white bucket sitting on the floor. She stepped back, and I stood up from my bar stool. “Finish what you started to say.” I was quickly losing the minute hold that I had on my temper. Her refusal to answer only made it worse. “Tell me what the hell your skank ass was about to say about my girl.”

My girl. Technically she wasn’t mine anymore. Didn’t mean I didn’t still consider her mine though. I always would.

“Nothing, Hendrix.” She backed up another step and rolled her eyes, trying her best to act nonchalant. “Just forget I said anything. Obviously, you’re not interested in talking to me anyway.”

She was right. I wasn’t interested, but I wasn’t letting this go either. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something about this girl that I did remember. And whatever it was, I had a feeling it wasn’t good.

Determined to hear what was going on in her head, I demanded, “Finish what you started to say.” She started to shake her head but stopped when I kept talking. “Else, I’m coming over this bar, and I’ll make you tell me.”

And just like that, it clicked.

My girl crying in the middle of Pre-Calc while this bitch sat in front of us, an evil sneer plastered across her face.

“Why do they all hate me?” She’d whispered, tears falling down her cheeks.

“Because they’re jealous.”

“Why would they be jealous of me?”

“Cause you’re the most beautiful girl in the world.”

She shook her head, and her wounded eyes met mine. “Only to you.”

I wrapped one arm around her shoulder and pulled her into my side. “Bullshit, Maddie.” Lifting her chin, I kissed the center of her forehead. “You’re the most beautiful girl in the world. Always have been. Always will be.”

I forced a smile. “Wait a minute,” I looked her up and down, feigning interest. “I do remember you.”

She smiled and sauntered towards me. “Yeah?

“Yeah, baby.” Her eyes filled with lust as she moved in my direction. I leaned closer, placing my forearms on the bar before tightening my fists and tensing my shoulders. Then, through gritted teeth, I spit out, “I remember exactly what a vile cunt you are, and I remember exactly what you did to my girl.”

I’d never forget it, either.

The teasing. The taunting. I still remember the names they called her when they thought I wasn’t looking. Maggot. Loser. I hated every fucking one of them for what they did to her. Picking on her because they were jealous little sluts who were angry because they didn’t compare to her. She was so much prettier, smarter, and sweeter than any of them.

The bartender stood straighter, pushed her tits higher, and rolled her eyes. “Oh please. I didn’t do anything to her she didn’t deserve.”

I slammed my hands down on the bar—hard—and she gasped before jumping back. I was surprised when none of the men scattered around the place jumped up to defend her. What a bunch of worthless pussies.

“Hendrix…” Her whiny voice grated on my nerves. I leaned over the bar and pointed my finger right at her ugly ass face.

Never in my life have I hit a woman, and I’d put any man that did in the ground, but she didn’t know that. I could see the fear in her eyes when she looked at me. Fear laced with lust. Stupid wench couldn’t decide whether she wanted to fear, fight or fuck me.

There would be no fighting, and there would be no fucking.

Fear it was.

“Tell me. Why did you hate her so much?” Spit flew from my mouth. I didn’t even bother to wipe the specks off from my chin. She thinned her lips and clenched her mouth shut, refusing to talk. Irritated, I demanded she answer me. “You’ve got to the count of three.” My face was red hot. “One.” I leaned closer. “Two.” I clenched my jaw. “T—”

She began shouting, “She was always up your ass! Following you around like a puppy, smiling at you all the time. Y’all were always kissing and holding hands. It was disgusting.” The bar fell silent, and she pointed a shaky finger at me. “And you,” she hissed, “You were so obsessed with her that you couldn’t see anybody else. It was pathetic. You’re pathetic!”

I looked around the room. Every single pair of eyes in the joint was glued to us. I spotted Maribelle, the bar owner, standing near the entrance to the kitchen area. Phone to her ear, brows furrowed, she was staring at me. I saw her nod once and then she hung up. I knew exactly who she was talking too.

Great.

I don’t know what everyone expected me to do about her little tirade, but I wasn’t going to do a damn thing. Long as she kept her mouth shut about Mad—

Don’t say her name! Then it becomes too real.

Didn’t matter, long as she didn’t say anything bad about my girl I didn’t give a crap what she thought of me.

She called me obsessive. Check.

Called me pathetic. Double check.

It looks like Veronica nailed it. Somebody give the girl a prize!

“She was special, unlike the rest of you worthless bitches.” I sat back down, almost missing the bar stool completely. I pointed at her with the bottle of half-drunk Rum. “By the way, you should get a job with the FBI cause obviously you’re good at figuring people out.” Dumbfounded, she just looked at me. “Now,” I continued, “judging by the phone call that Maribelle just made, it looks like my night is about to get cut short. Here’s what I’m going to need from you.” I needed something stronger than rum.

“You’re crazy!”

Tell me something I don’t know. “Everclear. Shots. Now.” She just stood there, and I slapped the bar again. “Move it, Valerie.”

“My name is Veronica,” she said through gritted teeth.

I shrugged. “Whatever you say, Velma.”

Dear Ol’ Veronica—see, I did know her name—called me every name under the sun as she lined up three shot glasses and poured them until they couldn’t hold any more. “Bottoms up, Violet!”

“Asshole!”

I chuckled. One after another, I took the shots. The first burned, the second a little less. By the time I downed the third, I was numb. Hands, feet, tongue. Even my teeth.

Finally.

I placed my elbows on the bar and closed my eyes.

Finally fucking numb.

No more feeling. No more remembering.

The bar stool beside me shifted, the feet scraping against the ground. The smell of spicy perfume surrounded me. Not fruity and sweet like I craved. “You look lonely, honey.”

I cracked open my left eye. My vision was blurred, but I could still make out the person sitting beside me. Somewhat. “I do, do I?” She nodded. “So, what, you thought you’d come over here and keep me company?”

Cassie Jackson, biggest bitch to ever grace Kissler County, Georgia turned to face me. “Something like that.”

Something like that. This would not end well. I already knew. Still, I kept up with the charade, curious to see how far she’d take it.

Cassie placed a hand on my thigh. “How have you been, Hendrix?”

I smirked. “Right now, I’m feeling pretty damn fantastic. How about you, Cassie? Chew through your latest boy toy yet?”

Her smile faltered, but she recovered quickly. “Don’t believe everything you hear, honey. I’m not near as bad as folks around her make me out to be.”

Somehow, I doubted that. “Good to hear.”

My favorite bartender sauntered over to Cassie, the Queen of bitches, shooting me an evil glare the entire time. “What can I get you?”

“Patron Silver,” Cassie replied in a haughty tone that made me chuckle. “And hurry up about it.”

Veronica reached under the bar, grabbed the bottle and filled up a clean shot glass. “Little bit of advice for you, sweetie.” She bit at Veronica, “Don’t waste your time on this one.” She nodded her head in my direction. “He’s so hung up on his ex-girlfriend he can’t see straight.”

I perked up. “Who said she was my ex?” I didn’t remember telling her that.

Veronica rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. The entire damn town knows you dumped the little twit the minute she left for—”

I jumped up. Well, more like tried to jump up and stumbled but luckily caught myself before I tumbled head over ass. “Don’t you,” I spoke through clenched teeth, “dare.” My vision swam, a red haze covering everything my eyes touched. “You finish that sentence and I’ll fucking end you.”

Veronica, I found out, was not one to back down. Earlier, I would have thought she was a timid little thing. Boy, was I wrong. Leaning forward, she brought her face closer to mine and spit out, “You ever think of threatening me again, Hendrix Cole, and I’ll call the sheriff. I hear y’all have some history. I’m sure he’d love nothing more than to lock you up.” The bitch had the balls to smirk.

I was almost impressed. Almost.

I smirked right back. “Yeah. You go ahead and do that. But do me a favor,” I tapped my fingers on the bar, “When you call the Sherriff, tell that son of a bitch to bring me the hundred bucks he owes me from our last poker game.”

Veronica’s face dropped. Checkmate, skank. Then, she stomped off.

I sat back down, and Cassie, who I’d forgotten was still sitting beside me whistled. “She couldn’t get away from you fast enough.”

“Fuck her.”

“Have you?” Why was she still talking to me? Couldn’t she see that I was trying to drown a lifetime of memories? Goddamn, why couldn’t people just let me drink in peace?

“Have I what?”

“Slept with her?”

“Who?” I was confused. I don’t know if it was the alcohol drowning out the few brain cells I had left or if I was just that stupid. Probably a combination of both.

I heard her voice in my head. “You’re not stupid, Handsome. You just learn differently. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Mentally, I whispered back, “Miss you, pretty girl.” It’s all I would allow myself.

Cassie rolled her eyes. “The bartender.”

I jerked back. “I’m highly fucking offended.”

She laughed. “I’ll take that as a no.”

“That’s a big hell no!”

“Well, who have you been fucking?”

Never in my life… “You’ve got a mouth on you.”

Cassie licked her bottom lip, followed by the top. Evil wench or not, she had some nice lips—if you were into that whole duck face look. “You have no idea.” She squeezed my leg with her hand. “But I’ll be glad to show you.”

Purring, her hand moved higher. I looked down and watched its ascent toward my cock. “Yeah? And how ya gonna do that?”

Her hand kept moving north. “How about I show you?”

How about no.

Wrapping my fingers around her bony wrist, I ripped her hand off me. “How about this—you ever touch me again, and I’ll break your fingers.”

Cassie flinched, surprise and anger flashing across her face. It took her a minute to find her voice but when she did, oh hell. “Are you fucking kidding me?” She shouted. “What? Am I not good enough for you, Hendrix?”

“Fuck no you’re not good enough for me. I may be fucking drunk, but there isn’t enough alcohol in this world to make shove my cock into your rancid pussy.”

She shoved my shoulder as she continued to shriek. “You can’t talk to me like that!”

The hell I can’t. “Hey, Cassie, guess what?” Cheeks tinged red with anger, she glared at me. “I finally came up with a nickname for you.”

Stupid bitch smiled. “Yeah?”

I nodded. “Yeah, baby. I’m gonna start calling you doorknob.” I paused. “Because you know…. Everybody takes a turn.”

The bitch reared back and slapped me.

Couldn’t blame her. But once again, all eyes were on me.

Damn, man. I needed to start drinking at home—alone.

“What is it with you, bitches?”

Cassie’s repeated, “Are you kidding me?” Coincided with Veronica’s, “Dickhead.”

I looked at Cassie. “No, I’m not kidding you.”

Then, I looked at Veronica. “You’re damned right.”

In a puff of anger, Cassie got up from her bar stool and walked away. Thank God. It looked like I was stuck with V-girl though. “Yo, Vinnie! Shots! Refill! Let’s go!”

Three shots later and I was once again a resident of Numbtown, USA.

Thank Christ.

The night rolled on, and the patrons of the bar rolled out. “Time to pay up, Hendrix, it’s closing time,” Maribelle said from the other side of the bar.

I leaned back on the stool and closed my eyes. “Cards on file, Maribelle. I’m sure you know how to use it.”

“That I do.” Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked away and started speaking to somebody else. Who, I didn’t know since I didn’t bother to open my eyes and see. “He’s been here all night.”

“I’ll get him home.”

Shit.

I knew that voice. Of all the damn people…

Heavy footsteps headed in my direction, and I took a drawl of the beer I’d been nursing for the last fifteen minutes. I was about to set the bottle back on the bar top when it was snatched out of my hand. “What the fuuuuck?” I snarled, drunkenly swinging my head in his direction. The liquor in my stomach sloshed from the quick movement. I felt like puking.

Hey, maybe I could puke all over him. I’m sure he’d LOVE that.

“Get your shit together. It’s time to go.”

My face tightened. “No disrespect, Captain Davis, but fuuuuck you. We’re not at the station, and I’m not on shift. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

He slammed his fist down on the bar, much like I’d done earlier. “The hell I don’t. You’re wearing my department’s shirt, sitting at a bar in my town. I’ll tell you whatever I want too, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll listen.”

What? He’d lost his mind. “Exactly who do you think you are? You may be my boss, but I’m not at work. Want me to change shirts? Fine, but don’t think for a second you can come in here and talk shit to me. You’re not my goddamn father.”

Keith wrapped his hands around my shirt, lifting me from the bar stool. His face inches from mine, he spits out, “I may not be your father, but I am hers.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. He never spoke about her in front of me. Ever. “She has nothing to do with this.”

He clenched his teeth before releasing my shirt. I stumbled backward but thankfully didn’t fall. “You stupid little prick,” he said, forcing a humorless laugh. “She has everything to do with it.”

I had no idea what he was talking about. Blame it on the alcohol, blame it on my learning disability, whatever, but I was lost. “Yeah? How?” I crossed my arms over my chest as my body swayed from left to right. “What exactly does your little princess have to do with me? She’s not mine anymore, remember?” The words tasted like acid rolling off my tongue.

Hands balled into fists at his sides, Keith was about to charge when a couple of the guys from the station walked in and headed straight for us. They must have been waiting outside, listening for shit to get heated.

One look at my face and they knew it was about to go down.

They surrounded us.

Two men stood next to Keith and three took their places behind me.

Guess we know who they think the bigger threat was.

He shook his head, a hard smile on his lips. “You have no clue, do you?” I shrugged my shoulders. Disgusted, he said to the guys behind me, “Get him out of here. I can’t stand to look at him anymore.”

Eli, prick that he was, grabbed me by the arm. I jerked away easily. None of those assholes could hold me. I was bigger. Stronger. Faster than any of them. “I’ll leave, Cap, but not until you answer my question.” He looked at me, hate swirling in his eyes. Just like Pop. “What does she have to do with this? With me?”

“You can’t even say her name, can you?”

I refused to answer him. Instead, I lifted my chin in the air. Still defiant. “Answer my question.”

Keith shook his head. “Maddie.” I closed my eyes when he said her name. I couldn’t even pretend to be unaffected. “Made me promise to take care of you. To look out for you. To keep you safe.” His words hit me right in the gut. “Even when what you did almost killed her, even when it’s still killing her, she made me promise!” My Adam’s apple bobbed, and my throat felt like it was swelling shut.

Wait.

Hold up.

Still killing her? What the fuck was he talking about? “Keith—”

“I keep my promises… unlike you.”